With 24 Japan finally finished, I can turn my attention to the annual tradition of celebrating the best in Japanese doramas! The only other show from 2020 I want to watch but haven't is Kiken na Venus but I can't find half the English subs and I am too lazy to retime the Japanese ones.
This is probably the hardest awards I had to do because instead of having 5 standout must watch shows in 2020, we had at least 10 good and watchable ones so I feel like celebrating them all but what would be the point of awards then? I have had to do this list and sleep on it before revising so without further ado...
BEST ACTRESS AWARD
NAKAMA YUKIE - 24 JAPAN
Most of the year I was thinking Shibasaki Kou had it sewn up for 35-sai no Shoujo. She's got good competition from Uchida Rio (Raise wo chanto shimasu), Suzuki Kyouka (Kyouen NG) and Hirose Alice but I have to give it to Nakama Yukie in 24 Japan because her character kept me interested through the 24 episodes.
BEST ACTOR AWARD
NAGASE TOMOYA - ORE NO IE NO HANASHI
If you ask me if Nagase Tomoya were a great actor, I would say no. However, he is good at playing certain kinds of characters and he does it very well and only he can carry certain Kudo Kankuro jdoramas. I really wanted to give it to Kaname Jun for Akuma no Bengonin though.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
TODA ERIKA - ORE NO IE NO HANASHI
She was really funny in this. A lot of it had to do with Kudo Kankuro's writing but she left the biggest impression.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
IKEUCHI HIROYUKI - SIREN NO ZANGE
He really made up for Araki Yuko's lack of acting ability and carried the show for her and the role of a supporting actor is to make the main actress look competent. Plus he did a decent job in 24 Japan. Always good at supporting roles.
BEST JDORAMAS OF 2020
5. RAISE DE WA CHANTO SHIMASU
Very well done sex comedy that isn't about virgins.You have no idea how refreshing that is and I hope sex comedy jdoramas can now move on. (As if) Seriously, its a very fun feel good show.
4. ISEKAI IZAKAYA NOBU
3. SHITTERU WIFE
I enjoyed this show a lot more than I should and it deserves a place on this list.
2. AKUMA NO BENGONIN
Its a bit of a cheat to put this here since it started in 2019 but what the hell, I love this show more than I should and it is infinitely rewatchable. It has every reason to be a bad jdorama but its so understatedly good.
1. ALICE IN BORDERLAND
By the jdorama gods! This is what happens when Netflix money and time meets one of the best jmovie directors in Sato Shinsuke.
SUMMARY
This is one of the weirdest awards post where the jdorama that got two acting awards didn't get into the top 5 but I guess this is what happens when there are a lot of decent jdoramas and not enough must watch ones. If you saidd that the top 5 jdoramas of 2020 should be Ore no Ie no Hanashi, 35-sai no Shoujo,High Position, Tetsu no Hone and Cold Case I would not argue except for Alice in Borderland for the sheer quality.