Rinka Kumada

TV Asahi

Third-year advertising company employee Aoi Morita (Rinka Kumada) has long struggled with her self-confidence, as her tall height makes her an anomaly among Japanese women. While taking the elevator at work one day, Aoi's director teases her about her height, but an unexpected savior swoops in to defend her: aloof sales manager Tomonari Kurosawa (Fuma Kikuchi), whose direct manner of communication gave him a chilly reputation despite his genuine care for others. As Aoi starts to learn more about Kurosawa, she begins feeling more drawn to him, but can't quite get a read on how he feels. Meanwhile, Kurosawa has largely steered clear of relationships, wishing to avoid anything that makes his life more complicated, but even he isn't immune to feeling jealous when others get close to Aoi. Will these coworkers eventually find their way to romance together? This drama was adapted from the manga of the same name by ma2.

THE REASON WE FALL IN LOVE

📝 Reasons to Love 💕✨

Aoi Morita

Sumire (Igeta Hiroe) is a victim of her own kindness. She repeatedly falls for the wrong kind of guy – a mistake that keeps ending in heartbreak. Now, she has suffered a double whammy – she has lost her boyfriend and has also suffered a career setback, losing her job as a pattern designer. While wallowing in her sorrow, she comes across some eye-catching lingerie. She decides to make a radical change – and become an underwear designer!

But her first steps in the industry are inauspicious, and when she attends a job interview, she finds herself unable to answer questions. Disillusioned, she finds herself out in the rain when she meets a younger man named Soichi (Ichinose Hayate), who shields her with his umbrella. Soichi dreams of becoming a pianist. Sumire finds herself falling for him, but soon learns that Soichi is full of mysterious secrets…

“Hide from the Rain” is a 2023 Japanese drama series that was directed by Komaki Sakura, Sasaki Shimon, and Megumi Aiba.

Hide from the Rain

Auspicious Rain 🌦️

Akari Tachibana

University student Akari Tachibana (Rinka Kumada) has sworn off real-life romance, finding solace in comics after a painful breakup. But her carefully guarded heart is thrown into turmoil when she meets the kind and honest Izumi Naruse (Jyutaro Yamanaka), whose personality immediately attracts her. However, she’s stunned to learn he’s the younger brother of her high school ex. Will this unexpected connection push them apart or bring them closer? This 2023 Japanese drama, based on the manga of the same name by Kyo Hinata, was directed by Takuya Sakagami, Katsuhiro Omoto, and Ryosuke Fukawa.

Brother Trap

Love is a Trap

Over a decade ago, Hagino Shion (Kumada Rinka) was an awkward high school student. She had a crush on the standoffish but handsome Hasegawa Souma (Honda Kyoya) and decided to try to win his heart by confessing her feelings for him. But when she tried to do so, he rejected her cruelly – telling her that she ought to “do something about her appearance” before telling a boy she liked him. This crushing blow has scarred her ever since.

Now, aged 29, she works as a beauty consultant. Her hair styling and makeup abilities are almost second to none, and her career has really taken off. Regardless, she has never had a boyfriend. When she attends a blind date-themed party, she suddenly has a flashback to that unhappy moment back in high school...and is magically transported back to her school days. It’s 2010 again, and she is the same school girl – except she now has awesome makeup skills! She resolves to change her destiny, armed with the skills she perfected as an adult. But could this path really lead her to love?

This drama was based on a manga title of the same name, authored by Yuu Nozomu.

“Cinderella Again” is a 2022 Japanese drama series that was directed by Goto Yosuke.

Cinderella Again

👓 A Makeover Past 💋

In an attempt to combat the growing number of socially isolated individuals in Japan, the government decides to embark on an ambitious experiment. The nation passes a so-called NEET Protection Law for NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) individuals. As part of the law’s provisions, an agency will attempt to play matchmaker for NEET individuals and government employees. The hope is that doing this will help reintegrate NEET people into mainstream society.

Akiyasu Shin (Seto Toshiki), a 28-year-old civil servant, is one of the first people to take part in the program. But fate plays him an unusual hand, pairing him with a woman named Sawamoto Himari (Kumada Rinka). The biggest issue with this “union” is the fact that Sawamoto Himari was signed up for the program without being informed about the matter! The duo is forced to live together as “husband and wife.” But will they prove incompatible? Or could this unorthodox experiment somehow lead them to true love?

This series was based on a manga series of the same name by Miku Yuuki.

“Marry Me!” is a 2020 Japanese drama series that was directed by Honda Ryuichi.

Marry Me!

The Experimental Couple Team

&nbsp;Rio (Aoi Wakana) is a high school student who lives in Tokyo. After months of study, she is looking forward to spending the long, forthcoming summer vacation in the Japanese capital, hanging out with her friends, and hopefully meeting some boys! But unforeseen events force her mother to send her away for the entire holiday to the countryside. There, she must stay, along with her brother, in a small village with her aging grandmother.

Rio is distraught by the development. But when she meets a young man named Ginzo (Sano Hayato), she is smitten with his charm and good looks. She soon discovers that he works part-time at her grandmother’s teahouse – but when they get to talking, they get off on the wrong foot. It isn’t long before they resolve their differences, however. But as a bond starts to form between them, some of their friends are less than pleased. And as the long summer vacation draws to a close, what will become of this duo?

“Ao-Natsu” is a 2018 Japanese movie that was directed by Takeshi Furusawa.

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