VIKI or Fansubbers

The VIKI Conversation

Here are some nice things about VIKI:

• It's a legal streaming service.
• They offer tiered membership levels starting at $4.99 a month, which will be sufficient for most people.
• Their Korean and Mainland China sections are massive and offer a diverse selection of genre choices.
• The dramas are all subtitled in a myriad of different languages, widening the viewing range significantly.

And for balance, and this is where I fall, here's a few not-so-nice things about VIKI:

• Their Japanese, Thailand, and Taiwanese collection is severely limited.
• The majority of their Japanese dramas stick to a particular theme (risque and sexually provocative), giving a false impression of Japanese produced content to their viewers.

I had a $4.99 membership for a while, but found they just did not offer enough variety to keep me interested. I'm picky about the dramas I watch so if I can find a drama from a fansubber instead, I'll do it. If you need subtitles in a variety of languages or you primarily watch Chinese or Korean entertainment, then you'll love Viki. If you are someone who just needs English subtitles to watch Japanese dramas and want more than a surface level experience, consider skipping VIKI altogether.

Try Fansubbers Instead

I diligently follow several fansubbers who release English subbed Japanese content with more regularity than VIKI ever will, some of them even while a program is currently airing. In 2022, I literally watched several dramas almost in tandem with the viewers in Japan because the fansubbers were getting the episodes subbed within a couple of days after the original air date.

Most of the fansubbers are on Twitter, so I'll list out their Twitter handles for easier access and will add more as I find them.

@MiaMaw2

A crucial resource for Kazuya Kamenashi or Tomohisa Yamashita dramas. She make my heart so happy.

 @irozukusubs

They offer a hugely diverse selection of subtitles for a wide range of genres. I've watched Hiru (2022), Dried Flower: Our Room in July (2021), Patissier et Mademoiselle (2022), Watashi Teiji de Kaerimasu or I Will Not Work Overtime, Period! (2019), He Won't Kill, She Won't Die (2019), and L-DK: Two Loves Under One Roof (2019).

@KaizenSubs

They're so worth it. They're a new fansubber, but they subbed Koisenu Futari starring Issei Takahashi and that is a drama that EVERYONE should see. I'm serious.

@rjgman56subs

He is a voracious fansubber and has over 120 projects under his belt, so yes, he's an excellent resource considering he's only been doing this for 4 years. Crazy impressive.

@ECOTVSubs

Honestly, I haven't really used this fansubber much, but they do have a growing collection.

@blitzlilz

I've tried a couple of the dramas that they've subbed, but never actually finished any of them, so that's unfortunate. I do intend to finish Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru and 4-Pun Kan no Marigold, and I will watch In Hand someday because that's a Yamapi drama from 2019.