‘ER 24 Hours’ Revived After 13 Years: Eguchi Yosuke & Matsushima Nanako Reunite for Fuji TV’s First-Ever Monday 9pm Slot

Fuji TV’s hit medical drama “ER 24 Hours” (Kyuumei Byoutou 24-ji) is being revived after 13 years, with Eguchi Yosuke and Matsushima Nanako reuniting for the first time since a 2010 special — their first pairing in 16 years. The new series premieres October 12 in the show’s first-ever Monday 9pm (“Getsu9”) slot. On 5channel’s Entertainment & Sports News+ board, reactions ranged from criticism of networks leaning on past hits, to comparisons with the recent flop of similar projects like GTO, to calls for sequels to other franchises like The White Tower and Team Medical Dragon.

It was revealed on the 25th that actor Eguchi Yosuke (58) and actress Matsushima Nanako (52), who play emergency doctors, will star in Fuji TV’s “ER 24 Hours,” reviving the beloved series after 13 years. Running since 1999, this sixth installment of the drama series airs from October 12 in the show’s first-ever Monday 9pm (“Getsu9”) slot. The two leads reunite for the first time since a 2010 special — their first collaboration in 16 years — bringing fresh emotion to the network’s flagship medical drama.

Across the franchise, ten installments have aired including specials. Returning for the first time in 16 years since the 2010 special to play the series’ solitary genius protagonist, emergency physician Shindo Issei, Eguchi said with resolve: “Putting the scrubs back on reminds me it’s really starting — it focuses my mind.”

The “ER 24 Hours” franchise, which began as a regular series in 1999, depicts the struggles and triumphs of emergency doctors like Shindo and Kojima Kaede — the latter played by Matsushima, who grows from a first-installment resident into a seasoned physician. The pair delivered powerful performances portraying their characters’ earnest dedication to patients and life-or-death situations, alongside tense treatment scenes. Beyond the human drama, the series tackled social issues like staff shortages, medical errors, and disaster response, striking a chord with viewers — one season achieved a peak average household rating of 20.2% (Video Research, Kanto region).

Source: sanspo.com / Original article here

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (Entertainment & Sports News+) thread “[Fuji] Eguchi Yosuke & Matsushima Nanako to Double-Star in Fuji TV’s ‘ER 24 Hours,’ First Ever ‘Getsu9’ Slot, Reviving After 13 Years [Ailuropoda melanoleuca★]“.