Japanese Sports Dramas

I've compiled a list of latest Japanese sports dramas. These dramas were aired from Winter 2010 to Winter 2015. This is a pretty short list! I'm quite surprised, to be honest.

Please note
This list will only include dramas which are:
- concentrated on a person or a group/club trying to find motivation to work hard on their sports.
- series and not special dramas with only one or two episodes.

This will not include dramas which are:
- focused on romance, mystery, or any other genre more than sports.
- 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 Sports Dramas

Tumbling! (Spring 2010)

"Azuma Wataru, a third-year student at Karasumori High School, is a devil who strikes fear in the hearts of people. One day, Azuma is told by his former teacher that he has to participate in a club activity in order to make up for the lack of second-year students. The short-tempered Azuma cannot last long in whatever he does. At that moment, he learns that Satonaka Mari, the beautiful transfer student in his class, has joined the female rhythmic sports gymnastics club. He joins the male rhythmic sports gymnastics club, a club activity with very few people under the captain, Takenaka Yuta. They are ridiculed by the coach of the female rhythmic sports gymnastics club, and others, and are also hardly allowed to use the gym. However, when a sixth boy joins the club, Yuta decides to take part in a team competition with his long-sought six members..." (from dramawiki)

The main members of the cast, who played the roles as the club members, are very much commendable on this one. Portraying as sports people must be hard, and what more it must be very hard for their bodies! It seems really tough, gymnastics! These are actors, you know! These aren't athletes! And they weren't a let down and they didn't forget the emotions they should convey even if they were already doing those difficult gymnast moves. I really love this one!


Yowakutemo Katemasu (Spring 2014)

"Tamo Aoshi (Ninomiya Kazunari) is a substitute teacher at his alma mater, a prestigious private high school which admits 200 students to Tokyo University every year. He becomes the coach of the weak baseball club which has only five members and has never won a game since it was established. The highest number of times they have thrown the ball back and forth without dropping it is nine. They have prefer the outfield because the infield is scary. Furthermore, they practice on the grounds only three hours a week. At other times, they study, study, and study. But they love baseball. Finding them interesting and strange creatures, Aoshi decides that he will give his charges victory, guided by his offbeat theory "triumph is possible even if weak". And then they seriously set their sights on the annual nationwide high school baseball championship witht heir brand of preposterous baseball." (from dramawiki)

I can kind of understand why this drama garnered quite low ratings. It's not because the actors are not competent enough, maybe it's because the series of events got boring sometimes. It was like that for me, but I would like to praise the actors for their acting. And if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't probably have the drive to finish this. The plot is interesting, the cast are good, it was probably the execution of the story. You might think that it's so bad, but actually it's not. I still like it, but I'm just trying to lay down some possible explanation why the ratings are lower than 10%. But c'mon, we have Ninomiya Kazunari, Yamazaki Kento, Hongo Kanata, Fukushi Sota, Nakajima Yuto, Mamiya Shotaro, and Arimura Kasuma here!


Suikyu Yankees (Summer 2014)

"Naoya Inaba (Nakajima Yuto) grew up abroad and from his childhood experience, he thought "yankees" were the strongest heroes (in Japan "yankee" refers to delinquent youths). He was influenced by Japanese yankee mangas while he was abroad and grew up to be always full of 'chivalrous' spirit, like how he sees his yankee heroes.

Naoya arrives to spend a year in a high school in Japan. He attends in a technical high school in which the location  is famously known as the center for "water polo supremacy". His school, however, is the ridicule area and on the verge of closing down. Naoya loves the school because a yankee, whom he admired as a child, was only once a student there. However, he soon realized that there are no real yankees like hero figures, only students who spend their days meaninglessly. Naoya is disappointed and decided to do something about it." (from dramawiki)

The reunion of Nakajima Yuto and Yamazaki Kento (and Mamiya Shotaro) after Yowakutemo Katemasu isn't a let down at all. I think I even enjoyed this better than Yowakutemo Katemasu. I actually thought that it'll be boring when I saw the first scene because I thought there will be too much angst, which I don't quite prefer. It turns out I'm wrong with that impression. I love it that Takaki Yuya, Chiba Yudai, and Ohara Sakurako are also part of the cast. Shinkawa Yua and Hashimoto Kanna are discoveries for me. And oh, this drama is so pleasing to the eyes! If you know what I mean! Lol. You can understand with the photo above.


