The Tuesday drama "Madoka26sai,kenshui Yattemasu!" (TBS, Tuesdays at 10pm) depicts the intense two years in which a modern, first-year medical intern faces life. The lead role is played by actress Kyoko Yoshine. This is Yoshine's first lead role in a TBS drama in about 10 years since the Friday drama "Omotesando High School Choir!" and she said, "I feel like I'm being told that the path I've been on wasn't wrong, and I'm very happy. I'll never forget the gratitude I felt at that time and I'll face the work head on." We asked Yoshine about her enthusiasm for this work.
◇ Madoka's catchphrase is "It'll all work out somehow!"
The drama is based on Mizutani Midori's manga "Madoka26sai,kenshui Yattemasu!", "I'm a flustered medical intern," and "I came to be a medical intern on a remote island" (KADOKAWA). The drama depicts the intense two years in which the protagonist, a medical intern who wishes to be happy even as a doctor, faces the challenges of veteran doctors and encourages her peers as she faces life as a doctor and as a woman.
Madoka Wakatsuki, played by Yoshine, has always been good at studying, so she is flattered by those around her to enter medical school. Although she has taken her first steps as a medical intern, she cannot hide her confusion at the unexpected adversity she faces in the medical field, where work style reforms are progressing. As a carefree girl whose catchphrase is "It'll all work out!", she is surprised and flustered by the fact that her fellow interns have clear visions and ideas for the future as they spend their days together, but she grows as she faces numerous challenges.
Yoshine said about Madoka, "She is single-minded and works hard at her job with integrity, but she has a lot on her mind. She's a single-minded woman who secretly spouts nasty things to her close friends and also values her hobbies, and I find her very charming."
During filming, she also imagined Maruko, the main character of "Chibi Maruko-chan." "She has the carefree side of Maruko-chan, but she can also be a little bit sarcastic and sulky. But I talked with the staff about how it would be good if that came across as charming," she revealed.
◇ Omotesando High School Choir, selected through an audition, has become a source of confidence
This is Yoshine's first lead role in a TBS drama in about 10 years since "Omotesando High School Choir!", and she expressed her joy by saying, "I'm just really happy." In fact, "Omotesando High School Choir!", which she was selected for through an audition, was the work that changed her perspective.
"Ten years ago, I still wasn't sure if I would be able to continue doing this job, and even if I wanted to do it, I knew it wasn't something I could do. But being selected at the audition gave me confidence. If continuing to work would help me repay the people who selected me, then this is the production that made me want to work even harder."
Since then, he has appeared in numerous productions. "I feel very happy that I was asked to come back to TBS, as it tells me that I was on the right path," he said happily.
Yoshine analyzed herself and said that she is still shy around people, just like she was back then. On the other hand, she said that she has learned how to communicate with her co-stars. She said that she has had more opportunities to go out to eat with her seniors, and that she received some words of encouragement from Hidetoshi Nishijima, who co-starred with her in the two-cour series "The Real Criminal Flag" (Nippon TV) that aired in 2022.
"Nishijima-san has told me many times, 'You're a really hard worker, so don't try too hard.' Even now, he contacts me and asks, 'How are you?' That makes me really happy. Even though we don't get to see each other very often, I'm really happy that he cares about me. Just knowing that gives me the strength to keep going, and it's a relief."
The drama will start on January 14th. Yoshine said, "I think some people are feeling nervous about starting a new path in April. Everyone is anxious and beginners at first. So I want to tell them, just learn one thing at a time and you'll be fine! I would be happy if the drama becomes a drama that makes people feel a little relaxed when they watch it."
