MONJAYAKI
OKONOMIYAKI AND MONJA MOJA UEMON
-Michiko. -Yes?
Originally, monja was used by the candy-store lady
to teach children their letters on this skillet.
So it used to be called "mojiyaki."
Really? How interesting. Hold on. Let me try something.
-What are you doing? -You'll like this.
SPARKLE
How's this?
-"Akira!" -Right!
-Hold on. Another. -What is it?
-I have a good idea. -What is it?
MONEY
-I know what this is! -Really?
Money!
-Money! Yes! -Yes!
There goes that cabinet minister again!
How many times have I said it?
If the government is dragging its feet,
then you need to take direct action!
Do whatever it takes to get new people in there, even murder!
-Murder? -What do you mean by that?
-Minister, that's not what it says. -What?
MINISTER UMEZAWA'S STREAK OF GAFFES CONTINUOUSLY CRITICIZED BY CITIZENS
Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Umezawa has been in trouble
for his continuous gaffes,
and this time, he seems to be promoting murder.
REFORM, MURDER
He apparently misread the spelling of "reform" and "murder."
-This was quite shocking. -Yes, it was.
-He has often... -Seriously?
It was even written in hiragana, but he still messed it up.
This gaffe-prone old man must be stupid.
I couldn't agree more. That's just plain carelessness.
It's because of politicians like him
that those gossip shows never tire of scandal.
-I'll help myself to this. -Hey!
-Here's your oolong chuhai, young miss. -Hold on.
-"Young miss"? -Thanks.
-A young lady. -Waiter, that's a gaffe.
-That's rude! -It is?
This is the story of a maverick female doctor.
In 2019, the ivory towers are completely crumbling.
A gaffe prevention manual?
Japan's university hospitals have fallen into tremendous debt.
Lifesaving medical treatment
has entered the era of financial jungle law.
-Dr. Kaji. -What's this?
"Gaffe prevention manual." What's this?
In this era, you can lose it all by making a single gaffe.
They want us to be careful of what we say to patients.
If gaffes are the problem, she's the most in danger.
Meanwhile, this freelance maverick doctor, who was never part of
a university medical department, showed up.
-Here you go. -Thanks.
Keep the change.
Daimon will be just fine. She has nothing to lose anyway.
You know how Dr. Daimon says, "I never fail"?
Isn't that inappropriate to say?
Every doctor makes mistakes. That's an arrogant faux pas.
You could even call it a violent use of words.
What do you want?
I'm going to lunch.
What's with her?
In Daimon's case, even that is not a gaffe.
Sorry, Director.
This woman hates groups,
authority, and restrictions.
Her specialized medical license and well-honed skills
are her weapons.
Hey! Aren't you the gaffe-prone old guy?
What is it you want?
-Aren't you? -No, I'm not!
See! I knew it was you!
Come on! Make a funny gaffe for me!
Stop that!
-You want a ride? -What?
Not on me, of course.
If you rode on me, you would get burned.
How's that? Funny, right?
That wasn't funny at all.
Surgeon Michiko Daimon,
otherwise known as Doctor X.
That's disgusting.
Lately, the media has been causing a furore.
I understand.
What do you think?
Can you admit me to the hospital for a little while?
TOTEI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ACTING DIRECTOR NICHOLAS TANGE
In other words, you want us to shelter you at this hospital?
I'm here because I'm ill.
I'll reward you handsomely.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR YU SAMEJIMA
From the way you look, you appear to be very healthy.
I'll let you decide what kind of malady I've got.
Thank you
for coming to visit me.
I'm glad you came, Hana.
HANAKO HIRUMA
I think I may be done for.
SHIGEKATSU HIRUMA
That darn cost cutter I hired
pushed me off the ladder and I fell.
You're under arrest for suspected violation of
the Bid Rigging Act in the purchase of expensive medical equipment.
ARREST WARRANT
Under arrest?
My job is to save this hospital which is on the verge of collapse.
To do that, the thing we need least of all
is you.
When I see the frightening face of the interrogator,
I think I might admit to everything.
Don't do that! You've kept quiet for two weeks.
Be patient a little while longer. Persevere!
I'm putting up with it as well.
I'm not sure I can.
Now is when the real battle begins. I won't stand for us to lose!
