I've compiled a list of latest Japanese medical dramas. These dramas were aired from Winter 2010 to Winter 2015. Click here for Part 1.
Please note
This list will only include dramas which are:
- not only mainly set in a hospital but actually tackles either problems/circumstances in a hospital system, cases of doctors, and treatments of patients.
- even if working for forensics, the lead character is a doctor.
- series and not special dramas with only one or two episodes.
This will not include dramas which are:
- mainly set in a hospital but centers on mystery, or any other genre than medical.
- Asadora and Taiga dramas.
- SPs aired in a season.
And of course, I will only include dramas which piques my interest.
While I can promise that I'll do my best to categorize the dramas, I cannot promise that it'll be perfect as categorizing some of them can be really confusing. The dramas I haven't watched yet are even more confusing to categorize. I might edit this post if sometime in the future, I think a drama fits another genre more. If you would like to suggest that a drama fits a certain genre more than where I included it, feel free to comment so I can take it into consideration.
This list will only include dramas which are:
- not only mainly set in a hospital but actually tackles either problems/circumstances in a hospital system, cases of doctors, and treatments of patients.
- even if working for forensics, the lead character is a doctor.
- series and not special dramas with only one or two episodes.
This will not include dramas which are:
- mainly set in a hospital but centers on mystery, or any other genre than medical.
- Asadora and Taiga dramas.
- SPs aired in a season.
And of course, I will only include dramas which piques my interest.
While I can promise that I'll do my best to categorize the dramas, I cannot promise that it'll be perfect as categorizing some of them can be really confusing. The dramas I haven't watched yet are even more confusing to categorize. I might edit this post if sometime in the future, I think a drama fits another genre more. If you would like to suggest that a drama fits a certain genre more than where I included it, feel free to comment so I can take it into consideration.
Japanese Medical Dramas
Last Hope (Winter 2013)
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"Inspired by the works of Nobel Prize winner Yamanaka Shinya, comes a medical suspense drama that focuses on the cutting-edge medical technology. Set in the infamous Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation hospital (IBRI), it tells the story of a medical team, that is made up of doctors from different fields of expertise, age-group and career aspirations. They are the last hope for all the terminally ill patients who are sent there. "What does it mean to live?", "What does it mean to save a patient?", and "How far is one supposed to go in the name of medical care?". These are the questions that trouble the team, as they slowly grow as an individual and as a team, helping each other overcome their complexes and their past.
Hatano Takumi is a qualified GP, and had thought of taking over his father's family practice. However, his father has other plans for him, and recommended him to join IBRI instead. Takumi is excellent at diagnosing a patient's illness, but he is considered and eccentric, due to his habit of dropping everything to have a snack on-the-dot at 3 o'clock. Unbeknownst to himself, he actually carries as secret from when he was a kid. When that secret is exposed, what will happen to Takumi?" (from dramawiki)
I really like this drama because their setting is really modern and the mystery surrounding our hero is so intriguing. There's just one point that I couldn't forgive because my curiosity wasn't satisfied. What's the significance of Takumi's 3PM snack time and why do they have to put a certain highlight to that in every episode as if it's something necessary to the drama? I thought even the explanation for that will be explain in the end, but no. I wonder if it's only me who was bothered by that? Over all, I like the drama minus the 3PM snack time because I didn't get its importance. It's cute thoughLol. I hope there's more between Aiba Masaki and Tabe Mikako though!
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"Inspired by the works of Nobel Prize winner Yamanaka Shinya, comes a medical suspense drama that focuses on the cutting-edge medical technology. Set in the infamous Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation hospital (IBRI), it tells the story of a medical team, that is made up of doctors from different fields of expertise, age-group and career aspirations. They are the last hope for all the terminally ill patients who are sent there. "What does it mean to live?", "What does it mean to save a patient?", and "How far is one supposed to go in the name of medical care?". These are the questions that trouble the team, as they slowly grow as an individual and as a team, helping each other overcome their complexes and their past.Hatano Takumi is a qualified GP, and had thought of taking over his father's family practice. However, his father has other plans for him, and recommended him to join IBRI instead. Takumi is excellent at diagnosing a patient's illness, but he is considered and eccentric, due to his habit of dropping everything to have a snack on-the-dot at 3 o'clock. Unbeknownst to himself, he actually carries as secret from when he was a kid. When that secret is exposed, what will happen to Takumi?" (from dramawiki)
I really like this drama because their setting is really modern and the mystery surrounding our hero is so intriguing. There's just one point that I couldn't forgive because my curiosity wasn't satisfied. What's the significance of Takumi's 3PM snack time and why do they have to put a certain highlight to that in every episode as if it's something necessary to the drama? I thought even the explanation for that will be explain in the end, but no. I wonder if it's only me who was bothered by that? Over all, I like the drama minus the 3PM snack time because I didn't get its importance. It's cute thoughLol. I hope there's more between Aiba Masaki and Tabe Mikako though!
