Japanese dramas are like, super popular for teaching us important life lessons about love and appreciating life. And yeah, there are tons of awesome romance shows out there, but sometimes you just wanna go on an emotional roller coaster, you know? So if you're in the mood for a seriously sad story that'll make you cry your eyes out, you gotta check this list out! Get ready to shed some serious tears, 'cause these shows are gonna break your heart.
"Perfect World" is a Japanese drama about Itsuki Ayukawa, a university student who becomes paralyzed after an accident. Despite his physical limitations, he is determined to become a successful architect. He falls in love with Tsugumi Kawana, his high school crush, and they must overcome challenges to find happiness. The drama explores societal prejudices and the importance of true happiness.
2. Boku no Ita Jikan
young man named Takuto Sawada who has a limited time left to live due to a progressive nervous system disease called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Despite his condition, Takuto tries to live a normal life and finds a job at a furniture company. He meets a kind young woman named Megumi Hongo and they become friends, eventually becoming a couple. When Takuto learns about his condition, he breaks up with Megumi to spare her from the pain of his illness. However, Megumi discovers the truth and decides to stay with him regardless of what happens.
3. One Liter of Tears
"When it comes to inspiring stories, there's a drama called "One Liter of Tears" that really touches the hearts of viewers. It's an 11-episode series from 2005 about a 15-year-old girl named Aya Ikeuchi. Aya is cheerful, friendly, and loved by everyone around her. She comes from a regular family that runs a tofu shop. As Aya starts to have more accidents and falls, her mother becomes concerned. After researching her symptoms, they discover she has spinocerebellar degeneration, a disease that will eventually take away her ability to walk, speak, and eat.
Despite her young age, Aya faces this harsh reality with incredible strength. With the love and support of her family and friends, she lives a fulfilling life before passing away at 25. The story is based on the real-life experiences of Aya Kito, who documented her journey with the disease in a journal."
4. I Give My First Love To You
"Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu" is a J-movie from 2009 that's all about young love. It was a big hit in Japan, ranking 17th in terms of box office earnings with a whopping 2.15 billion yen. People couldn't get enough of the heart-wrenching story of Mayu and Takuma, two childhood friends who were inseparable since they were 8 years old. Their bond and friendship only grew stronger as they got older, and they could have been the perfect couple if it wasn't for Takuma's heart disease. The doctor said he wouldn't live past 20, so they made a promise to get married when they reached that age.
Years later, when they're in high school, Takuma tries to push Mayu away because he knows his time is running out and he doesn't want to make her sad. But Mayu is determined to stay by his side, so she follows him to his school and they declare themselves as campus lovers. Things get even more interesting when another guy named Kou falls for Mayu, while a girl named Teru becomes close to Takuma. It's a tragic and tear-jerking love story that reminds us to cherish and express our love for someone while we still have the chance. In 2019, there was even a TV drama adaptation of the film called "Secret Unrequited Love."
In the 2017 film "The 8-Year Engagement," based on a true story, Hisashi and Mai are engaged to be married after meeting at a restaurant party. Their romance takes a tragic turn when Mai falls ill and is diagnosed with a rare brain inflammation. Despite the challenges, Hisashi continues to care for Mai, visiting her in the hospital every day. Mai's parents become concerned and ask Hisashi to stay away, but he remains hopeful that she will wake up. When Mai finally regains consciousness after a year, she has no memory of Hisashi, adding to the heartbreak.
The movie did really well, selling over two million tickets at the box office. A lot of people were moved by Hisashi's unconditional love for Mai.
6. Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World
Also known as "Sekai no Chushin De, Ai Wo Sakebu", this TV series is based on a bestselling novel that sold over 3 million copies. The movie version exists, but the 11-episode TV series was released in 2004. It tells the story of a bittersweet love that spans both the past and the present, starting in a small town in Japan where Saku and Aki, two high school students, begin to develop feelings for each other. Aki dreams of visiting Australia and seeing Ayer's Rock.
When Aki is diagnosed with leukemia, she and Saku are forced to spend less time together. Saku, wanting to fulfill Aki's dream, buys her plane tickets to Australia. Tragically, Aki passes away before she can make the trip. In the present day, Saku reminisces about his time with Aki, reflecting on their young love that was both heartbreaking and beautiful, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
The original "Good Doctor" Korean drama got a lot of praise for how it was made and the acting, but there are also plenty of good reasons to watch the Japanese remake. It aired in 2018 and stars Kento Yamazaki as Minato Shindo, a guy with autism who's really smart. He wants to be a doctor like his mentor, Akira Shiga, because he wants to save people and not let them die like his brother did. Akira is touched by Minato's kind heart and innocent personality. Minato thinks he can be a good doctor, but he has trouble talking to people.
Akira supports Minato's dream and recommends him to be a resident doctor. At first, it's a big deal because of his condition, especially for Doctor Seiji Takayama who doesn't think he can do it. But Minato learns that being a doctor isn't just about being smart. He starts to fit in at the hospital and becomes a great pediatric surgeon who takes good care of the kids. Get ready with some tissues because this drama will definitely make you cry a lot!