-Hana... -This is Ms. Takeda, our attorney.
You know her, right?
She's also the secretary for Minister Umezawa.
It's been a while, Dr. Hiruma.
Starting today, I will be your attorney.
-You will be my attorney? -Don't you worry.
I swear I will make them drop the case.
In return...
Do you require something from me?
I would like you to use your power, Dr. Hiruma,
to admit Minister Umezawa to Totei University Hospital.
In other words, you want us to shelter him at the hospital?
Apparently, Mr. Tange turned him down.
This is your chance to display your power!
Get the better of that darn cost cutter!
Can you promise me you'll do that?
Of course.
I, Shigekatsu Hiruma, swear that I will help
Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Umezawa.
Shigekatsu,
you can do it.
Hana, I will.
Director Hiruma sure is late.
HACHIOJI DETENTION CENTER
Ebina.
Ebina!
Oh, Director?
Of course, it's me! What's wrong with you?
-Have you changed? -I haven't changed at all.
-You seem shorter. -Are you kidding?
-Were you always this short? -This scarf is from Hana.
How could you not recognize me?
-You've gotten shorter. -What?
I'm sorry.
You did ask media people to come, right?
Are they here?
Oh, here they are.
I am Shigekatsu Hiruma of Totei University Hospital.
I...
No, they're not! That's not them!
What are you doing?
How do you feel about the charges being dropped?
Well now, I believe that the truth always wins.
While adhering to this belief, I underwent harsh interrogations
and many other...
ACTING HOSPITAL DIRECTOR NICHOLAS TANGE
So this is a combined plan of advanced treatments,
including AI diagnosis and medical treatment.
That's right.
Considering that advanced medical treatment can maintain QOL,
I believe this is an effective plan at a suitable price.
I see. Then the profit per patient will increase significantly?
I am certain that this will become a major product to help us
escape from operating in the red.
Excuse me.
Acting Hospital Director Tange,
Director Hiruma was released due to insufficient evidence.
They dropped the charges?
-Welcome back, Dr. Hiruma. -Hello.
Thank you for all you've done.
Here we go.
ACTING HOSPITAL DIRECTOR NICHOLAS TANGE
Mr. Tange,
thank you for your work as "Acting Hospital Director."
Now that you have returned, Director Hiruma,
this is unnecessary.
I'm very glad to see you've returned.
Yes, I bet you are.
I mean, I'm innocent, after all.
Yes, that's true.
I couldn't be more pleased.
I couldn't imagine
Totei University Hospital without you, Director Hiruma.
At any rate, Mr. Tange, operating a hospital
cannot be done merely by using
business smarts.
Yes, I understand that very well.
However, all I have are business smarts.
That's nothing to be concerned about.
From now on, you and I, Mr. Tange,
why don't we work hand in hand
to make Totei University Hospital the greatest in Japan again?
Thank you.
I leave all the decisions regarding patients to you, Director Hiruma.
Leave the business restructuring to me.
It's all yours.
Meu caro amigo!
-What did you say? -My good friend.
Oh, yes, my good friend.
Getting straight to the point,
there is one special patient I would like us to admit to
Totei University Hospital.
-A special patient? -Yes.
What's this?
The gaffe-prone old guy is back again!
-Not you again? -Are you sick, sir?
I'm not sick at all!
-Minister! -What?
That was a gaffe. Forget about it.
-What are you doing? -What are you doing to him?
-That's no gaffe. -What?
-What's wrong? -Go like this.
Cancer? Minister Umezawa has cancer?
These are the test results.
The tests were performed by Dr. Daimon.
The gaffe-prone minister has tongue cancer.
TONGUE CANCER, STAGE TWO
Unbelievable...
I never would have thought
I would have cancer.
Tongue cancer, stage two.
There's a two-centimeter tumor on the left margin.
But, Minister,
finding the cancer at this stage,
I believe it's a blessing in disguise.
-How long will it take to treat? -What?
-Forty-eight... -That long?
I can't be in the hospital for 48 days!
Next week is the completion ceremony for the bridge I helped get built!
-Forty-eight hours. -What?
If I do the surgery.
I'll be cured in two days?
I never make gaffes.
-I like you! I'll leave this to you! -Thanks.
If you operate on my tongue, will that cure my gaffes too?
