Japanese drama opened first half in despair (2,4)
I believe the answer is:
no hope
'despair' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'japanese drama opened first half' is the wordplay.
'japanese drama' becomes 'noh' (type of drama in Japan).
'first half' suggests halving the letters.
'opened' halved is 'ope'.
'noh'+'ope'='NO-HOPE'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for no hope that I've seen before include "Not having any chance of winning" , "A state of despair" .)