The start of a new “season” means the start of most dramas airing for the next three months, and we meant it when we mentioned January is jam-packed with many new launches.
Below, you can find no less than 45 of them this time. So, good luck with the to-watch lists as the first month of winter season ’26 is a go! (If you’re looking for the movies/sp etc, you can find those here)
Dramas
50-Funkan no Koibito
#HeySayJUMP Inoo Kei, Matsumoto Honoka, Mikata Ryosuke, Akimoto Manatsu, Kuroda Koki, and more
Release date: Jan 18 (ABC TV)
Karashima Nako (Matsumoto Honoka) never thought her coffee would lead her into a strange contract with an eccentric young man named Amami Haru (Inoo Kei) whose only friend is an AI. After accidentally spilling coffee all over his vintage clothes, Nako is offered a proposal: to make 30 handmade lunches as compensation, which she agrees to. With each 50 minutes lunch break spent together, the two gradually grow closer, resulting in a secret romantic-comedy story that must be kept hidden from their coworkers.
Wada Masanari, Takahashi Hiroto, Yuya Shintaro, Hori Kaito, Nakabayashi Toui, Kudo Shunsaku, and more
Wada Masanari, Takahashi Hiroto, Yuya Shintaro, Hori Kaito, Nakabayashi Toui, Kudo Shunsaku, and more
Release date: Jan 13 (FujiTV) – Original Release: Sep 25, 2025 (FOD)
A “Yakuza BL” drama based on a manga by Asai Sai, Anata wo Korosu Tabi stars Wada Masanari and Takahashi Hiroto as the young boss Kataoka and a family member Odajima, respectively. Known for his compassion and chivalrous attitude, Kataoka is loved by many members of the family. However, due to an incident, Kataoka is ordered by the family head’s biological son, Kiriei (Yuya Shintaro) to go into hiding with Odajima as his caretaker. And yet, things are far from black and white, for Odajima is given a secret mission by Kiriei to eliminate Kataoka.
DARK13 Odoru Zombie Gakkou
#THEJETBOYBANGERZ
Release date: Jan 10 (ABC TV)
Where do we go after we die? In Dark13, the answer is Dogma Class, a liminal classroom between the living world and the beyond, where the recently deceased earn a second chance to atone before passing on. Here, humans are surrounded by democratic zombies, each with their own personality and abilities, who will judge their sins. A collaborative project from LDH and ABC TV, Dark13 is a supernatural drama infused with musical elements, featuring members of The Jet Boy Bangerz as dancing zombies.
DREAM STAGE
Nakamura Tomoya, #ICEx Shiga Riku, #KAJA #HOJIN & #ISAAC, #TheRightLight Matsuse Daiji, Iwase Yoji, Ikeda Elaiza, and more
Release date: Jan 16 (TBS)
A drama centred on the Kpop entertainment industry, Dream Stage details the story of former music producer Azuma Jun (Nakamura Tomoya) and his bond with the seven outcast trainees from a small agency as they pursue their dream to top the chart and conquer the evolving generations. Joined by Ikeda Elaiza as the group’s manager, fans of dramas featuring fictional idol groups might be up for a new round after the 2022 TBS drama, Kimi no Hana ni Naru.
Sounds of Winter / Fuyu no Nanka sa, Haru no Nanka ne
Sugisaki Hana, Narita Ryo, Okayama Amane, Mizusawa Rintaro, Kura Yuki, Yanagi Shuntaro, Hosoda Kanata, Uchibori Taro, Nouchi Maru, Shida Sara, Hayashi Yuta, Kawai Aoba and Serizawa Tateto
Release date: Jan 14 (NTV)
Director Imaizumi Rikiya’s first foray into prime-time drama is a romantic drama led by Susigaki Hana as a novelist who lives her life earnestly while choosing to avoid really falling in love. Not much is given about the synopsis of Fuyu no Nanka sa, Haru no Nanka ne, however, those familiar with Imaizumi’s past works may want to prepare for melancholic yet insightful moments.
