Ryoko Yonekura’s Doctor X to Boost TV Asahi’s Drama Special Series

Actor Ryoko Yonekura (48), starring in the popular TV Asahi drama series “Doctor X ~ Surgeon Michiko Daimon,” will have its first film adaptation titled “Doctor X: The Movie,” set to release on December 6th.

The series portrays the exploits of Michiko Daimon (played by Yonekura), a solitary freelance surgeon affiliated with a renowned physician referral agency, who navigates various hospitals without belonging to a university hospital department. Her famous catchphrase “I never fail!” is likely familiar to many.

The drama series first aired in October 2012 and continued through October 2021 for seven seasons. From its second season in October 2013 to its fifth season in October 2017, it became a hit with average household ratings exceeding 20% for all episodes. Despite overall declining TV ratings across networks, the drama maintained strong viewership, recording an average of 16.5% for its 10 episodes in the October 2021 season (according to Video Research, Kanto region).

“In 2019, Yonekura announced she had idiopathic intracranial hypertension. In autumn 2022, she was diagnosed with acute low back pain and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, causing mobility impairments. The filming of ‘Doctor X,’ which includes scenes requiring her to stand and move around in heels, became challenging.

Furthermore, Yonekura has been reluctant to perpetuate the image of ‘Doctor X’ and had hesitated to accept offers for sequels as the seasons progressed. However, out of gratitude to longtime viewers, she enthusiastically agreed to the idea of concluding the series with a theatrical finale,” said a TV Asahi insider.