Ride Ride Ride (Summer 2014)

The Tochigi Prefecture is setting up Japan's first professional road bicycle racing team "Nasu Bengazu". The sponsoring is planned to be taken over by the small companies and stores from Nasu-machi, in hope to soon being able to get regional sponsors in the boat as well. But soon financial problems arise and the 28-year-old Hirai Mamoru (Seto Koji) of a local credit bank is sent in as manager for restructuring, but he only has 2 month time. Therefore, Mamoru is putting his marriage with his 29-year old fiancee Miyako (Usuda Asami) on hold and eagerly plunges himself into work. He meets with the team captain Toyama Kazushige (Hakamada Yoshihiko), the 39-year old ace is working since 20 years towards his goal to win. However, while the two month time for management reorganization expire, the captain is making a weighty decision, resulting in a violent clash between Mamoru and him." (from dramawiki)

I really want to watch this one but sadly, resources are hard to come by. :( Seto Koji deserves more love, people!!! Teen Court isn't even subbed yet. If only I have money to enroll to Japanese classes, but I don't. :( Anyway, I'll wait until I can watch this one, I really hope I would be able to in the future.

I don't know when I'll be able to write my commentaries, but hopefully within this week! Commentaries done! :)

Japanese Medical Dramas (Part 2 of 2)

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.

Japanese Medical Dramas

Last Hope (Winter 2013)

"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.

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)

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.

Japanese Medical Dramas (Part 1 of 2)

I've compiled a list of latest Japanese medical dramas. These dramas were aired from Winter 2010 to Winter 2015.

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.

Japanese Medical Dramas

Code Blue 2 (Winter 2010)

"It has been one and a half years since Aizawa Kosaku, Shiraishi Megumi, Hiyama Mihoko, and Fujikawa Kazuo were assigned to Shoyo University's North Hospital. they have only three months left of their fellowship program (specialized training program) to be flight doctors and each of them have come to the crossroads where they have to think of their lives after graduation. Aizawa, who has only one relative - a grandmother currently in a nursing home, starts having doubts about his duties and cannot find a clear direction for his future. Meanwhile, Shiraishi Megumi is unable to forget the past. She had caused their former teacher, Kuroda Shuji, to have his right arm amputated. Then Tachibana Keisuke, a veteran flight doctor, takes up a new post. He has been put in charge of certifying the fellowship program which will decide their future." (from dramawiki)

I love the first season, and I love this one as well. The front liners of the cast have established names now, and even before when this drama was released. We have Yamashita Tomohisa, Aragaki Yui, and Erika Toda. I really love these three, and watchign something with them together is such a pleasure. My sister, who is a registered nurse, enjoyed this series as well. I love the idea of "Doctor Heli" where the doctors can fly at once to the scene where they are needed. I know right, I stated the word "love" too much, well I really like it a lot!

GM ~Odore Doctor (Summer 2010)

"A brilliant general medicine doctor dreams only of becoming a famous dancer. He returns to Japan to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry only to find out the agency he signed up with was a sham. He stays in Japan and works part-time in a run-down GM center solving baffling medical mysteries. All the while he plans for his dancing comeback." (from dramawiki)

I've been wanting to watch this since I can't remember when, but I don't know why I keep forgetting to prioritize it. It sounds like comedy to me, and I don't know how they'll pull this one of to be great. What makes me want to watch this the most is the fact that Tabe Mikako and Okura Tadayoshi are both part of the cast. 

Iryu: Team Medical Dragon 3 (Autumn 2010)

"Several years after the conclusion of Iryu 2, Team Medical Dragon is once again reassembled to revive the faltering Meishin University Hospital." (from dramawiki)

I should have watched this one as well already, but there's just too much dramas every season I keep on leaving out a lot. From the cast, no one aside from Koike Teppei makes me interested, but then since I have watched the 1st and 2nd seasons, eventually, I came to love the drama. It's very interesting, well, all medical dramas are really interesting, right? They make you learn a lot, while some may be exaggerated, since it's drama after all, but nonetheless, they make you think and feel like everything happening is believable. I'm so amazed with this genre, because there's no medical dramas in my country.

