A quiz about Japanese TV dramas—from nostalgic classics to hot new hits.

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Started performing in bands in junior high school. Influenced by Japanese rock and UK rock, spent over 10 years continuing band activities while creating original songs. Later began producing Vocaloid tracks using Hatsune Miku, with total plays of released songs surpassing 10,000. Has five years of experience writing for music magazines. Currently works as a music writer, director, and composer, keeping a ground-level perspective on the scene by attending live shows across Japan. Now performs at live houses in Tokyo, showcasing guitar playing centered on acoustic guitar and informed by knowledge of chord analysis and guitar scales. Also writes leveraging a broad knowledge of music genres.

From the Showa era through Heisei and Reiwa, a wide variety of TV dramas have been broadcast in Japan.

Works across many genres—romance, action, mystery, and more—are beloved by viewers.

In this article, we’ve compiled quizzes related to dramas aired in Japan.

You can check out everything from timeless masterpieces loved across generations to hot, buzzworthy titles.

Many questions focus on iconic scenes and theme songs, which may evoke a sense of nostalgia for some.

Be sure to try these quizzes to deepen your knowledge of Japan’s most popular TV dramas.

A quiz about Japanese TV dramas: from nostalgic classics to buzzy hits (1–10)

Which drama features the famous line, “Boku wa shinimasen” (“I won’t die”)?

Please tell me you love me.
101st Proposal
Long vacation

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101st Proposal

The famous line “I won’t die” was used in the 1991 drama The 101st Proposal. This line appears in a scene where the protagonist repeatedly confesses his love to the heroine, moving viewers deeply and remaining remembered as one of the drama’s iconic moments.

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Who played the lead role in the drama “Furuhata Ninzaburō”?

Masakazu Tamura
Teruyuki Kagawa
Shinichi Tsutsumi

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Masakazu Tamura

The drama Furuhata Ninzaburō is a series in which Masakazu Tamura played Furuhata Ninzaburō, a cool detective with genius powers of deduction. This role made Tamura extremely popular, and the series continued to produce many episodes, becoming a memorable presence in the history of Japanese television dramas. Tamura’s acting and unique aura added depth to the character and captivated many viewers.

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What is the drama in which Masaki Suda plays the protagonist, Totonou Kunou?

Class 3-A: From now on, you are all hostages.
Do Not Say Mystery
Kounodori

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Do Not Say Mystery

The drama in which Masaki Suda plays the protagonist, Totono Kunou, is called “Don’t Call It Mystery.” It aired in 2022 on the Fuji TV network. Based on the popular manga of the same name, the story depicts the protagonist, Totono Kunou, as he uses his unique perspective and methods to solve various problems—referred to as “mysteries”—that are posed to him by others.

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A quiz about Japanese TV dramas: from nostalgic classics to trending hits (11–20)

Which song is the theme song for the drama “Confidence Man JP”?

All or Nothing
No doubt
Pretender

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No doubt

The theme song of the drama “Confidence Man JP” is “No Doubt.” The track was provided by the popular band Official HIGE DANDism. Their distinctive, refreshing sound and catchy melody perfectly match the drama’s lighthearted and humorous vibe. In particular, it’s a memorable song that conveys, through music, the characters’ elaborate con games and the show’s quirky worldview.

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What is the drama in which Mikoto Misumi, who works at the Unnatural Death Investigation Laboratory, is the protagonist?

Unnatural
Cold case
Signal

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Unnatural

Unnatural is a drama featuring forensic pathologist Mikoto Misumi, who works at the Unnatural Death Investigation Laboratory (UDI Lab). The story follows her and her team as they use scientific methods to unravel various unnatural deaths. The drama captivated many viewers and received high acclaim.

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Which drama has the tagline, “If someone hits you, hit them back twice as hard!!”?

Naoki Hanzawa
Legal High
HERO

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Naoki Hanzawa

Hanzawa Naoki is a hugely successful drama that aired in 2013 starring Masato Sakai. It portrays a banker protagonist who strikes back thoroughly—and with payback—against the injustices he suffers from corporations and superiors. The catchphrase “double payback” became a major talking point and even a social phenomenon. The series won numerous awards and proved so popular that sequels were produced afterward.

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What is the drama in which Mao Inoue plays the protagonist, Tsukushi Makino?

Gokusen
Boys Over Flowers
Boys at My House

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Boys Over Flowers

Hana Yori Dango, starring Mao Inoue in the lead role, is a popular TV drama that aired in 2005. The series is based on the manga of the same name by Yoko Kamio and depicts romance and friendship with the wealthy elite group known as F4. Mao Inoue’s character, Tsukushi Makino, is a strong and resilient female protagonist born into a poor family, and she won the hearts of many viewers.

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