Summer Jdramas are gearing up for airing! The line up has several season sequels included such as GTO 2, MOZU 2 and Nobunaga no Chef 2. This also includes HERO 2, the sequel to the uber popular HERO aired in 2001, starring Kimura Takuya. The decision for a sequel gained mixed reactions- it’s success or it’s failure- is definitely much anticipated.

On the other hand, drama ‘Wakamonotachi 2014’ boasts of an all star cast, and Dan Mitsu plays her first lead role in ‘Around 30 Chan’. Also, after 2 SPs, Yamada Ryosuke’s Kindaichi version gets a drama series with ‘Kindaichi Neo’.

What summer Jdorama are you looking forward to? Check out the list below.

FUJI TV
HERO 2
	Air Date:	9pm, Mondays, 14 July 2014
	Cast:	Kimura Takuya, Kitagawa Keiko, Matsushige Yutaka, Sugimoto Tetta, Yashima Norito, Hamada Gaku, Kohinata Fumio, Yoshida Yo, Masana Bokuzo, Katsuya, Kadono Takuzo, Tanaka Yoji
	Sypnopsis:	Kiryuu Kohei (Kimura Takuya) has returned to the Josai branch of the Tokyo Public Prosecutors Office which is now headed by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ushimaru Yutaka (Kadono Takuzo). Kiryuu’s new assistant is the dignified, beautiful but coarse Asagi Chika (Kitagawa Keiko).
Asunaro San San Nana Byoush
	Air Date:	9 pm, Tuesdays, 15 July 2014
	Cast:	Sorimachi Takashi, Yanagiba Toshiro, Gouriki Ayame, Kazama Shunsuke
	Sypnopsis:	Daisuke Fujimaki (Sorimachi Takashi) is a 50-year-old ordinary salaryman. He works for a general trading company.The cheering squad for Asunaro University is in danger of being shut down due to a lack of participants. The secretary general of alumni association of Asunaro University asks for someone to enter the university and take leadership of the cheering squad.That someone becomes Daisuke Fujimaki as he works for the company which is run by the secretary general of alumni association of Asunaro University.
GTO Season 2
	Air Date:	10 pm, Tuesdays, 8 July 2014
	Cast:	AKIRA, Higa Manami, Yamamoto Yusuke, Ono Takehiko, Kazami Shingo, Maruyama Tomoki, Mabuchi Erika, Anan Atsuko, Fujisawa Ayano, Tayama Ryosei, Shirota Yu, Kuroki Hitomi
	Sypnopsis:	Onizuka (AKIRA) is sent as a temporary teacher to the high school he graduated from in Shonan, Japan. At the high school, he faces difficult problems including a high school student’s pregnancy and a student refusing to attend school. Onizuka’s past is also revealed through people who knew him from his past.
Wakamonotachi 2014
	Air Date:	10 pm, Wednesdays, 9 July 2014
	Cast:	Tsumabuki Satoshi, Eita, Mitsushima Hikari, Emoto Tasuku, Nomura Shuhei, Aoi Yu, Nagasawa Masami, Hashimoto Ai, Yoshioka Hidetaka
	Sypnopsis:	When the parents of five children died, the children banded together to survive. The five siblings now live together. They have arguments everyday and sometimes even fight with each other. Each of the siblings have their own problems, like studying, finding a job, marriage, etc. There are also people connected with the siblings who either yearn for them or are their romantic interests.
Hirugao ~ Heijitsu Gogo 3-ji no Koibitotachi
	Air Date:	10 pm, Thursdays, 17 July 2014
	Cast:	Ueto Aya, Kichise Michiko, Saito Takumi, Ito Ayumi, Kinami Haruka, Kinoshita Houka, Fuchikami Yasushi, Suzuki Kosuke, Takahata Atsuko, Kitamura Kazuki
	Sypnopsis:	Housewife Sasamoto Sawa (Ueto Aya) works as a part-time supermarket cashier. One afternoon, she unconsciously pickpockets a lipstick at the supermarket. Takigawa Rikako (Kichise Michiko) sees a part of this. What she proposes is Sawa’s assistance in setting up an alibi for her affair in exchange for her silence on that matter. Sawa obeys the demands of Rikako in order to protect her “happiness” even though she is falling apart emotionally. In the process, she meets high school teacher Kitano Yuichiro (Saito Takumi) and gradually cannot stop thinking about him. Before long, she crosses a line which she should not.
