Pandora - WOWOW

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http://www.wowow.co.jp/dramaw/pandora/

Introduction
Pandora revolves around a university doctor, played by Mikami Hiroshi, who invents a wonder drug for cancer following 18 years of research. He is initially snubbed by everyone but when they learn that his is a genuine invention, things around him undergo abrupt changes. The drama also depicts the interests and conspiracies of pharmaceutical companies and political circles.

Cast
Mikami Hiroshi as Suzuki Hideki (41)
Yanagiba Toshiro as Matoba Shinichi (42)
Konishi Manami as Iida Sayoko (28)
Hirata Mitsuru as Tomoda Shogo (50)
Yamamoto Koji as Tachikawa Haruo (34)
Tanimura Mitsuki as Mizuno Aimi (17)
Ono Takehiko as Fukami Jinichiro (55)
Kunimura Jun as Otaguro Shigeyuki (52)
Yamamoto Kei as Midorikawa Fujio (66)
Uehara Misa as Kadowaki Chika (22)
Kichise Michiko as Katsura Hitomi (37)
Aijima Kazuyuki as Numabe Yoshihiro (43)


I'm looking forward to this drama. It boasts a solid cast of veteran actors and hints at intrigue. Could spring 2008 mark a turnaround for Japanese dramas? I certainly hope so!

[Lady Zhuge]

This drama sounds very interesting, especially the part about the interests and conspiracies of pharmaceutical companies. I hope it delivers!

I never saw Yamamoto Koji in anything before last month, but recently it feels like I'm seeing him everywhere: Sasaki Fusai no Jingi Naki Tatakai, Karei-naru Ichizoku, Shinsengumi, and now here.

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The press conference for Pandora was held in Tokyo on 14 March. It was attended by Mikami Hiroshi, Yanagiba Toshiro, Konishi Manami, Tanimura Mitsuki and other members of the main cast.

It's been 20 years since Mikami Hiroshi and Yanagiba Toshiro last co-starred together in the first trendy drama, Fuji TV's Kimi no Hitomi o Taiho Suru in 1988. "I'm really happy that we're acting together 20 years later. We're both old folks," Mikami remarked. Yanagiba said, "We have a good relationship. I sent a set of kiritanpo (Akita speciality of mashed rice on skewer sticks) from Akita and received Tokyo confections in return."

Mikami stars as a university physician who gets entangled in various schemes as a result of his discovery of a miracle drug for cancer. Yanagiba stars as a zealous police dective investigating a case surrounding the miracle cure.

Actress Konishi Manami, who plays an ambitious female doctor said, "This is my first role where my character is roguish and intelligent." Tanimura Mitsuki plays a young lady whose childhood cancer recurs and furthermore abandons her life to compensated dating.

The script is written by Inoue Yumiko, known for her works Shiroi Kyoto and 14-sai no Haha.

Photos of the press conference: http://mainichi.jp/enta/geinou/graph/200803/14_4/

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That day, a miracle cancer drug was discovered

Pandora
Starts 6 April. Every Sunday at 10.00 p.m.

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Episode 1 Synopsis - The Discovery

 click to show spoilers

Matoba Shinichi, a detective with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division, encounters a man called Suzuki Hideki and gets an odd impression while visiting the quay of Tokyo Bay to investigate a murder case.

Suzuki is an eccentric person who has been pursuing the study of a miracle drug for cancer at a university hospital for 18 years. And finally on that day, Suzuki succeeds in the complete elimination of artificial cancer stem cells. But his colleague, Sayoko, won't work with him and his boss, Otaguro Shigeyuki, also won't approve his clinical trial on the human body.

At that moment, Matoba discovers a receipt from the corpse of a middle-aged company employee, and visits a love hotel. Over there, he comes into contact with Aimi, a young girl who seems a regular at compensated dating, but she sees an opportunity and runs away from him.

Meanwhile, a bewildered Suzuki finds Aimi asleep inside his car at the hospital's carpark. Hearing that Aimi's days are numbered because of cancer, a dangerous thought comes to Suzuki's mind ... ...

