TV Why are there so many J-Dramas with underage female leads and adult male leads? (1 Viewer)

[Suzy]

So I watch Korean, Taiwanese, Chinese and Thai dramas and started watching 'Life~Love on the Line' and actually loved it so I decided to give Japanese shows another chance after multiple failed attempts. So I was on Viki and decided to go through the highest rated tv shows and I'm not even kidding, 4 out of the 5 I clicked on involved female leads that were still in high school and male leads who were working adults. The guys were either their teachers of their parents' bosses or just some random, rich, adult man. Like if they were 18/19 ok but they're literally 15/16...And somehow all these dramas were highly rated... I have never seen relationships like this in other Asian dramas and I'm familiar enough with them to know that they also have a legal age and underage relationships are not normal. So I'm very confused.

Am I missing something? Why is this a common theme in romance J-dramas?

 

[dark_tranquility]

I know I wouldn't watch any drama with an underage female star in it.
It'd just feel so awkward among other things.

I have Viki on my phone myself. But haven't used it too much, since my internet connection is so slow and terrible.

 

[Suzy]

I know I wouldn't watch any drama with an underage female star in it.
It'd just feel so awkward among other things.

I have Viki on my phone myself. But haven't used it too much, since my internet connection is so slow and terrible.

Oh wait I meant the characters not the actresses themselves. I think most of them are 18+... But they play 15/16 year olds while their male leads play 20+. It's weird.

And Viki's good. It has all the Asian shows that aren't on Netflix so works out well for me. Once uni starts though, I'll be cancelling my subscription for both Viki + Netflix. It's too distracting.

 

[dark_tranquility]

Oh wait I meant the characters not the actresses themselves. I think most of them are 18+... But they play 15/16 year olds while their male leads play 20+. It's weird.

Oh well that changes things for me now. I thought you meant the actual people.
I don't mind that now that you clarified it for me.

I'd watch anything as long as it's asian and has cuties <3

 

[Darkseid]

That's why you should watch shonen animes where everyone is underage and save the world

 

[Suzy]

Oh well that changes things for me now. I thought you meant the actual people.
I don't mind that now that you clarified it for me.

I'd watch anything as long as it's asian and has cuties <3

Really? But it's portraying a relationship between an underage student and fully grown adult male... Am I the only one who finds that so weird? Even putting aside the legality of it all, is that not strange? One has barely developed matured whereas the other has completely matured... I find it so uncomfortable.

 

[Suzy]

That's why you should watch shonen animes where everyone is underage and save the world

What does shonen mean?

 

[dark_tranquility]

Really? But it's portraying a relationship between an underage student and fully grown adult male... Am I the only one who finds that so weird? Even putting aside the legality of it all, is that not strange? One has barely developed matured whereas the other has completely matured... I find it so uncomfortable.

I guess they are trying to see it as a fantasy more than reality. And I am ok with that.
I don't think there is too much harm in that, unless it gets weird later.

 

[raymondchouku]

What does shonen mean?

manga and anime that is geared toward pre-teen boys.