First Summer Uika is currently appearing in the TBS Sunday Theatre drama "The 19th medical record" (Sundays at 9pm). She plays Chayazaka Kokoro, a highly skilled cardiovascular surgeon at Uotora General Hospital. We asked First Summer Uika about her impressions of Jun Matsumoto, who plays the main character, general practitioner Tokushige, and how she prepared for the role.
-What was your impression when you read the original story and the script?
I had read the original manga, and among the pop and unique characters, I felt that Chayazaka-sensei was a particularly quirky and charming character. So I was very happy to be given the role this time.
In the drama's script, I felt that the emotional fluctuations and subtle emotional movements that would be produced by having real people acting would be able to convey the theme of the general medicine department, "looking at the person, not the disease," in a more warm way.
The character Chayazaka-sensei portrayed in the script retains his playful and carefree side, but seems cooler than in the original, with his genius side emphasized. I wanted to strike the perfect balance between the character portrayed in the original and the script through my own body.
-Did you do any preparation to play Chayazaka, the genius cardiovascular surgeon?
First, I tried to understand the names of diseases and surgical procedures that appeared in the script, so I could understand what kind of disease it was and what kind of surgery would be performed. We live in a convenient age, and there are many videos of actual surgeries on video sites, so I searched for videos of the same surgical procedures and watched them right up until the moment before filming.
There was a medical rehearsal for the surgery scene on a separate day, and I was able to practice hand movements during the rehearsal, but there were some parts that couldn't be made up for with just that, so shortly before filming began in earnest, I visited some acquaintances in the medical field to see the facilities and listen to what the surgeons had to say. I also looked up how a genius would hold a clamp, and practiced while consulting with the supervising doctor (laughs).
-Was there anything in particular that you paid attention to when creating your character?
As the story progresses, Chayazaka-sensei's background and current situation are gradually revealed, so every time I received the script, I was surprised by new information and said, "Oh really?!" There were many settings that we learned for the first time in episode 5, which focuses on her, so it was necessary to focus even more on the hidden feelings that had been hidden up until then.
The reason she wants to know where her heart is, the state of her own mind. Has she lost it, is she trying to get it back, or is she sealing it away? I felt as if I was dissecting her and discovering all these different possibilities.
On the surface, Chayazaka Sensei is cute and playful, but also cold and scary, aloof and elusive. He is an overwhelming genius, but also independent, stylish and good at communicating. He is observant of his surroundings and shows interest in certain people, but he doesn't reveal his true feelings. I thought it was not easy to play a character who is understood to be "someone who is hard to understand."
Even with just the three-letter phrase "Why?", is there any intention behind it? Is it anger or worry? Is it sarcasm or kindness? Is there an ulterior motive? I approached her words with the expectation that there were always many different interpretations.
I felt that Chayazaka herself must have many emotions that she is not aware of, and that continuing to explore her heart would link to her actions, so I continued the challenge, thinking, "It's okay if I don't understand everything."
--Please tell us your impressions of acting alongside the lead actor, Jun Matsumoto.
Matsumoto-san, like the character he plays, Tokushige-sensei, is a very tolerant person. Whether on set or off, he accepts and acknowledges others, and then approaches them with precision and love, which conveys his profound capacity and kindness. He is a mood maker who has both macro and micro perspectives.
On the other hand, he has a craftsman-like nature and an air of never letting others down their guard, and there are many moments when you can feel the charisma of "MJ." He also has the charm of a "yuru-chara" (cute character) that he sometimes shows, making him a complex person who is difficult to describe in a single word, like a bundle of charm.
--Can you tell us any other stories about your co-stars on set?
During the waiting time, I had a great time with Fuka Koshiba(who plays Mizuki Takino, a general practitioner) and Hiroya Shimizu(who plays Keita Kayama, an internist) playing the MBTI (16-type personality test). Mackenyu(who plays Kojiro Togo, a surgeon) was just so funny...he might have been the biggest surprise of the year.
During the surgery scenes, we were filming confined to the operating room the entire time, so I even played a primitive game with Taiiku Okazaki(who played anesthesiologist Osu Tetsuo) and Hayatani Shota (who played cardiovascular surgeon Toda Katsuhisa), asking them, "What time is it now?" (laughs).
The veteran cast, including Namase Katsuhisa (who plays the hospital director, Kitano Eikichi), Ikeda Narushi (who plays the head of the surgery department, Togo Rikuro), and Iketani Nobue (who plays the nurse, Toyohashi Akiko), are all really fun, and they instantly brighten up the atmosphere on set.
-What is your impression of general practitioners?
I learned about it through the original manga and thought it was an interesting profession. I like to look at things in a complex way and find optimal solutions using logic, so if I were a medical student, I might have considered it when choosing my major. However, I'm a machine gun talker, so I'm not sure if I'd be able to take the time to listen to patients' stories like Dr. Tokushige (laughs).
Although the adoption rate is still not high, it is a lifesaver for patients to have someone on the front lines who can listen to and guide them through their various worries, such as not being able to talk to their family, not knowing who to turn to for advice, or having few hospitals or doctors in their area. I hope that this drama will help to boost the adoption rate and the target increase in the population.
-Finally, please tell viewers what they should look forward to in episode 5.
I think whether or not you can empathize with the character of Chayazaka Kokoro will vary from person to person. However, when it comes to the theme of "parents and children," I think there will be some kind of resonance because we all have the common memory of having been children once.
"What was my mother thinking at that time?" "If I were a parent, what would I want to tell my children?" I feel that this episode will give you an opportunity to think about such questions from various perspectives through the relationship between Chayazaka Sensei and his family.
Episode 5 is something that people of all ages can relate to, so I hope you will watch it in real time with your family and feel and talk about the universal theme of "parents and children" from your own perspective.