Kyumei Byoto 24 Ji 5 (Summer 2013)
"Dr. Kaede Kojima (Matsushima Nanako) is now the staff leader at Minato University Hospital's a month since she took that position. She's calm and precise in her role as staff leader, but she doesn't let others get close to her. The relationship between staff members is awkward because of this. Others can't figure out why Hospital Diretor Tooru Mogami (Danta Yasunori) put Kaede Kojima in her position.
One day, a patient's family asks the hospital to stop a donor transplant. Hospital Director Tooru Mogami calls Dr. Kaede Kojima in for a meeting. When Kaede Kojima gets there, Tooru Mogami and Yasuhiro Sugiyoshi (Tezuka Toru) wait for her. Yasuhiro Sugiyoshi complains about the cancellation of the donor transplant and blames staff members for not persuading the patients' family enough. Tooru Mogami then reveals that he invited donor transplant specialist Dr. Mamoru Natsume (Tokito Saburo).
Around this time, tragedy strikes with multiple stabbings and an explosion. The Emergency and Critical Care Center is inundated with injured victims. Chaos ensues as the staff fails to work together and the doctors do not cooperate or communicate with each other." (from dramawiki)
I'm quite surprised that this series has been going on since 1999. I'm even more surprised when I saw the promotional poster of the first installment because Matsushima Nanako looks so young, though she's still very pretty nowadays! While I'm surprised about this drama, I don't think I'm going to watch the 1st to 4th seasons because it doesn't really interest me that much. I'd just like to check out this 5th season, and because Kazama Shunsuke is in this drama! I hope he stars in more dramas though, and actually take the lead role! This guy is from Johnnys & Associates after all! C'mon Johnny, you can do better than that! XD :)
Doctor X ~Gekai Daimon Michiko 2 (Autumn 2013)
"The story continues with Michiko still working as a freelance dcotor at the Teito University Hospital. Enjoying herself at a horse-race in Hokkaido from an invite by Dr. Kanbara Akira, Michiko happens to chance upon a scene at the owners' box. The elegant woman draped in a fur coat, sipping champagne with her handsome younger lover. Her attention is soon diverted to the race, as she cheers on the horse that she had bet on. Suddenly, the said horse veered into the path of another horse, causing a nasty fall. Michiko then overhears the elegant woman, who happens to be the injured horse's owner, lamenting "A hundred million yen horse, euthanised just like that". To which the vet replies, "Even a surgery will result in 100% failure." Michiko then chimes in, "If it was me, I would succeed..."
A few weeks later, in the conference at the Teito University Hospital, the Internal Medicine Executive Manager announces that there will be a patient checking into the hospitalfor treatment on osteosarcoma of the thighbone. The Chief surgeon, Hiruma, and all his staff concur that the best treatment would be to amputate the leg, when a voice pipes up, "I disagree!", that heralds appearance of Michiko!" (from dramawiki)
Just the same thought/comments I have with season 1 on the first post. I haven't watched this one too.
One day, a patient's family asks the hospital to stop a donor transplant. Hospital Director Tooru Mogami calls Dr. Kaede Kojima in for a meeting. When Kaede Kojima gets there, Tooru Mogami and Yasuhiro Sugiyoshi (Tezuka Toru) wait for her. Yasuhiro Sugiyoshi complains about the cancellation of the donor transplant and blames staff members for not persuading the patients' family enough. Tooru Mogami then reveals that he invited donor transplant specialist Dr. Mamoru Natsume (Tokito Saburo).
