# 2012 Japanese television dramas

←2011 - 2012 - 2013→
This is a list of Japanese television dramas shown within Japan during the year of 2012.

## Winter

| Title (Japanese title) | Cast | Broadcast period | Episodes | Network | Notes |
| 13-sai no Hello Work (13歳のハローワーク) | Masahiro Matsuoka, Yu Yokoyama, Mirei Kiritani | 13/1/2012- 9/3/2012 | 9 | EX | |
| Aibou: Season 10 (相棒 10) | Yutaka Mizutani, Mitsuhiro Oikawa | 19/10/2011- 21/3/2012 | 19 | EX | |
| Carnation (カーネーション) | Machiko Ono, Kaoru Kobayashi | 26/9/2011 - 31/3/2012 | 151 | NHK | |
| Deka Kurokawa Suzuki (デカ 黒川鈴木) | Itsuji Itao, Seiichi Tanabe, Kei Tanaka | 5/1/2012- 29/3/2012 | 13 | NTV | |
| Dirty Mama! (ダーティ・ママ!) | Hiromi Nagasaku, Karina | 11/1/2012- 14/3/2012 | 10 | NTV | |
| Hayami-san to Yobareru Hi (早海さんと呼ばれる日) | Nao Matsushita | 15/1/2012- 18/3/2012 | 10 | CX | |
| Honjitsu wa Taian Nari (本日は大安なり) | Kenichi Matsuyama, Hiroshi Tamaki, Naohito Fujiki | 10/1/2012- 13/3/2012 | 10 | NHK | |
| Hungry! (ハングリー！) | Osamu Mukai, Ryoko Kuninaka, Goro Inagaki | 10/1/2012- 20/3/2012 | 11 | CX | |
| Kazoku Hakkei (家族八景) | Haruka Kinami | 19/1/2012- 22/3/2012 (MBS) | 10 | MBS, TBS | Based on a novel |
| Kodoku no Gourmet (孤独のグルメ) | Yutaka Matsushige | 4/1/2012- 21/3/2012 | 12 | TX | Based on a manga |
| Konna no Idol Janain!? (こんなのアイドルじゃナイン!?) | Aya Hirano | 11/1/2012- 28/3/2012 | 12 | NTV | |
| Lucky Seven (ラッキーセブン) | Jun Matsumoto, Eita | 16/1/2012- 19/3/2012 | 10 | CX | |
| Nogaremono Orin 2 (逃亡者 おりん2) | Noriko Aoyama, Dai Watanabe | 17/1/2012- 27/3/2012 | 11 | TX | |
| Perfect Son (理想の息子) | Yamada Ryosuke | 14/1/2012- 17/3/2012 | 10 | NTV | |
| Renai Neet: Wasureta Koi no Hajimekata (恋愛ニート〜忘れた恋のはじめ方) | Yukie Nakama | 20/1/2012- 23/3/2012 | 10 | TBS | |
| Saba Doru (さばドル) | Mayu Watanabe, Tamae Ando | 13/1/2012- 5/4/2012 | 12 | TX | |
| Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi (最後から二番目の恋) | Kyōko Koizumi, Kiichi Nakai, Naoko Iijima | 12/1/2012- 22/3/2012 | 10 | CX | |
| Saiko no Jinsei (最高の人生の終り方〜エンディングプランナー〜) | Tomohisa Yamashita | 12/1/2012- 15/3/2012 | 10 | TBS | |
| Seinaru Kaibutsutachi (聖なる怪物たち) | Tomohisa Yamashita | 19/1/2012- 8/3/2012 | 8 | EX | |
| Shokuzai (贖罪) | Kyōko Koizumi | 8/1/2012- 5/2/2012 | 5 | WOWOW | Based on a novel |
| Stepfather Step (ステップファザー・ステップ) | Takaya Kamikawa, Manami Konishi | 9/1/2012- 19/3/2012 | 11 | TBS | Based on a novel |
| Strawberry Night (ストロベリーナイト) | Yūko Takeuchi, Keisuke Koide | 10/1/2012- 20/3/2012 | 11 | CX | Based on a novel |
| Sūgaku Joshi Gakuen (数学女子学園) | Sayumi Michishige, Reina Tanaka, Dori Sakurada | 11/1/2012- 28/3/2012 | 12 | NTV | |
| Suzuko no Koi (鈴子の恋) | Kurara Emi, Yuko Asano | 5/1/2012- 30/3/2012 | 62 | CX | Based on a true story |
| Switch Girl!! (スイッチガール!!) | Mariya Nishiuchi, Renn Kiriyama | 24/12/2011- 18/2/2012 | | CX | Based on a manga |
| Taira no Kiyomori (平清盛) | Kenichi Matsuyama, Hiroshi Tamaki, Naohito Fujiki | | 8/1/2012- | NHK | Revolving around Taira no Kiyomori, a Heian period military leader |
| Teen Court: 10-dai Saiban (ティーンコート) | Ayame Goriki, Kōji Seto | 10/1/2012- 20/3/2012 | 11 | NTV | |
| Tightrope no Onna (タイトロープの女) | Chizuru Ikewaki | 24/1/2012 28/2/2012 | 6 | NHK | |
| Unmei no Hito (運命の人) | Masahiro Motoki, Takako Matsu, Yoko Maki | 15/1/2012- 18/3/2012 | 10 | TBS | |

