It has been announced that Hayato Isomura, Kanichiro , and Yuki Izumisawa will appear in TV Asahi's July drama series "Crossroad ~A Promise of Emergency Medicine~," in which Mio Imada takes on her first role as a doctor. The series is scheduled to begin airing on July 7th.
"Crossroads ~A Promise of Emergency Medical Care~" is a medical drama that brings together the staff of "Doctor X" (TV Asahi) and "TOKYO MER ~The Running Emergency Room~" (TBS). The script is written by Izumi Takahashi, who worked on "PJ ~Air Rescue Group~" (TV Asahi) and the " Tokyo Revengers" film series, and directed by Takuro Oikawa, known for works such as "The Japan's Number One Jerk Salaryman*" (Fuji TV), and Yuji Nakamae, known for works such as "My Stepmother and Her Daughter's Blues" (TBS).
The story is set on the front lines of emergency medical care, where every second counts. Though their professions differ—emergency physicians, paramedics, and police officers—they share a burning desire to save someone. The drama depicts young people, though inexperienced, trying to uphold their own sense of justice, while facing real social issues such as power harassment, abuse, and illegal foreign workers, as well as unjust social systems and laws, and organizations that prioritize avoiding conflict.
Isomura plays Kiryu Subaru, the ace emergency physician at Yokohama Bay Hospital. He is a senior colleague of Haruki Haruka (Imada), a young emergency physician who has transferred to the emergency department. He is a person who has personally experienced the harsh reality that "doctors are not gods. There are lives that cannot be saved." Believing that one must be calm and sound in order to save many lives, he is always calm and composed and does not show his emotions. While sometimes strictly restraining Haruki, who tends to rush headlong into things based solely on straightforward emotions and a sense of justice, he comes to reaffirm the mission of an emergency physician through Haruki's example.
Kanichiro will be taking on the role of an emergency medical technician who is the first to rush to the patient's side for the first time. The character he plays, Teru Shibukawa, is a kind-hearted man who struggles to get patients to the hospital as quickly as possible, despite feeling frustrated between his "passion to save lives" and "the limits of the life-saving procedures he can perform as an emergency medical technician." "I feel that the most important thing to do in order to understand his complex feelings more deeply is to seriously take on the role of an emergency medical technician," he said, adding that he is studying the work of emergency medical technicians every day. "I want to do my best to play the role properly so as not to tarnish the reputation of the real professionals," he said enthusiastically.
Izumisawa plays Kento Yokomine, a police officer working at a local police box who aspires to become a detective and hates injustice. He is a reliable "neighborhood policeman" who keeps a watchful eye on the public every day to protect their safety and rushes to crime scenes first, as well as a "mood maker" who brightens up those around him.
Regarding his character, Izumisawa said, "He may seem foolish, but he actually pays close attention to those around him and can notice when someone is feeling down. While acting, I myself am often encouraged by Yokomine's words." He added that he is acting with the hope that the drama will be a catalyst for people to live tomorrow a little more seriously.
◇Comment from Hayato Isomura
—Please tell us your thoughts when you received the offer to appear in the show.
I was so excited when I finally got the role of a doctor. I've never done a medical drama before, so I thought it would be a new challenge for me, and I was really looking forward to the start of filming. This drama is produced by TV Asahi, which has created many masterpieces of medical dramas, but it's a human drama that takes a slightly different approach from previous ones. While it focuses on saving patients, it also very carefully depicts the struggles and lives of the young people around them. I felt that this work had entertainment elements as a drama, but also valued the realistic aspects of people involved in the medical field, so I really wanted to be a part of it.
—This is your first time playing a doctor. Are there any difficulties you've encountered, or anything you pay particular attention to when acting?
Understanding the technical terms is indeed challenging. I'm also learning surgical techniques from the medical supervisor and practicing at home with the instruments. However, since the character I'm playing isn't a super doctor, I'm prioritizing emotion above all else in my performance. In the process, I've found that learning the movements in the same way as actions like punches and kicks makes it easier to act without getting bogged down in just the movements themselves.
—What are your impressions of Kiryu Subaru, the character you'll be playing this time?
While maintaining composure, he has a strong will and emotions within him, and he faces patients with a passionate heart. I didn't want him to be just a cool character. In fact, I myself am fairly calm and observe what's happening around me while I'm working, but inside I have a passion for acting and creating works. I can relate to Kiryu in that respect, as well as his ability to judge situations.
--Filming is progressing day by day, but what is the atmosphere like on set?
Since there are many members of the same generation, it's fun to feel like we're back in school during breaks in filming. On the other hand, when we're filming scenes where patients' lives are at stake, everyone switches gears quickly, and the time is incredibly intense. In fact, this time, we're using an aggressive filming style that's unusual for a drama, like swinging a handheld camera around and zooming in on the characters—to the point where you might think, "Is this 'The Naked Director'?" (laughs). I think that contributes to the sense of speed and dynamism in the work. The synergistic effect gets the actors' adrenaline pumping, so I myself am looking forward to seeing the finished product.
—Could you also tell us your impression of Mio Imada, who plays the main character, Haruka Haruki?
