Hamsapsukebe Jdorama Awards 2023

Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at that time of the year again. The time when I cbf watching any more jdoramas from 2023 and want to celebrate all the excellent shows from 2023. I think 2023 might be one of the best jdorama years ever because we have more than 5 must watch shows and a few that I would not not mind giving a must watch to like 0.5 no Otoko. So without further ado:

BEST ACTRESS

IITOYO MARIE - NANYOUBI NI UMARETA NO?

The question is Iitoyo Marie that good or is Nojima Shinji's script so magical that anyone could have made the role of Sui sing so well? Who knows but by the jdorama gods, this is the best performance by an actress from 2023. If you said Naka Riisa from Rikon Shiyou yo, I would not disagree.

BEST ACTOR

AOYAGI SHO - KASO GIREI

Aoyagi Sho did such a great job as Kiryu Ekai. He is a swindler who created this religion for money but at his core, he wants to help people and he discovers that the business of religion is a lot more cutthroat than he imagined. Aoyagi Sho made Kiryu Ekai a genuine person in a sea of sharks.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

FUBUKI JUN - 0.5 NO OTOKO

The heart of 0.5 no otoko, a heartwarming family dorama from WOWOW.  I did not give it a must watch but it is such a great feel good show and if anyone from the show deserves an acting award it is Fubuki Jun.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

KITAMURA  YUKIYA - KEIJI TO KENJI, TOKIDOKI HANJI

Not only did Kitamura Yukiya did a good job for Tasogare Yusaku, he was very good as the prosecutor whose ex was Kichise Michiko and who has the hots for Higa Minami.

MOST FUN JDORAMA OF 2023

KENSHIROU NI YOROSHIKU

I know I did not give Kenshirou ni Yoroshiku a must watch but it was such a funny and memorable show for me. I kept waiting for the gimmick to grow stale but the show had me laughing until the end.

GOOD TRY AT GOING A HOME RUN AWARD

KUDO KANKURO FOR RIKON SHIYOU YO

The first half of Rikon Shiyo yo! was so freaking good and funny. The second half was slow and boring. Kudo Kankuro could have gone the easy way out but he wanted to do this meaningful divorce story that was a few episodes too long. I respect Kudo Kankuro's ambition but it could have easily been the best show of 2023 if he did not aim for the stars.

SO BAD THAT I ENJOYED IT

TRILLION GAME

Trillion game is a turn off your brain show about two people who somehow succeed at every get rich quick scheme from creating their own online shopping platform with a fake AI to becoming hosts to creating stupid gatcha games. Trillion Game was so cheesy I could not help enjoying myself. Maybe I should call this is Imada Mio award because I would not have finished Trillion Game and Ichiban Sukina Hana without her. 

BEST 5 JDORAMAS OF 2023

5. TOKYO HINKON JOSHI

It was between Tokyo Hinkon Joshi and Rakujitsu for the final spot and I have to give to Tokyo Hinkon Joshi. I can't remember the last time I had more than 6 must watch shows in a year. Tokyo Hinkon Joshi is the show that shows you sometimes women can ganbatte all they want but the odds can be staked against them and life is never fair.

4. HAYABUSA SHOBODAN

Fun mystery jdorama set in beautiful inaka featuring a band of underdog firefighters. Beautifully shot with a great ending.

3. PARIPI KOMEI

Is Mukai Osamu that good as Komei or is it just the costume? Kamishiraishi Moka is the absolute casting choice for Eiko. I think Paripi Komei does everything very well.

2. FENCE

Fence is a story about a magazine reporter investigating this rape allegation in beautiful Okinawa and what she uncovers is not pretty. Fence gives the audience a breakdown of the politics of Okinawa, race in Japan and the cost of having a foreign military base. 

1. KASO GIREI

Kaso Girei is a jdorama about two people creating a fake religion but it is also a show about people looking for a place to belong. It is a show that examines the value of religion and rituals to our lives and how it gives order and meaning. Kaso Girei also looks at the power of religion and it's connection to politics. Amazing job by NHK.

Hamsapsukebe jdorama awards 2022

 Ladies and gentlemen, it is time once again to celebrate the best jdoramas had to offer in 2022! To get the elephant in the room out of the way, 2022 belonged to three amazing shows, The Journalist, Elpis and Ryojin no Ono. Followed by about 10 watchable shows which makes it the hardest year for me to pick the best 5 show of the year. 

BEST ACTRESS

Nagasawa Masami (Elpis) 

If you said Yonekura Ryoko in The Journalist, I would not argue with you but I think Elpis would be a different show without Nagasawa Masami.

