In this article, I’d like to introduce TV and online dramas that revolve around music.
That said, even when the theme is “music,” what truly matters in a drama are the story and the human relationships.
I’ve put together a selection across a wide range of genres—romance, coming-of-age, tokusatsu, and more—so you can enjoy those extra flavors alongside the music.
Each title has a distinct personality, so you’re sure to find something that suits your taste!
If a drama makes you think “This is it,” try searching for it on a subscription streaming site.
Be sure to read to the end!
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A roundup of Japanese dramas with the theme of “music” (1–10)
Nodame Cantabile
Tomoko Ninomiya’s hugely popular manga Nodame Cantabile was adapted into a live-action drama and aired in Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
slot.
As you’d expect from a series with a classical music theme, it turned into a show where you can casually enjoy famous pieces from the classical repertoire.
Juri Ueno, who played the protagonist Megumi Noda—aka Nodame—was hailed at the time as the real-life Nodame! And the senior she admires, Shinichi Chiaki, was portrayed by Hiroshi Tamaki.
It’s a story about how Nodame, a genius pianist, and the sharp-tongued, sadistic Senpai Chiaki grow through their interactions with each other.
And of course, the course of their romance is something you won’t want to miss!
cheer
The NHK morning drama series “Yell,” starring Masataka Kubota, aired in the first half of fiscal year 2020.
The protagonist Yuichi Koyama, played by Kubota, is modeled on the composer Yuji Koseki, and his wife Oto, played by Fumi Nikaido, is modeled on Koseki’s wife, Kaneko.
In the drama, viewers could hear famous pieces composed by Koseki, such as Waseda University’s cheer song “Konpeki no Sora,” “The Osaka Tigers’ Song,” and “Eikan wa Kimi ni Kagayaku,” the anthem of the National High School Baseball Championship.
It’s a masterpiece that depicts the couple’s life walking hand in hand, with a story full of both tears and laughter.
Fight Song
The young actress Kaya Kiyohara, known for her remarkable acting skills, takes on her first leading role in a commercial TV serial drama with TBS’s Tuesday series “Fight Song.” The script is an original story by Keiwa Okada, familiar from NHK morning dramas like “Churasan” and “Hiyokko.” The heroine, Hanae—played by Kiyohara—has seen her dreams crumble.
She meets Haruki, a one-hit-wonder musician played by Shotaro Mamiya, and through their “love initiative,” the two grow together in this human love comedy.
It’s a tantalizingly bittersweet yet subtly humorous taste of Okada’s writing.
Omotesando High School Glee Club!
There are so many great coming-of-age dramas with a music theme, aren’t there? Among them, one famous work that portrays a school chorus club is Omotesando High School Chorus Club.
The protagonist, Makoto Kagawa, is played by Kyoko Yoshine.
The story follows the straightforward Makoto as she clashes with her teammates yet works to rebuild the chorus club, which is on the verge of being disbanded.
The choral pieces featured include well-known songs like “Tsubasa wo Kudasai” and “Hanamizuki.” There are also some rather unconventional songs performed by the choir, so keep an eye out for those as well!
Quartet
Some of you might be in the mood to enjoy a mature love story once in a while.
If so, I recommend Quartet.
It’s a work that portrays the romances of four men and women who form a quartet.
Just when you think it’s a simple love story, it also turns out to be a suspense drama with meticulously laid foreshadowing.
And the theme song, Doughnuts Hole, is performed by Takako Matsu, Hikari Mitsushima, Issey Takahashi, and Ryuhei Matsuda—the very four who play the quartet in the show.
Given
Given is a boys’ love work that depicts a romance between high school students who play in an instrumental band.
Many of you may already be familiar with the original manga of the same name.
Although it falls under the boys’ love genre, it has garnered support across genders and age groups.
The reason is that it portrays the protagonist, Ritsuka Uenoyama, his passion for music, and his pure feelings for the person he cares about.
It’s a story anyone can relate to, so even if you’ve never watched a boys’ love work before, please give it a try.
gradually
Dandan is an NHK Morning Drama Series from 2008.
It’s a classic coming-of-age music story that follows Megumi Tajima, a high school girl living in Shimane Prefecture, as she pursues her dream of becoming a singer and eventually makes her debut.
In fact, the protagonist is a twin, and it also attracted attention because the roles were played by Mana Mikura and Kana Mikura.
By the way, the title Dandan means “thank you” in the Izumo dialect.
The series has a total of 150 episodes.
If you’re looking for a long, engaging drama, be sure to give it a watch!