Yes, they'll be completely cured.
Of course they won't! Don't be stupid!
What an idiot.
What a total idiot.
Director Hiruma is trying to release Minister Umezawa after two days.
Two days?
The surgeon is Dr. Daimon.
I see. Thank you.
Representative, it's been a while. This is Tange.
I, Shigekatsu Hiruma, as director of Totei University Hospital,
along with Assistant Hospital Director Tange here,
intend to do our utmost to rebuild Totei University Hospital.
I look forward to continue working with all of you.
Yes, sir!
-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!
I love to hear that "Yes, sir."
-I think it's fine too. -Isn't it?
"Yes, sir" doesn't cost anything.
He says, "'Yes, sir' doesn't cost anything."
Those two are all smiles,
but there seems to be a strange tension between them.
To me, it looks like there's a deep, wide river between them.
Whose side should we get on with?
Then let us begin
the special combined Internal Medicine and Surgery conference.
The patient is Saburo Umezawa, age 61, male.
His illness is tongue cancer, stage two.
There is a two-centimeter tumor six millimeters in the left margin.
No metastasis was discovered, including in the lymph nodes.
Mr. Umezawa is the serving Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare.
I would like you to do your best in your treatment of him.
-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!
It makes me tremble. It feels great!
-As for the treatment method... -What?
Director Hamachi of Next-Generation Genome Oncology.
Yes, sir.
-Internal Medicine? -Internal Medicine?
-Surgery, quiet down. -Yes.
The AI has determined that the best treatment is a combination of
proton therapy and superselective ophthalmic artery chemotherapy.
I believe this is best as well.
Objection!
At this size, a portion of the tongue can be excised.
Operating immediately will shorten the patient's stay
and reduce the stress on him.
No. With the combination of chemotherapy and proton therapy,
side effects are reduced to a minimum,
and 200-times strength anti-cancer agents
can be injected directly into the tumor.
I see. Magnificent.
Surgery Director Ushio agrees with Internal Medicine.
He's reading between the lines.
Assistant Director Tange wants to keep him here longer
to make him pay expensive treatment fees.
Hey, I thought this patient was mine?
That's right. This patient is yours, Dr. Daimon.
Now then, Assistant Director Tange,
I believe a stage-two tongue cancer patient is in Surgery's domain.
I knew it. Director Hiruma is on Dr. Daimon's side. What will we do?
And I've just become a director.
It's the domain of Surgery, right?
Isn't it?
It's the domain of Surgery, right?
Ebina! Where are you?
-Here. -There you are.
What do you think?
-Yes, sir. -What? I can't hear you!
-It's the domain of Surgery. -What?
It's the domain of Surgery!
That's right! It's the domain of Surgery!
-Director Hiruma. -Yes?
The combined advanced treatment using AI diagnosis
and medical treatment
will first be used on Minister Umezawa.
This project is meant to extract us from operating in the red.
It's the domain of Management. I have the final decision!
Don't say such silly things.
I, Shigekatsu Hiruma, am the director of
Totei University Hospital.
The final decision is mine.
-Hey, you guys. -What?
Are you stupid?
I'm the one who discovered his cancer.
The final decision is mine.
Part-timers don't have the final decision.
You're an idiot as well.
-Toss her out! -Yes, sir!
-Dr. Daimon!
This way, please.
Thank you.
Is that right? You've been fired as my attending physician?
You want to get better soon, right? Then let me operate.
I would really like you to, but I can't now.
Why?
Everyone in my party wants me to be safely cured
with medication, even if it takes time.
Is that right?
-It got away. -A bug?
It makes me happy that everyone is worried about my illness.
I appreciate it.
Then you should get operated on.
Excuse me.
Hello. I'm Director Hamachi of Next-Generation Genome Oncology.
I am your attending physician, Minister Umezawa.
-You're in good hands. -Thank you.
I could cure you in 48 hours. You're blowing it out of proportion.
A part-timer operating on a cabinet minister?
I've never heard of anything so presumptuous!
What are you doing?
It's 5:00 p.m. Goodbye.
KANBARA FAMOUS DOCTOR AGENCY
What an idiot he is to let his party tell him not to get an operation!
He's a true politician who conforms to party needs.