BEST ACTOR

Iura Arata (Ryojin no Ono)

One of the best actors in jdoramaland.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Shibata Kyohei (Ryojin no Ono)

IMHO the most important actor in that show.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Kaho (Silent)

Kaho single handedly saved Silent from being a bad jdorama. She needs to be main actress in jdoramas.

I DID NOT KNOW THIS PERSON COULD ACT AWARD

Kame in Shoutai

Kame has been released from my this guy cannot act list but unfortunately he has starred in so many bad jdoramas. If I were a Johnny I would only act in WOWOW shows so that I can say I have been something decent. 

WORST JDORAMA IN TERMS OF QUALITY

Roppongi Class

Words cannot describe how horrible the writing and acting in Roppongi Class is. Not to mention it has the fakest izakaya I have ever seen in all of jdorama. Everything about this show is wrong and I can't believe the producers have no quality control. If I were the Japanese minister for common sense, I would cancel this show straight away.

SURPRINGSLY GOOD JDORAMA AWARD

Tsuma wa Shogakusei ni Naru. This show should have been an abomination of a crying porn jdorama especially being a TBS show but bloody hell ended pretty watchable. Runner-up is Shoujiki Fudousan because I don't like Yamapi but he was cast in the correct jdorama.

5 BEST JDORAMAS OF 2022

5. CINEKON E IKOU!

Sentimental favourite for me. I really want to give this a must watch because it is so funny, has that magic and Watanabe Dai shows that he is a good actor.

4. KONYA WA KONOJI DE season 2

Love this series so much. Season 2 continues the story and introduces more interesting characters and the food looks so effing good. 

3. RYOJIN NO ONO

This show is so good and so bloody depressing you will think about it long after you finish watching.

2. ELPIS

Nagasawa Masami and Maeda Gordon power this amazingly written and acted show about how scary doing the right thing is. The only thing I don't like is how Nagasawa Masami's face is starting not to move.

1. THE JOURNALIST

Amazing script and directing and great acting. Please make more shows like this Netflix. May I suggest a Unification Church jdorama or Dentsu overwork story? I don't think they can combine the Dentsu overwork with the vote rigging story can they?

Hamsapsukebe jdorama awards 2021

Edit: Had to remove the Journalist since it is a 2022 show and not 2021 and promoted Ore no Ie no Hanashi to top 5 list. Thanks to Anonymous for pointing that out.

Ladies and gentlemen, sorry to keep you waiting as once again we celebrate jdorama excellence from 2021. I meant to do this way earlier but this game called Elden Ring came out and has destroyed whatever free time my partner and I have. 2021 seems like a long time ago but looking back at my posts I really think 2021 might be the greatest year in terms of jdorama quality since I have been the Hamsapsukebe awards. 

There were a lot of good quality shows in 2021 that were near the border of must watch and we have 9 must watch shows! 9 must watch shows for a year is crazy! For the first time ever I had to water that down to 5 best jdoramas of 2021. I think listing all 9 shows is too much and its better to have 5 shows to remember the year with and I really had a difficult time and kept changing my mind.

BEST ACTOR

TAKEUCHI YUTAKA (SAMAYOU YAIBA)

I thought this was Suda Masaki's award for most of the year and then I saw Takeuchi Yutaka's unforgettable performance in Samayou Yaiba.

BEST ACTRESS

ARIMURA KASUMI (Konto ga Hajimaru and Zenkamono)

She deserves the award for both show. Great performances and great shows and her agent deserves kudos for getting her great roles. Hada Michiko was awesome in Cold Game as well.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

HASHIZUME ISAO (Tokkai)

I love him as the boss who knows how difficult his job is what he is asking from his subordinates but does it because it is the right thing to do.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

TODA ERIKA (Ore no Ie no Hanashi)

BEST FEEL GOOD DORAMA

MUSHOBOKE

DORAMA THAT MADE ME LAUGH THE MOST

BANK OVER!

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

DCU

5 BEST JDORAMAS OF 2021

Special mention: Iribito, Mikoku wa Utau, Hakozume, Mushoboke, Tokkai, Cold Game, Dragon Zakura S2, Zenkamono and Nile Perch no Joshikai

5. ORE NO IE NO HANASHI

4. KONTO GA HAJIMARU

3. KAREI NARU ICHIZOKU

2. SHITTERU WIFE

1. SAMAYOU YAIBA

Hamsapsukebe Jdorama Awards 2020 Updated V2

UPDATE:

Thanks to Anonymous for pointing out that Shitteru Wife and Ore no Ie no Hanashi were 2021 shows! Can't believe I did not notice. Oh well, at least I do not have to rewrite the whole thing. 

 

With 24 Japan finally finished, I can turn my attention to the annual tradition of celebrating the best in Japanese doramas! The only other show from 2020 I want to watch but haven't is Kiken na Venus but I can't find half the English subs and I am too lazy to retime the Japanese ones.

