Japan invented the "trendy drama" in the 1990s ( Tokyo Love Story , Long Vacation ), featuring 11-episode seasons focused on romance and social issues. While K-dramas have overtaken them globally for their high-contrast melodrama, J-dramas remain revered for their wabi-sabi realism—slow burns about office workers or single parents. The karei naru ichizoku (The Grand Family) style is distinct: subtle acting, often whispered dialogue, and tragic endings.