Suikyuu Yankees
	Air Date:	11.10 pm, Saturdays, 12 July 2014
	Cast:	Nakajima Yuto, Yamazaki Kento, Takaki Yuya, Ohara Sakurako, Chiba Yudai, Mamiya Shotaro, Nakagawa Taishi, Yoshizawa Ryo, Yamoto Yuma, Shinkawa Yua, Kakei Miwako, Suzuki Nobuyuki, Oomasa Aya
	Sypnopsis:	Inaba Naoya (Nakajima Yuto), who grew up abroad, admires Yankees because of the amount of comic books he read. One day, he finally arrives in Japan to attend high school for one year. He chooses a run-down school which is full of delinquent (yankee-like) students. Soon he realizes that they were all just problematic youths, nothing more. He then decides to rebuild water polo club, the sport he likes, so that they will finally have a purpose to focused on.

NTV
Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo N (neo)
	Air Date:	9 pm, Saturdays, 19 July 2014
	Cast:	Yamada Ryosuke, Kawaguchi Haruna, Arioka Daiki, Yamaguchi Tomomitsu
	Sypnopsis:	Hajime (Ryosuke Yamada), Miyuki (Haruna Kawaguchi) and Ryuji (Arioka Daiki) and other members of the school’s mystery research group become involved in difficult cases and must infer who the culprits are,
ST ~ Aka to Shiro no Sousa File
	Air Date:	10 pm, Wednesdays, 16 July 2014
	Cast:	Fujiwara Tatsuya, Okada Masaki, Shida Mirai, Ashina Sei, Kubota Masataka, Miyake Hiroki, Shibamoto Yuki,
	Sypnopsis:	Akagi Samon (Fujiwara Tatsuya) and Yurine Tomohisa (Okada Masaki) of the Scientific Task Force, or ST for short, solve difficult crimes together.
Juui-san, Jiken desuyo
	Air Date:	11.59 pm, Thursdays, 3 July 2014
	Cast:	Jinnai Takanori, Yoshimoto Miyu, Nogiwa Yoko
	Sypnopsis:	Shiba Kentaro (Jinnai Takanori) is a compassionate vet in an old Tokyo neighbourhood. He does not only treat pets but also interferes in the problems of pet owners and struggles to be of help.
Kinkyori Renai Season Zero
	Air Date:	12.50 am, Sundays, 20 July 2014
	Cast:	Abe Aran, Ishibashi Anna, Kishi Yuta, Adachi Rika
	Sypnopsis:	Spin-off of the upcoming Kinyori Renai movie (Yamapi).In high school, Sakurai Haruka (Abe Aran), Mirei (Ishibashi Anna) and Kanata (Kishi Yuta) are good friends whom everyone envies. The three of them believed their relationship would remain like this forever. Then Haruka’s stepsister Ririko (Adachi Rika) suddenly returns from overseas. After several years away, she has become beautiful to the extent that classmates call her “goddess”. Although Haruka has often built walls around other people, Ririko deliberately gets close to him. Haruka is baffled by his pushy stepsister, Mirei secretly loves Haruka and Kanata has become aware of Mirei. The distance between Haruka, Mirei and Kanata who had taken it for granted that they would always be close, starts to change little by little
Sailor Fuku to Uchuujin ~ Chikyuu ni Nokotta Saigo no 11-nin
	Air Date:	12.59 am, Fridays, 27 June 2014
	Cast:	Kadowaki Mugi, Kiriyama Ren, Sudo Risa, Sasai Eisuke, Ikeda Tetsuhiro, Nishio Mari, Nagaoka Takuya, Oshima Yoko
	Sypnopsis:	When Kibou Minase (Kadowaki Mugi) wakes up, she finds herself wearing a sailor suit and lying in a white room. She is in a spaceship.Planet Earth was hit by a meteorite and all living creates perished except for 11 people who were saved by an alien. Those saved include a man who claims to be part of the Earth Defense Force, a pilot who can’t speak, a pregnant woman and elementary school student. Those left are faced with the choice of living with aliens in a faraway place or escape the spaceship and build a new city on Earth.

