Best Japanese Drama TV Shows of 2021

This page is updated regularly. Subscribe, so you don't miss new recommendations. The list of "Best Japanese Drama TV Shows of 2021" contains films with the following parameters. Style: captivating, anime, psychological, tense, disturbing and shounen. Plot: slice of life, school, relationships, high school life, couple relations, teenager, friends, love, friendship and teenage life. Genre: Drama, Animation and Action. Country: Japan and USA.
Best Japanese Drama TV Shows of 2021
Best Japanese Drama TV Shows of 2021
TOP TV Shows: My Beautiful Man (2021), Tokyo Revengers (2021), Japan Sinks: People of Hope (2021), Reach Beyond the Blue Sky (2021), Love's in Sight! (2021), Blue Period (2021), To Your Eternity (2021), Avalanche (2021), Horimiya (2021), 86 (2021), Ichikei's Crow (2021), Komi Can't Communicate (2021), Kotaro Lives Alone (2021), School Police (2021), Date My Daughter! (2021), Ranking of Kings (2021), The Aquatope on White Sand (2021), Performer (2021), Star Wars: Visions (2021), Sweet Revenge (2021).

List of Best TV Shows

Watch Trailers From This List to Choose a Movie
My Beautiful Man (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
TV show
Story: Kazunari Hira is in the 3rd grade of high school. He suffers from a stuttering problem and he doesn't have any friends. Without any dreams, his only hobby is to take pictures of daily life around him. On the first day the new semester, he finds ...
Style: psychological
Plot: lgbt, gay, lgbtq, lgbtqi, photography, gay interest, shy man, jealousy, cycling, bike, first kiss, high school drama ...
Is relevant ?
Tokyo Revengers (2021)
Genre: Animation, Action, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min.
TV show
Story: Takemichi Hanagaki is a freelancer that’s reached the absolute pits of despair in his life. He finds out that the only girlfriend he ever had, in middle school, Hinata Tachibana, had been killed by the ruthless Tokyo Manji Gang. The day after ...
Style: anime, tense, suspenseful, suspense, shounen ...
Audience: teens
Plot: salvation, time travel, friendship between teens, school, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, friends, revenge, violence, friendship, teenage life, friendship between men, mad love ...
Time: 2000s, future, 21st century
Place: tokyo
Is relevant ?
TOKYO MER: Mobile Emergency Room (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
TV show
Story: TOKYO MER is formed by order from the Governor of Tokyo. The name of the group stands for TOKYO Mobile Emergency Room. The members are emergency care professionals and they are to go to sites of dangerous accidents and disasters by ER car. Their ER ...
Style: captivating, tense, suspense, disturbing
Plot: emergency, crew, mission, rescue, ambulance, physician, teamwork, medical, saving a life, emergency room, workplace situations, coworker ...
Is relevant ?
Japan Sinks: People of Hope (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
TV show
Story: In 2023 in Tokyo, Prime Minister Eiichi Higashiyama pushes for COMS at the World Environment Conference. COMS is a method to liquify pollutants and store it in the crack of the sea floor. Prime Minister Eiichi Higashiyama gathers young and talented ...
Style: disturbing, captivating, tense, anime
Plot: disaster, media manipulation, corruption, secret, political corruption, investigative reporter, corrupt official, investigative journalism, environmental activist, ecological disaster, political conspiracy, corrupt politician ...
Time: near future
Place: japan, tokyo
Is relevant ?
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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (2021)
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min.
TV show
Story: 34-year-old virgin loser is kicked out of his home by his family and realized that his life is completely over. As he regrets wasting his life, a truck runs him over and he died. When he wakes up... He’s in a world of sword and sorcery! Reborn as ...
Style: anime, captivating, ecchi, intense, tense ...
Plot: reincarnation, starting over, new life, magic, magical, peril, second chance, impersonation, isekai, harem, unlikely partners, obsessive quest ...
Is relevant ?
Reach Beyond the Blue Sky (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story: Shibusawa Eiichi was born in 1840 to a farmer’s family. He grew up helping his family with work, which was to manufacture and sell indigo production and also silk farming. He left his hometown at the age of 23 and began working for the government. ...