Around this time, tragedy strikes with multiple stabbings and an explosion. The Emergency and Critical Care Center is inundated with injured victims. Chaos ensues as the staff fails to work together and the doctors do not cooperate or communicate with each other." (from dramawiki)
I'm quite surprised that this series has been going on since 1999. I'm even more surprised when I saw the promotional poster of the first installment because Matsushima Nanako looks so young, though she's still very pretty nowadays! While I'm surprised about this drama, I don't think I'm going to watch the 1st to 4th seasons because it doesn't really interest me that much. I'd just like to check out this 5th season, and because Kazama Shunsuke is in this drama! I hope he stars in more dramas though, and actually take the lead role! This guy is from Johnnys & Associates after all! C'mon Johnny, you can do better than that! XD :)
Doctor X ~Gekai Daimon Michiko 2 (Autumn 2013)
"The story continues with Michiko still working as a freelance dcotor at the Teito University Hospital. Enjoying herself at a horse-race in Hokkaido from an invite by Dr. Kanbara Akira, Michiko happens to chance upon a scene at the owners' box. The elegant woman draped in a fur coat, sipping champagne with her handsome younger lover. Her attention is soon diverted to the race, as she cheers on the horse that she had bet on. Suddenly, the said horse veered into the path of another horse, causing a nasty fall. Michiko then overhears the elegant woman, who happens to be the injured horse's owner, lamenting "A hundred million yen horse, euthanised just like that". To which the vet replies, "Even a surgery will result in 100% failure." Michiko then chimes in, "If it was me, I would succeed..."A few weeks later, in the conference at the Teito University Hospital, the Internal Medicine Executive Manager announces that there will be a patient checking into the hospitalfor treatment on osteosarcoma of the thighbone. The Chief surgeon, Hiruma, and all his staff concur that the best treatment would be to amputate the leg, when a voice pipes up, "I disagree!", that heralds appearance of Michiko!" (from dramawiki)
Just the same thought/comments I have with season 1 on the first post. I haven't watched this one too.
Dr.DMAT (Winter 2014)
"DMAT, the acronym for the 'Disaster Medical Assistance Team', was first established in 2004. For the past 10 years, the team has been providing on-site emergency assistance at disaster-hit areas. Yakumo Hibiki was a surgeon at the Arisukawa General Hospital's Emergency Unit, but due to a mistake involving his sister Haruko, he has since been transfeered to the internal medicine unit. One day, the hospital director, Dr. Isesaki Katsuichi, requests for Hibiki to move to DMAT. His childhood friend, Nurse Yoshioka Rin, encourages him to take up the role, but upon joining the team, Hibiki finds his new colleagues aloof and a little eccentric. His first assignment is to pile-up accident in a road tunnel, and he finds himself working against time to provide medical treatment to those who require immediate attention." (from dramawiki)
This is another drama I need to prioritize, I'm missing too much I know. While this sounds a little like Code Blue (and they also even have a disaster set in a tunnel), I would really love to watch this because Okura Tadayoshi is the lead actor, and we have Takaki Yuya as well. I like Takimoto Miori a little too, only a little because I think she still has limited facial expressions with her.
IRYU 4 (Winter 2014)
"The fourth season of the popular medical drama starring Sakaguchi Kenji that portrays cutting-edge medical treatments in a thrilling overall package. Three years after the previous season, brilliant surgeon Asada Ryutaro (Sakaguchi) and his "Team Dragon" are back to achieve their goal of creating the perfect hospital where patients are the priority again.
Two new exciting additions to the characters include Asada's former teacher (Hira Mikijiro) and a competent management consultant of the government (Takahashi Katsunori). The story in this season focuses on globalization." (from dramawiki)
While this season has the lowest ratings to date among the 4 seasons, it's still commendable because the ratings didn't even go down 10%, which is actually still very high. This is such a high caliber drama proven by its ratings. A lot of dramas' ratings flop during its 2nd season but this one managed to get until the 4th and I hope they just don't end this series yet.
Zero no Shinjitsu (Summer 2014)
"Matsumuto Mao is suppose to become the new medical examiner and visit the USA at the age of 10. While there she is to study advanced placement 3rd year Forensics, She has an IQ of over 150.