I want to operate! I want to cut him open!
Cut that out!
Ms. Daimon! There he is!
-Good evening. -Oh, my!
What?
-Did you escape from the hospital? -No.
I got proper approval to go out.
Look.
PERMISSION TO LEAVE
I wanted to apologize to you properly.
Apologize?
I turned down the surgery you offered to do.
I'm sorry about that.
This is a token of apology.
A token of apology?
-What is it? -Unagi?
-Unagi! -Unagi!
This is delicious!
Inagawa's unagi really is the best!
It's natural unagi which you can only get this time of year.
It's totally different than the ordinary stuff!
Is this the kind of thing you always do, Minister?
Most people come to me to petition me for something.
There are times when I can't deliver on their requests.
In those times, all I can do is bow my head and ask for forgiveness.
Now I don't know if you're stupid or just kind.
The answer to that is easy. I'm simply an idiot!
That's why I make gaffes!
-There! Upin! -No way!
Ron! Four concealed triplets yakuman!
Michiko! This is supin.
Yours is upin. Look!
These are different. Can't you see?
Mister,
-you said "upin," right? -What?
No, I didn't.
You got tripped up, Ms. Daimon! Too bad!
I'll ask you one more time.
You said "upin," right?
I definitely did not!
-Pay the penalty! -Pay the penalty!
You don't make gaffes! You're simply a liar!
You lying old man!
Michiko, that's going too far! He's a minister!
He's no minister!
Why would he make a mistake like that?
This is frightening. What is Dr. Daimon thinking?
It's times like this that she's the most frightening.
I hope she doesn't start operating without permission.
She stood up!
-She's started walking! -Don't do it! Everyone, over here!
Everyone!
I'm hungry.
-Lunch? -What?
-She's just going to lunch! -You're kidding!
Oh, she's just going to lunch.
Upin and supin.
I really doubt I misheard him.
Say...
His stage-two tongue cancer was detected early.
Did the AI really determine that combined proton therapy
and superselective ophthalmic artery chemotherapy was best?
The effectiveness of medical and surgical treatment was the same.
The AI prioritized the patient's QOL in making its decision.
Then shouldn't he be operated on?
That's what the patient himself wanted at first.
You don't get it, do you?
Whether he wants it or not doesn't matter.
With a minster that could say something crazy at any moment,
they really want him out as soon as possible.
But if he's kicked out due to a gaffe,
it would end up harming the office he holds.
But then, the gaffe-prone minister who escaped to the hospital
was discovered to have cancer.
What good fortune!
Therefore, he'll be forced to step down
due to long-term treatment.
That's their intention.
Whose intention?
It's not anyone's in particular.
Nobody is giving direct orders to do this.
In this world, this is called "reading between the lines."
What's more, advanced treatment and long-term hospitalization
works in the hospital's favor.
But it doesn't work in favor of the patient at all.
You're the stupidest one of all!
How dare you call me stupid!
Listen! I was chairman of the Totei University Medical School
and I studied at Boston Harvard Medical University.
While I was there, I was awarded the Robert Parker Award for Medicine
for my research in next-generation genome therapy.
After returning to Japan, I was selected
as one of the Best Doctors in Japan five years in a row.
My husband has an elite career. My two children are perfect.
I have a large home in Yokohama with a yard.
Did you hear that? Yokohama!
So how can a simple part-timer like you
call me "stupid"?
The stupidest person in this hospital is...
What a windbag.
How interesting.
-You said that to Dr. Daimon? -That's right.
She's nothing but a part-timer.
She doesn't understand anything about management.
From now on, I'll severely rebuke her.
Mind your own business.
Good evening, Dr. Tange.
It's been a while, Representative Oizumi.
I appreciate all that you're doing for me, thank you.
No problem. Thank you too. Please, have a seat.
How was your score today?
You want to talk golf already?
Sorry.
I still can't forget your albatross when we played in Izu.
"Reading between the lines?" Give me a break!
You're so right.
At this rate, that gaffe-prone old guy's political life will end.
He's a nice guy at heart too.
I wonder why he keeps making gaffes.
Michiko, is there something about him that bothers you?
Well, I'm still not sure.
His natural character makes him gaffe-prone.
That's one thing that you can't cure, Ms. Daimon.
I guess you're right.
