direct aro/ace representation: Koisenu Futari — Two People Who Can't Fall in Love

This slice-of-life life series revolves around the relationship of two aromantic asexual people.

"Sakiko never experienced romantic feelings in her life; one day, a supermarket clerk Takahashi tells her that there'[s] some people [who] do not fall in love, and later she hears the word "aromantic asexual" for the first time." 

—Erika Oshida

Co-director Yuta Oshida came up with his idea for the show after he had the realization that Japanese television dramas focused on romantic elements and relationships— leading him to learn of the asexual community. Fascinated, he wanted to see what a TV drama would look like without the conventional love stories driving the plot.

Also, it shows— Yuta Oshida's research included interviewing asexual people!

NHK was skeptical initially at the pitch; in the end, the network greenlit the show, believing it could work despite a lack of public knowledge about aromaticism and asexuality.

This series succeeds in portraying a compelling light drama, with cliffhangers across a total of eight short-and-sincere episodes that do a good job of locking you in and making you want more.