On January 8th, actor Takuma Otoo appeared at a press conference in Tokyo for the Fuji TV Getsuku drama "Yandoku!" (Mondays at 9pm, starting January 12th), starring Kanna Hashimoto . In a talk segment in which co-stars listened to Hashimoto's worries in reference to her character, Tagami Kotoha, a former delinquent girl turned neurosurgeon, Otoo said, "Please answer me seriously. I've been using my real name, Takuma Otoo, up until now, but I'd like a stage name soon. I'd like Hashimoto to think of one..." to which Hashimoto vehemently opposed, saying, "You should definitely stop!"
Hashimoto was surprised by Otoo's sudden request, saying, "You want to change your name now?!", but added, "There aren't many people with the name Otoo, and it sounds good, so I definitely don't want you to change it." Hashimoto's words made Otoo smile and say, "I've gained confidence in continuing with my current name."
Also appearing at the press conference were Mukai Osamu Mukai, Ryubi Miyase, Toru Baba, Usuki Yuki of the comedy duo "Nagon", Xu Fengfan, and Kotaro Yoshida.
The drama is a thrilling medical entertainment in which the protagonist, Koonami Tagami, a hardcore delinquent girl played by Hashimoto, studies hard after her best friend dies in an accident, becoming a neurosurgeon and bringing a breath of fresh air to the medical field. The original work is based on a real doctor, and the script is written by Nemoto Nonji, who also wrote the NHK Asadora drama "Omusubi" starring Hashimoto.