Game Change
Nakazawa Motoki, Ishikawa Ren, #CTQ Takamatsu Aloha, Nibu Akari, Nakamura Yurika, Yamauchi Takaya, and Komatsu Kazushige
Release date: Jan 18 (BS-TBS)
Three years after quitting his dream job at a gaming company, Kusamichi Sota (Nakazawa Motoki) now lives as a NEET at his family’s bakery while immersing himself in virtual worlds as a form of escapism. Unfortunately for Sota, the comfort of his walls are torn down when his parents announce the closing of their bakery, a situation that forces him to go down the job hunting path and, during the process, leads him to discover the world of smart agriculture. On the opposite end, in Tokyo, an incident caused Sawaki Yumemi (Ishikawa Ren) to take an involuntary leave, prompting her to return to her family’s farm. Now faced with new beginnings, Sota and Yumemi are standing at crossroads with hopes for a fresh start.
Glass no Yubiwa to Bansoukou
Goriki Ayame, Nagao Yuno, and more
Release date: Jan 17 (HTB)
In a story centred on themes of healing and finding one’s true self, Goriki Ayame takes on the mantle of a mentally drained office worker suffering from power harassment who then rediscovers herself down the self-healing journey at a children’s cafeteria in Sapporo. A human drama that showcases the power of connection, the series will air for four consecutive weeks from Jan 17th.
I Thought Looks Didn’t Matter. / Hito wa Mitame Janai to Omotteta.
Sugo Araki, Goriki Ayame, Tokito Yuki, Imaizumi Yui, Seto Asaka, and more
Release date: Jan 8 (TV Tokyo)
How much do you value vanity? That is a question Ishiguro Yamato (Sugo Araki) needs to rethink. After years of believing in the nonexistent significance of outside appearance, Yamato now doubts his principle when the sports magazine he was supposed to join as an editor shuts down abruptly. In a shocking turn of events, he is then reassigned to a fashion magazine editorial team, an unplanned position that will change his views on the importance of appearances.
If Only You Weren’t the One / Honmei Janakya Yokatta no ni
Higuchi Hina, Ikeda Masashi, #ONO Kusakawa Takuya, Mito Yuna, and Hibi Mikoto
Release date: Jan 8
Onuma Mihono (Higuchi Hina) is reunited with an accomplice with whom she had a physical relationship ten years ago, despite being in a relationship. That man is Ureshino Eisei (Ikeda Masashi) and he is a new employee at the travel agency Mihono works at. Faced with this new reality, she must maintain her professionalism and treat him normally, even if their reunion rekindles a dangerous spark of desire.
Kaedama Bravo!
Kita Kana, Amago Hana, Komagine Kiita, Aoi Yo, Kintaro, and Nozoe Yoshihiro
Release date: Jan 5 (NHK G)
What will you do if a longtime friend – a best friend – suddenly declares the end of your friendship? For Chimoto Karina (Kita Kana), there’s no way she’s going to leave her best friend of 20 years, Yumi (Amago Hana), that easily. Confused and dejected, Karina wanders into a ramen shop, only to find Yumi working part-time. Refusing to back down, she decides to sign up as a student at a ballet school Yumi teaches, hoping to find a way to mend their friendship and get Yumi to explain her reasonings.
The Faceless Patient / Kao no Nai Kanja
#THERAMPAGE Hasegawa Makoto, Inoue Sora, Higuchi Hina, Umefune Ariei, Sakata Risa, Takahashi Nao, Yui Ryoko, Sota Ryosuke, and Iida Kisuke
Release date: Jan 8 (Kantele/FujiTV)
#THERAMPAGE Hasegeawa Makoto gears up as surgeon Tsuzuki Ryo whose wife has been mysteriously kidnapped. Soon after, a challenge from the kidnapper shows up in the form of an unidentified patient with a completely crushed face, followed by an instruction to kill the patient in favour of his wife’s survival. Forced to choose between his wife and that of a stranger who turns out to be an alleged criminal, the doctor is stuck in a dilemma between his medical oath and his loved one.
Kateikyoshi no Kishi Knight desu.
#ONO Sawamura Rei, #SUPERDRAGON Tanaka Koki, Sato Eriko, Miyazawa Yu, Inoue Sora, Yagami Kenjiro, #GNJB Sakuragi Masaya, Osada Takuro, and Arashi Shoma
Release date: Jan 5 (BS Asahi)
A (romantic) comedy based on a manga by Okujima Hiromasa stars Tanaka Koki and Sawamura Rei as Takasugi Toru, a hot-headed delinquent, and Kishi Naito, a private tutor with a princely image, respectively. Unlike Kishi, Toru spends his days fighting and failing his tests, a behaviour that prompts his mother to hire Kishi as his tutor. Sadly for Toru, Kishi is more ~ fabulous ~ than he can handle.
