What could shifts in themes of Japanese TV dramas tell us?

An observational look at Japanese TV dramas over the years

2005 Romance drama Source: https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Slow_Dance (accessed 16 Oct 2024) About two couples and their progression to their happy ending.

I can’t help noticing that Japanese dramas have changed in terms of their focus over the years so below is a reel of some of the dramas. What's your thoughts on this topic and how have the TV series in your country changed over the years? Pray tell! 🎤

Above: 2005 Romance drama, Source, https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Ima_Ai_ni_Yukimasu (Accessed 16 Oct 2024)

Below: 2023 Romance drama on two cheating spouses in the same couple. Source: https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Watashi_no_Otto_wa:_Ano_Ko_no_Koibito (Accessed 20 Oct 2024)

Below: 2005 Family Drama, Source: https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Shiawase_ni_Naritai!, accessed 16 Oct 2024

Below: 2020 Season 2 of 1993 family drama Under One Roof, Source: https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Hitotsu_Yane_no_Shita, accessed 16 Oct 2024

2023 Family Drama, Source: https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Sanzenen_no_Tsukaikata, accessed 16 Oct 2024 (Drama screenshot below)

It seems like male protagonists are no longer as popular in posters of TV family dramas? The drama above is a 2023 TV series based on a story of three generations of women in the Mikuriya family. Sanzenen No Tsukaikata In the Japanese TV series I watched when I was a teenager in secondary school here, I could see different members of the family like the brother, the dad, etc with differnt plotlines with some emphasis on each of them.

Do feel the Japanese dramas of old are much more romantic and normal?, and they no longer make them the same way in the past few years. That is a recurring thought in my mind over the past few years so decided to pen this. Certainly, I don’t cover all Japanese dramas. This is just my perspective, having watched numerous Japanese TV dramas over two to three decades, living in Singapore.

In the past few years, have also noticed a lot more Japanese TV drama series with detective and crime themes, and Japanese hospital drama series with doctors as heros saving the world.

Perhaps it is a function of the past few years reflecting itself in the creation of TV dramas?

This is purely an anecdotal and observational look at Japanese TV dramas over the years; and it could be totally wrong but thought it is worth sharing and seeing if any subscriber or new reader would like to chime in with their thoughts! XO

Past posts:

https://sillysmartatom.substack.com/p/book-review-paulo-coelhos-eleven

https://sillysmartatom.substack.com/p/thoughts-on-land-space-and-democracy

https://sillysmartatom.substack.com/p/podcasts-that-nourish-me-recommendations

https://sillysmartatom.substack.com/p/book-review-of-a-tiger-mums-manual

https://sillysmartatom.substack.com/p/how-do-shopping-malls-affect-democracy

https://sillysmartatom.substack.com/p/doodles-while-travelling

Photo by Meriç Dağlı on Unsplash