Style: period piece, thrilling, captivating, historical drama, serious ...
Plot: government, capitalism, japanese history, historical character, capitalist society, historical figure, lifestyle, asian history, storytelling, capitalist, bank, taiga
Is relevant ?
Love's in Sight! (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
TV show
Story: Yukiko Akaza attends a high school for blind. She has amblyopia, which causes her to recognize colors only vaguely and she can recognize large letters with a magnifying glass. When she walks outdoors, she always carries a white cane. Nevertheless, ...
Style: thrilling, psychological, captivating
Plot: disability, blindness and impaired vision, opposites attract, couple relations, couples, male female relationship, teenage love, love story, relationships, fall in love, love interest, love affair ...
Place: japan
Is relevant ?
 7.7
 3K
Blue Period (2021)
Genre: Animation, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min.
TV show
Story: Bored with life, popular high schooler Yatora Yaguchi jumps into the beautiful yet unrelenting world of art after finding inspiration in a painting.
Style: anime, disturbing, captivating, queer cinema
Audience: teen drama
Plot: painter, art, struggling artist, slice of life, coming of age, friend, student, ambitious man, painting, direction and purpose, artwork, teenager ...
Is relevant ?
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To Your Eternity (2021)
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min.
TV show
Story: An immortal being was sent to the surface of the earth and met a boy living alone in the middle of tundra. The being can take the shape of dying things, but only if the "impetus" is stronger than the previous one. What sort of experiences ...
Style: anime, captivating, disturbing, unusual plot structure, psychological ...
Plot: eternity, evolution, immortality, eternal life, philosophy, friendship, reincarnation, mutation, transformation, boy and dog, fantasy world, supernatural ...
Is relevant ?
 7.8
 46
Avalanche (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
TV show
Story: Seiichi Habu is a member of the mysterious outlaw group Avalanche. The group exists at a time when moral hazards run rampant among politicians, bureaucrats, businesses, and even among ordinary people.
Style: suspenseful, captivating, serious, disturbing, realistic
Plot: investigation, secret organization, hacker, missing person, revenge, politics, corruption, power, freedom, resistance, police corruption
Is relevant ?
 8.1
 14K
Horimiya (2021)
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min.
TV show
Story: A secret life is the one thing they have in common. At school, Hori is a prim and perfect social butterfly, but the truth is she’s a brash homebody. Meanwhile, under a gloomy facade, Miyamura hides a gentle heart, along with piercings and tattoos. ...
Style: anime, captivating, entertaining, light, romantic comedy ...
Plot: teenage life, relationships, love, love affair, slice of life, couple relations, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, teenage girl, friendship, high school life, friends, teenager ...
Is relevant ?
 8.2
 7K
86 (2021)
Genre: Animation, Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min.
TV show
Story: Called “Juggernaut,” these are the unmanned combat drones developed by the Republic of San Magnolia in answer to the attacks by the autonomous unmanned drones of the neighboring Empire of Giad, the “Legion”. But they’re only unmanned in ...
Style: anime, futuristic, exciting, tense, captivating
Plot: fight, robot vs. robot, military, battle zone, power struggle, battles, robot as menace, team, life is a bitch, fight for supremacy, army, tragedy ...
Is relevant ?
Ichikei's Crow (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
TV show
Story: Michio Iruma is a former lawyer. He now works as a judge in the first criminal court (commonly known as "Ichikei") of the Tokyo District Court. He is an unusual judge. To avoid issuing wrong judgements, Michio Iruma seeks out the truth in ...
Style: captivating, psychological, disturbing
Plot: court, courtroom drama, female protagonist, workplace, crime solving, courtroom, investigation, crime investigation, lawyer, legal action, uncover truth
Place: japan
Is relevant ?
Komi Can't Communicate (2021)
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min.
TV show
Story: At a high school full of unique characters, Tadano helps his shy and unsociable classmate Komi reach her goal of making friends with 100 people.
Style: anime, humorous, sincere, entertaining, captivating ...