TBS
Dousousei ~ Hito wa, Sando, Koi o Suru
	Air Date:	9 pm, Thursdays, 10 July 2014
	Cast:	Iura Arata, Inamori Izumi, Itaya Yuka, Matsuoka Masahiro, Matsumoto Toshio (EXILE), Ichikawa Miwako, Takachi Noboru, Okamoto Rei,
	Sypnopsis:	Kenta Yanagi (Arata), Akehi Kamakura (Izumi Inamori), Ryosuke Sakurai (Masahiro Matsuoka) and Kaoruko Hirono (Yuka Itaya) meet at a reunion for the first time in 25 years. They become attracted to each and hope for love, but reality stands in their way..
Oyaji no Senaka
	Air Date:	9 pm, Sundays, 13 July 2014
	Cast:	Yo Oizumi – (screenplay by Shunsaku Ikehata) Masakazu Tamura – father (screenplay by Yoshikazu Okada) Takako Matsu – daughter (screenplay by Yoshikazu Okada) Tsunehiko Watase – father (screenplay by Toshio Kamata) Kankuro Nakamura – son (screenplay by Toshio Kamata) Toshiyuki Nishida – (screenplay by So Kuramoto) Kenichi Endo – Mifuyu’s father (screenplay by Izumi Kizara) Maki Horikita – Mifuyu (screenplay by Izumi Kizara) Koji Yakusho – father (screenplay by Yuji Sakamoto) Hikari Mitsushima – daughter (screenplay by Yuji Sakamoto)
	Sypnopsis:	A 10-part omnibus drama by 10 different scriptwriters on the theme of fathers and their sons and daughters.
Petero no Souretsu
	Air Date:	8 pm, Mondays, 7 July 2014
	Cast:	Koizumi Kotaro, Hasegawa Kyoko, Kuninaka Ryoko, Muro Tsuyoshi, Takahashi Issei, Aoyama Noriko, Hosoda Yoshihiko, Okamoto Rei, Emi Kurara,
	Sypnopsis:	Sugimura Saburo (Koizumi Kotaro) is an ordinary salaryman married to Nahoko (Kuninaka Ryoko), the daughter of the chairman (Hira Mikijiro) of Imada business group. It has been two years since he first became involved in various cases at the request of his father-in-law. On the way back from an interview one day, Sugimura encounters a bus hijack by an old person with a gun. The darkness of this country Japan and human nature lurks behind the true motive for the case …
Tokyo Scarlet ~ Keishichou NS Kakari
	Air Date:	10 pm, Tuesdays, 15 July 2014
	Cast:	Mizukawa Asami, Namase Katsuhisa, Sugawara Daikichi, Kimura Midoriko, Nakamura Masatoshi
	Sypnopsis:	The governor of Tokyo is aggravated by an article in an English language magazine which regards it as a problem that there are few female top officials in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police especially its star, the Criminal Investigations Department. In order to erase this negative image overseas, a veteran female detective Demachi Izumi (Kimura Midoriko) is made the head of the First Investigative Division’s new section, and the NS Section is born. However …
Kazokugari
	Air Date:	10 pm, Fridays, 4 July 2014
	Cast:	Matsuyuki Yasuko, Ito Atsushi, Kitayama Hiromitsu, Mizuno Miki, Shinoda Mariko, Okada Koki,
	Sypnopsis:	High school teacher Sudo Shunsuke (Ito Atsushi) feels a strong resistance to starting a family with his girlfriend. Assistant Inspector Mamihara Koki’s (Endo Kenichi) heart aches at the end of a journey of a mother and child. Child psychology officer Hisaki Yuko (Matsuyuki Yasuko) who works at a counseling centre for children worries about an abused girl. The case of an assault by a high school girl results in a fateful encounter of the three of them. Bound by tragedy, the eyes of each of the people caught in this torrent are opened to life.
