Production press conference of TV Asahi Autumn 2016 drama "Doctor X 4 ~ Gekai Daimon Michiko"

The production press conference of TV Asahi Autumn 2016 drama "Doctor X 4 ~ Gekai Daimon Michiko" was held on 4 October at the TV station's Roppongi Hills headquarters which was attended by cast members Yonekura Ryoko, Nishida Toshiyuki, Izumi Pinko, Uchida Yuki, Kishibe Ittoku, Kusakari Tamiyo, Takito Kenichi, Yoshida Kotaro, Namase Katsuhisa, Katsumura Masanobu and Tanaka Michiko. The drama begins its run from 13 October in the Thursdays 9pm timeslot. Although it had been two years since Yonekura played the character Daimon Michiko, she realised that her character was so popular that the public tend to call her by that name rather than her own name. As such, she hopes to be able to carry on playing her signature character in future. Yonekura also commented that she has a great co-star lineup in this drama series which allows her to play the lone wolf Daimon to her fullest.

During the press conference, the 90kg judo Olympic gold medalist Mashu Baker appeared as a surprise guest and presented Yonekura with a golden bouquet as encouragement. Baker revealed that he is a big fan of Daimon and likes her signature line a lot so he hopes that the drama can win the gold medal in the autumn season and pledged to watch every episode. As Yonekura's manager was said to resemble Baker a lot, she also called him onto the stage to take pictures with Baker.

Nishida who was rumoured to have been hospitalised due to an amphetamine addiction instead of the medical problems and surgery reported previously, decided to make fun of himself by mentioning this rumour without prompted and said that he had no drug problems. He recounted that he had been hospitalised for a full six months and underwent two high-risk surgeries between late January and June this year but stressed that he has made a full recovery and wouldn't have any problems with the filming. He also revealed jokingly that during his hospitalisation, he sent an email to Daimon Michiko i.e. Yonekura and asked her to do his surgery but was flatly rejected. Tanaka who was the Japan representative of Miss World 2013 and makes her acting debut in this drama, plays Nishida's secretary and recounted how she was always caught unawares because Nishida would add lines without warning. However, she promised to try her best to respond to his ad libs which made Nishida grin happily.

As for Izumi, she "complained" that Nishida doesn't treat her as well as he does to Tanaka because they have been longtime friends. As such, whenever they "bicker", it feels like a married couple's argument and makes everyone else laugh at the exchange of words. Izumi also joked that she had "shifted house" from TBS' (Wataru Seken wa oni bakari) to the same timeslot in TV Asahi and "regretted" doing so because she had to memorise so many lines containing medical jargon that she thought that she would have been better off watching the drama as a viewer rather than acting in it. Nonetheless, she will do her best to fight Daimon Michiko in the drama.

Namase, Katsumura, Yoshida and Takito are all actors who originated from theatre so they are all quite familiar with one another. Namase said that he will work hard with his loud voice while Katsumura "complained" that there is nothing fresh about working with Namase and Yoshida since they have collaborated so many times. He also teased Yoshida for becoming sexier over the years due to his repeated marriages and divorces in real life. Not wanting to lose out, Takito also pledged to do his best among these co-stars.

Source: Oricon 1 / Oricon 2