I`m about to finish Densha Otoko for the second time and I`m looking for another jdrama to watch. Any suggestions? I`m afraid that I`m not versed enough in Japanese media to tell you my tastes. Densha Otoko was my first jdrama and it was a hit, so I`d like to find something in the same vein.

Thanks!

Well I haven't watched very many of them, but I too started with Densha Otoko and I loved it, so maybe we have similar tastes.

1) GTO. It's very funny and entertaining, and the main actor, Sorimachi Takeshi, is perfect.
2) Gokusen. This one is very funny too. The only thing I can say against it is that it's a little repetitive. But It's still very enjoyable!
3) Stand Up!!. This is my favorite at present. It had me rolling on the floor laughing. All the actors are incredible, imho. A must watch, if you ask me.
4) Nobuta wo Produce. I'm still watching this one, so I can't give you a final statement, but as of episode 4 it's shaping up good. You might want to check it out.

Can't think of other ones right now. In case you don't know it, you can find some information and comments about jdramas on this site.
Anyway I like this thread! I'm eager to hear the recommendations from the others!

AJATT had a listing of his top 10 (well, 11) favorites. Here's mine mainly derived from that list:

Ikebukuro West Gate Park - Yes, it's as good as Khatsu said. Great series.
Tiger and Dragon - Get this series ASAP
Galileo - Very recent drama, and very good. Kind of a X-Files meets Mr. Wizard's World.
Densha Otoko - Well, you already saw this one.
Gokusen (soon to start third season) - Funny, but as said above, it's pretty much the same formula each episode. Comedic start, drama last half with one of the students, ending with teacher taking off glasses and hair ribbons (followed by beating someone up).

Shows I'm about to check out.

Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers) - Well, my wife liked the manga and anime.
Proposal Daisakusen
Hanazakari no Kimitachi - Girl pretends to be Boy to attend prestigious school, hilarity ensues.
Odoru Daisousasen - Top salesman becomes a police detective after watching too many detective shows. Hilarity ensues.

For a good list of what to check out, goto jdrama wiki site and see the Japanese TV Awards. It's done 4 times a year based on viewer and newspaper voting, so the list is long but recent and accurate (as in quality).

If you don't mind something on the heavy (ie emotional side) I would suggest Sekai no chyuushin de ai wo sakebu (世界の中心で愛をさけぶ). I watched it right after I was done watching Densya Otoko actually. I started to watch My Boss My Hero, but got distracted by moving (to Japan).

I very much recommend the Densha Otoko specials if you haven't watched them. Especially the first special - I thought it was better than the show itself, lol.

Here are my favourite dramas:

My Boss, My Hero
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
Proposal Daisakusen
Nobuta wo Produce
Orange Days
Uta Hime
Himitsu no Hanazono
Nodame Cantabile

As you can see, watching dramas is a bit of a hobby... I also like Hana Yori Dango, but I'm not sure if this is because i was a big fan of the manga and I am a big fan of certain actors in it. Still recommended.

A few others:
Liar Game
探偵学園Q (Tantei Gakuen Q)
１ポンドの福音　（One Pound Gospel)

JDorama also has a ranking of popular dramas -- not a bad place to start if you're browsing for something new to watch. http://www.jdorama.com/topdramas.htm

Dramas I caught recently that I really liked: Hana Yori Dango I and II (HanaDan) and Hanazakari no kimitachi e (Hana Kimi). Also saw Kurosagi and am watching Honey & Clover now, which aren't bad, but I like HanaDan and Hana Kimi better (and I'm not even a manga fan). As far as stuff from the good ol' days way back when goes, the ones that stood out for me were Long Vacation and Over Time.

I think if you're looking for recommendations, it might help if you know whether you usually like the more 'episodic' dramas (like all those detective ones that solve a different case each week). Or what genres you're into for that matter. I also tend to make choices based on the cast, but that isn't always accurate, since I wasn't too keen on the HanaDan cast when I first caught it, but am a total fan now : )

My personal favorites:
Last Christmas
Kimi wa petto
Pride
Oishii Proposal

But you can't go wrong with the classics:
Love Generation
Long Vacation
Hoshi no Kinka
GTO

I'm watching Kirakira Kenshui right now and am really enjoying it.

Kimura Takuya's dramas are <3

some of his dramas:

1. Pride (My favorite with Takeuchi Yuko)
2. Karei Naru Ichizoku (recent, heart breaking drama)
3. One Million Falling Stars (very depressing and heavy)
4. Engine (fun)
5. Long Vacation (old and classic)
6. Beautiful Life (I love this!)
7. Good Luck (he's very hot in this)
8. Hero (very enjoyable police drama)

He'll have a new drama next season, Change, which I'll be translating. It's about an elementary school teacher who becomes the prime minister of Japan.

Some of the shows I've translated:

1. 14 Sai No Haha (I would recommend this)
2. Dance Drill (high school cheerleading)
3. Tantei Gakuen (detective story based off the anime)
4. Dream Again (with Soramachi Takashi)
5. One Pound Gospel (based off manga by the same author of Inuyasha)

Other favorites:

1. Nodame Cantabile (super fun show!)
2. Kimi Wa Petto (love story)
3. Bara No Nai Hanaya (drama)
4. Galileo (detective)
5. Iryu (medicine)
6. Jotei (controversial?)
7. Remote (detective)
8. Security Police (police drama)
9. Summer Snow (drama, tear jerker)
10.One Liter of Tears (duh?)

Thanks everyone! I think I'm going to start with Galileo. Sounds like it's right up my alley.

My absolute favorite is Kekkon Dekinai Otoko. Highly recommended.

Nobuta wo Produce and My Boss, My Hero are two of my faves. Tokyo Friends is great as well.

I'd also recommend Tokyo Friends (Otsuka Ai is so cute, and I like her music).
I enjoyed GTO and Love Generation too.

QUEEN'S CLASSROOM (女王の教室） is excellent.

I recommend "Koi ni Ochitara", "Slow Dance", and "Kekkon Dekinai Otoko".
Three of the best stories IMHO.

Koi ni Ochitara, which means "When I fall in love" actually has nothing
to do with romance. One of my favorite stories about a man going from
the poor house to a top position in the business world. Matsuhita Nao
did an outstanding job in this one.

"Slow Dance". It's probably the most "laid-back" drama I've ever seen.
It's almost like just watching people sit back and hang out.

"Kekkon Dekinai Otoko" is the funniest drama I've ever seen. Unpredictable
in so many ways. With Abe Hiroshi, you know it's gonna be funny.

I am surprised that no one recommended Trick. It was also recommended on the AJATT site. I found it keep my attention better than the other shows on his list (even if it does feel a bit Scooby Doo at times)

This thread is gold. I've learned a lot about how spoken Japanese works from watching anime and dramas, but they've really started to get old. I never know what to watch, and it seems like a always choose something bad lately. But due to the good advice on this thread, I've started enjoying "Stand Up!" and continuing my exposure to more spoken language. Thanks everyone, and keep them coming!