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WOWOW's First Drama Series
Pandora will revolutionise TV dramas
A miracle drug for cancer has been found …
This discovery, mankind's long-cherished desire, is at the same time, also the beginning of the story of human beings' display of their horrendous true nature.
Pandora is the first drama series produced by WOWOW.
In it are challenges, conflicts, and manifestation of desires unprecedented in the history of TV dramas.
This drama, which was made possible by Shiroi Kyoto's Inoue Yumiko, starts now.

Story
Suzuki Hideki, a university hospital physician, invents a wonder drug for cancer after 18 years of research. At first, everyone gives him the cold shoulder but when they learn that that is a genuine invention, the dean of the medical school and his colleagues attempt to seize his achievement. Furthermore, pharmaceutical companies that have gotten wind of this concession, come sidling up. That is the dawn of the shocking, terrifying vortex of human relations.

Pandora's 5 aspirations
1. Suspense
2. Human
3. Moral
4. Pandemic
5. Revolution

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Mikami Hiroshi as Suzuki Hideki
A physician at Koto University Hospital.
He has devoted himself to the study of an anti-cancer drug for 18 years.
He is divorced from his wife and is viewed as an eccentric at his workplace.
His mother's death from illness 30 years ago gave him impetus.
He risks his life to make the miracle drug he has invented available to the world but ...


Yanagiba Toshiro as Matoba Shinichi
A police detective with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police's First Investigative Division.
He conducts investigations in a human and methodical way.
He has a friendly personality but is a cool-headed observer, able to imagine the age and occupation of dead people from the jacket and shoes worn.
His chance encounter with Suzuki leaves him with an inexplicable feeling of discomfort.


Konishi Manami as Iida Sayoko
A surgeon at Koto University Hospital.
She deems this her calling and has many surgeries under her belt. Capable and candid, she skillfully uses her feminine wiles to make her way in the world.
When she learns that Suzuki's discovery is genuine, she kindly offers him all sorts of assistance.
But does she have any designs behind this ...?


Kunimura Jun as Otaguro Shigeyuki
Head of Koto University Hospital's Medical Science Department.
He is greatly ambitious and desires to win the favour of the Health Minister Fukami.
He is interest in his subordinate, Sayako.
He initially doesn't believe Suzuki's discovery and treats it lightly but when he learns that it is genuine, he employs high-handed measures to lay his hands on the achievement.


Ono Takehiko as Fukami Jinichiro
Health and Labour Minister.
He introduces a humane policy for victims suffering from the harmful side effects of a drug but this is actually a problem caused by his predecessor.
He leaves everything to his secretary and has no sense of responsibility.
In order to escape society's criticism, he has himself hospitalised at Koto University Hospital.


Tanimura Mitsuki as Mizuno Aimi
Suzuki's clinical trial patient.
She extorts money from adults under the guise of compensated dating.
Her childhood cancer has recently recurred and she doesn't have much time left.
She was hospitalised at Koto University hospital but she runs away from the hospital when her mother gets a man and disappears.


Hirata Mitsuru as Tomoda Shogo
Chairman of Houei Hospital.
He is also the president of Houei Pharmaceuticals, the parent company.
Because of Sayoko's part-time outpatient work at his hospital, he takes an ignorant Suzuki and Aimi in.
He is friendly but senses the secrecy in Suzuki's research.


Yamamoto Koji as Tachikawa Haruo
A medical science journalist with Maichou Newspaper.
He follows modern medical treatment but is particularly suited for work that does not involve a sense of justice.
He worries about the new drug Suzuki has invented and is the narrator of this story.

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I've only managed to catch episode 1 and half of episode 2 of Pandora. It is intense and that feeling of foreboding is so palpable and lurks so close to the surface it just seems like doom is about to befall anytime. As the title suggests, Pandora, examines human behaviour and the repercussions of the invention of a miracle drug for cancer and through the eyes of the character played by Yamamoto Koji, a news reporter, posits that this cure for mankind will open a pandora box of evils.

It seems to suggest that nothing good will come out of such an invention but with six more episodes to go, it is too early to tell what kind commentary the drama has to make on such a medical advance.

[Lady Zhuge]

I've only managed to catch episode 1 and half of episode 2 of Pandora.

Do you find it difficult to watch this drama since it's so heavy in content or is it more of a time constraint issue?

I plan to watch this after all the episodes have aired.