Gimbap and Onigiri / Kimbap to Onigiri ~ Koisuru Futari wa Niteite Chigau
Kang Hyewon, Akaso Eiji, Moon Jihoo, Fukagawa Mai, Kataoka Rin, Fukuyama Shodai, and Fukikoshi Mitsuru
Release date: Jan 12 (TV Tokyo/Netflix worldwide)
The first joint project between Japan and Korea of this year is a romantic drama centred on Hase Taiga (Akaso Eiji), a part-time worker at a small restaurant, and Park Rin (Kang Hye-won), a South Korean animation student who is busy working on her assignments. One day, she receives a notice requiring her to move out of the dormitory, and, with nowhere to go, she stumbles upon the restaurant Taiga works at for a delicious serving of onigiri. There, their relationship blooms despite their cultural differences.
Small Fry Heroes / Kochira Yobi Jiei Eiyu-ho
#timelesz Kikuchi Fuma, Non, Morinaga Yuki, Goto Takenori, and more
Release date: Jan 7 (NTV)
In a world where humans possessing supernatural abilities are seen as “heroes”, seven individuals known for their “quirky, unconventional abilities” are secretly summoned by the Ministry of Defence as Japan’s answer to a first-reserve, self-defence force amidst the prohibition of military forces. Among them is a freeter named Nagare (Kikuchi Fuma) who struggles to fit in but vows to live an honest life. Together with six others like him, Nagare is assigned by official Madozumi (Rokkaku Seiji) to save planet Earth.
Konkatsu Battlefield 37
Kato Rosa, Fukuda Maki, #Den, Yasuda Kenya, Suzuki Kosuke, Tonesaku Toshihide, Kubota Yuki, Tajima Reiko, and Ikeda Akana
Release date: Jan 9 (TV Tokyo)
Based on a manga by Inokuma Kotori, Konkatsu Battlefield 37 is a comedy starring Kato Rosa and Fukuda Maki as two 37-year old women battling it out on the matchmaking field where their ideals and principles on marriage clash against each other.
Kono Ai wa Machigai desu ka ~ Furin no Shokuzai
Miyamoto Mayu, Izuka Kenta, Katayama Moemi and #ABCZ Totsuka Shota
Release date: Jan 7 (TV Tokyo)
A story about infidelity shared between a husband, a wife, an ex-boyfriend and a lover. This suspenseful drama begins after Matsumoto Naho (Miyamoto Mayu) starts doubting her two years of sexless marriage with her husband, Shogo (Izuka Kenta). After a failed attempt to get her husband interested, Naho encounters her ex-boyfriend, Toru (Totsuka Shota), and finds comfort in him. Similarly, Shogo has been approached by his coworker Ayaka (Katayama Moemi) who offers him a “friends with benefits” relationship.
Kurosaki-san no Ichizuna Ai ga Tomaranai
#MILK Yamanaka Jyutaro and Toyoshima Hana
Release date: Jan 6 (NTV)
Adapted from a web manga series of the same by Okada Piko, this romantic comedy follows novelist Kurosaki Ayato (Yamanaka Jyutaro) and his sudden proposal to 17-year old Shirase Koharu (Toyoshima Hana) who, after the death of her mother, leads a hectic life helping out her father at the family’s onigiri shop while taking care of her two younger brothers.
Matori to Kyoken
#NaniwaDanshi Nishihata Daigo, Mukai Osamu, Hosoda Yoshihiko, Fukami Motoki, Hirano Kinari, Morita Kokoro, Kujo Joe, Cho Tamiyasu, Kimura Yuichi, Yamaya Kasumi, Yusuke Shoji, #ONO Yamashita Eiku, and Motomiya Yasukaze
Release date: Jan 20 (MBS/TBS/Netflix)
From a manga written by Tajima Takashi with illustration by Masashi, Matori to Kyoken takes its story to the darker side of things involving drugs, murder and other possible crimes. Former child actor, Umezawa Kyonosuke (Nishihata Daigo), is caught in-between two parties. When a murder occurs at a club in Roppongi, a giant target on Kyonosuke’s back leads him to encounter Kurosaki Toru (Hosoda Yoshihiko), a narcotics control officer with a hyper-fixation on fighting drugs. Under Toru’s threat, Kyonosuke reluctantly becomes his informant. As if that’s not enough, he is unfortunately arrested by assistant inspector Katsuragi Akito (Mukai Osamu) who also demands him as a spy for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. With his hands tied to both forces, Kyonosuke must navigate and thread lightly if he wants to keep his head above water.