Bokura wa Minna Shindeiru
	Air Date:	2:16 am, Tuesdays, 01 July 2014
	Cast:	Shirahama Alan, Hirose Alice, Miki Honoka, Onoue Hirayuki, Kagami Seira, Tsujimoto Koji, Tanaka Minako, Kaku Tomohiro, Tsufune Sarara
	Sypnopsis:	Nine men and women in heaven become couples and soon find themselves back on Earth participating in the “Love Game.”

TV ASAHI
Zero no Shinjitsu ~ Kansatsui Matsumoto Mao
	Air Date:	9 pm, Thursdays, 17 July 2014
	Cast:	Takei Emi, Sasaki Kuranosuke, Wada Masato, Denden, Rokkaku Seiji, Omi Toshinori
	Sypnopsis:	New medical examiner Matsumoto Mao (Takei Emi) has joined the Chuo Medical Examiner’s Office. A beautiful, talented doctor without any relatives, she is proud of her IQ which exceeds 150. She went to America at the age of 10, skipped three grades and studied forensic medicine. An oddball whose only interests are the autopsies and dissections of dead bodies, she also has no friends. As she faces numerous dead bodies each day, she is challenged to find out the cause of death of the mother who abandoned her.
Keishichou Sousa Ikka 9-Gakkari Season 9
	Air Date:	9 pm, Wednesdays, 9 July 2014
	Cast:	Watase Tsunehiko, Inohara Yoshihiko, Hada Michiko, Tsuda Kanji, Fukikoshi Mitsuru, Taguchi Hiromasa, Hara Sachie, Nakagoshi Noriko
	Sypnopsis:	The members (Watase Tsunehiko, Inohara Yoshihiko, Taguchi Hiromasa, Tsuda Kanji, Fukikoshi Mitsuru) of the First Investigative Division’s Ninth Section each have personal problems and troubles as individuals before they are police officers. Although these overly individualistic members may even oppose each other in investigations, what unites them is their strong sense of justice. They appear uncoordinated in their actions, but each of them will channel all energies to the arrests of criminals and grapple with difficult cases.
Nobunaga no Chef Season 2
	Air Date:	7.58 pm, Thursdays, 10 July 2014
	Cast:	Tamamori Yuta, Oikawa Mitsuhiro, Shida Mirai, Kashii Yu, Gori, Tokichiro Hideyoshi, Ashina Sei
	Sypnopsis:	French chef Ken, who went back in time to the Sengoku period and became the personal chef of Oda Nobunaga, has regained a part of his lost memory. He learnt the way to return to the present with the help of Akechi Mitsuhide but did not go back and chose to live as Nobunaga’s chef. Nobunaga’s biggest and strongest enemy, the warlord Takeda Shingen and Nobunaga’s official wife Nouhime appears, heralding ups and downs in the relationship of trust between Nobunaga and Ken. And will Mitsuhide cause the Honnoji Incident?
Tokumei Tantei Season 2
	Air Date:	11.15 pm, Fridays, 4 July 2014
	Cast:	Takahashi Katsunori, Katase Nana, Moritsugu Koji, Yamaguchi Daiichi, Hara Mikie, Tayama Ryosei, Shiba Toshio
	Sypnopsis:	An unnamed detective has his base in an old multi-tenant building with strip clubs at a corner of one of the streets along the Chuo train line. He is a troubleshooter who through the beautiful lawyer Saejima Kyoko receives jobs from a succession of beautiful women for the sake of money. This bourbon and jazz loving, unsentimental and tough investigator uses foul language, hates being tied down more than anything, and leads a life free of mobile phones, emails and the internet. Even though he gets cheated, covered in cuts and bruises and stomped on by authority, he never gives up and solely seeks the truth for his clients. He is extremely kind to females and because of that, he frequently gets into unnecessary trouble with women who do not pay.

