It has been revealed that Takanori Iwata of the dance and vocal group " J SOUL BROTHERS III " will be starring in the July drama series " DOCTOR PRICE" (Yomiuri TV/Nippon TV, Sunday 10:30 pm). Iwata plays a former doctor who is a job change agent specializing in doctors, and his sharp-tongued partner, played by Aju Makita, judges the "evil" lurking in the medical industry in this "exhilarating medical suspense" drama. A visual of Iwata, with his long hair tied back, has also been released, showing a completely new image.
The story is based on the manga of the same name, written by Tsukasa Sakatsu and illustrated by Masaki Ariyu, which was serialized in "Manga Action" (Futabasha). The protagonist, Kanenari Naruki (Iwata), a former doctor, decides he has found a job that will earn him more money and becomes a "job change agent specializing in doctors," selling doctors to hospitals at a set price. Together with the sharp-tongued but excellent administrative staff member Aki Yonaga (Makida), he starts up a job change agent company. The story is about how he uses unexpected methods to gain an advantage in negotiations, sells the product known as a doctor to hospitals, and makes a lot of money... The drama will also feature original suspense developments and new episodes created together with the original author, Sakatsu.
Naruki, the president of the job-seeking agency "Dr. Connection" played by Iwata, is a former pediatrician at the Far East University Hospital. With his background and negotiating skills, he makes everything go as planned and fulfills the requests. However, three years ago, his father, who was also a doctor, was driven to suicide by suspicion of medical malpractice, which prompted him to quit his job as a doctor. Naruki has doubts about his father's death and finds something suspicious about the "medical malpractice," so he begins to pursue the truth for his late father's sake...
Yonaga, played by Makida, is an office staff member at "Dr. Connection" who excels in calculation and document preparation. He has a sharp tongue and cannot help but say what he thinks. Although he has decided to follow Naruki, he is unsure of his true nature, whether he is good or evil.
◇Comment from Takanori Iwata(role of Naruki Kanenari)
This work is a "medical drama", but there are almost no operation scenes. It is a "pleasant medical suspense" with a strong "suspense element" even though it is set in a hospital. It cuts into the dark side of the medical industry from a new perspective, so I feel that it will be a very new type of drama.
The main character I play, Naruki Kanenari, is a kind of "dark hero" who has a bad attitude and talks badly, and is rough with people (laughs). However, he has a strong sense of purpose and I get the impression that he will "use anything he can" to achieve that goal. Although he has that kind of cold-heartedness, he is also a character who is like a buddy with Yonaga Aki, played by Makida-san.
While the drama is based on suspense as Naruki closes in on him, each episode also features a guest performer, and the story unfolds in a way that cuts out each character's life and episodes, so the story progresses along both axes. We will all work together to create a refreshing drama that will leave viewers feeling refreshed on Sunday night, so please look forward to it!
◇Comment from Aju Makita(role of Aki Yonaga)
Before reading the script, I read the entire original work, and it was so interesting that I could keep reading it, thinking "next volume, next volume...", so when I was cast to play Yonaga Aki, I was excited to see how I could portray a character who is sharp-tongued and hides it with a smile, something I'd never played before. But at the same time, I was also nervous. However, when Yonaga finishes work, she negotiates with Naruki over her salary, and their exchange is so cute and soothing that I'm looking forward to filming it (laughs).
Also, since the story deals with the topic of "doctors changing jobs," there are long lines of dialogue and a lot of explanations of terminology, I want to express that in a way that is clearly conveyed to the viewers.
I hope to make a drama that people can watch on Sunday night, feel refreshed at the end, and think, "I'll work hard from tomorrow!" or "I'll work hard at school!" I'll do my best!!
◇ Comment from Producer Yusaku Taku
When I read the original work, I was strongly attracted to the contradiction of "a medical manga without medical scenes." The guests that appear are not "patients" but "doctors." Furthermore, a different hospital appears in each episode. There is "money-related" jargon that I have never heard of in any other medical drama. And there is the existence of a "job placement agent specializing in doctors." Although it is a "medical drama" that I have never heard before, at its core it is a story about "saving doctors who save people."
For us, doctors may seem close to us, but they may be far away. They fight every day with a sense of responsibility that is hard to imagine: "saving lives." However, through this work, I felt that "doctors are also human beings who suffer from their work environment and family environment," and I was attracted to the protagonist who does not treat them as special, but instead presents them with options for their lives.
"How much do doctors earn?" "Does the way doctors work differ depending on the type of hospital?" "What kind of people are involved in running a hospital?" With "healthcare and money" as its theme, you can learn about the structure of the hospitals we visit every day, feel refreshed by the "exhilarating drama" in which evil is punished, and enjoy the suspenseful story that uncovers the truth behind hidden medical malpractice!
・About the main character, Naruki Kanenari
The main character, Naruki, who manipulates and uses everything like a chess piece to achieve his goals, will be played by Takanori Iwata.
From what I have seen of him as an actor, artist, and on variety shows, I have always had a strong impression of warmth and kindness, but when I saw him play a murderer in one production, I felt, "I'd like to work with him someday!" and so my dream came true, with us joining forces as the dark hero in this film.
I want to see a new side of Iwata, an actor who has played many different roles, to make a lot of money, to punish evil, to save the doctor, to get to the truth, to get revenge - we are creating a dark hero whose new face is revealed in every episode! I am also very excited to see how Naruki will develop in the upcoming filming!
・About Buddy Aki Yonaga
The heroine, Aju Makita.
I had always been impressed by Makida's soft acting, but also by her dark side, and when I saw a new side of her in a school drama, I immediately offered her the role.
Makida-san has raised Yonaga to be a bright light in the serious worldview of this work, and the staff are having fun wondering, "What kind of Yonaga will we see in today's shoot?" Please enjoy the mystery of "Why is Yonaga working for Naruki?"
◇Comment from Tsukasa Sakatsu, the original author
I'm happy that it's being made into a TV drama! I think the original parts of the drama are also wonderful. I almost regret not using the original work!
I was also involved in some of the new episodes, and it felt like we were creating it together. It was a fulfilling and enjoyable period. I can't wait to deliver it to everyone as soon as possible.
◇Comment from illustrator Masaki Ariyu
I'm still in a dream state, so happy and surprised that it's being made into a TV drama! This was only made possible thanks to the support of our readers and the efforts of everyone involved. Thank you so much! I've always enjoyed reading the plots and scripts. I think you'll enjoy the different developments from the manga. The essence of the drawings has also been added to the direction, so I'm really looking forward to the broadcast!
