Yes, from time to time with English subtitles. Viki has some for streaming but most aren't licensed for the US. Netflix has some
https://savvytokyo.com/10-japanese-d...binge-netflix/ There's also iSakura and JapanTV for expats
https://www.reddit.com/r/JTV/comment...e_best_option/ There's definitely less subtitled licensed stream J Dramas than K Dramas. My library carries international drama series on dvd so I might take a look over there.
Originally Posted by
evergrn
Someone who has some interest in Japanese culture (but doesn’t speak the language) asked me if there’s any Japanese drama I recommend. It’s hard to know if I can recommend anything because a couple of Americans I know who used to live in Jpn totally trash Japanese dramas even though, as a Japanese, I think they’re great.
I enjoyed NHK's Amachan though I'm not sure if there is a subtitled stream somewhere.
Some Japanese portrayals of appropriate female roles drive me a bit batty. At least this one is introspective about that
https://www.viki.com/tv/35767c-overprotected-kahoko. "We Married as Job" was also kind of interesting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeru..._Yaku_ni_Tatsu though I didn't finish it due to lack of free time when it was on.
It can be very odd learning about culture via media when you don't really know a lot of people from the current culture as inner circle. For example, I speak Mandarin but don't watch many current mainland China Mandarin soaps with the 20-40's target because I don't enjoy the plots. I liked the ones from a decade ago a bit more. If I thought I was learning about a culture via soaps or anime, I'd be in for a rude surprise (or in China's case, maybe very put off unless I was a drama queen). There are times when I have to ask my parents and a Chinese friend around my age to explain why certain character reactions might be reasonable, valid, or funny. Explaining behavior is more complicated than historical context for historical dramas.
Japanese humor can be different from American humor. I find Japanese humor to be a bit more sly and "British" (which I enjoy) or prank/body humor (not my thing). Japanese word play humor is beyond my current skills unless someone explains it (see below). It usually isn't funny for native speakers if it has to be explained.
There are transplant to Japan YouTubers who do a good job of being entertaining for foreigners and informative. I find Dogen pretty funny and good at making high context situations more understandable
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...21klk71Nzlj8OW