WOWOW
Mozu Season 2 ~ Maboroshi no Tsubasa
	Air Date:	10 pm, Sundays, 22 June 2014
	Cast:	Nishijima Hidetoshi, Kagawa Teruyuki, Maki Youko, Ikematsu Sosuke, Sano Shiro, Ito Atsushi, Aoi Yu, Hasegawa Hiroki, Ishida Yuriko, Kohinata Fumio
	Sypnopsis:	Mozu vows revenge and infiltrates Japan as a North Korean agent. The suspension of a murder case investigation is announced suddenly without a clear explanation. The incident involves numerous people who were killed at a hospital. Political intrigue seems behind the case. Kuraki (Hidetoshi Nishijima), Osugi (Teruyuki Kagawa) and Miki (Yoko Maki) try to reveal the conspiracy which is about to be hidden.
Henshin
	Air Date:	10 pm, Sundays, 27 July 2014
	Cast:	Kamiki Ryunosuke, Nikaido Fumi, Usuda Asami, Watabe Gota, Totsugi Shigeyuki, Makita Sports, Nakao Akiyoshi, Tonesaku Toshihide, Honda Tsubasa
	Sypnopsis:	Junichi Naruse (Ryunosuke Kamiki) hopes to one day become a painter, but he works currently on a factory line. His girlfriend is Megumi (Fumi Nikaido) and his days are generally happy. On Christmas Eve, Junichi stops by a jewelry story to buy an engagement ring. He then becomes a part of a robbery at the jewelry and he suffers a head injury. Junichi then becomes the first successful brain transplant patient in the world. Junichi is unaware that he received a brain transplant. When he is discharged from the hospital, Junichi’s hearing becomes sensitive and he also becomes violent. He does not hold the same feelings for Megumi. Junichi realizes he is changing and becomes seized with horror. Meanwhile, Megumi hopes Junich becomes his old self. She also seeks to unlock the hidden mystery of Junichi’s operation.
Zainin no Uso
	Air Date:	10 pm, Sundays, 31 August 2014
	Cast:	Ito Hideaki, Takito Kenichi, Kimura Yoshino, Nakamura Aoi, Komoto Masahiro, Kataoka Reiko, Mashima Hidekazu,
	Sypnopsis:	Lawyer Kasahara Takuya (Ito Hideaki) comes from behind to win an acquittal for Arimura Hirohito (Emoto Tokio) whom the death penalty was sought on charges of serial rape and murder. The families of the victims and the mass media take out their fury on Kasahara who lodged Arimura’s innocence even though he clearly had the murderous intent and committed the crimes. Kasahara coolly declares that they should blame the law since the court ruling was based on law. On the other hand, lawyer Kusunose Masashi (Takito Kenichi), who was unable to forgive and abandoned the defence of an unremorseful Arimura, has complicated feelings. At that moment, a fatal allergic accident occurs to Aoba Confectionery which is affiliated with Nikkyo Holdings, a massive enterprise led by Haneda Kenzo (Nakadai Tatsuya). Kasahara is asked to defend it. Matsumoto Shogo (Shibukawa Kiyohiko) who has some dirt on Kasahara, shows up and asks for money

TV TOKYO
Kodoku no Gurume Season 4
	Air Date:	11.58 p.m., Wednesdays, 9 July 2014
	Cast:	Matsushige Yutaka
	Sypnopsis:	Inokashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka), who is an imported goods dealer, visits various towns on business. After business meetings, he will stop by shops that he is interested in and looks forward to meals above all else. This summer, he visits Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture for business.
Last Doctor ~ Kansatsui Akita no Kenshi Houkoku
	Air Date:	7.58 p.m., Fridays, 11 July 2014
	Cast:	Terawaki Yasufumi, Aibu Saki, YOU, Makita Sports, Watanabe Shu, Watanabe Ikkei, Toda Keiko, Ito Shiro
	Sypnopsis:	Yoshizaki Kaoruko (Aibu Saki), who had been a clinician at a university hospital, takes up a post at a medical examiner’s office after she is told by her professor to try to get experience. However, everyone from the supervising doctor Akita Shinya (Terawaki Yasufumi), director Yanagida Shuhei (Ito Shiro) and assistant Yamashita Mieko (Toda Keiko) are all individualistic characters. This does not bode well for the future. Meanwhile, Akita and Kaoruko are put in charge of the dead body of a popular model who fell to her death. The police consider it to be a suicide, but Akita is drawn to a subtle point …
Aoi Honoo
	Air Date:	12.12 a.m., Saturdays, 18 July 2014
	Cast:	Yagira Yuya, Yasuda Ken, Muro Tsuyoshi, Nakamura Tomoya, Yamamoto Mizuki, Kuroshima Yuina, Urai Kenji,
	Sypnopsis:	Set in the early 1980’s, Moyuru (Yuya Yagira) is a student at an art school in Osaka. He is full of passion and desire in his pursuit to become a manga writer. He also doesn’t lack confidence in his abilities. Right before summer vacation, Moyuru makes a decision. He decides to take his manga manuscripts to a publishing company in Tokyo.
