a lot of older ones are more wholesome and the acting is also better in some cases. i also just need some recs.

Proposal Daisakusen 
Ohitorisama   Noona Romance ftw
Freeter, Ie o Kau.   There is some romance but mainly family-centric
Boku to Star no 99 Nichi   If you can go up to one more year(2011)
Majo no Jouken   Noona Romance but from 1999
Over Time  It's from 1999 too. I would've worshipped this one if I hadn't watched the last episode, which I regret. I wish I could erase that one hour. This is the only drama that I didn't rate cause it's either 0 or 10 to me. It impacted me to the extent that, nowadays, I check the last episode first before starting any J Drama/Movie. Anyway, it's full of beautiful soundtracks from the 90s. I

I've seen  Boku to Star no 99 Nichi and I second it, if you can do 2011, It stars a Korean actress, Kim Tae-hee as the "star" and she's actually pretty good.

Some others:

  • Hotaru no Hikari (2007) - goofy kouhai OL falls for tsundere divorcee
  • Hana Yori Dango (2005) - the classic "Boys over flowers" adaptation
  • Orange Days (2004) - another ensemble kind of romance

May I ask why this time period? I would generally have to disagree with you that the acting is better. I mean "in some cases" is pretty vague.

Ai no Uta
Orange Days
Akai Ito
Arifureta Kiseki
Attention Please!
Bambino
Bara no Nai Hanaya
Beautiful Life
Bijo ka Yajuu
Boku Dake no Madonna
Densha Otoko
Hana Yori Dango
Jin
Kimi wa Pet (2003)
Koishite Akuma
Koukou Kyoushi (2003)
Last Christmas
Love Revolution
Lunch no joou
Pride
Star no Koi
Strawberry on the Shortcake
Summer Snow
Suppli
Taiyou no Uta
Tatta Hitotsu no Koi