Plot: shyness, school, teenage girl, love, friends, teenager, self doubt, teenage life, slice of life, schoolgirl, relationships, friendship ...
Is relevant ?
Kotaro Lives Alone (2021)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 30 min.
TV show
Story: Shin Karino is an unpopular manga writer and he is single. He lives in an apartment complex that has a rule forbidding children from living there. One day, Shin Karino's doorbell rings. When he opens his apartment door, he sees a small boy. The ...
Style: captivating, psychological, semi serious, satirical, disturbing
Audience: family outing
Plot: life, parents, child, neighbor, adult child friendship, child custody, satire, neighbor neighbor relationship, care, father, children, mother ...
Is relevant ?
School Police (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
TV show
Story: Tatsuya Fujiwara plays a talented detective who trades hardened criminals for troubled teenagers. Placed in an unruly public junior high school, he gets to work contending with the many problems it faces and uncovers some more serious ones. While ...
Style: social, dramatic, captivating, harsh
Plot: troubled teen, troubled youth, junior high school, campus, school, middle school, schoolgirl, high school life, japanese schoolgirl, school teacher, schoolboy, police
Is relevant ?
Date My Daughter! (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 51 min.
TV show
Story: Aoi Minase is in her 40's. She works as a popular writer of romance novels. She is also a single mother, who raised her daughter alone. Her daughter is now 20-years-old. Due to Aoi Minase's success as a romance novelist, Aoi lives with her ...
Style: psychological, disturbing, captivating, romantic
Plot: mother daughter relationship, relationships, mother and daughter, looking for love, love and romance, family relations, love, relationship problems, love story, female writer
Is relevant ?
Ranking of Kings (2021)
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min.
TV show
Story: Unable to hear, speak, or wield a sword, Prince Bojji doesn’t seem like a typical heir to the throne—and his kingdom agrees. But his fateful encounter with Kage, a shadow on the ground, gives him his first true friend. The two set off on a grand ...
Style: anime, psychological, captivating, semi serious, disturbing ...
Plot: medieval, prince, deaf child, kingdom, royal palace, life is a bitch, deaf, blind ambition, palace intrigue, crown prince, society, magic ...
Is relevant ?
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The Aquatope on White Sand (2021)
Genre: Animation, Drama
Country: Japan
TV show
Story: Kukuru Misakino, an 18-year-old high school girl working in an aquarium, meets Fuuka Miyazawa, a former idol who lost her place in Tokyo and escaped. Fuuka will spend her days in the aquarium with her own thoughts in mind. However, the crisis of ...
Style: anime, psychological, captivating, sincere
Plot: friendship, slice of life, supernatural, workplace, coworker, idol, money problems, teamwork, employer employee relationship, new job, friends, job ...
Is relevant ?
 7.3
 18
Performer (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
TV show
Story: The day before Tomoki’s wedding day, he is falsely accused of sexual harassment. Due to the false accusation, he loses his job and his fiance leaves him. Tomoki decides to kill himself. While standing on the ledge of a rooftop building, he sees a ...
Style: thrilling, psychological, captivating, black comedy
Plot: revenge, meaning of life, changing lives, couple relations, relationships, relationship problems, love affair, betrayal, couples, cheating, male female relationship, tragic love ...
Is relevant ?
Star Wars: Visions (2021)
Genre: Animation, Short, Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 22 min.
TV show
Story: An anthology series of animated short films celebrating Star Wars through the lens of the world’s best anime creators.
Style: anime, funny, light, captivating, saga ...
Audience: kids
Plot: star wars, galaxy, conversation, space, propaganda, star trek, storytelling, evil, fight, battles, planet, strength ...
Is relevant ?
Sweet Revenge (2021)
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 30 min.
TV show
Story: Mariko who seems to have no luck with romance but is actually the president of a company named Sweet Revenge which helps their female clients take revenge on men who have dumped them in cruel and harsh ways.
Style: dramatic, exciting, captivating, suspenseful, manga
Plot: revenge, company, breakup, vengeance, male female relationship, avenge, relationships, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, customer, female protagonist
Is relevant ?
Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway (2021)
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min.
