Gintama, Death Note and more: Best Japanese Live Action Movies and Dramas (and 7 Upcoming Titles in 2023)

Live action works used to have a really bad reputation, as they never lived up to fan expectations due to casting, budget, etc. - but things have changed in recent years! Here are just some of the best Japanese live action works to check out. And ones to look forward to this year (2023)! 

First Published: 2023/02/24
Updated: 2023/07/24

Table of Contents

• Best Live Action Movies
• Best Live Action Dramas
• Upcoming Live Action Works in 2023
• And Ones to Avoid…

Of course it’s hard to make a list of every single great Japanese live action work out there, but here’s a list of notable works, voted on by our team with their reasons.

Best Japanese Live Action Movies Based on Manga and Anime

Here are just some of the best live action movies. 

Death Note (2006)

© 大場つぐみ・小畑健／集英社　© 2006「DEATH NOTE」FILM PARTNERS

Based on the popular manga by Ohba Tsugumi and Obata Takeshi, the story is about Light (pictured on the left of the poster and played by Fujiwara Tatsuya) who picks up a notebook. He discovers that writing people’s names in the book will cause them to die, and having a strong sense of justice, Light begins to target criminals. L (pictured in white on the left of the poster and played by Matsuyama Kenichi) is a detective who has decided to figure out who is going on this killing spree. It leads to a high stakes game as they try to outsmart each other with heavy consequences. 

The work was split into 2 films - Death Note and Death Note 2: The Last Name - both released in 2006. Despite it being released almost 20 years ago, some still consider this their favorite live action movie based on a manga. A movie about L, a spinoff movie set in the future after the events of the original, as well as a drama version (with a different cast) were made, but none of them quite live up to the original 2 films. 

Gintama

©空知英秋/集英社 ©2017 映画「銀魂」製作委員会

Gintama is a historical fantasy action comedy work (yes, all those genres!) based on the manga series by Sorachi Hideaki. It’s set in the Edo Period of Japan where aliens (called Amanto) have invaded Japan, and now live side by side with humans. Sakata Gintoki is a former samurai swordsman who now works as a freelancer doing odd jobs for the people in his town, leading often to hilarious mishaps, but he will also go to great lengths to protect the people he cares about, including his trusted companions Shinpachi and Kagura. 

There are currently 2 live action films for this series, and both have great reviews for having captured both the comedy and action elements, as well as for the amazing cast full of A-listers in Japan. There’s no news yet if another film is in the works, but fans are hoping the ensemble cast has time for another. 

Watch the trailer here.

Kimi ni Todoke

©2010映画「君に届け」製作委員会 ©椎名軽穂／集英社

Based on a shojo manga by Shiina Karuho, the story is about shy Sawako - nicknamed Sadako for her long black hair and awkward composure - who meets popular classmate Kazehaya who is one of the first people in her class to be kind to her. The sweet story about love and friendship in high school and on caused this to become a shojo classic. 

The live action is equally loved for the gentle and accurate portrayal of the characters, not just the two leads, but the entire friend group. A live action drama by TV Tokyo and Netflix is scheduled to air in March 2023, and fans are quite nervous as the drama and its cast has such huge shoes to fill after what is often deemed a nearly perfect live action film adaptation. However, as the manga is much longer than what the film covered and has so many more stories to tell, we will see how the drama does!

Rurouni Kenshin 

Himura Kenshin is a swordsman who used to be an assassin during the Edo Period. But now that the Meiji Period has come, he has vowed not to kill people. He instead carries a reverse blade katana, only using it to protect those he cares for, such as dojo owner Kaoru. However, the new era is tumultuous as they encounter many who wish them harm, including old enemies.

There are 5 amazing live-action films made from this series, the first film released in 2012 and the final film released in 2021. They are praised for their cinematography and action scenes, as well as for the strong cast led by Sato Takeru. 

Thermae Romae

©2012「テルマエ・ロマエ」製作委員会

Thermae Romae is about a Roman architect named Lucius who miraculously ends up jumping ahead in history to present day Japan. From his “trips” to Japan, he’s able to come up with new ideas that lead to innovations in Roman architecture and everyday life. 

Currently there are 2 live action film adaptations based on this manga series with Abe Hiroshi in the titular role. The comedy as well as the ability to capture ancient Rome balanced with scenes in modern day Japan is something many note as to why this is one of their favorites. It’s also a great way to learn about Japanese bath culture and how to enjoy the hot springs here.

