Are you in the mood for something delicious, something different and something fun to watch tonight? Here, we bring you a list of Japanese dramas to stream and watch on Netflix right now. Binge-watching is totally ok.
It’s that time of year for a quick getaway or even a vacation abroad, but if that’s not in your plans, then huddle inside on a staycation with your Netflix account at your fingertips. Thanks to the growing popularity of Asian dramas, Netflix now offers a wide selection of Japanese dramas to immerse you in the culture without the cost of an airplane ticket to Japan.
Are you ready for some binge-watching, transporting you to the back lanes of Shinjuku, glitzy department stores in Ginza, and an idyllic farm in Hokkaido? Here are some Japanese dramas you can stream on Netflix while curled up on the sofa with a hot bowl of ramen to slurp down.
Notes: The streaming availability comes and goes on Netflix. Even though some of these dramas may no longer available when you get to it, they do come back once they are re-licensed.
Japanese Dramas to Stream and Watch on Netflix
Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (Shinya Shokudo 深夜食堂)
I believe this cult hit does not need any further introduction, especially amongst the devotees of Japanese dramas. An adaptation of a best-selling manga, Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories centers around a small diner tucked in the alleyway of Shinjuku that operates only in the wee hours. The owner, known as The Master, would serve special requested dishes to his patrons, who bring forth both their desirable appetites and a story to tell.
A miscellany of stories on human connections and ruminations of life, Midnight Diner is as soul-comforting as the dishes that each episode presents.
I have to warn you: it’s too easy to ‘work up’ an appetite while watching the tantalizing close-ups of the dishes on each episode. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. If you feel like whipping up some tan-men or ham katsu or hot pot middle of the night after some binge-watching of the show, here is the list of Midnight Diner recipes that will keep you in good company.
Samurai Gourmet (野武士のグルメ)
Japanese is known to take every art to the highest level. In Samurai Gourmet, the art is on eating. For a nation that is obsessed with food, this type of televised entertainment is as Japanese as it can be. The 20-minute show follows Takeshi Kasumi, a retiree who rediscovers his new purpose in life: getting in touch with his inner samurai through his passion for eating. What an enviable way to spend your retirement!
If you have a fixation for any food shows, Samurai Gourmet should be on your watch-list.
Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman (さぼリーマン甘太朗)
Debuted on Netflix in 2017, Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman presents a fantasy land for those who love anything sweet. Played by kabuki actor Matsuya Onoe, Amentani Kantaro takes every opportunity of his out-of-office assignment and secretly follows his quest to sample the best dessert in town. He takes a bite of the dessert, reflects on every little detail, makes an exaggerated manga-ish face, and then transports himself to some out-of-body sphere that illustrates his absolute pleasure. Once he gets home, he writes his sweetest encounters on his blog called “Sweets Knight”.
Nami and I admit that watching these orgasmic facial reactions can sometimes put us slightly uncomfortable. Kantaro can be wacky, offbeat and outlandish, yet it captures the ultimate joy of eating something truly satisfactory which anyone of us can relate to.
The story of Kantaro is fictional, but the shops in Tokyo and the fantastic-looking desserts are all real. There are anmitsu, dorayaki, mitsumame, shaved ice cream, parfait, caramel pudding and so on to make you drool.
More than just the enticing sweets, Kantaro may remind you to take more well-deserved breaks on a busy work day and treasure small indulgences in life.
PS: Now if you’re seriously thinking of a trip to Tokyo after watching all the episodes, you want to check out this incredible list of where to find the real Kantaro desserts on Reddit. And send your thanks to this very brilliant fella.
Silver Spoon (銀の匙)
A successful anime adaptation, Silver Spoon chronicles the story of Hachiken, a high school freshman who escapes his life in the big city and enrolls in an agricultural school deep in the countryside of Hokkaido.
With very little knowledge of farming, he soon realizes that the agricultural world is not easy as he initially imagined. Unlike his peers at the school who already have set goals for their lives, Hachiken struggles with the fact that he has no goal. While he feels lost, he learns to carve his own path as he bonds with the animals and eventually becomes an inspiration to others.