TV show
Story: On his way home from drinking his sorrows away after being rejected by his crush, 26 year old salaryman Yoshida finds a high school girl named Sayu sitting on the side of the road and ends up letting her stay at his place overnight. Not having the ...
Style: anime, romantic, funny, captivating, light ...
Plot: slice of life, older man younger woman relationship, life, love and romance, heartwarming, couple relations, romantic relationship, male female relationship, love
Is relevant ?
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 6.7
 43K
Cowboy Bebop (2021)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 58 min.
TV show
Story: A ragtag crew of bounty hunters chases down the galaxy's most dangerous criminals. They'll save the world... for the right price.
Style: neo noir, anime, captivating, contemplative, unusual plot structure ...
Plot: bounty hunter, cowboy, outer space, female warrior, space, violence, criminal, heroes, chase, vengeance, escapades, death ...
Time: future
Place: usa, space western
Is relevant ?
 8.4
 6K
Odd Taxi (2021)
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min.
TV show
Story: This town should look familiar, but suddenly, it's not. The taxi driver Odokawa lives a very mundane life. He has no family, doesn't really hang out with others, and he's an oddball who is narrow-minded and doesn't talk much. The ...
Style: anime, humorous, tense, captivating, entertaining ...
Plot: anthropomorphic animal, anthropomorphism, animal that acts human, slice of life, animal, animal life, society, talking animal, social relations, anthropology, lifestyle, anthropomorphic dog ...
Is relevant ?
 7.6
 2K
Sonny Boy (2021)
Genre: Animation, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
TV show
Story: On August 16, midway through a seemingly endless summer vacation, middle school third-year student Nagara, the mysterious transfer student Nozomi, and classmates such as Mizuho and Asakaze, are suddenly transported from their tranquil daily lives to ...
Style: anime, tense, exciting, captivating, psychological
Plot: superpower, survival, another dimension, supernatural ability, supernatural power, fantasy world, escapades, summer vacation, teenage life, teamwork, teenage protagonist, teenager ...
Is relevant ?
Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song (2021)
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Drama, Music, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min.
TV show
Story: The female looking and first autonomous AI named Diva is created for one mission to make everyone happy by singing. Shortly Diva is confronted by an unknown "program" from the future with objective to make Diva join him and destroy AIs.
Style: anime, futuristic, tense, captivating
Plot: humanoid robot, time travel, music, female robot, artificial intelligence, destruction, sentient robot, showdown, fantasy world, robot, escapades, female singer ...
Time: future
Is relevant ?
Those Snow White Notes (2021)
Genre: Animation, Drama, Music
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min.
TV show
Story: Sawamura Matsugorou is a shamisen player of legendary talent. Upon his death, his grandson, Sawamura Yuki, lost his ability to play. Having lost his beloved sound, Yuki finds himself in Tokyo in search of a new sound to love. Tachimura Yuna, who ...
Style: anime, sincere, captivating, psychological
Plot: music, slice of life, musician's life, grandson, teenager, introspection, musician, self discovery, legacy, cause and meaning, high school life, school ...
Place: tokyo
Is relevant ?
Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki (2021)
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min.
TV show
Story: Tomozaki is one of the best gamers in Japan, and in his opinion, the game of real life is one of the worst. No clear-cut rules for success, horribly balanced, and nothing makes sense. But then he meets a gamer who’s just as good as him, and she ...
Style: anime, thought provoking, captivating, romantic, psychological ...
Plot: relationships, love and romance, lifestyle, slice of life, schoolboy, romantic friendship, couple relations, male female relationship, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, video game, school, gamer ...
Is relevant ?
 6.9
 4K
Baki Hanma (2021)
Genre: Animation, Action, Drama, Sport, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min.
TV show
Story: To gain the skills he needs to surpass his powerful father, Baki enters Arizona State Prison to take on the notorious inmate known as Mr. Unchained.
Style: anime, disturbing, captivating, tense, powerful ...
Plot: prison fight, fight, prison brawl, scuffle, warrior, combat, fistfight, jailed, battles, fight club, prison, ambition ...
Is relevant ?
Watch Trailers From This List to Choose a Movie