The Ransom is Kidnapping / Minoshirokin wa Yuukai desu
Katsuji Ryo, Takimoto Miori, Asaka Kodai, #WEST. Kiriyama Akito, Wada Masanari, Seto Saori, and more
Release date: Jan 9 (NTV/YTV)
When a couple’s child goes missing, the ransom note they receive is a little different from what expected: kidnap a child in exchange for the safety of your own. With that on their plate, Washio Takeru (Katsuji Ryo) and Miu (Takimoto Miori) seem to have no choice but to become criminals themselves. But at the same time, there must be a reason behind all this because why wouldn’t the kidnapper get the “right” child from the start?
Mirai’s Future Son / Mirai no Musuko
Shida Mirai, Amano Yuu, Shiono Akihisa, #WEST. Kotaki Nozomu, Hyodo Katsumi, Nishino Nanase, Hagiwara Mamoru, and more
Release date: Jan 13 (TBS)
In this LA drama adaptation from a webcomic of the same name, Mirai (Shida Mirai) suddenly stands eye-to-eye with a young boy claiming to be her son from the future. He came to find her to make sure she and his father “make up”. As she steps into life with the child near, she has to figure out which one of the guys in her near surroundings might be the boy’s father.
Miyakobito no Hisokana Tanoshimi: Rouge Keisho
Hoshi Moeka, Tokiwa Takako, Ishimaru Kanji, Guin Poon Chaw, and Watanabe Ken
Release date: Jan 4 (NHK)
Set in one of Kyoto’s most renowned and oldest confectionery shops, Kuraya Harunobu, Rouge Keisho is the new instalment to the Miyakobito no Hisokana Tanoshimi documentary-slash-drama series which highlights the values and aesthetics of Kyoto people. Taking place eight years after Tokiwa’s character in 2015, Hoshi Moeka takes up the baton as Mikami Raku, a new heroine who struggles with Kyoto’s centuries-old traditions and customs after her return from Paris. Minamoto Takashi, who has also worked on the previous series, is in charge of the script and directing.
Okome no Onna
Matsushima Nanako, #MILK Sano Hayato, Nagahama Neru, Chiba Yudai, Takahashi Katsumi, and more
Release date: Jan 8 (TV Asahi)
Yoneda Seiko (Matsushima Nanako) leads the newly established team ‘Zakkoku’, otherwise known as the ‘Complex National Tax Case Processing Office’ and recruits a team of selected staff to eliminate complex tax evasion cases.
We Are Bad Barbers / Oretachi Bad Barbers
Nakajima Ayumu, #CTQ Kusakawa Takuya, Harada Konosuke, Yoshida Mizuki, Goto Takenori, and Hamada Tatsuomi
Release date: Jan 9 (TV Tokyo)
An action-comedy and a couple of life lessons tucked away inside a barber shop run by two clumsy men, Ayumu (Nakajima Ayumu) and Tsukasa (Kusakawa Takuya), as they deal with problems that are seemingly impossible to solve in the real world. Not only will they trim and rearrange their client’s hair, they are set to fix their messy lives too!
Oshiete Kudasai, Fujishima-san!
Furuya Robin and Tsuji Karin
Release date: Jan 9 (DMM TV)
A live action adaptation of Nae Awaji’s web manga, this romance story follows novelist Mizuhara Rio (Tsuji Karin) in a desperate need to find inspiration for her manga. While stressing over her editor’s criticism, she encounters banker Fujishima Ayato (Furuya Robin) and in a spur of the moment, asks his help for a “hands-on research” on intimacy.