## Spring

| Title (Japanese title) | Cast | Broadcast period | Episodes | Network | Notes |
| ATARU (ATARU) | Masahiro Nakai | 15/4/2012- 24/6/2012 | 11 | TBS | |
| Cleopatra na Onnatachi (クレオパトラな女たち) | Ryuta Sato | 18/4/2012- 6/6/2012 | 8 | NTV | |
| Hancho 5 (ハンチョウ〜神南署安積班〜5) | Sasaki Kuranosuke | 9/4/2012- | | TBS | |
| Hokago wa Mizuterii Totomo ni (放課後はミステリーとともに) | Haruna Kawaguchi | 23/4/2012- 25/6/2012 | 10 | TBS | Based on a novel |
| Kagi no Kakatta Heya (鍵のかかった部屋) | Satoshi Ohno, Erika Toda, Kōichi Satō | 16/4/2012- 25/6/2012 | 11 | CX | Based on a novel |
| Kaitakushatachi (開拓者たち) | Hikari Mitsushima, Takuya Ishida, Gō Ayano | 3/4/2012- 8/5/2012 | 6 | NHK | |
| Kazoku no Uta (家族のうた) | Joe Odagiri | 15/4/2012- 3/6/2012 | 8 | CX | Script changed due to plagiarism accusations |
| Kodomo Keisatsu (コドモ警察) | Fuku Suzuki, Miyu Honda | 17/4/2012- 19/6/2012 | 10 | TBS | |
| Legal High (リーガル・ハイ) | Masato Sakai, Yui Aragaki, Katsuhisa Namase | 17/4/2012- 26/6/2012 | 11 | CX | Based on a novel |
| Papadol! (パパドル!) | Ryo Nishikido | 19/4/2012- 28/6/2012 | 10 | TBS | Based on the 1987 drama Mama wa Idol! |
| Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou (私立バカレア高校) | Members of AKB48 and Johnny's Jr. | 9/4/2012- 30/6/2012 | 12 | NTV | First collaboration between AKB48 and Johnny's Jr. |
| Soup Curry (スープカレー) | Yo Oizumi | 13/4/2012- 18/6/2012 | 10 | HBC, TBS | In commemoration of HBC's 60th anniversary |
| Taburakashi (たぶらかし) | Mitsuki Tanimura | 5/4/2012- 28/6/2012 | 13 | NTV | Based on a novel |
| Umechan Sensei (梅ちゃん先生) | Maki Horikita | 2/4/2012- 29/9/2012 | 156 | NHK | |

