mayoraasei | 2017 japanese drama ratings

Like 2016, Doctor X leads the crowd, presumably because audiences like familiar feel-good superheroics dressed in medical drama (just like the Marvel formula, really). 2016 at least had a breakout in 99.9, which averaged a respectable 17.15, followed by NigeHaji at 14.58. The rest of the top 10 in 2016 were rounded out by dramas rating around 11-12%, which does reflect the quality of the scripts.

2017 has a cluster of dramas that rate between 12-15%. Code Blue got by on nostalgia and A LIFE by its impressive line-up of A-list stars, because neither of the scripts deserved anything more than a 10%. Riku Ou and Chiisana Kyojin proves again that the feel-good superheroic shounen manga type drama might not engage the brain much but at least appeals to the child-like optimism in audiences.

1. Doctor X (Season 5) (October TV Asahi Thu 9pm slot)
Average 20.87%. Stars Yonekura Ryoko etc

2. Riku Ou (October TBS Sun 9pm slot)
Average 16.00%. Stars Yakusho Kouji, Yamazaki Kento etc

3. Code Blue (Season 3) (July Fuji TV Mon 9pm slot)
Average 14.78%. Stars Yamashita Tomohisa, Aragaki Yui, Toda Erika etc

4. A LIFE (January TBS Sun 9pm slot)
Average 14.55%. Stars Kimura Takuya, Asano Tadanobu, Takeuchi Yuko etc

5. Kinkyuu Torishirabeshitsu (Season 2) (April TV Asahi Thu 9pm slot)
Average 14.09%. Stars Amami Yuki etc

6. Chiisana Kyojin (April TBS Sun 9pm slot)
Average 13.60%. Stars Hasegawa Hiroki, Okada Masaki, Sasaki Nozomi etc

7. Okusama wa, Tori Atsukai Chui (October NTV Wed 10pm slot)
Average 12.65%. Stars Ayase Haruka, Nishijima Hidetoshi, Hirosue Ryoko

8. Kounodori (October TBS Fri 10pm slot)
Average 11.87%. Stars Ayano Gou, Hoshino Gen, Matsuoka Mayu.

9. Kahogo no Kahoko (July NTV Wed 10pm slot)
Average 11.47%. Stars Takahata Mitsuki, Kuroki Hitomi.

10. Kurokawa no Techo (July TV Asahi Thu 9pm slot)
Average 11.45%. Stars Takei Emi, Eguchi Yosuke.

It will be interesting to see how January 2018 will rate, and people have already started calling it the "Johnny's season" - Kimura Takuya, Matsumoto Jun, Kamenashi Kazuya, Takizawa Hideaki, Yamada Ryosuke, and 2 guys from Johnnys West all have their own dramas. The only scriptwriter whose works I like is writing for Kimura's BG, though as long as 99.9 keeps up its quality, it will be a good watch. It'll be interesting to see how the ratings swing after both Kimura and Matsumoto have been hit by scandals in the last year. There's also going to be a lot of awkward overlap - both Kimura and Yamada's will be about police, and along with Matsumoto's will be about investigating cases. Both Kamenashi and Takizawa's dramas are themed around revenge. Both Matsumoto and Takizawa are lawyers. In a turn of bad publicity, rumour says that Kamenashi's drama was intended for Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, who was swapped out after he left JE. Although I was never impressed with Kusanagi's acting in the "Sensou" series, it was iconic enough that I can't imagine fans of the series will accept a swap.