Otto ni Machigai Arimasen
Matsushita Nao, Sakurai Yuki, Miyazawa Hio, Otsuki Takehiro, Shiromiya Mizuho, Maekawa Yasuyuki, Nii Kagetora, Yamazaki Manato, #TravisJapan Nakamura Kaito, Matsui Rena, Yoshimoto Miyu, Isomura Ameri, Asaka Mayumi and Yo Kimiko
Release date: Jan 5 (FujiTV)
Asahi Seiko (Matsushita Nao) is a single mother who runs the family’s oden shop – Asahi Oden – while caring for her two children and mother in-law after her husband vanished a month prior. One day, the police inform her that her husband’s body has been found dead in the river. Based on the belongings found, Seiko testifies to confirm it is indeed her husband – only for him to appear a year later, very much alive.
Panda Yori Koi ga Nigate na Watashitachi
Kamishiraishi Moka, Ikuta Toma, Shishido Kavka, Miyazawa Emma, Nimura Sawa, Emoto Tokio, Miura Ryota, Kataoka Rin, Sasaki Mirei, Sasaki Shiho, #CTQ Takamatsu Aloha, and Hirayama Yusuke
Release date: Jan 10 (NTV)
Shibata Ichiha (Kamishiraishi Moka), who joined a publishing company with dreams of becoming a fashion magazine editor, is devastated to know that she has been reassigned to a lifestyle magazine department under her idol, charismatic supermodel and diva Haizawa Aria (Shisido Kavka). There, Ichiha has been instructed to be Aria’s ghostwriter for a romance advice column. Feeling lost, Ichiha gives Associate Professor Shido Tsukasa (Ikuta Toma) a visit to collect references and study about not just human romance, but also animal courtship behaviour.
Professional Hokenchousain Amane Ren
Tamaki Hiroshi, Okazaki Sae, Kota Shinya, Nomaguchi Toru, and Watabe Atsuro
Release date: Jan 8 (FujiTV)
Amano Ren (Tamaki Hiroshi), a talented ex-detective from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department began his career as an insurance investigator after his former superior introduced him to the investigation firm Miyama Research. Fearless and highly skilled with an eye for details, Ren utilises every tactic to complete his mission, even if he has to deceive his own teammates.
Punch Drunk Woman
Shinohara Ryoko, #SixTONES Jesse, Fujiki Naohito, Kang Jiyoung, #ONO Sawamura Rei, Kubota Yuki, Karuma, Koseki Yuta, #CTQ Kashiwagi Haru, Hoshino Yuna, Masaki Reiya, and more
Release date: Jan 11 (NTV)
Corrections officer Fuyuki Kozue (Shinohara Ryoko) is a woman of unwavering rigor and strict code who works at the detention centre. Known for her highly disciplined and tough exterior, Kozue seems to have everything under control. Unfortunately for her, that control is shattered by a new prisoner sitting in the interrogation room — one who is secretly connected to Kozue’s buried past. Inspired by a true story, Punch Drunk Woman circles around themes of forbidden obsession and twisted romance wrapped in suspenseful thriller.
Soda Master / Ramune Monkey
Sorimachi Takashi, Omori Nao, Tsuda Kenjiro, Oosumi Hideo, Aoki Kanade, Uchida Kirato, Hamao Noritaka, Matsumura Yuki, Nakagoshi Noriko, and Takahashi Keiko
Release date: Jan 14 (FujiTV)
Sorimachi Takashi, Omori Nao and Tsuda Kenjiro are best friends Yuta, Hajime and Kisuke with different personalities and tastes. The trio have been friends since middle-school as a part of the movie club, sharing their passion for kung-fu movies. Now in their 50s, the trio are stuck in a dead end, unsure of their lives. It wasn’t until a dead body was found at a construction site in Danbe, a town where Kisuke spent his middle school days with Yuta and Hajime that the three of them reunite for the first time to solve the mystery.
Reboot
Suzuki Ryohei, Toda Erika, Ito Hideaki, Makita Aju, Nakagawa Daisuke, Ikeda Tetsuhiro, Fujita Haru, Noro Kayo, #Kingandprince Nagase Ren, and #MrsGREENAPPLE Fujisawa Ryoka
Release date: Jan 18 (TBS)
Hayase Riku is a pâtissier running the Hayase Pastry Shop with his son and wife. Days go by like usual, until the body of his wife, Natsumi (Yamamoto Sayaka), was finally found two years after her disappearance. And just like that, Riku is arrested for her murder. Determined to discover the truth behind this case, Riku agrees to change his face and persona to that of Gido Ayumi, a corrupt detective known to have ties with the underworld.