Suddenly, she becomes like an ordinary person confusing everybody, except Kyoko. A rush of bodies come in for autopsy. A middle aged man who apparently fell for a scaffolding at a construction site comes in. Mao begins the autopsy without a speck of the days exhaustion showing. She discovers that he did not simply hit his head while falling. Case impending..." (from dramawiki)
While I still really like Takei Emi (not to mention that I have seen this pretty lady in person), I just have to say this one is quite lacking in core or in sense. I've watched it but I don't know why I can barely remember the story when a year hasn't even passed yet. I guess it was lucking in punch that it didn't make its mark on me.
Doctor X ~Gekai Daimon Michiko 2 (Autumn 2014)
"Daimon Michiko is a freelance surgeon who does not belong to a university hospital's medical department. She goes around various hospitals while affiliated with Kanbara AKira's shady Good Doctors Agency. One day, Michiko is visiting a southern island when she encounters passengers who were injured in a luxury liner accident. One of them is Busujima Ryunosuke, the former hospital director of Teito Mecial Univeristy's Third Hospital, which she was sent to at one time. Michiko quickly attends to Busujima. That is when she notices something abnormal.
Busujima is later admitted to the National Higher Medical Center, a technologically advanced hospital which the country has staked its prestige on in order to show Japan's medical technology to the world. He has a huge heart tumor as well as a ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma.
There is a big upheaval regarding this surgery at a preoperative conference because a futile power struggle between the factions of Totei University Hospital and Saikyo University Hospital, which represents Japan's east and west, is intensifying at the center. This struggle for supremacy has reached the point that it makes even Tendo Yoshihito, the director of the center, fret. The two factions naturally fight to be in charge of Busujima's surgery and will not give an inch. Michiko suddenly shows up at this savage conference and boldly declares, "Let me operate. He's my patient." However, she gets thrown out unceremoniously. Right after that, the situation undergoes a complete change. The men of both factions hire Michiko and contemplate hot to tip the power play in their favor. In the end, Michiko is employed as Busujima's attending physician. But of all things, the man himself is dead set against being operated by her. Following her own conviction to save lives before her and to keep doing this a slong as she lives, Michiko pushes on and starts to shake things up again." (from dramawiki)
The plot provided on wikipedia is so long! I have nothing to say anymore. Lol. Just the same thoughts/opinions for the 1st season, so please refer to that. Obviously, I haven't watched this one as well.
Masshiro (Winter 2015)
"25 year-old Arimura Akari graduated from the local nursing school in Funabashi City, Chiba prefecture and works for the hospital's geriatric ward. When she became a nurse, she wanted to be of help to others and appreciated by those people she helped. But in the course of slaving away for a meager salary over the past four years, Akari would rather quit and get married quickly. Then she gets the chance for a fresh start with a makeover as a well-off young lady. She slips into the very exclusive Toh Hospital which draws a stream of politicians, entertainers, and intellectuals depsite the expensive medical care. However, it is a hospital with novice doctors, adulterous nurses and spoiled patients. Among them is the ehad nurse, who is called the overall director of the "White Inner Palace", is tough on Akari and many difficulties are in store for her everyday. Moreover, the policy to keep things that happen in the hospital under the wraps is certainly like the inner palace." (from dramawiki)
"DMAT, the acronym for the 'Disaster Medical Assistance Team', was first established in 2004. For the past 10 years, the team has been providing on-site emergency assistance at disaster-hit areas. Yakumo Hibiki was a surgeon at the Arisukawa General Hospital's Emergency Unit, but due to a mistake involving his sister Haruko, he has since been transfeered to the internal medicine unit. One day, the hospital director, Dr. Isesaki Katsuichi, requests for Hibiki to move to DMAT. His childhood friend, Nurse Yoshioka Rin, encourages him to take up the role, but upon joining the team, Hibiki finds his new colleagues aloof and a little eccentric. His first assignment is to pile-up accident in a road tunnel, and he finds himself working against time to provide medical treatment to those who require immediate attention." (from dramawiki)This is another drama I need to prioritize, I'm missing too much I know. While this sounds a little like Code Blue (and they also even have a disaster set in a tunnel), I would really love to watch this because Okura Tadayoshi is the lead actor, and we have Takaki Yuya as well. I like Takimoto Miori a little too, only a little because I think she still has limited facial expressions with her.