Oh, this part looks good. This here.
We belatedly wish you
-congratulations on your release. -Congratulations.
Hold on a second.
I wasn't released.
They let me go because they dropped the charges.
Make sure you get that right.
-Terribly sorry. -It's okay.
Thank you.
But, you know, why are we having monja?
For this kind of event,
shouldn't we be having meat? Shouldn't we have steak?
We can't expense marbled beef.
-I'm terribly sorry. -I'm terribly sorry.
Ever since I hired that cost cutter,
a lot of things
have gone topsy-turvy.
By the way, we couldn't expense red meat either.
We can't expense meat.
And he never tells me, "Yes, sir."
He also told me to stop the director's rounds.
How aggravating!
Well, anyway...
-I'll look for some meat! -I'll look for meat!
-In there? -Yes.
Excuse me!
Sorry I'm late!
Former Director Ebina, what's with that outfit?
I went to see a fall season game. It lasted until the 18th inning.
Did Totei University win?
They lost on a game-ending bases-loaded walk.
-Excuse me. Draft beer, please! -Okay!
-Kneel! -Oh, right.
-Ebina. -Yes?
I will absolutely
never be pushed out of
Totei University.
Keep that firmly impressed in your minds.
-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!
That's so nice to hear!
Welcome!
When's our extra order of meat coming?
-You're right. -Yes.
Here's your order of extra meat.
What?
We should be getting that extra meat.
-Daimon! -Dr. Daimon!
-You're frightening! -Get over here!
Akira!
-What is it? What's going on? -Look!
Oh, my! You're all here?
-What's going on here? -Hey! It's Hiromi!
Did he call me by my first name?
How dare he call me by my first name!
TOTEI DOG
What's this?
Dr. Ebina, you're a dog now.
-What? -Look what happened to it.
"Totei Dog"?
Ebina, let's hear your bark.
Yes, sir! Woof!
He's so pathetic!
He apparently misread the spelling of "reform" and "murder."
It got away.
There! Upin!
Okay, how about this?
Let's do the Totei University song, "Unrivaled," in dog language! Woof!
-Woof! -Woof!
It's going very smoothly.
At the very least, he'll be hospitalized for two months.
Don't you worry.
-Assistant Director Tange. -Goodbye.
What is it?
Dr. Daimon is operating on Minister Umezawa.
You'll be in trouble for operating without permission.
And I just became a director.
If I get demoted, you better make up for it.
I decline.
Why do we always help Dr. Daimon with her surgeries?
That's a good question.
Dr. Daimon, stop right now! Don't operate on his tongue!
I'm operating on his eye. What about it?
-His eye? -His eye?
-Bring over the microscope. -Right.
-Eye speculum. -Here.
An eye operation? What's going on here, Daimon?
What's going on?
Making incision on conjunctiva.
-Micro-scissors. -Here.
First assistant, wipe away the hemorrhaging.
-Right. -Here.
These are the results of the tests
Dr. Daimon just ran on Minister Umezawa.
"Choroidal malignant melanoma"?
Eye cancer?
It's a malignant tumor that occurs on the choroid melanocytes.
It can cause retinal detachment and metastasize throughout the body.
-4-0 silk. -Here.
But how did Michiko Daimon
figure out Minister Umezawa had a tumor in his eye?
I think it's because of my dog.
What the heck are you talking about?
Dr. Ebina, you're a dog now.
What?
I think Daimon realized that the main cause of
Minister Umezawa's gaffes was an eye disorder.
He apparently misread the spelling of "reform" and "murder."
With choroidal malignant melanoma,
the patient sees black spots that look like insects.
The symptom is called myodesopsia.
Due to this effect,
letters look like they have the voiced mark on them.
-Spatula. -Here.
-I'll remove the tumor. Scalpel. -Here.
Kin, pull on it properly.
You can only call me Kin in the operating room.
Really?
He has a tumor in his eye.
You know, she just might be able to cure his tongue cancer in 48 hours.
No! Take plenty of time to treat the tongue cancer
according to the AI's diagnosis.
Dr. Daimon, operate on his eye only.
Don't you dare operate on his tongue!
I've already finished the surgery on his tongue.
-You what? -What?
Are you serious?
I never fail.
She already operated on his tongue?