Reiwa ni Kanno Shosetsu Tsukuttemasu
Tokui Yoshimi, Momotsuki Nashiko, Takahata Asobu, Ryoga Haruhi, Naito Shuichiro, Nishino Ryo, Endo Kumiko, Tsukumo Kisuke, Yamamoto Karin, Kurasu Ko, Yagi Nana, Hoshida Hidetoshi, and Saori
Release date: Jan 7 (TV Osaka)
Inspired by a true story at the France Shoin Bunko and based on a manga by Sato Yuki, this is an unconventional workplace drama centered on the publication of erotic literature in the digital era. Momotsuki Nashiko is Oizumi Mashiro, a new employee at France Publishing recently assigned to the erotic novel editorial department. On her first day, she finds editorial-in chief Tamagawa Joji (Tokui Yoshimi) in a heated argument with other employees regarding a book title. At France Publishing, obscene words and lewd illustrations are thrown around with no filters, further shocking Mashiro. However, as she continues to spends time with her eccentric coworkers, Mashiro discovers what it means to be a fiction editor in an otherwise sensual division.
Ryakudatsu Datsu kon
Uchida Rio, Ito Kentaro, Nakamura Yurika, #ISSEI, Onozuka Hayato, Machida Shion, Nomura Mami, Matsumoto Hiroki, and Kawashima Ririka
Release date: Jan 6 (TV Tokyo)
From a web manga series by Yamada Mei comes a drama centred on three key figures: wife Chiharu (Uchida Rio), husband Tsukasa (Ito Kentaro), and the third person in their relationship, Emiru (Nakamura Yurika). Following the surprising news regarding Emiru’s pregnancy – with Tsukasa’s child no less – Chiharu is set on her path of revenge against Emiru, resolving to take Tsukasa back in her arms.
Saikai ~ Silent Truth ~
Takeuchi Ryoma, Inoue Mao, Seto Koji, Watanabe Daichi, Eguchi Noriko, Danta Yasunori, and Kita Kana
Release date: Jan 13 (TV Asahi)
A mystery drama adapted from Yokozeki Dai’s novel of the same name, Saikai tells the story of four individuals who shared the same secret 23 years prior. Junichi (Takeuchi Ryoma), sixteen at the time, buried a handgun underneath a cherry blossom tree alongside the others. The four of them promised to keep it a secret as they continue to live their life before eventually drifting apart. Fast forward to present day, Junichi is now a detective assigned to a murder case. Before him sits Makiko (Inoue Mao), a childhood friend as well as a suspect. To his surprise, the weapon used in the case had been the same gun that he, Mako and the rest of their friends buried.
Saint Love Survivors
Ishii Anna, Ueda Tatsuya, Yamaya Kasumi, Satsukawa Aimi, #GENIC Mashiko Atsuki, Hamanaka Bunichi, Saeki Daichi, Todo Hinata, Usa Takuma, and Nakabeppu Aoi
Release date: Jan 7 (TV Tokyo)
Hiura Satoru’s web manga gets a live action adaptation starring Ishii Anna and Ueda Tatsuya as corporate employee Aizawa Haru and band member Oji Kazuhiro, respectively. The story follows Haru’s impulsive love at first sight for Kazuhiro after reading a magazine article, leading to her resignation from the company in order to be a freelance writer. Her life is turned upside down when, after meeting Kazuhiro, he proposes to her under one condition: a married life without any physical activity. Troubled by the “virgin road” life, Haru confides in her friends – Matsuoka Fuyumi (Satsukawa Aimi) and Kiriyama Akina (Yamaya Kasumi) – for help, not knowing that the two women are carrying their fair share of deep worries.
Countdown to Yes / Shinyuu no ‘Dousei Shite’ ni ‘Un’ te Iu made
#GNJB Yoshizawa Kaname, #GENIC Amemiya Kakeru, Furuya Robin, Hiraki Kanta, Nakayama Shoki, Ogata Sosuke, Manase Juri, and Bengal
Release date: Jan 12 (YTV)
A romantic comedy based on Roji’s manga titled the same, the plot follows two high school best friends from their teenage years up to their reunion a few years later. Now working at a local photo studio, Minato (Yoshizawa Kaname) is suddenly contacted by Wataru (Amemiya Kakeru) who informs him that he’s returning. Unbeknown to Minato, Wataru continues to cling onto the safety of friendship, refusing to confront his true feelings. Not wanting to give up, Minato pursues Wataru with straightforward words and actions, determined not to let him run away again.