IRYU 4 (Winter 2014)
"The fourth season of the popular medical drama starring Sakaguchi Kenji that portrays cutting-edge medical treatments in a thrilling overall package. Three years after the previous season, brilliant surgeon Asada Ryutaro (Sakaguchi) and his "Team Dragon" are back to achieve their goal of creating the perfect hospital where patients are the priority again.Two new exciting additions to the characters include Asada's former teacher (Hira Mikijiro) and a competent management consultant of the government (Takahashi Katsunori). The story in this season focuses on globalization." (from dramawiki)
Zero no Shinjitsu (Summer 2014)
Suddenly, she becomes like an ordinary person confusing everybody, except Kyoko. A rush of bodies come in for autopsy. A middle aged man who apparently fell for a scaffolding at a construction site comes in. Mao begins the autopsy without a speck of the days exhaustion showing. She discovers that he did not simply hit his head while falling. Case impending..." (from dramawiki)
While I still really like Takei Emi (not to mention that I have seen this pretty lady in person), I just have to say this one is quite lacking in core or in sense. I've watched it but I don't know why I can barely remember the story when a year hasn't even passed yet. I guess it was lucking in punch that it didn't make its mark on me.
Doctor X ~Gekai Daimon Michiko 2 (Autumn 2014)
Busujima is later admitted to the National Higher Medical Center, a technologically advanced hospital which the country has staked its prestige on in order to show Japan's medical technology to the world. He has a huge heart tumor as well as a ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma.
There is a big upheaval regarding this surgery at a preoperative conference because a futile power struggle between the factions of Totei University Hospital and Saikyo University Hospital, which represents Japan's east and west, is intensifying at the center. This struggle for supremacy has reached the point that it makes even Tendo Yoshihito, the director of the center, fret. The two factions naturally fight to be in charge of Busujima's surgery and will not give an inch. Michiko suddenly shows up at this savage conference and boldly declares, "Let me operate. He's my patient." However, she gets thrown out unceremoniously. Right after that, the situation undergoes a complete change. The men of both factions hire Michiko and contemplate hot to tip the power play in their favor. In the end, Michiko is employed as Busujima's attending physician. But of all things, the man himself is dead set against being operated by her. Following her own conviction to save lives before her and to keep doing this a slong as she lives, Michiko pushes on and starts to shake things up again." (from dramawiki)
The plot provided on wikipedia is so long! I have nothing to say anymore. Lol. Just the same thoughts/opinions for the 1st season, so please refer to that. Obviously, I haven't watched this one as well.
Masshiro (Winter 2015)
"25 year-old Arimura Akari graduated from the local nursing school in Funabashi City, Chiba prefecture and works for the hospital's geriatric ward. When she became a nurse, she wanted to be of help to others and appreciated by those people she helped. But in the course of slaving away for a meager salary over the past four years, Akari would rather quit and get married quickly. Then she gets the chance for a fresh start with a makeover as a well-off young lady. She slips into the very exclusive Toh Hospital which draws a stream of politicians, entertainers, and intellectuals depsite the expensive medical care. However, it is a hospital with novice doctors, adulterous nurses and spoiled patients. Among them is the ehad nurse, who is called the overall director of the "White Inner Palace", is tough on Akari and many difficulties are in store for her everyday. Moreover, the policy to keep things that happen in the hospital under the wraps is certainly like the inner palace." (from dramawiki)
Upon reading the plot, I think this is a pretty interesting drama. It's not the usual medical drama where a doctor is the lead character. In this one, it's a nurse. I first got interested in this drama when I've read on wikipedia that Shida Mirai is part of the cast. I really adore her. Horikita Maki is an OK actress for me, I can't really say she's one of my favorites but I like her as well. Her acting is very bearable unlike Ayase Haruka's, in my opinion. Lol. I know Ayase Haruka is very popular and tops a lot of rankings, but to be honest, I don't get the logic of those people who voted. Going back, I would love to check this out as well.
I've finally finished this list of medical dramas! I hope I've helped you somehow on deciding which dramas to watch. If you're reading this until this part, really, thank you so much! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the photos included in this post. They were all from the linked dramawiki pages, credits goes to the owners of the promotional photos.