Bull Doctor (Summer 2011)

"Esumi's character is the "bull doctor" of the show's title, which comes from the word "bulldozer". Ignoring any opposition from the people around her, she uses any means necessary to determine the truth behind the deaths of the bodies she examines. Because of her personality, she is constantly at odds with both Ishihara and Inagaki's characters." (from dramawiki)

I've watched this one because of Shida Mirai and Ishihara Satomi. I wonder if they have ever talked about Yamada Ryosuke on set? Just curious since they both know him. XD :) I can't quite understand or relate to our bull doctor, and it got boring along the way. But then maybe it's just me, because I wasn't really interested in the lead actress. I hope they got an actress I'm more familiar with. Lol.

37-sai de Isha ni Natta Boku ~Kenshui Junjo Monogatari~ (Spring 2012)

"A former salary man, Konno Yuta one day decides to re-enter a medical university. He successfully becomes a practitioner at age 37, and begins to work at a university hospital as a medical intern. Yuta had hoped to become a full-fledged doctor as soon as he could, but the reality he faces at the hospital are appalling.

It's as if Yuta had gone back in time tens of years ago when working conditions were incredibly harsh, doctors saw their patients only as sources for research, and rounds made by the professor only impose burden to both doctors and patients. At times being rejected by a younger superior, and at times confronting professors, Kenta comes to believe in one faith, and searches for the "medical treatment patients truly desire".

Joy, conflict, distress... It's a human love story that will inspire you no matter how old you are." (from dramawiki)

I'm not sure about the 'human love story' part there in the plot. Lol. I haven't watched this one either, but since Kusanagi Tsuyoshi got my heart with Dokushin Kizoku, maybe I'll try watching this one as well. Although, Dokushin Kizoku, is purely romance, while this one is medical. And oh, Yaotome Hikaru is part of the cast so I'm really considering this one.


Summer Rescue (Summer 2012)

"Hayami Keigo is a promising young heart surgeon at a university hospital, but is made to examine patients at a clinic in the mountains during summer on the orders of his superior. At a harsh environment 2,000 m above sea level, there is a small quantity of testing equipment and medicine. It is a culture shock and setback for Keigo who is active in advanced medical care and the use of cutting-edge equipment. This is a place detached from modern medical care where doctors make all diagnoses by touching, looking at and talking to patients. Koyama Haruka was raised by parents who ran a mountain lodge, but when she was 5, her mother died in an accident on the mountains. That influenced her to become a nurse in Tokyo. However, one day, an incident prompts her to escape from Tokyo and return to the mountain lodge. It is the same time that Keigo arrives at the clinic." (from dramawiki)

While I love Osamu Mukai and that would make me want to watch this, this one actually got me with its plot as well. It got my interest so I'm want to give this a chance. We also have Suda Masaki, Maeda Goki, and Nounen Rena in here. 


Resident ~5-nin no Kenshui~ (Autumn 2012)

''Patients are brought in one after the other. Being put in an environment where there is a race against time to save lives, all they can do is stand there doing nothing. Though they still have a lot to grow as a doctor and as individuals, will they be able to overcome adversity and one day be able to proudly identify themselves as being a doctor?" (from dramawiki)

All five are of the main cast are familiar to me, and that is really something, because it would make me want to watch a drama more. I have watched this and I really like the interactions and how the characters are learning here. Interesting story, love the cast.
  

Doctor X ~ Gekai Daimon Michiko (Autumn 2012)

"Daimon Michiko (Yonekura Ryoko) is a 37-year old surgeon and is a art of a questionable 'doctor placement service' that has her wander from hospital to another. She holds a scrupulous comliance when it comes to her working hours, never does any unnecessary chores that don't require a medical license, and couldn't care less about the power struggles within the hospitals. Nobody knows how she acquired such a top-level skill that allows her to claim exorbitant sums as reward, but her private life is an even greater mystery to everyone around her. There are rumors that she once had to leave the medical world due to money problems and a medical error, but nobody knows anything for sure." (from dramawiki)

I haven't watched this one yet as well, but the plot seems pretty interesting for me, so I might give it a chance since Yonekura Ryoko is one of the few older actresses I actually like. This is not something I'll prioritize though, because aside from Yonekura Ryoko no one from the other cast members interests me.

This list of Japanese medical dramas is not done yet! Part 2 is here.