The Refutation of Sirius / Sirius no Hansho
Nakajima Yuto, Nimura Sawa, Kaneko Daichi, Kawashima Ririka, Ogata Naoto, Watanabe Ikkei, Gozu Takeo, Masuoka Toru, Kondo Yoshimasa, Yoshimura Kaito, and Ayata Toshiki
Release date: Jan 10 (WOWOW)
Lawyer Fujishima Shota (Nakajima Yuto) is driven to the edge when a letter from a specific death row inmate arrives. Pleading for justice, the inmate proclaims his innocence regarding a brutal murder that took place twenty-five years ago in Gifu. Stuck in a dilemma and constantly haunted by memories of his own father, Shota reluctantly investigates the case, only to discover contradicting facts against prosecution’s claims. Racing against time, and with a man’s life in his hand, Shota teams up with his team leader, Higashiyama Anna (Nimura Sawa), and close friend Anno Sosuke (Kaneko Daichi), to uncover the truth and demand a retrial.
Strobe Edge S2
#NaniwaDanshi Takahashi Kyohei, Fukumoto Riko, Kosaka Nao, #WILDBLUE Yamashita Coki, Nakazawa Motoki, Inoue Sora, Nakagawa Tsubasa, Inoue Neo, Oguri Yui, Tanabe Ririka, and more
Release date: Jan 9 (WOWOW)
Fukumoto Riko, Takahashi Kyohei and Yamashita Coki reprise their roles as Ninako, Ren and Takumi in this live action adaptation of Sakisaka Io’s manga titled the same. A direct sequel of the first season released in 2025, the second season follows their second year of high school and introduce a new character, Sugimoto Mao (Kiryu Sakura), who seems to know a secret about the boys.
Tantei-san, Ryukku Aitemasuyo
Matsuda Ryuhei, Takahashi Hikaru, Ohkura Koji, Mizusawa Shingo, Katayama Yuki, and Mitsuishi Ken
Release date: Jan 9 (TV Asahi)
In a former hot spring inn located in the small rural town of Nishigaya Onsen, Ichinose Yosuke (Matsuda Ryuhei) is a detective-slash-inventor who devotes himself to inventions as a way to preserve his father’s legacy after he went missing. Surrounded by his bizarre and surreal inventions, Yosuke accepts strange requests from the eccentric clients living in a strange hot spring town where mysterious vehicles roam about.
Themis’ Uncertain Court / Themis no Futashikana Hotei
Matsuyama Kenichi, Narumi Yui, Ichikawa Mikako, Wakui Emi, Tsunematsu Yuri, Hayama Shono, and more
Release date: Jan 6 (NHK G)
As a child, Ando Kiyoharu (Matsuyama Kenichi) was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Since then, he’s been pretending to be “normal”, hiding his true self from his surroundings. Years later he’s working at the District Court’s First Branch where his neurodivergent traits eventually end up being a strength in cases as he’s able to bring details to the surface no one else had paid attention to. While the cases build up, Ando also has to confront his own self.
Tokyo Miko Ninja
Riko, #THERAMPAGE Fujiwara Itsuki, #STARGLOW RUI, KANON & ADAM
Release date: Jan 7 (NTV)
The time is Tokyo in 2026, in a city that feels like a modern-day Edo period, where humans are plagued by a disease known as “Yoka” – a condition born from the ugliness in one’s heart. At the centre of this story is shrine maiden-in-training Shiraishi Sumi (Riko) who inherits an extraordinary power to “turn prayers into blades.” Trained by her mother, Yui, she is tasked with protecting the nation’s order. Unable to find meaning in fighting, Sumi struggles to control her extraordinary powers. To make things even more complicated, Sumi then meets transfer student Kuon (Fujiwara Itsuki) and experiences love that could potentially destroy the world.
Worth noting: the series’ fantasy elements were made with GenAI.
