Ever found yourself wanting to watch a gripping drama but feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of titles and not knowing where to start? In fact, ABEMA is home to a treasure trove of Japanese original dramas featuring bold storylines and innovative concepts you won’t find on terrestrial TV.
From romance to suspense to comedy, the genres are wide-ranging, and once you hit play, you won’t be able to stop.
In this article, we’ll introduce must-watch Japanese original dramas you shouldn’t miss if you’re watching ABEMA.
Experience the unique appeal of ABEMA Original Dramas for yourself!
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ABEMA’s Japan-original dramas. Works you can watch only here (1–10)
MISS KING / Miss KingNEW!
MISS KING, an original production starring Non that topped ABEMA’s drama rankings.
Set in the world of shogi, this human drama follows a protagonist whose life was stolen by her genius shogi-player father, as she takes on battles across the board armed with revenge and talent.
A major highlight is Non—long known for her bright image—delivering a powerful performance as a dark hero who bares her inner anger and defiance.
The star-studded cast includes Naohito Fujiki and Shido Nakamura, and the story unfolds with profound depth as each move on the board mirrors a life-defining choice.
Garnering top honors at international film festivals and widespread global acclaim, this is a gripping tale of rage and renewal you won’t want to miss.
Informer – Beasts Living in the Dark –NEW!
Informer: Beasts Who Live in the Dark captivates with bold concepts and hard-hitting developments you won’t find on broadcast TV.
Kenta Kiritani plays the mysterious information broker Keijiro Kihara, while Reo Sano portrays the young reporter Kanji Mishima, as this crime suspense drama set in Bangkok, Thailand, sweeps them into a massive information war.
The scale has grown from the previous installment, and the feverish energy and ever-present danger unique to a foreign land are vividly rendered with cinematic visual beauty.
A star-studded cast— including Kazunari Ninomiya as a high-ranking police bureaucrat—adds further depth to the story.
B’z’s newly written theme song, Muchi (Whip), perfectly matches the breakneck pace of a narrative hurtling through extreme circumstances.
It’s a series that can only be realized on a streaming platform, pulling you into a deep, realistic portrayal of the underworld—no doubt you’ll be hooked.
A World Where Only I Am 17NEW!
Kota and Mei, childhood friends who harbor feelings for each other but never manage to put them into words, are separated by Kota’s sudden death.
Yet seven years later, when cherry blossoms bloom out of season, he appears before Mei—still 17 years old—while she has turned 24.
This work is a bittersweet yet warm fantasy romance co-led by Hayato Sano and Marie Iitoyo.
The time lag between him, whose clock stopped at 17, and the people around him who have continued living as adults deepens the story’s poignancy even further.
The theme song by ACE COLLECTION and an insert song by MACO beautifully color the fleeting nature of their limited reunion.
Please witness these miraculous days in which feelings once left unspoken are delivered at last.
ANIMALS -Animals-NEW!
ANIMALS is a dramatic comeback love story that follows a protagonist worn down in a toxic workplace who dives into the glamorous beauty industry and gradually rediscovers her true self.
Airi Suzuki delivers a realistic portrayal of a heroine struggling just to make it through each day.
By chance, she becomes involved with a cosmetics startup, and the heart-pounding romance between her, a cheeky photographer played by Kyoya Honda, and a seemingly perfect yet awkward CEO played by Jin Shirasu will keep you hooked.
More than just a romance, it carefully depicts the journey of carving out one’s life through one’s own strength, gently encouraging anyone who wants to break free from their current situation.
Even If I Know -the shapes of love-NEW!
ABEMA’s original work “Even If We Know -the shapes of love-,” a reimagining of a smash-hit drama set in Kamakura, Japan.
It’s a delicate, bittersweet adult love story woven between a mysterious genius artist played by Ryusei Yokohama and a woman afraid of love played by Sara Minami.
Even knowing they’ll get hurt, they’re drawn to each other by an irresistible gravity.
Many viewers may find themselves overlaying their own past onto those ineffable emotional tremors that can’t be neatly put into words.
Ryutaro Nakagawa’s delicate visual beauty and iri’s mellow theme song beautifully color the fragile distance between two people who want to get closer but can’t quite bridge the gap.
This is a recommended work for when you want to immerse yourself in a love that feels painfully real.
Scandal EveNEW!
Scandal Eve is an original Japanese serialized drama that streamed on ABEMA in November 2025.
Kou Shibasaki stars as Saki Ioka, the president of a talent agency.
The story begins when a notice arrives that a weekly magazine will publish a scandal involving one of the agency’s actors.
With only 72 hours before the article goes public, Saki’s desperate struggle to protect the agency keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Another highlight is the cat-and-mouse showdown with Kanade Hirata, a weekly magazine reporter played by Haruna Kawaguchi.
It’s a suspense drama that delves deeply into the entertainment industry’s hidden side and structural issues, resisting simple notions of good and evil.
The theme song is also by Kou Shibasaki, further heightening the show’s tension.
I love you to deathNEW!
The Japanese original drama “Love You to Death,” streamed on ABEMA starting in March 2025, is based on the manga of the same name by Seimaru Amagi and drew major attention for marking Hiroki Narimiya’s return to acting after about eight years.
The character Masato Kamishiro, played by Narimiya, is a dangerous figure—an outwardly perfect husband who harbors a cold, ruthless side.
Mio, his wife portrayed by Miori Takimoto, is delicately depicted as she wavers between love for her husband and growing suspicion.
Director Hideo Jōjō’s sensual, suspenseful touch and Tsuyoshi Domoto’s theme song further heighten the work’s dense atmosphere.
Spanning eight gripping episodes, it also excels as a psychological drama about the collapse of an idealized marriage.