-Scalpel. -Here.
I'll extract the tumor.
-Hoskins forceps. -Here.
BP, 132 over 81. Pulse, 67, sinus.
-Done. -Nice work.
-Thank you for your efforts. -Thank you.
-I hope we're all right. -I'm so worried about this.
-Get your resume ready. -My resume?
This has saved not only the life of Saburo Umezawa himself,
but also the political life of Minister Umezawa.
Well done, Daimon.
Daimon really did it again! Bravo!
Now this gives me an even greater connection
with Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Umezawa.
In fact, the power of Shigekatsu Hiruma has doubled!
Yes, sir!
I'll never let Nichotan do just as he pleases again!
-Good afternoon. -Hi.
If we had taken time and money to gradually cure him,
it would have benefited the hospital so much more.
Doctors like you who can't read between the lines
are the most trouble for an organization.
You know why? Because you're too talented.
Overly talented lady doctors
are always expelled from the organization.
That's what I've learned.
If you want to perform your precious surgeries,
then you'll need to compromise with the organization.
I'll tell you about when I studied at Boston Harvard Medical University.
It was a winter day
in the year that I received the Robert Parker Award for Medicine.
One of the doctors there proposed to me.
We met in the university chorus...
Listen to me when I'm talking,
stupid!
What a windbag!
This is the story of a maverick lady doctor.
Let us welcome to the rostrum,
the father of this Umeno Ohashi Bridge,
Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Umezawa.
Please come up.
UMENO OHASHI BRIDGE COMPLETION CEREMONY
UMENO OHASHI BRIDGE OPEN
Good afternoon, common folk!
Minister, don't use "common folk."
Oh, right.
I'm sorry.
Commoners!
That gaffe-prone minister ended up resigning anyway.
RESIGNS OVER GAFFES
Dr. Daimon, would you call this your first loss?
I guess this means even Daimon couldn't cure his gaffe ailment.
Does that mean it was a mistake?
-That was no mistake. -Sorry.
Not a loss.
It's a win!
Excuse me.
I would like to thank you for employing Daimon and Jonouchi.
This is a melon.
This is the bill.
I don't recall using her.
Dr. Daimon did this without permission.
I believe this is an illegitimate bill.
I wouldn't be so sure about that.
If our Daimon hadn't discovered the eye tumor,
it could have been determined
that Totei University Hospital had killed him.
However, regardless of how things ended up,
who is the one who has benefited most from this?
I heard that the representative who became
the new HLW Minister is a close golfing friend of yours.
NEWLY-APPOINTED HLW MINISTER YUZO OIZUMI
Representative Oizumi.
I appreciate all that you're doing for me.
Would you like to have a look at this?
Considering what you'll be getting in your future,
I doubt the price is all that shocking.
PLEASE PAY THE FOLLOWING AMOUNT
What is with this ludicrous price?
This is
acceptable.
Please take that back with you.
Certainly.
I got it, 30,000,000 yen!
Hospital Director Hiruma will now begin his director's rounds.
Did they start doing that royal parade again?
Oh, my.
Hello.
-Are you alone? -That's right. You see,
I asked everyone to join me on my rounds, but nobody came.
Oh, dear me.
That's not a director's round, that's a director's stroll.
That's very clever.
If you would like, please have this.
-A melon? -Yes.
-He didn't accept it? -He doesn't want it.
-Really? That sure is cheeky. -Yes.
I see.
Say, won't you join me in my director's rounds?
Thanks for asking, but I must be going.
He sure is cheerful.
Maybe I'll skip it today. Yes, I will.
This woman hates groups,
authority, and restrictions.
Her specialized medical license and well-honed skills
are her weapons.
Akira.
Akira!
-Oh, Michiko? -Akira, I'm starving!
I want monja with meat on top!
Are you crazy? Since you operated without permission,
-I didn't get a single cent! -What?
No food for you for a while!
You're kidding! No food for a while? No way!
Surgeon Michiko Daimon,
otherwise known as Doctor X.
-Mom! -I am Kazuma Ushio's mother.
Ma'am, we met earlier.
What's wrong with me?
He's Japan's track superstar.
Yokkaichi has cancer?
-I'll do this operation. -Let me compete again in six months.
Why don't you use your own head some more?