Magical Boy Cherry’s
	Air Date:	02:00, Saturday, 21 June 2014
	Cast:	A.B.C-Z (Hashimoto Ryosuke, Totsuka Shota, Fumito Kawai, Goseki Koichi, Tsukasa Ryoichi), Fumika Shimizu
	Sypnopsis:	The members play a Super Sentai-like hero group who can use various magical powers to save the world under one condition: they have to keep their virginity. Hashimoto Ryosuke plays a lethargic high school student with no dating experience despite being an ikemen. Totsuka Shota plays a serious kindergarten teacher who is liked by everyone. Fumito Kawai is a former motorcycle gang leader who now runs a ramen shop. Goseki Koichi is an introvert, geek, and an unemployed college graduate. Lastly, Tsukasa Ryoichi plays a no. 3 club host yet emotionally thick-skinned.
Around 30 Chan
	Air Date:	2:52, Friday, 25 July 2014
	Cast:	Mitsu Dan, Kawamura Yosuke, Oshinari Shugo, Mihiro, Konno Hiroki
	Sypnopsis:	Arasa-chan, 30 (Dan Mitsu) is at a crossroad in life between popularity and ego. Arasa is suddenly invited, by her ex-boyfriend Oraora-kun (Kawamura Yosuke), whiz of Charai event management company, to join a party of sex friends. The party includes: Mihiro-chan (a cute lovely girl), Taishu-kun (an average boy), Yaririn-chan (head hostess with a loose crotch), and Himote-chan (publisher, who wears men’s glasses). Hitome is left uncomfortably behind, but she ends up in love.

NHK BS PREMIUM
Owakon TV
	Air Date:	11.15 pm, Sundays, 1 July 2014
	Cast:	Chiba Shinichi (Sonny), Koizumi Kotaro, Katase Nana, Ichikawa Yui, Fukuda Saki, Totsugi Shigeyuki, Tomiura Satoshi, Endo Yuya
	Sypnopsis:	Small and medium subcontractor production companies currently support the TV industry. Chocolate TV is one such company with 20 employees. It undertakes various productions such as varieties, documentaries and dramas. The height of glory of the TV industry is already a thing of the past. Like any ordinary company, they have to be careful of key networks and sponsors as well as struggle to keep alive amidst the meager budgets and tough viewership ratings race. Chocolate TV’s president Aramaki Genjiro worked in the industry as a variety programme director and built the company in one generation. The programmes he takes on all have issues. Each time, his employees would unite, devote themselves to producing a programme and ride out the hardships of the TV world
Tsui no Sumika
	Air Date:	10 pm, Sundays, 20 July 2014
	Cast:	Kiritani Mirei, Okada Yoshinori, Kato Toranosuke, Hiraizumi Sei
	Sypnopsis:	Asakura Tomoko (Kiritani Mirei) obtained her MBA at an American university amd is a rookie reporter for a Tokyo newspaper’s local news desk. Although she is good at numerical expressions, she has not much interest in understanding the feelings of her interview subjects. Furthermore, she has nothing but a lot of pride, and seems to have been branded an unqualified reporter by her superior because of this. In an attempt to overturn this perception, Tomoko decides to do a story on home nursing care based on her memories of her grandfather. However, she gets overwhelmed by the harsh reality and unexpectedly stumbles across a series of unexplained deaths of elderly people receiving such care.

Sources: Jdramas, Doramaworld, Wiki-D-addicts