Call Me by No-Name – Japanese GL Series Review & Ratings

Call Me by No-Name (Japanese: コールミー・バイ・ノーネーム) is a 2025 Japanese girls’ love (GL) drama that blends mystery, romance, and emotional healing. The story follows two women with hidden traumas and complex pasts who slowly learn to trust and love again. With poetic visuals, powerful performances by Miku Kudou and Manaka Osaki, and a screenplay that alternates between tension and tenderness, this drama marks a standout moment in the Japanese GL landscape.

Call Me by No-Name – Japanese GL Series Review & Ratings

Adapted from the novel Pin Han (品帆) by Monmeow (ม่อนแมว), this series doesn’t just explore love—it dares to delve into what it means to exist and be seen.

Call Me by No-Name Official Trailer

Call Me by No-Name Summary

Title: Call Me by No-Name
Series Info: Japan (2024)
Length: 24 minutes
Total Episodes: 8 episodes
Genre: Romance, Girl's love

Plot

Yotsugi Megumi, a university student at Eichi University, stumbles upon a mysterious girl named Furuhashi Kotoha discarded in a junkyard. Captivated by her, Megumi invites her to stay at her place, wanting to become friends. However, Kotoha coldly refuses and proposes a strange deal instead: if Megumi can guess her real name, they’ll become friends. Until then, they’ll act as lovers.

Call Me by No-Name – Japanese GL Series Review & Ratings (7) (1)

What begins as a bizarre emotional bet soon blossoms into something tender and transformative. But Kotoha’s buried trauma and haunted past begin to threaten the fragile bond forming between the two.

Call Me by No-Name Cast

Charactor

Yotsugi Megumi
Kudo Mio
by
Kudo Mio

Megumi is an optimistic, soft-hearted student whose unexpected encounter with Kotoha pushes her to grow emotionally and morally.

Kudo Mio

A promising Japanese actress known for her ability to portray emotionally nuanced roles. Call Me by No-Name marks one of her strongest performances to date, capturing the loneliness, quiet courage, and stubborn hope of a girl falling in love for the first time.

Furuhashi Kotoha
Osaki Ichika
by
Osaki Ichika

Kotoha is enigmatic, bruised by the world, yet sharp-witted and emotionally intense.

Osaki Ichika

Already recognized for her breakout roles in indie dramas, Osaki steps into the spotlight here. Her performance as the mysterious, trauma-burdened Kotoha is haunting and unforgettable. She embodies the role with such depth that it leaves a lasting mark on the viewer.

Supporting Cast

Mihara Ui

Murayama Sanae

Mihara Ui

Nakai Tomo

Yabata Tsukasa

Nakai Tomo

Hashimoto Ryo

Murata Manabu

Hashimoto Ryo

Sato Tamao

Kotoha's mother

Hashimoto Ryo

CAST HIGHLIGHT

Both Kudo Mio and Osaki Ichika are rising stars in Japan’s television industry. Call Me by No-Name is their first GL drama, and they bring emotional depth and sensitivity to roles that could easily fall into stereotype. Kudo’s previous action-hero experience contrasts beautifully with her tender portrayal of Megumi, while Osaki—already respected for her dramatic chops—cements her reputation with Kotoha’s haunting journey.

Call Me by No-Name Review

Review

👍 Drama Review Score:4.6/5
Story
Chemistry
Acting
Production
Ending

⭐ Story – 4.5/5
At first glance, Call Me by No-Name may seem like another slow-burn, emotionally cryptic Japanese drama. But stick with it—it blooms into a profoundly affecting narrative of trauma, healing, and queer love told through a delicate, almost poetic lens. While the beginning is elusive and quiet, the emotional clarity arrives in waves—especially when the perspective shifts to Kotoha in Episode 8, offering a crucial counterpoint to Mio’s journey. It’s a story that gently cradles the viewer, asking for patience and rewarding it with honesty.

⭐ Acting – 5/5
Kudo Mio’s portrayal of Yotsugi Megumi is brimming with quiet resilience and raw sensitivity. She embodies the warm, patient presence that slowly chips away at Kotoha’s icy armor. Osaki Maika as Furuhashi Kotoha delivers one of the most layered GL performances in recent memory—at first unreadable, shrouded in pain, but gradually unraveling to reveal fear, vulnerability, and the desire to be loved. Their performances feel like open wounds wrapped in silk.

⭐ Chemistry – 4.8/5
Forget flashy tropes—this is a romance where a single touch carries volumes. From Megumi’s unwavering care to Kotoha’s hesitant steps toward closeness, the emotional tension builds so quietly that when it finally breaks, it’s overwhelmingly tender. Their love feels real—not idealized, but hard-won and deeply felt.

⭐ Production – 4.4/5
The cinematography is stunningly restrained: gentle light filters through rainy windows, and quiet parks feel soaked in memory. The use of visual metaphors—like the paper rings, shared meals, and whispered names—adds intimacy to every frame. The somber palette and delicate music elevate the emotional weight, capturing a uniquely Japanese stillness and longing.

⭐ Ending – 4.3/5
Rooted in realism, the finale delivers closure that feels both earned and intimate. It doesn’t shout its resolution—it whispers it through joined hands and silent glances. The final moment, with Megumi and Kotoha clasping hands under the fading sky, feels like a thousand love confessions spoken without a word.

Best Scenes of Call Me by No-Name

  • Episode 5 – Rooftop Confession Scene
    Megumi, soaked in rain, shouts Kotoha’s real name across a crowded campus rooftop. It’s one of those moments where love becomes a declaration of identity—raw, urgent, unforgettable.

  • Episode 8 – The Handwritten Letter
    Kotoha’s silent voice-over reading a letter she never sent to Megumi plays as we see Megumi falling asleep with that letter in hand. The use of silence here is devastating and beautiful.

  • Episode 6 – The Confrontation with Her Past
    One of the most intense scenes in the series, where Kotoha revisits her old home. Osaki’s performance in this episode alone deserves awards.

Call Me by No-Name Information

Where to Watch

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