Japanese television drama has portrayed great maturity in the past few years, from making simple dramas to creating content highlighting social scenarios and commentary. These dramas explore Japanese society's most fundamental institutions like family and the workplace. This kind of drama shows the psychological pressures, toxic dynamics, and evolving social expectations that define modern Japanese life. Japanese dramas play a significant role in addressing issues that were once considered taboo by the mainstream industry. This change showcases Japanese society's growing acceptance of addressing themes that were once seen as taboos. The present Japanese drama environment is doing great in showing the conflict between traditional values and modern truth. So here is the list of ten Japanese dramas that show and critique family relationships.
1. Woman (2013)
This story of the drama follows single mother Koharu as she struggles to provide for her two children after her husband's death. This drama shows the harsh reality of Japan's single mothers and their struggles. This drama explores the complex relationship between Koharu and her estranged mother, who abandoned her twenty years earlier.
2. Kazoku.game (family Game) (2013)
The drama is about Yoshimoto, a self-absorbed home tutor. He gets a job teaching the second son of the Numata family. The child was used to being tossed from one teacher to another. Yoshimoto’s arrival in the lives of the Numata family brings a much-needed change and hope.
3. Uchi No Musume Wa, Kareshi Ga Dekinai!! (my Daughter Can't Get A Boyfriend) (2021)
This series explores the relationship between a successful romance novel author mother and her 20-year-old daughter, exploring generational differences and evolving concepts of romance and career success. The mother is concerned about her daughter not having a boyfriend. On the other hand, the daughter is worried about her innocent mother’s survival in the cruel and cunning world.
4. Miss Devil (2018)
The plot of the drama follows a human resources consultant, Mako Tsubaki, dubbed as the "devil of human resources. Her job role is solving problems like workplace harassment, power abuse, and toxic corporate culture. It would be a fun and eye-opening experience to watch Tsubaki's extreme methods for dealing with sexual and power harassment.
5. Haken No Hinkaku (the Pride Of The Temp)
This drama revolves around a very talented temporary worker, Ryoko Shinohara. The drama explores the tension between full-time employees and temporary staff. Ryoko Shinohara takes a stand for herself and refuses overtime work and unnecessary fawning to climb the ladder of success.
6. Age Harassment (2015)
This mini-series portrays ageism in the workplace, showing how older employees face discrimination and harassment based on their age. The drama shows how this age harassment affects a person and the people around them.
7. Oh! My Boss! Koi Wa Bessatsu De
This drama follows Nami Suzuki, who moves from rural Japan to Tokyo so that she can be close to her childhood friend and crush, Kenya. She ends up working under the leadership of magazine editor Reiko Horai instead of her initial plan of working in the supply management department. Throughout the series we see Nami balancing every aspect of her life.
8. Waru: Hataraku No Ga Kakko Warui Nante Dare Ga Itta? (working Is Not Uncool)
The story of the drama follows a new graduate, Tanaka Maririn. She starts working at her new job in the lowest position, and slowly navigates her toxic workplace. Watch the drama to find out how Tanaka manages her new job and life with older people and new people that she meets in her way.
9. My Husband Won’t Fit (2019)
The plot of the drama revolves around a married couple who face unusual problems in their marriage. Due to the wife’s vaginismus, the couple faces many ups and downs and tries to navigate their lives as a family.
10. Super Rich
Super Rich is the story of Mamoru Hyoga, who is the CEO of Three Star Books. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. But even though she was born into wealth, due to her parents’ death, she leads a lonely life. Her life changes when she meets Yu Haruno, who is younger than her. He lives with his parents and sister and joins Three Star Books as an intern because his family’s financial condition is not very good.