Imada-san is a cheerful girl who laughs a lot, which brightens up the set, and she has a strong passion for acting. We've talked about acting on set, and I think she's a really passionate person. Kiryu-sensei and Haruki-sensei have a relationship where they push each other to improve. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Kiryu-sensei will accept Haruki-sensei, as I think our acting will change as a result of that process.
--Please give a message to our viewers.
Some of you may have already experienced a turning point in your lives, others may be about to experience one, and some may be facing one right now. But don't be afraid when you hit a turning point in your life. I hope to deliver that message and encouragement to everyone. Please take a look.
◇Comment from Kanichiro
—Please tell us your thoughts when you received the offer to appear in the show.
I've always focused on movies, but TV series have longer filming periods, and the way you maintain your concentration is different. While I was happy about it, I also had some anxieties about whether I could handle it. But after reading the script, I thought, "There aren't many medical dramas that focus so much on paramedics," and I felt it was a very rewarding project.
—This is your first time playing an emergency medical technician. What preparations did you make beforehand, and what did you keep in mind?
I visited a fire station beforehand, and the paramedics who came to the filming location have been teaching me everything, and I'm learning so much. I learned something new today: when paramedics are dispatched, they open a paper map and use their brains to confirm the location and route. I felt that this is the craftsmanship of professionals who have cultivated experience and knowledge. The rescue scenes are physically and mentally exhausting, but I want to perform well so as not to tarnish the reputation of these real professionals.
—What are your impressions of Teru Shibukawa, the character you will be playing this time?
Shibukawa is a character struggling with a complex, caught between his role as an emergency medical technician—transporting patients—and his urge to save lives. He's not a doctor, so there's only so much he can do. He's a young man who can't accept this reality and his sense of powerlessness, and he's struggling to find a way to channel his energy. To understand his complex feelings more deeply, I believe the most important thing is to truly immerse myself in the role of an emergency medical technician.
--Filming is progressing day by day, but what is the atmosphere like on set?
Everyone gets along well, the atmosphere is great, and I have fun every day. However, there are many scenes where Haruka, Yokomine, and I meet at our favorite cafe, and I'm always supposed to be eating a teriyaki burger. That means if we shoot 10 scenes in a day, I have to eat 10 hamburgers! It's pretty heavy on my stomach... I'd be grateful if they could make it curry or something once in a while (laughs).
—Please tell us your impressions of Mio Imada and Yuki Izumisawa, who play young people who connect with each other on an emotional level.
This is my first time working with both Imada-san and Izumisawa-san, but our characters are supposed to be good friends. To be honest, I was initially worried about whether we would be able to communicate well. But they both spoke to me very frankly from the first day, and it felt like we had known each other for a long time. I would love to go out to eat with them in private.
--Please give a message to our viewers.
It's a serious drama, but it also has comical elements, making it a really wonderful show. I think everyone will enjoy it. Please watch it.
◇Comment from Yuki Izumisawa
—Please tell us your thoughts when you received the offer to appear in the show.
I was so happy to be working with so many people I'd worked with before. In particular, I felt it was a reward to be able to act with Hayato Isomura again, so I contacted him right away to share my joy. I couldn't wait for filming to begin.
—This time you're playing a police officer. What preparations did you make beforehand, and what did you keep in mind?
First, I did some weight training to make myself a bit bigger. After that, I studied by constantly observing police officers on the street (to the point where I might get stopped and questioned by the police) and by asking questions to the police officers who came to the filming locations.
—What are your impressions of Kento Yokomine, the character you'll be playing this time?
Yokomine is a mood maker. He may seem silly, but he's actually very observant of those around him and can notice when someone is feeling down. When he's with Haruka and Shibukawa, he's a lively person who can encourage them and lift their spirits. I myself am the type to be very considerate of others' feelings, so I think we have some similarities, and it's fun to play him. While acting, I often find myself encouraged by Yokomine's words.
--Filming is progressing day by day, but what is the atmosphere like on set?
I think the atmosphere is great. When we're filming scenes with Haruka and Shibukawa, Kanichiro kun keeps providing topics of conversation in between takes, so we never run out of things to talk about right up until we're about to take the scene. However, Kanichiro kun just keeps asking questions and doesn't have any answers prepared himself (laughs)! Including that kind of punchline, it's really fun. I hope that we can get to know each other through our everyday little conversations and grasp our roles together.
—Please tell us your impressions of Mio Imada and Kanichiro, who play young people who connect with each other on an emotional level.
This is my third time working with Imada-san, but this is the first time we've talked this much. To be honest, Imada-san has always been a mysterious person to me. But he's surprisingly good at telling jokes, and the more you get to know him, the more human and interesting he becomes! However, I still feel like he's putting on an act (laughs), so I want to uncover more of his true self.
Kanichiro has his own unique worldview, which I think is really wonderful. We share a common hobby of gaming, and we can talk like friends, so I would love to go out for a meal with him.
--Please give a message to our viewers.
We're all working together as one to create the best possible work. We hope this drama will inspire people to think about how society can be a better place and what their own sense of justice is, and to live each day a little more seriously! Please also look forward to Yokomine's big moment.