From pig herding to horse racing to dairy milk production to pizza making, Silver Spoon not only makes learning fun, it is an anecdote of growing up, which makes it a wonderful series for the entire family to watch.
Atelier (アトリエ)
In Japan, Atelier has a much catchier & suggestive title, Andāwea, which means Underwear. But there’s nothing too racy or offensive in this 13-episode coming of age Japanese drama.
The story follows a young graduate named Mayuko who starts a job at Emotion, an haute couture designer brand specializing in lingerie in the upscale Ginza neighborhood. She finds herself having to win the heart of her tough like nail boss who is compared to Anna Wintour, an editor of American Vogue. Without a doubt, Atelier will remind you of The Devil Wears Prada, but despite the similar fashion workplace setting, you would notice the stark cultural differences in the Japanese rendition.
Million Yen Women (100万円の女た)
In Million Yen Women, 5 beautiful young women showed up at a struggling writer’s house one day and offered to live with him by paying a generous sum of money. It was an attractive proposition that he could not resist. Total strangers to each other, they all have to abide by some house rules that keep the suspense going.
Million Yen Women can be unpredictable, puzzling, charming, sweet, sad and humorous at the same time. There may be elements that can be hard to grasp, it still nails the mystery comedy genre that keeps you coming back for each episode.
Good Morning Call (グッドモーニング・コール)
Let me start off stating that Good Morning Call is a high school romance comedy. It may not be a cup of tea for everyone, but this 17-episode manga adaptation does score high amongst the young adults who are inclined to Japanese pop culture.
The story centers around an ordinary girl Yoshikawa Nao, who discovers her new apartment was also rented to Uehara Hisashi, the most popular heartthrob from her school. When they found out they had to pay more for their apartment due to unforeseen circumstances, Nao and Hisahi decided to move in together as flatmates. We then follow how the two contrasting personalities fall in love with one another in the process.
Despite being a high school love drama, Good Morning Call has a strong characterization which the audience can enjoy. It is also quirky and playful to watch. If you are a fan of the original manga or the shoujo romance genre in general, you will want to check it out on Netflix.
More Recommendations on Japanese Dramas & Movies?
We hope you enjoy the list we’ve put together. If you’ve watched any of these Japanese dramas, what do you like (or not like) about them? Are there any other recommendations that we’ve missed out? We’d love to hear from you.
Check out this list on the best sites to watch Japanese drama, both free and paid.
Thanks for the recommendations! I hadn’t heard about Samurai Gourmet until you mentioned it & thoroughly enjoyed it. Wish there were more than one season. Keep up the great job!!
There are so many good shows out there. So glad to hear that you enjoyed Samurai Gourmet!
You should add Girl/Hajiri to your list.
Thanks, Barbara. We do have Giri/Haji listed in our other posts. Hope you get a chance to check them out too.
Silver Spoon is indeed very good, one of my favorite anime.
I would second the recommendation for Erased – both the live action and the anime. (They diverge from each other mid-season, with the live-action staying more faithful to the manga.) Both versions are very good. I prefer the anime, primarily for one scene that I can’t say anything about because it’s a huge spoiler.
Welcome to our informal Japanese movie club, Derek:) Thanks for chiming in.
I love Samurai Gourmet, still hoping for another season! But what I really want to know is how to find old episodes of Abarenbo Shogun and Soko Ga Shiritai 🙂
Hi Coco – Both Abarenbo Shogun and Soko Ga Shiritai are pretty old. I know they are available in DVDs (special collection) but expensive. Have you looked up any online streaming service? May be Youtube?
Dad of Light was a really neat Japanese movie on NF!
I love your too recipes, especially vegetarian versions- I have learned so much!
Have you ever give out info on style of bowls and what they are for?
Thanks so much for sharing, Susanna. I’m glad that you also enjoy the vegetarian recipes. Yes, you asked a great question! Nami has a post on Japanese tableware. Check this out:
https://www.justonecookbook.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-japanese-tableware/
I saw them all. You will enjoy.