### Specials

| Title (Japanese title) | Cast | Broadcast period | Episodes | Network | Notes |
| Akko to Bokura ga Ikita Natsu (あっこと僕らが生きた夏) | Umika Kawashima | 14/4/2012- 21/4/2012 | 2 | NHK | Based on a novel |
| Hayami-san to Yobareru Hi SP (早海さんと呼ばれる日 SP) | Nao Matsushita | 10/6/2012- 17/6/2012 | 2 | CX | Continuation of Hayami-san to Yobareru Hi drama series |
| SP: Keishichou Keigoka (SP　警視庁警護課II) | Tsunehiko Watase, Rino Katase, Takako Uehara | 3/3/2012 | 1 | EX | |

## Summer

| Title (Japanese title) | Cast | Broadcast period | Episodes | Network | Notes |
| Beautiful Rain (ビューティフルレイン) | Etsushi Toyokawa, Mana Ashida | 2/7/2012- | | CX | |
| Beginners! (ビギナーズ！) | Taisuke Fujigaya | 12/7/2012- | | TBS | |
| Boku no Natsu Yasumi (ぼくの夏休み) | Shuto Ayabe, Akari Ninomiya | 2/6/2012- | | THK, CX | |
| Dragon Seinendan (ドラゴン青年団) | Shouta Yasuda | 17/7/2012- (TBS) | | MBS, TBS | |
| Ghost Mama Sousasen (ゴーストママ捜査線) | Yukie Nakama | 7/7/2012- | | NTV | Based on a manga |
| Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO) | Akira, Miori Takimoto | 3/7/2012- | | CX | Based on a manga |
| Iki mo Dekinai Natsu (息もできない夏) | Emi Takei, Yōsuke Eguchi | 20/7/2012- | | CX | |
| Iryu Sosa 2 (遺留捜査) | Nanao Arai, Yuichi Nakamaru, Mayu Kusakari | 12/7/2012- | | EX | |
| Keigo Higashino Mysteries (東野圭吾ミステリーズ) | Kiichi Nakai | 5/7/2012- | 11 | CX | Based on 11 different short stories by Keigo Higashino |
| Kuro no Onna Kyoshi (黒の女教師) | Nana Eikura | 20/7/2012- | | TBS | |
| Magma (マグマ) | Machiko Ono, Shosuke Tanihara, Kyōzō Nagatsuka | 10/6/2012- 8/7/2012 | 5 | WOWOW | Based on a novel |
| Majisuka Gakuen 3 (マジすか学園3) | Haruka Shimazaki, Members of AKB48 | 13/7/2012- | | TX | |
| Naniwa Shonen Tanteidan (浪花少年探偵団) | Mikako Tabe, Teppei Koike | 2/7/2012- | | TBS | Based on a novel |
| Nemureru Mori no Jyukujyo (眠れる森の熟女) | Tamiyo Kusakari | 2012 4/9/2012- 30/10/2012 | 9 | NHK | |
| Omoni Naitemasu (主に泣いてます) | Nanao, Yuichi Nakamaru | 7/7/2012- | | CX | Based on a manga |
| Platinum Town (プラチナタウン) | Yo Oizumi, Rei Dan, Hiroyuki Hirayama | 19/8/2012- | | WOWOW | Based on a novel |
| Rich Man, Poor Woman (リッチマン、プアウーマン) | Shun Oguri, Satomi Ishihara | 9/7/2012- | | CX | |
| Somato Kabushiki Gaisha (走馬灯株式会社) | Yu Kashii | 16/7/2012 | | TBS | Based on a manga |
| Sprout (スプラウト) | Yuri Chinen, Aoi Morikawa, Fujiko Kojima | 7/7/2012- | | NTV | Based on a manga |
| Summer Rescue (サマーレスキュー 〜天空の診療所〜) | Osamu Mukai | 8/7/2012- | | TBS | |
| Totkan Tokubetsu Kokuzei Choshukan (トッカン　特別国税徴収官) | Mao Inoue | 4/7/2012- | | NTV | Based on a novel |
| Urero: Mikan Seishojo (ウレロ☆未完成少女) | Hitori Gekidan | 13/7/2012- | | TX | |
| Vision: Koroshi Ga Mieru Onna (VISION　殺しが見える女) | Nobuaki Kaneko, Yu Yamada | | | NTV | |

