For most of these, it began by first watching the drama and then, over time, falling in love with the theme song and the way they edited the images to match the song, to the point where I was actually anticipating the credits for its musical montage!
Eventually I’d just HAVE to own the song and I’d run out and GRAB the single for myself, but even then, the drama would be SO engrained in my head that I’d think of the visual imagery associated with the song every time I played it!
These are those songs that have etched itself onto my heart over time and have come to signify what I consider the ‘cream” of J-drama Theme songs!!!
BTW, I found it impossible to rank these songs in any real order, so I ended up just listing them loosely in the order I watched them, starting with the Samurai show that kick-started it all!
Z'S FAVORITE J-DRAMA OPENING/ENDING CREDITS
Abarenbo Shogun V: “Otoko Michi” by Saburo Kitajima
The Chef: “Chase the Chance” by Namie Amuro
Aishteiru To Ittekure: “Love, Love, Love” By Dreams Come True
Kagayake Rintaro: “Futari No Subete” by Toshiaki Karasawa and Kiki Kirin
Kekkon Shiyouyo: “Travelling Boy” By Yosuke Eguchi
Second Chance: “Tomorrow” by Mayo Okamoto
Shinkon Nari: “Subete Wa Honto De Uso Kamone” by Kome Kome Club
Pure: “Namonaki No Uta” by Mr. Children
Pokka Poka 2: “Shiawase Madakai” by Seishiro Kusunose
Kagayaku Toki No Naka de: “Kimi Ga Itakara” by FIELD OF VIEW
Itsuka Mata Aeryu: “Anata Dakeo” by Southern All-Stars
Hitotsu Yane No Shita: “Saboten no Hana” by TULIP
Ai Toiuna Nomotoni: “Kanashimi wa Yuki No Youni” by Shogo Hamada
Mada Koi Wa Hajimaranai: “Beautiful Girls” by Kyoko Koizumi
Bokura Ni Ai O (Give Us Love!): “Knockin’ On Your Door” by L-R
Okane Ga Nai: “Over the Trouble” by Oda Yuji
Mokuyo No Kaidan ’97: “Maji de Koisuru Gobyou Mae” by Ryoko Hirosue
Ue O Muite Aruko: "Dramatic Ni Koishite" by Kohmi Hirose
Stalker Sasao Onna: “Ai Wa Hitotsu” bu Masahiko Kondo
Sweet Home: "My Sweet Home" by Kyoko Koizumi
Riso No Joshi (The Ideal Boss): “Sayonara, Seishun” By JEHO
Oishii Kankei: “Mirai E no Present” by Miho Nakayama
Virgin Road: “Can You Celebrate?” by Namie Amuro
Love and Peace: “Love and Peace” by TOKIO
Makasete, Darling: “Rhythm” by Tatsuya Ishii with NORA
Natsu! Depart Monogatari: "C'mon, C'mon, C'mon" by Hikaru Nishida
Renai Kekkon No Rule: “For My Life” by Kyoko Koizumi
Shomuni: “Sugao No Mama De” by IZAM with Astral Love
Tengoku ni Ichiban Chikai Otoko: “Oh! Heaven” by TOKIO
Seiga No Koushin: “Ito” by Miyuki Nakajima
Konna Watashi ni Dare ga Shita: “Hoshi Ni Negai O” by Hiroko Sohma
Naomi: “Girls Be Ambitious” by True Kiss Destination
Happy Mania! “Luv Luv Power” by Funny Gene
Shiawase ni Naritai: “Himawari” by Sugar
GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka: “Poison” by Takashi Sorimachi
Gokusen: “Feel Your Breeze" by V6
Loss: Time: Life: “Kimi Station” by Orange Range
BOSS: “Alright!!” by Superfly
Triangle: “Sayonara wa Iwanai” by Kazumasa Oda
Himitsu no Hanazono: “Baby Don’t Cry” by Namie Amuro
Boku to Kanojo to Kanojo no Ikiru Michi: “Wonderful Life” by &G
GALCIR: "Hey Friends!" by Naohito Fujiki
Trouble Man: “Be Funky!” by NEWS
Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu: "Koi" by Gen Hoshino
Hanazakari No Kimitachi e: “Peach!” by Ai Otsuka
Arakawa Under The Bridge: “Sayonara Frontier” by Galileo Galilei
NOTES:
It's just a humble little list of some of the lovely tunes that helped make some of these dramas so special- I was amazed by how many artists appeared more than once on this list; Kyoko Koizumi, Namie Amuro , TOKIO...they seem to just have that magic touch when it comes to drama themes!
BTW, as you can see, there aren't many Favorite End/Opening Credits after 2005 or so. I think part of the reason is that for some reason, they started doing this thing where they played the ending credits in the BACKGROUND while the show was STILL ON, so even though I LOVED the song, like Seigi No Mikata’s “Honto Wa Ne” by Hatsune Okamura or BOSS’ “Best Of My Life” by Superfly, it had little to no impact in relation to the SHOW.
As a matter of fact, I rarely even noticed the songs when they played in the background- I remember when AIKO had a cameo in Suteki Na Sen Taxi, I didn’t know why since I NEVER noticed she did the theme song!
This REALLY bothers me…don’t they realize the sanctity of the Television Theme Song? It’s like when, after such awesome theme songs like CHEERS “Where Everyboyd Knows Your Name”, them began having these 5 second openings for subsequent shows like Frasier. I remember reading that they did it because they would lose viewers if the intro song was too long.
I mean, I understand, but from the institution that brought us such greats as Brady Bunch, Mary Tyler Moore, Maude and the effin’ legendary “Movin’ On Up” Jeffersons theme, you’d think they’d RESPECT the Theme Song more!
Posted by Zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com