Thanks for this list. I live outside of Dallas, Texas and I frequent a a Japanese restaurant called Tampopo (Dandylion). The original owner was named Mr Miagyi. He told me that he got the name for a Japanese movie. He had to sell but it still has his great recipes and the price is very reasonable. I go there quite often.
Thanks for sharing, Norma. We won’t be surprised to find a few other Tampopo restaurants out there too:) Glad that you have one that you enjoy and frequent regularly.
I was just coming on to recommend Tampopo, which no list of Japanese food TV or film would be complete without. Definitely seek it out, it’s amazing.
Hi Ann – we agree, Tampopo is a delight. We have it mentioned on our Favorite Movies to Watch list:
https://www.justonecookbook.com/favorite-japanese-movies-to-watch/
Don’t miss out on our other lists:)
I tried to find the Silver Spoon Chronicles and it didn’t pull up on Netflix. Is there another name for it?
Hi David – The season is finished on Netflix. You can find the DVDs available on Amazon, but it is not cheap. Have you tried looking up on other streaming websites? I’ll search by Silver Spoon first.
Thank you for this wonderful list if Japanese shows on Netflix. The only one I’ve watched so far is Midnight Diner, which I absolutely adore. I love the idea of Master making dish he has the ingredients for if a customer asks for it. I also enjoy the heartwarming dramas that unfold in each episode. And best of all it reminds me of my childhood years in Tokyo. I will definitely check out your other recommendations. ARIGATO!
We’re glad to hear from you! Midnight Diner is indeed a treat. Nami has recreated a series of recipes that the Master made too. Hope you get a chance to check them out.
Thanks, what a great idea to list the Dorama available on Netflix… !
We’re glad that you found the list useful. Thanks Alan!
I love Midnight diner! Its excellent practice for my Japanese listening skills (I try and do it without subtitles where I can) and I always get inspiration for dinner. I will check out Samurai Gourmet.
I absolutely love Kore-eda films – my favourite being still walking. He masters the art of the everyday mundane and his focus on meals and eating is great. I love Ouzu films for a similar reason. Green Tea over Rice is a recent watch.
Thanks for sharing, Claire. You can make Ochazuke when watching Green Tea Over Rice too:
https://www.justonecookbook.com/ochazuke/
This is so funny, when we were watching Good morning call with my daughter, in one episode Nao made Uehara korokke (like her mum makes it) we wanted to make it at home, and that’s how I found Just one cookbook on YouTube! Since then we cooked at least half of your recipes, thank you so much, you’re really awesome for sharing your recipes with us! My daughter is really grateful as well, she loves Japanese food (and drinks, and the culture, the language and manga, and clothes, and kawaii etc etc etc) Doumo arigatou gozaimasu! 😊
We’re glad to hear that you’ve been able to cook Japanese food and immerse in the culture at the same time.
It would be really entertaining if Netflix could contract with NHK to showcase their quality productions of Taiga dramas.
After running out of episodes for “Midnight Diner” and “Samurai Gourmet” I found a lovely little stop-motion anime on Netflix called “Rilakkuma and Kaoru.” The food elements are incidental to other story lines, but still essential. The first episode involves a bento picnic for the sakura festival. Best of all, the Japanese language is simple and spoken slowly and clearly. Check it out!
‘Rilakkuma and Kaoru’ sounds like a great find! We’d definite check it out. Thanks for sharing, Brock.
Muito obrigado pela indicação do Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman,
não conheço mas vou assistir parece bem estranho? Adoro coisas estranha.haaha!
Já os outros dois clássicos Midnight Tokyo e Samuray G. não me canso de ver são geniais.
Fico muito contente pelas indicações, e mais uma vez muito obrigado pelos mails e todas essa magnificas receitas dessa Caixa de Pandora que é seu site.
Boa quarentena tudo de bom para você e todos os seus.
Syd.
We’re glad to hear you enjoyed our recommendations, Syd. All the best to you too!