Details of the sequel (to be released in 2025) to the movie version of the serial drama "TOKYO MER ~Running Emergency Room~" starring Ryohei Suzuki were revealed on November 7th. The sequel will be set in the vast ocean that spans Okinawa and Kagoshima, and the title has been decided as the movie version "TOKYO MER ~Running Emergency Room~ Nankai Mission".
"TOKYO MER ~Running Emergency Room~" is a full-scale medical drama that depicts a professional emergency medical team called "TOKYO MER" that was newly established by the order of the governor of Tokyo. The serial drama will be broadcast in the TBS "Sunday Theater" time slot (Sundays at 9 pm) in the July 2021 period, and the average household viewership rating for the final episode was recorded at 19.5% (Kanto region, Video Research survey), which became a hot topic.
Due to its popularity, the first movie version will be released in April 2023. The story follows the rescue of 193 people left behind after an explosion at Yokohama Landmark Tower, and the film, starring Anne and Jesse from SixTONES, was a huge hit, grossing 4.53 billion yen. The sequel will be directed by Matsuki Aya, written by Kuroiwa Tsutomu, and produced by the same production team as the drama, and will once again depict the struggles of MER.
Regarding the choice of the southern seas as the setting for the sequel, producer Yagi Ami said, "We wanted to pursue a new possibility for MER and deliver a fresh surprise and excitement to all of our supporters, so we went through a lot of trial and error. On the other hand, when we look at the reality of medical care, it is an important issue to face life in remote islands and depopulated areas without well-equipped medical facilities. In order to balance the major issue of remote island medical care with the world of film on an unprecedented scale, we decided to take on the challenge of a 'great rescue drama set in the southern seas.'"
The newly formed team, "Nankai MER," was also announced. Regarding the team concept, "MER Crossing the Sea," Yagi commented, "The first ship in the MER series will appear, which will carry special vehicles that can be operated and travel between islands!"
In addition, the Nankai MER team's new vehicle, the NK1, was also unveiled. The vehicle's unique feature is its strong tires that are equipped to handle rough off-road conditions such as muddy roads full of holes and in forests. It is said to be more maneuverable than the TO1 and can take on more difficult missions.
In addition, a photo of chief Kitami Kota (Suzuki) wearing the Nankai MER uniform was also released. In the previous work, the YOKOHAMA MER was an impressive light blue color, but the Nankai MER team color is pink. Yagi said, "We chose the team color pink to express the Nankai team, which combines brightness and tenacity, like a hibiscus that blooms powerfully even when exposed to the strong sunlight of a tropical island."