This is probably the hardest awards I had to do because instead of having 5 standout must watch shows in 2020, we had at least 10 good and watchable ones so I feel like celebrating them all but what would be the point of awards then? I have had to do this list and sleep on it before revising so without further ado...

BEST ACTRESS AWARD

NAKAMA YUKIE - 24 JAPAN

Most of the year I was thinking Shibasaki Kou had it sewn up for 35-sai no Shoujo. She's got good competition from Uchida Rio (Raise wo chanto shimasu), Suzuki Kyouka (Kyouen NG) and Hirose Alice but I have to give it to Nakama Yukie in 24 Japan because her character kept me interested through the 24 episodes.

 

BEST ACTOR AWARD 

KANAME JUN - AKUMA NO BENGONIN

Technically not the most impressive acting job ever as he just has to look sullen and not smile but I just love his character and the show.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

 

SUZUKI HOMAMI - 35-SAI NO SHOUJO

Another no smiling acting role where less is more.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

IKEUCHI HIROYUKI - SIREN NO ZANGE

He really made up for Araki Yuko's lack of acting ability and carried the show for her and the role of a supporting actor is to make the main actress look competent. Plus he did a decent job in 24 Japan. Always good at supporting roles.

BEST JDORAMAS OF 2020

5. RAISE DE WA CHANTO SHIMASU

Very well done sex comedy that isn't about virgins. You have no idea how refreshing that is and I hope sex comedy jdoramas can now move on. (As if) Seriously, its a very fun feel good show.

4. ISEKAI IZAKAYA NOBU

Who would have thought a light novel turned jdorama about a izakaya in a medievil land would be so entertaining and would get me through covid lockdown? Super super feel good jdorama for me. Sorry Ore no Ie no Hanashi, this should be your spot.

3. COLD CASE SEASON 3

Episode 9 was one of the most unforgettable episodes ever and Season 3 is the strongest Cold Case yet.

2. AKUMA NO BENGONIN

Its a bit of a cheat to put this here since it started in 2019 but what the hell, I love this show more than I should and it is infinitely rewatchable. It has every reason to be a bad jdorama but its so understatedly good.

1. ALICE IN BORDERLAND

By the jdorama gods! This is what happens when Netflix money and time meets one of the best jmovie directors in Sato Shinsuke.

 

SUMMARY

This is one of the weirdest awards post where the jdorama that got two acting awards didn't get into the top 5 but I guess this is what happens when there are a lot of decent jdoramas and not enough must watch ones. If you said that the top 5 jdoramas of 2020 should be 35-sai no Shoujo,High Position, Tetsu no Hone and Konya wa kono ji de, I would not argue except for Alice in Borderland for the sheer quality.

Hamsapsukebe Jdorama Awards 2019

Finally finished Ryu ga Gotoku 7 after 95 hours. Time to get my life back to normal aka watching jdoramas. But first, let's look back at what has been a very good year because we have had a lot of great quality shows.

WORST TREND OF THE YEAR 

REMAKING KOREAN SHOWS

For some reason someone keeps choosing to remake Korean dramas that are super-melodramatic with too many coincidences to take serious. On top of that, the dialogue usually sounds like its been google translated.

FAVOURITE GUILTY PLEASURE OF 2019

KABUKICHO BENGONIN RINKA

Its a draw between this and Tokusatsu Gagaga and..... I just realised I did not finish watching Tokusatsu Gagaga which I will rectify immediately.

BEST ACTOR

ABE HIROSHI - MADA KEKKON DEKINAI OTOKO

Was there any doubt? Well, if Harassment Game came out in 2019 we Abe might have a fight but his brand of physical comedy is too funny.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

NOGUCHI NORIKA - KORE HA KEIHI DE OCHIMASEN!

I can't ever remember an annoying and equally entertaining character joining a jdorama series halfway and making me wonder how the show survived without her in the first place. Strong consideration for Shiraishi Sei in Dakara Watashi wa Oshimashita.



BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

KEN-CHAN - KDO

I can't remember any supporting actors that impressed me in 2019 so I'm giving it to Ken-chan who can express so much with his eyes.

BEST ACTRESS

SAKURAI YUKI - DAKARA WATASHI WA OSHIMASHITA

Hardest one to give. So many great performances from female leads this year from Tabe Mikako to Uchida Rio. There can only be one and it feels like Sakurai Yuki gave everything to her character.

BEST JDORAMAS OF 2019

5. MADA KEKKON DEKINAI OTOKO

4. SAKA NO TOCHUU NO IE

3. KORE HA KEIHI DE OCHIMASEN!

2. MUKAI NO BAZURU KAZOKU

1. DAKARA WATASHI WA OSHIMASHITA