Looking for not the common romcom. Something focused heavily on the romance aspect with a serious overtone. I feel as though Chugakusei Nikki was the last Jdrama I watched that had a certain ambience to it that I was completely absorbed by. Not really looking for that kind of plot in particular though. 

I realized this because of your requirements that this is how I like my romantic dramas... what a nice realization- Thank You ^_^


+ Hirugao and if you enjoy it then watch the movie

Aishiteiru to Ittekure 

Boku no Ita Jikan 

Destiny-Like Love 

Fukigen na Kajitsu 

Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake 

Kekkon Aite wa Chusen de 

Kimi ga Kokoro ni Sumitsuita 

Love Shuffle

Otto no Chinpo ga Hairanai 

Perfect Crime- I'm hesitant to recommend this one because I didn't enjoy it

Pornographer- it's bl and if you like it then then I recommend the prequel Mood Indigo

Saikou no Rikon 

Utsukushii Hito- the newer Korean remake Love in Sadness isn't bad if you want something more recent



When I think about it, anything with Saito Takumi aka Mr. Steal-Yo-Girl is romantic but has complications

Bara No Nai Hanaya definitely fits - all about the romance, but very serious and at times a touch bleak in development. Two others worth checking out might be

Hayako Sensei - I loved this Drama, a very grown-up romance - literally in that the leads are well over 30.

A Sharply Graceful Girl  - this one is definitely a romance, but it's a a slow-starting subtle romance, almost a love triangle with the third part of the triangle being the other main character in the Drama, the city of Kyoto itself.

Last Friends 

One Litre of Tears 

Sachiiro no one room 

Koizora 

  • Pride
  • Sore demo ikite yuku
  • Nagareboshi
  • Love that makes you cry
  • Kuzu no honkai
  • Buzzer Beat
  • Taiyou no kisetsu
  • Byakuyakou

There's a lot of recommendations already, but I wanna add Tatta Hitotsu no Koi.