Drama Topics from July 12th to 18th (Part 1)

"Drama 1 Week" introduces the main drama news of the week. This time (July 12th to 18th), the topics of conversation were the appearance of NHK's drama "Simulation: Defeat in the Summer of 1941" in which Ryuhei Matsuda will play the role of Emperor Showa and Koichi Sato will play the role of Tojo Hideki, and the start of TBS' Sunday Theatre drama " The 19th medical record " starring Jun Matsumoto . We will cover these topics in two parts.

On the 13th, the first episode of the TBS Sunday Theatre drama " The 19th medical record " (Sunday 9pm) starring Jun Matsumoto was broadcast, and on social media, Matsumoto, who plays the main character, Tokushige Akira, a doctor in the "General Medicine Department", drew attention, with comments such as "he's perfect for the role" and "a little unusual role suits him." The drama is based on Fujiya Katsuhito's manga " The 19th medical record : Tokushige Akira's Medical Questioning," and depicts a general medicine doctor who lends a helping hand to patients' lives. This is Matsumoto's first attempt at playing a doctor. Tokushige, who he plays, is a doctor in the "General Medicine Department" newly established at Uotora General Hospital. He faces patients with careful medical questions and listens to them thoroughly. His eyes are calm behind his glasses, and he is a character who is easygoing.

On the 14th, the first episode (aired on Getsuku ) of the TV drama series " The Great Chase: Metropolitan Police Department SSBC Violent Crimes Unit " (TV Asahi, Wednesday 9pm), starring Nao Omori, Aiba Masaki, and Nao Matsushita , exceeded 1.39 million views in five days, ranking first on TVer's overall ranking. The drama is the first new episode to be broadcast in about 10 years in the Wednesday 9pm slot on TV Asahi, which has previously aired "Aibou," " Tokuso9," "Keiji 7-nin," and more, and began airing on July Getsuku. The original detective drama is set in the "SSBC Violent Crimes Unit," a newly established unit at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Investigation Support and Analysis Center (SSBC), which collects and analyzes security camera footage and smartphone and computer analysis.

On the 14th, Sadao Abe appeared with co-star Matsu Takako at the preview screening and cast event for the drama "Shiawase na Kekkon" (TV Asahi, Thursday 9pm), which starts on the 17th, held at EX THEATER ROPPONGI (Minato Ward, Tokyo). Regarding Takako Matsu, who will be playing a married couple for the first time in about 10 years, Abe said with embarrassment, "It's really wonderful, like the meeting scene. (Matsu) said, 'Would you like to come to my house?' and I wondered what to do (laughs)." When asked by a fan what he's been into recently, Abe revealed, "I gave Matsu a DVD of my 'oshi', and now it's being passed around to the staff too." It was a DVD of the drama "Isobe Isobe Monogatari ~Ukiyo wa Tsurai yo~" (WOWOW, 2024), starring co-star Yosuke Sugino.

On the 14th, Hayato Isomura appeared with Hotta Mayu at the advance screening of the first episode of the drama he stars in, "We Still Don't Know the School Rules of That Planet(Bokuhoshi)" (Kantele/Fuji TV, Mondays at 10pm, first episode extended by 15 minutes), held at Cosmo Planetarium Mayu Hotta (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo). Isomura, who plays the school lawyer, commented, "Looking at the 11 regular students, I think the girls are more mature after all. The boys are younger, and will always be kids, so I think I have the most fun talking to the boys (laughs)."

On the 14th, the 76th episode of the NHK Asadora drama "Anpan " (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 am and others), starring Mio Imada , was broadcast, and Kihara Katsutoshi appeared as Sera Norio, an administrative assistant to the congresswoman Maki Tetsuko (Toda Keiko), attracting the attention of viewers. Kihara has appeared in popular works such as the morning Asadora"Ranman" in the first half of 2023, NHK's "Drama 10 "Ooku"", and the Netflix movie "Shinkansen Daibakuha". In the NHK drama "30 Million" broadcast last year, he played Sakamoto, the leader of a wide-area robbery case, leaving a vivid impression. On social media, there were comments such as "He's really cool and has a strong presence" and "He's amazing."

On the 15th, it was revealed that Takashi Sorimachi will play Chao Gai, one of the leaders of Liangshan Marsh, in the drama series "Kenzo Kitakata Suikoden" (WOWOW, broadcast and streamed in 2026) starring Yuji Oda. The story is based on the monumental historical epic novel "Suikoden" series (19 volumes, Shueisha Bunko) written by Kenzo Kitakata. Chao Gai, played by Sorimachi, has both a righteous heart that is loved by the people and a fierce fighting spirit, and is nicknamed "Takuto Tenou". Together with Song Jiang (Oda), a "charismatic light-lighter" who moves people with trust, he leads Liangshan Marsh and confronts the corrupt state power.

On the 16th, it was announced that Ryuhei Matsuda Ryuhei will play Emperor Showa and Koichi Sato. This special drama is based on Inose Naoki's long-selling non-fiction book "Defeat in the Summer of Showa 16", and is a special drama marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. Kitamura Yukiya will play Prime Minister Konoe Fumimaro, Okuda Eiji will play Kido Koichi, the Emperor's closest aide, Kunimura Jun will play Army Major General Itakura Daido, Sato Ryuta will play Army Lieutenant Colonel Seko Akira, Nakano Hideo will play Army Major General Muto Akira, and Eguchi Yosuke will play Army Lieutenant Colonel Nishimura Yoshiho. It was also announced that Nakano Taiga, Takanori Iwata Takanori, Nakamura Aoi, Miura Takahiro, Nikaido Fumi, Sugita Rairin, and Bessho Tetsuya will also appear.