Orange 

Orange is another high school story about a group of friends but with a fantasy twist. The main character Naho receives a letter from herself 10 years in the future, telling her that she will meet and become close to a new student named Kakeru, who will end his life before they graduate high school. Her future self pleads with her to save him, as he no longer exists in her reality.

The two leads are played by Tsuchiya Tao and Yamazaki Kento, both of whom are praised for their performance. Just a warning, you may need tissues for this one. 

Kingdom

Kingdom is based on the Warring States Period in China and the creation of the Qing Dynasty. It depicts a boy named Shin who promised his best friend Hyo to become the strongest in the land. In a surprising turn of events, Shin goes on to fight alongside and protect Eisei, the king who wants to unite China and the person Hyo died protecting. 

This one is the only one on our list so far that is an ongoing work. But the first two films have been praised for their ability to capture the scale of the battles and location of China, as well as the heart of the characters. The next film, mentioned below in the future releases section, will be released in July 2023. 

Special Mentions

As we could go on and on but time is limited, here are some of our team’s personal favorites

• Heroine Shikkaku (2015) - romantic comedy about a high school girl who is devastated that the guy she was “destined to be with” starts dating another girl

• Restart wa Tadaima no Ato de (2020) - a man returns to his hometown in the countryside after tiring of city life and struggles to adjust, but meets a cheerful young man who slowly brings light back into his life

• Chihayafuru (2016, 2018) - a 3-film series about a high school girl and her journey into competitive karuta, a Japanese traditional card game

• I am A Hero (2015) - considered one of Japan’s best zombie films

• Psychic Kusuo (2017) - a comedy about a boy with supernatural powers and the shenanigans he and his charismatic classmates get up to 

• NANA (2005, 2006) - two women both named Nana meet by coincidence and shape each other’s lives despite being two very different people 

Check out future films below for a Tokyo Revengers mention.

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Best Japanese Live Action Dramas Based on Manga and Anime

Live action adaptations of dramas haven’t been as badly viewed, because they have more time to adapt the story and develop the characters and their relationships. They also tend to adapt the stories based on real life rather than fantasy or adventure, which means the budget is smaller, spent less on CGI and more on the sets, filming locations, etc. (Of course, with exceptions, especially with the growing influence of Netflix.)

Here are just some of the great live-action jdrama adaptations from manga and anime. 

Hana Yori Dango (2005, 2007)

©TBS 「花より男子」製作委員会

Hana Yori Dango, or Boys over Flowers, is a popular series and has been adapted in many countries in Asia. Tsukushi, a girl from a poor family, is a scholarship student at a rich high school, where a group of the 4 richest boys in the school run the social ladder. She upsets the leader Domyoji Tsukasa one day while defending her friend, and she becomes the target of his horrible temper. However, as he gets to know her, he begins to fall for her, confusing Tsukushi who has a crush on his best friend, Hanazawa Rui. 

This drama is a defining work in jdrama, as almost everyone in Japan knows it, the cast, and the theme songs from the drama adaptation. To this day, people recite certain lines from and make references to the drama. 

Alice in Borderland

Alice in Borderland is one of the most famous Japanese dramas today thanks to it becoming a huge hit worldwide on Netflix. It is based on a manga by Aso Haro. The story follows Arisu and his friends who are one day suddenly thrown into an alternate universe of our world called Borderland and must play and survive deadly games in order to stay alive and try to find a way out and back to normal life. 

The drama was released on Netflix and has two seasons. 

Check out our article about episode recaps (with spoilers!) and filming locations in Japan here.

Gokusen

© NTV 「ごくせん」製作委員会

Gokusen is about a young teacher named Yamaguchi Kumiko who was raised in a yakuza household. She gets assigned as the homeroom teacher of the worst behaved class at the school, but armed with her fighting skills and passion for her students, she vows to see them all graduate high school. 

The drama went on to be a huge hit, leading to three seasons (with different groups of students at different schools) and a movie. The actors cast as the students often became famous afterwards, and many of them are still working as actors today. 

Shinya Shokudo (Midnight Diner)

This episodic drama is based on a manga by Abe Yaro. Each episode focuses on a customer that comes to Master’s small eatery which is open from midnight to morning in Shinjuku. The Master makes them a dish that they like while they share something that’s going on in their lives. Some of the topics are quite heavy, as they sometimes deal with the nightlife around Shinjuku, but the series overall is heartwarming, thoughtful and beloved.