Tokyo P.D. Keishicho Koho 2 Kakari
Fukushi Sota, Ogata Naoto, Masana Bokuzo, Yoshikawa Ai, #CTQ Kusakawa Takuya, Shinoda Ryo, Shinonome Umi, and more
Release date: Jan 13 (FujiTV)
An original story conceptualised by former news reporters for the Metropolitan Police Department, it follows Imaizumi Rintaro (Fukushi Sota) whose initial goal is to join the elite First Investigation Division. In a surprising turn of events, he finds himself transferred to the Public Relations Division 2, a department responsible for PR and media communications to solve cases. Led by former First Investigation Division detective and current head of Division 2, Ando Naoshi (Ogata Naoto), Rintaro must learn how the media operates when major incidents occur.
Tsui no Hito
Kakizawa Hayato, Nishiyama Jun, Tsutsui Mariko, and more
Release date: Jan 13 (TBS)
A sincere, heartfelt drama about life and death, Tsui no Hito is a story focused on two key characters: Shie Sosuke (Kakizawa Hayato), a former detective turned funeral director, and Soyogi Kotaro (Nishiyama Jun), a corporate employee who feels disconnected from overworking. After the sudden death of Soyogi’s mother, the two cross paths and confront what death ultimately means.
Uso ga Uso de Uso wa Uso da
Kikuchi Rinko, Nishikido Ryo, Takehara Pistol, Shiono Akihisa, and more
Release date: Jan 11 (FujiTV)
In a small izakaya in Niigata, a group of “liars” gather around, each one carrying baggage of their own. These “liars” are divorcee Mitsuko (Kikuchi Rinko), scammer Nakamura (Shiono Akihisa), and blood-stained detective Namiki (Takehara Pistol). Together, the three end up sharing a table. The timing couldn’t be more accurate though, for in the midst of this, news of a nearby hit-and-run accident appears on the television, prompting the story to question: who is the “liar” in all of this?
Delinquent Doctor / Yandoku!
Hashimoto Kanna, Mukai Osamu, Miyase Ryubi, Yoshida Kotaro, Otoo Takuma, #INI Xu Fengfan, Uchida Rio, Otani Ryohei, and Otsuka Nene
Release date: Jan 12 (FujiTV)
Rookie doctor Tagami Kotoha (Hashimoto Kanna) heads to the neurosurgery staff room to find two neurosurgeons – her colleagues – arguing over an emergency patient in an urgent situation. At this situation, Kotoha boldly steps in to take charge, performing a successful catheter procedure under direct instructions from Nakata Keisuke (Mukai Osamu), a doctor who once saved Kotoha’s life. Impressed by her skills, Kotoha is then invited to join the hospital Keisuke works at. There, she learns the harsh reality of hospital bureaucracy and mountainous paper works on top of the vertical hierarchy that prioritises profits over patient’s needs.
Yokohama Neighbours
#NaniwaDanshi Onishi Ryusei, #timelesz Hara Yoshitaka, Taira Yuna, and more
Release date: Jan 10 (TokaiTV/FujiTV)
A new LA mystery-drama that’s been gaining traction as the Reiwa-Yokohama set edition of Ikebukuro West Gate Park, Yokohama Neighbors is an ambitious collaboration between WOWOW and Tokai TV. The series follows Koyanagi Ryuichi (Onishi Ryusei) and Iwashimizu Kinta (Hara Yoshitaka) as a crime solving duo tackling social issues in contemporary Japan. Additionally, while the first season is scheduled for release in January, with the second season to follow in March.
Zenbu, Anata no Tame Dakara
#WEST Fujii Ryusei, #TravisJapan Shimekake Ryuya, Igeta Hiroe, Matsushita Yuki, Takeda Rena, Ohara Yuno, #CTQ Kusakawa Takuya, Furuya Robin, Naenano, and Suzuki Airi
Release date: Jan 10 (TV Asahi)
Sayaka (Igeta Hiroe) has been poisoned by someone on her wedding day. According to wedding photographer Sakuraba (Shimekake Ryuya), the poison has been diluted into the champagne. However, catching the culprit would prove to be difficult as every single guest’s hypocrisy, including Sayaka’s best friend and mother, comes to light. Determined to find the culprit, the groom Hayashida Kazuomi (Fujii Ryusei) teams up with Sakuraba to perform their investigation.