For me, 2025 wasn’t a good year for Korean drama. The reason was that I dropped a lot of them to the point that it made history! 🤣😂 You need to read my 2025 Korean dramas journey to understand why.

And so, I thought I wanted to change the scenery a bit by trying out Japanese dramas, aka dorama/J-drama. I first watched J-dramas some 15 years ago when I was hooked on Boys Over Flowers. I watched the Korean drama version of Boys Over Flowers & went crazy for it, then read the Hana Yori Dango manga, then watched the Japanese drama version, Hana Hori Dango (2005, 2007 & film). That was my first & last time watching Japanese dramas until now, that is.

I watched 2 Japanese dramas aired in 2025 & completed both. Hip hip hooray!! 🥳🥳

Completed 2025 Japanese Dramas (by airing date)

1. Love Is For The Dogs 初恋DOGs (10 eps)

I’ve never live-watched a J-drama before. So, it’s my first time waiting patiently for the once-a-week episode drop. I’ve experienced it in Kdrama & the wait was excruciating & so was this.

I love the trio’s friendship & also how they weave the dogs into the stories. I enjoyed the bickering & push and pull between Aiko Hanamura & Kai Shirosaki, played by Kaya Kiyohara & Ryo Narita, respectively. They have chemistry there. However, once they got together at the end (luckily it’s at the end), their chemistry somehow poof… gone. I love their childhood connection story, which involves dogs. I also enjoyed the bromance between Kai Shirosaki & Woo Seo Ha (played by Na In Woo in his first Japanese role). For me, this latter relationship is a little more interesting.

Gotta admit though, I thought some scenes (not the OTP’s) were a bit OTT & cringe. The sudden loud music was quite distracting, too.

I love all the good-hearted people at Shirosaki Animal Hospital & at the pet cafe. There were dogs galore & as a dog lover myself, I was very happy. Btw, 初恋 means hatsukoi = first love ❤️

2. Romantics Anonymous 匿名の恋人たち (8 eps)

Very Highly Recommended 👍👍👍👍👍
What a gem(s)! 💎💎💎

I super ❤️ this J-drama!!! It was so sweet, fluffy & lovely. I binged-watch this in 3 days (single drop) & some of them were on my bed where I lie down & cover half of my face with a small pillow, giggling & being giddy 🤭 for Hana & Sosuke, while my sister was sleeping. This reminded me of the good old days. Ahhh…

I also caught myself saying “This show is so good!” a couple of times. I love it when a show gives you all the FEELS & this one lingered on for nearly a week after finishing it.

If I have to point out a weakness, it’s that the show is too short. I also noticed the last episode was kind of rushed. I felt like they cut some scenes out. Who knows, it’s supposed to be 9 episodes? My point is further fueled by Le Sauveur’s Rainbow Palette. You see, I thought it was very creative of the show to name the title of each episode with one of the chocolates of the Rainbow Palette. However, one chocolate, Mont de Matcha wasn’t showcase. This is why I feel like an episode had been axed.

I first & last saw Han Hyo Joo in Dong Yi & Shun Oguri in Hana Yori Dango, both in 2011. 14 years later, they would star in a rom-com together. Now, is this fate or what?

Han Hyo Joo gave a wonderful performance as Hana Lee. Both her demeanor & Japanese skills were excellent. I found out later that in real life, she knows how to speak Japanese. No wonder! Shun Oguri did well too as Sosuke Fujiwara. He has a really strong screen presence. I didn’t feel it when I watched him as a young lad. I guess he’s the epitome of the saying, aging like fine wine. I especially ❤️ his voice. I also enjoyed the second leads’ story, Hiro Takada & Irene, played by Jin Akanishi & Yuri Nakamura, respectively. Btw, Ryo Narita’s in this too.

I ❤️ its OST called 告白 (kokuhaku), which means confession, sung by Kim Chae Won. I could sing nearly all the lyrics. Here’s a fun fact: 告白 is actually a remake of a Korean song called 고백 (go baek), which, yes, means confession, sung by Park Hye Kyung in 1999, which was also played in one of the scenes in Romantics Anonymous. Which scene, you may ask? It’s the train scene in ep 5 as shown in the photo above. Incidentally, it’s also my most favorite scene 💞

Btw, I checked out the Romantics Anonymous page on Netflix’s website & it stated there Season 1 teaser, Season 1 teaser 2 & Season 1 trailer. So, if I’m correct, there MAY BE a season 2 of Romantics Anonymous. Super yay if it’s true.

If you want to sing along 告白 with Japanese & romanization lyrics PLUS English meanings, click play below.

I actually have a couple more J-dramas that I wanted to watch, but I have no time for them yet.
That’s it. I hope you enjoyed reading it.

Love Is For The Dogs Romantics Anonymous

Last modified: 8 May 2026