It has been announced that voice actress Ayane Sakura will be appearing in the first episode (extended by 6 minutes) of the drama series "Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective" (TV Asahi, Tuesdays at 9pm) which will air on April 22nd. Prior to filming, she was interviewed along with lead actress Kanna Hashimoto.
Sakura played the main character, Takao Amakura, in the TV anime version that aired from January to April this year, and will also appear in the first episode of the drama. She will play the daughter of the patient who Takao (Hashimoto) is the first to diagnose in the drama.
This will be his first live-action appearance since "Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger" (2023-2024). "I don't usually take on jobs that require me to show my face because I find it embarrassing, but with this project, I got past the embarrassment and nervousness and thought it was an exciting collaboration. I've always loved the original novel even before I got involved in the anime, so I thought that if there was anything I could do for this story, I'd try my best," he said, explaining why he accepted the offer.
Although it was his first meeting with Hashimoto, he said he had heard a lot about her through their mutual friend, Hamabe Minami, and that he also felt like "I want to support her!"
Upon hearing this, Hashimoto said with a smile, "I'm so happy! The moment I heard that she would be appearing in the drama, I contacted 'Mii-chan' (Hamabe-san)." Sakura also revealed, "I sent her a LINE message too!" and they both laughed.
Regarding her impression of Sakura, Hashimoto said with a smile, "She's just as I expected! I haven't had the chance to talk to her much yet, but she seems very kind. Mii-chan told me she's funny, so I'm looking forward to finding out more about her unique side as we talk."
Sakura then confessed, "I'm still wearing the cat costume! Because I want you to like me (lol)!", to which Hashimoto retorted, "I'm bothered by the fact that you're not wearing the same costume (lol)."
The drama is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Mikito Chinen, which has sold over 3.6 million copies in total and was also made into a TV anime. This is a full-fledged medical mystery in which the buddy team of diagnostician Takao Ameku (played by Hashimoto), who has a transcendent brain and overwhelming knowledge and insight as a doctor, and internist Yu Takanashi (played by Shohei Miura), brilliantly solve mysterious illnesses, murder cases, and even paranormal phenomena.
