Romantic Comedy J-drama: OL Category

Well, I finally sat down and started to go through all the Japanese dramas that I consider comedies, and most have a strong romance plot.  When I finally finished there are a ton of dramas.  I also wanted to include dramas that I never finished watching, but still thought they were worth mentioning.  So I'll be splitting this up into topic categories like OL, High School, College and Higher Learning, Family, and Other.  For this one we are focusing on dramas that take place in the work place, specifically the office.

Must Watch:
Absolute Boyfriend (Zettai Kareshi):
It is about a female office worker, Riiko, who is sweet, but too much to have any luck at love.  She is targeted by an engineer/ a man that has designed a robot.  This robot's specific purpose is to make women happy, but has yet to be tested.  The man manipulates his way so that Riiko is stuck with her ideal boyfriend (she filled out a survey).  The robot tries to win her over, but she is creeped out by the idea of a robot boyfriend, plus no non-family males allowed in her apartment.  She finds success in her work, and ends up having more than one suitor (one is the robot).

Hotaru no Hikari:
There is a new kind of modern woman walking the streets, well not really.  Hotaru seems like a glamorous OL, but in fact she is lazy pig.  When she gets home, every night (unless there is work) she throws on sweats/ jerseys, drinks beer, eats junk food, and rolls about with her stuffed animals.  She has no interest in men, until there is a new transfer, but that is not all.  She signed an agreement with an elderly man who was going abroad to let her borrow his (awesome) house.  His son, her BOSS, shows up after separating from his wife and expects to live there.  Confusion and chaos ensures as they share the house and Hotaru tries her first romantic relationship.

Anego:
Naoka is the older sister at her office.  She has been around long enough to know the ropes, but with age she starts to consider her future.  Will she invest in her future career and make it her life or find a husband?  She deals with the usual work issues, but then she gets caught in a love triangle or rectangle.  Fate suggests that she go after a man who helped her in subway, but he is married!  Her heart tells her to go after him; their perfect for each other.  But that's not all her heart is telling her.  A new, good looking, male employee in the office falls for her two.  She is torn between two men who aren't good for her that both have feelings for her.  One is perfect but married with kids and the other is available but too young.  She wants to settle down, and it doesn't help that her mom has started to arrange potential husbands.  On top of that, the opening theme is We Will Rock You by Queen.


Highly Recommended:

Haken No Hinkaku: If you know anything about the recent issues in the Japanese economy is that there has been a boom in Haken, temporary workers who are on a only 3-month contract.  Work is unreliable and their is no loyalty to their company.  Haken No Hinkaku is about the A-grade haken who can do anything.  She has strict rules including that after her contract has expired they can't rehire her.  She hates full-time employees and believes in the pride of being a temp.  Her co-workers, including a useless temp, try to figure her out and why she is the way she is.  She has a sad past and because of it has a harsh wall constantly up.  Yet, that doesn't stop any possible in office relationships.

Yama Onna Kabe Onna:
I love this series.  Not only does it star Kyoko Fukuda but it is set in the purse sale department.  This drama is about the star saleswoman in her section who is concerned about her small breast size.  If that wasn't enough a new employee joins the section.  An adorable, young girl that has a huge chest.  (In one episode her vest button pops off.)  They become the two best sales women in their section and there is the same old drama.  Perverts, romance, rivalries, and tons of hi-jinks.

Kimi wa Petto:
Another drama starring Jun.  This one is about an elite journalist who has trouble displaying emotion.  Her boyfriend dumped and cheated on her because he was insecure.  She is taller, better looking, smarter, and more successful than him and he couldn't handle it.  At work she is called a Noh mask among other things, and is disliked by both the men and women.  When her department chief (or whatever) makes an inappropriate move on her she punches him in the face (she just got dumped and is secretly upset).  She gets transfer (because the guys are intimidated and want to put her in her place) to the Lifestyle section which is a dead end.  Luckily for her she meets someone new.  Outside of her apartment complex is a box with an injured, sick, young man (Jun) in it.  It is late and it starts to rain.  Sumire decides to bring him inside and nurses him back to health.  She goes to work and comes back and he is still there.  He begs for him to stay because she is the nicest person he has ever met (plus she can cook).  She suggests, as somewhat of a joke, that he can stay if he is her pet.  No rights, has to be obedient, but if he is good he gets a warm home, cleaning, and good meals.  He agrees and she names him Momo after her childhood dog.  Of course there is a love triangle or what have you.  He falls for her, she deep down loves him, but an old crush returns from abroad and causes problems. 

Tokujo Kabachi!!: 
Another set of star leads, and it is someone else from Arashi besides Jun.  This comedy is about Tamura, an administrative scrivener, who has a strong sense of justice.  He uses the law to protect the weak and for good.  He however meets his match in Sumiyoshi, another scrivener who is an ex-yankee and hates to lose.  She uses the law to win and is a strong opponent.  They end up in the same firm and continually butt-heads.  As you expect, romance blooms as it does in pretty much every drama.

For Your Consideration: 
Sapuri:
This one is also based on a popular manga.  Another hard working OL with relationship issues.  She meets a good looking temp in her office, and the same old stuff happens.  I never finished this drama, but I think if you like all the other ones and you need something new this might suit your tastes.