This drama first started airing on TV and even had a movie before Netflix picked it up in 2016, making two more seasons titled Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories and another movie - bringing the total to 5 seasons and 2 movies. 

Cherry Magic

Based on a manga by Toyota Yuu, this drama and eventual movie was a hit in Japan. It’s a romantic comedy about a man who discovers that not only he can hear the inner thoughts of people around him, but that his coworker - a popular and successful businessman - is in love with him. 

This drama served as breakout roles for the two lead actors, Akaso Eiji and Machida Keita. Read all about how the already popular manga, live action drama and theatrical film became so beloved. 

The Full-Time Wife Escapist

© TBS 「逃げるは恥だが役に立つ」製作委員会

This cute drama is a romantic comedy where the two leads enter a contract marriage out of convenience, but begin to care for each other. There are many practical conversations about married life, such as about the unpaid housework of the spouse that stays home as well as what is reasonable for the main income earner to expect from their partner. 

And the cutest thing about this drama is - the two main leads ended up getting married in real life! 

Kinou Nani Tabeta

A cute slice of life story about a middle-aged gay couple, the issues that they face in their life as well as the meals that they share. People really enjoyed the manga by Yoshinaga Fumi because it depicts them in everyday life, not needing to resort to tropes or manufactured drama, while still having deeper messages to share. 

The drama adaptation starring Nishijima Hidetoshi and Uchino Seiyo was also a hit, leading to many awards for both the writer, director and actors, and eventually leading to a full-length film as a sequel. 

Special Mentions

And here are our personal recommendations from the team! 

• Kieta Hatsukoi

• Kodoku no Gurume

• Kyou Kara Ore wa!!!

• Nigatsu no Shousha

• Hanazakari no Kimitachie

• Bokudake ga Inai Machi

• Nagi no Oitoma

Check out below for: Mystery to Iu Nakare, Utsukushii Kare (My Beautiful Man), Kishibe Rohan wa Ugokanai

For more drama suggestions, check out our J-drama article. 

Upcoming Live Action Works Based on Manga in 2023

And here are the works we are excited for this year! 

Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon (March 17)

Read our review of it here! 

Utsukushii Kare - My Beautiful Man (April 7)

Tokyo Revengers 2: Bloody Halloween (split into 2 films; April 21, June 30)

Kishibe Rohan Goes to the Louvre (May 26)

Kingdom (July 28)

Mystery to Iu Nakare (September 15)

City Hunter (2024)

This one is coming out next year, but the news was just announced! City Hunter has been previously adapted into a Korean drama, but Japan is making a live action film starring Suzuki Ryohei! 

Special Mention: One Piece Live Action (2023)

When the One Piece live action by Netflix was announced, people were skeptical. After all, we all know how the Dragonball live action went. English speaking projects of Japanese works just don’t have a great track record. 

So we’re waiting to see how this film will turn out. As it’s fully endorsed by Oda Eichirou, the manga artist of the beloved work, we hope that it will be amazing. 

Yu Yu Hakusho (Japanese adaptation) and Knights of the Zodiac (English adaptation) were also announced to be released in 2023! So more and more beloved series are coming to the big screen and more money and time are being put into them so we do hope they live up to expectations - and even if they don’t, that they are considered decent works. But we don’t blame people who are skeptical because there are the ones that fall into the following category…

And Ones to Avoid…

Many of us know of the disastrous live action series that not only didn’t live up to the original work, but either changed so much that it became a different story or just did not have the acting / CGI skills to justify making it. 

Some are not even in Japanese (Netflix’s Death Note, Dragonball, Cowboy Bebop) - but Japan has made its own share of not-so-great live action adaptations.

For example:

• Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan) - 2 films were released in this series, hoping to capture the action and heart of the manga and anime, but they were both incredibly poorly received due to its poor CGI, decisions to exclude major characters, and bad acting

• Black Butler - our team member who watched it says “Just don’t. It was very weird.”

• Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure - Another popular work that just didn’t go well in its live action adaptation. It’s interesting because the lead actor of this one, Yamazaki Kento, is the lead of many of the other live action works on our good list (including Kingdom) and the cast is quite famous, so it wasn’t just the acting that didn’t work. 

Unfortunately these are just some among quite a few others. 

However, we hope this article gave you a decent list to get you started on live action adaptations that don’t disappoint!