10. Low Commercial Count

One commercial break in the middle? That's like my dream. Sure, you get that sponsor blurb in the intro, but knowing you'll only have a short break (and some strange product placement) makes J-drama go down a bit easier.

9. You Can Watch A Season In One Sitting

American TV shows come in these massive boxes that span 20 DVDs. A Japanese show will probably fit on one or two DVDs, as they're usually about 12 episodes long. I've marathoned plenty J-drama shows in one day; it makes for a long day, but an enjoyable one too. Try doing that with 24.

8. You'll Know Everyone

When you watch your first J-drama, you're just looking at actors and actresses that you don't know. Give it about five series. You'll start to recognize people. A few more in and you start to learn names. When you're where I'm at, you'll realize that Japanese TV is pulling from the same small pool of actors to make these dramas. You'll learn who is good and who isn't, making for easier show picks.

7. They Can Change Your Love Life

Lonely? J-drama gives you plenty of options. There's a wide range of lovely/handsome talent to obsess over. It sounds sick, but once you get into it, you'll find yourself Googling names and right-click/saving images that you'll hide in a folder called 2009 Taxes. Japan puts their prettiest people on TV just for you, lonely one.

6. You Can Learn About J-Pop

J-drama is strongly tied to Japanese Pop music, so much so that many singers are also actors. On top of that, J-Pop songs are usually used as openings, endings and insert songs. Watch the hit show each season and you'll also know the hit songs on the radio. You'll also learn about new groups/talent in a slow brain-washing.

5. They're Season-based

Spring is coming. So are new shows. These shows end with the end of spring. Summer comes, as do new shows. Now they're summer themed.  You get a show with as many episodes as their are weeks in the season.  It keeps things fresh and topical. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it?

4. They Come From Manga/Anime

You like manga and anime, right? Then you'll love J-drama. Lots of J-drama comes from manga, and the ones that don't watch just like anime. Sometimes the show gets turned into manga. It's all the same. Don't be scared to break away from 2D. It's the same characters, just with more realistic proportions.

3. They Make Excellent Drinking Games

J-drama is great to watch with friends, especially the comedies. Sober is great. Drunk is better. There are so many silly instances you can turn into drinking games that I now worry about you taking my advice -- I predict multiple cases of alcohol positioning. My favorite? Drink when someone kicks off a dramatic running scene. My liver is ruined because of this.

2. You Get a Solid Dose of Japanese Culture

What better way to learn about Japan than to watch it in action? Many shows are very current with what's going on in Japan. They don't just go for a "straight from the headlines" one episode approach. They'll make an entire series about something! Even if the show sucks, you'll still learn.

Even more than this, you're getting to see culture through television. You'll learn slang, spot new fashions, and be able to point out real-world locales. Tie in reasons 6 and 8, and you'll also know who's who in music and popular culture. 

1. The Story Actually Ends

Better than all the reasons above is the fact that Japanese television shows actually end. They are often written in full before they start airing, which means that silly writers aren't in the background playing with the formula. No plot holes can sneak in this way. You can go in knowing that 12 episodes later you'll come to a satisfying conclusion. If the show does well, they'll make another 12. You don't have to waste your life wondering if you'll ever see a conclusion. It's coming. And if it does well, so is a crappy movie.

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