It has been revealed that actor Wakana Matsumoto will star in the Fuji TV drama series "Dr. Ashura" (Wednesdays at 10pm) in April. Matsumoto, who plays the super skilled emergency doctor Anzuno Shura, nicknamed "Asura", said, "Please enjoy this story of Shura, who will stop at nothing to save a life, and other unique doctors who challenge the realities of the medical field." This will be Matsumoto's second year in a row as the lead in a Fuji TV drama series.
The original work is the manga of the same name by Ryo Koshino, which was serialized in "Weekly Manga Goraku" from 2015 to 2016 (Nihon Bungeisha / 3 volumes in total). Set in an emergency department that faces life on the front lines, this is a medical drama that depicts the activities of a super-skilled emergency doctor who never turns down any emergency patients and always uses any means to save them.
Matsumoto plays Shura, a 39-year-old emergency doctor in the emergency department at Taishaku General Hospital. He makes no distinction between emergency patients brought to him, and has a strong conviction that he will "always help" them, even if they don't have money or are gangsters. He sometimes performs the miraculous feat of operating on two seriously ill patients at the same time. Because of his demeanor, he is referred to as "Dr. Ashura" in the hospital, after the three-faced, six-armed demon Ashura.
The director is Hiroaki Matsuyama, who has worked on the "Don't Call It Mystery" series and "Trace: The Man from the Forensic Science Laboratory," while the script is written by Sayaka Ichino, winner of the 34th Young Scenario Award and a former nurse. The producer is Yuta Kano, who has worked on "Usotoki Rhetoric" and "366 Days."
◇Comment from the original author, Ryo Koshino
To be honest, I thought that "Dr. Ashura" would not be able to be made into a movie. It has been about 10 years since the serialization began. I had been approached about making it into a movie several times, but they all fell through. So, I was approached again this time, but just as I was thinking "I wonder if it will end as a plan..." my smartphone rang.
(Editor: "Wakana Matsumoto will be playing the lead role.")
Eh!!!!!! Seriously!!! Amazing! Amazing!!! I'm so happy!!! Isn't it perfect? He accepted such a difficult role!? I'm so grateful!!! Absolutely, absolutely, no matter what happens, we'll make it happen this time!! I'll do anything!!
I was jumping up at work.
"Dr. Ashura" is an unfinished manga with only three volumes. For a one-cour drama, we have to create original parts as well. I've been participating in plot and scenario meetings and it's been a great experience to re-examine the work "Dr. Ashura."
Reality...unreasonableness strikes suddenly. Even though you are not at fault, illness, accidents, incidents, disasters... Even though it is not your fault, even though you are not at fault, you are suddenly knocked into the depths of despair and your life is taken away.
But he doesn't end there. He connects lives, thoughts, dreams, and wishes. Doctors are not gods, but they still struggle to get closer to god. That's the down-to-earth, beautiful story of a "critical care doctor."
Thanks to Wakana Matsumoto, we can see the perfect Anzuno Asura!! We can see an even more enjoyable "Dr. Ashura"!! I might be the one looking forward to the broadcast starting the most.
◇Comment from Wakana Matsumoto
--Please tell us how you felt when you were chosen to appear in this film.
I remember learning that the main character, Shura, is a doctor who is obsessed with the hellish situations in which she has to save lives, and has an abnormal tenacity about them, and I was inspired by her strong convictions. There were many tense scenes in the medical field, so I wanted to prepare thoroughly and create my own version of Shura.
--What were your thoughts after reading the script?
As expected, the medical scenes were the main focus, but the pace was good and the characters' emotions were deep. Shura's conflict was well-drawn, and the other characters also had their own quirks, so I was drawn in more and more as I read. I think this will be a work that can be enjoyed by both fans of the original work and those who are encountering it for the first time.
--What is your impression of the character Shura? How do you want to portray him?
Shura's actions and words have a crazy side to them, and she seems to go beyond the role of a "life-saving doctor." I found her charming, as she doesn't give in to anyone and sticks to the medical treatment she believes in. I hope to be able to carefully express not only her strength, which allows her to overpower those around her with her own skills, but also her doubts and conflicts.
--Please tell us about the upcoming filming location and your enthusiasm for the project.
Even in the midst of a serious medical subject, the characters' lives and relationships are well-drawn. With the same strong feelings as Shura, I want to work with the cast and staff to create a work that will touch the hearts of viewers. There are many things I'm trying for the first time, but I'll do my best.
--Message to viewers
This is a story that pursues realism and conveys the nature of medical care... but it's a little different. Shura's strange obsession with her patients is wild. Please enjoy this story of Shura, who will stop at nothing to save their lives, and the unique doctors who challenge the reality of the medical field.
◇Comment from Director Hiroaki Matsuyama (Fuji Television Drama Production Department)
A life-saving doctor, Asura Anzuno, fights desperately in the battlefield of life-saving medicine, never abandoning any life. Her appearance is as strong, fierce, and beautiful as the demon Asura. I have directed many works starring Wakana Matsumoto, but with this production I hope to create a never-before-seen heroine together with her. Please look forward to it.
◇ Producer: Comment from Yuta Kano (Fuji Television Drama Production Department)
When I read the original story of "Dr. Ashura", I was strongly attracted to the behavior of the main character who continues to save lives in a harsh field. This time, I had the opportunity to actually observe the emergency room in preparation for the filming, and patients are frequently brought in, and if they make a mistake, they will die or have an impact on the prognosis, so they absolutely cannot fail. I felt that the emergency room doctors save lives under extreme pressure. Also, you don't really know what symptoms the patient has until they are brought in. And since the patient is transferred to another department in the hospital after the emergency room treatment is completed, emergency room doctors are (almost) never directly thanked, and are looked down upon or treated as a nuisance by specialists in other departments. And many emergency rooms are in the red... I was impressed by the way they struggle with the pure desire to "simply save lives" even in such a problem-ridden situation. In addition, this story does not feature a doctor helicopter or a truck capable of performing surgery, and it is not set at night or in the mountains, and is set in a secondary emergency care site that does not have sufficient medical equipment or personnel. Because of the straightforward setting, I hope to be able to depict the human drama of the patients and doctors in a rich way.
When I was thinking about who I wanted to play the role of Anzuno Shura, who has outstanding skills and a strong will, I immediately thought, "I want Wakana Matsumoto to play the role! I want to see Matsumoto play a strong, conviction-filled emergency doctor!" and asked her to appear in the film. The entire staff is very happy and excited that she agreed! As an actor, like Ashura, he shows us different sides to each work, so I think we will be able to show him a new side this time as well. And I am deeply grateful to the original author, Koshino Ryo-sensei, for being so kind and listening to all of our various consultations. I hope that the screenwriter, Ichino Sayaka, director Matsuyama Hiroaki, and all the other staff members will be able to deliver a passionate emergency drama that is worth watching. Please look forward to it.