## Autumn

| Title (Japanese title) | Cast | Broadcast period | Episodes | Network | Avg. Ratings | Notes |
| Aibou 11 (相棒11) | Yutaka Mizutani, Hiroki Narimiya | 10/10/2012- March 2013 | | EX | | |
| Akumu-chan (悪夢ちゃん) | Manatsu Kimura, Keiko Kitagawa | 13/10/2012- 22/12/2012 | 11 | NTV | 11.5% | Based on a novel |
| Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko (ドクターX　～外科医・大門未知子～) | Ryoko Yonekura | 18/10/2012- 13/12/2012 | 8 | EX | 19.1% | |
| Double Face (ダブルフェイス) | Hidetoshi Nishijima, Teruyuki Kagawa | | | TBS, WOWOW | - | Two different perspectives of the story will be shown on each television network |
| Going My Home (ゴーイング マイ ホーム) | Hiroshi Abe, Tomoko Yamaguchi | 9/10/2012- 18/12/2012 | 10 | CX | 7.9% | Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda |
| Hana no Zubora Meshi (花のズボラ飯) | Kana Kurashina, Shigeaki Kato | 23/10/2012- 25/12/2012 (TBS) | 10 | MBS, TBS | - | Based on a manga |
| Kekkon Shinai (結婚しない) | Miho Kanno, Yūki Amami, Hiroshi Tamaki | 11/10/2012- 20/12/2012 | 11 | CX | 11.8% | |
| Koisuru Hae Onna (恋するハエ女) | Mimura, Toshio Kakei | 6/11/2012- 18/12/2012 | 6 | NHK | - | |
| Koko Nyushi (高校入試) | Masami Nagasawa | 6/10/2012- 29/12/2012 | 13 | CX | 6.9% | Screenplay by novelist Kanae Minato |
| Monsters (MONSTERS) | Shingo Katori, Tomohisa Yamashita | 21/10/2012- 9/12/2012 | 8 | TBS | 11.9% | |
| Nemureru Mori no Jukujo (眠れる森の熟女) | Tamiyo Kusakari, Koji Seto | 4/9/2012- 30/10/2012 | 9 | NHK | - | |
| Osozaki no Himawari (遅咲きのヒマワリ～ボクの人生、リニューアル～) | Toma Ikuta, Yoko Maki | 23/10/2012- 25/12/2012 | 10 | TBS | 9.2% | |
| Perfect Blue (パーフェクトブルー) | Miyuki Miyabe | 8/10/2012- 17/12/2012 | 11 | TBS | 8.1% | Based on a novel |
| Priceless (Priceless) | Takuya Kimura, Kiichi Nakai, Karina | 22/10/2012- 24/12/2012 | 10 | CX | 17.7% | |
| Resident - 5-nin no Kenshui (レジデント〜5人の研修医) | Riisa Naka, Kento Hayashi, Takahisa Masuda | 18/10/2012- 20/12/2012 | 10 | TBS | 6.7% | |
| Single Mothers (シングルマザーズ) | Yasuko Sawaguchi, Tetsushi Tanaka, Shiori Kutsuna | 23/10/2012- 11/12/2012 | 8 | NHK | - | Based on a stage play |
| Sousa Chizu no Onna (捜査地図の女) | Miki Maya | 18/10/2012- 6/12/2012 | 7 | EX | 10.1% | |
| Sugarless (シュガーレス) | Aran Shirahama, Reo Sano | 3/10/2012- 26/12/2012 | 12 | NTV | - | Based on a manga |
| Tokumei Tantei (匿名探偵) | Katsunori Takahashi | 12/10/2012- 7/12/2012 | 9 | EX | 10.5% | |
| Tokyo Airport: Tokyo Kukou Kansei Hoanbu (TOKYOエアポート～東京空港管制保安部～) | Kyoko Fukada | 14/10/2012- 23/12/12 | 10 | CX | 10.2% | |
| Tokyo Zenryoku Shoujo (東京全力少女) | Emi Takei, Atsuro Watabe | 10/10/2012- 19/12/2012 | 11 | NTV | 7.6% | |