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Do you find it difficult to watch this drama since it's so heavy in content or is it more of a time constraint issue?

I plan to watch this after all the episodes have aired.

Each episode of Pandora has a duration of close to 55 mins - longer than the typical Japanese drama. This is probably because WOWOW is a private network unlike TBS, Fuji TV and the other usual broadcast stations. Pandora isn't difficult to watch just depressing and chilling in its portrayal of the different motivations that fuel all the characters. Will there be any good to come out of it at the end or will the ultimate price be unwittingly paid?

It has a thought-provoking script and a solid cast especially in Mikami Hiroshi, in the role of the protagonist Suzuki Hideki. He convincingly portrays a man single-mindedly obsessed with the discovery of the wonder drug because it will rid the world of one of the top killer diseases. A reckless maverick who would do anything to see this drug reach the people who need it but oblivious to what this portends and the dangers posed by those around him who covet his invention. Inoue Yumiko has certainly redeemed herself after the very bland, forgettable First Kiss.

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Episode 2 Synopsis - Desire

 click to show spoilers

With the cooperation of Aimi, a girl with end-stage cancer, Suzuki succeeds in the clinical trial for his anti-cancer drug. Confident of his invention, he visits Professor Otaguro's office once again. On his way there, Suzuki coincidentally meets Matoba, the Tokyo Metropolitan First Investigative Division detective who is at Koto University Hospital to investigate a murder case but hurries off. Suzuki's cavalier attitude stirs an undefinable sense of aversion and interest in Matoba.

Meanwhile, Ogaturo welcomes Suzuki with his usual attitude. However, he goes pale at the words, "The clinical trial was a success" and is at a loss for words when he sees the clinical trial data. Sukuzi's invention is genuine ...

In due course, the First Investigative Division finds out that the young girl connected to the murder case is called Mizuno Aimi, an end-stage cancer patient leading an impoverished life with her mother and younger brother and sister. Voices of sympathy and doubt surface over the pursuit of the unfortunate Aimi but Matoba presses on with an intensified search for her, and gets increasingly isolated.

Ogaturo changes tact and tries to get Suzuki to do his bidding but when Suzuki refuses, he stabs himself in the arm with a broken wine bottle and frames Suzuki for the injury. Suzuki is taken into custody by the police and questioned by Matoba.

On the other hand, Sayoko slips into the hospital laboratory to steal the research data from Suzuki's computer. She passes the disc to Haruo and entreats him to safe keep it and destroy it if anything untoward happens to her ... ...

[xemenx]

Download Episode 1
http://egynote.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4297

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Episode 3 Synopsis - Betrayal

 click to show spoilers

Matoba releases Suzuki with the expectation that Suzuki will lead him to Aimi if he lets Suzuki go free.

Suzuki returns to Houei Hospital but is shocked to find Aimi missing from the hospital ward. He fears for her condition. But Aimi has in fact threated Tomoda, Houei Hospital's chairman, and slipped out of the hospital with him to meet her friend, Mamoru, at a warehouse. Mamoru attacks Tomoda and takes all the money that he has on him as Aimi looks on dispassionately.

At that moment, Professor Otaguro visits Fukami, the Health and Labour Minister hospitalised at Koto University Hospital, and tells him about the successful development of a miracle drug for cancer. Immediately detecting a vested interest in the matter, Fukami offers his support to an excited Otaguro ... ...

Meanwhile, Suzuki tries to track Aimi down together with Matoba but still can't locate her. He starts suspecting that she has been abducted and hurriedly returns to the university hospital's laboratory. But ... it is already too late. The rats he was studying and his research data have all disappeared without a trace. Suspecting Otaguro of being behind this, Suzuki confronts him but is stopped by Sayoko. An unsuspecting Suzuki tells Sayako that he needs to locate Aimi. The research data is incomplete and Aimi's body carries the rest of it.

Haruo finally gives into temptation and looks at the disc passed to him by Sayoko. Bothered by his discovery, he approaches Midorikawa to find out whether a cancer drug can be created in the manner that Suzuki has done. Midorikawa acknowledges the possibility but dismisses the efficacy of such a drug.

Mamoru and Aimi rouse the suspicions of the security guard while attempting to withdraw money using Tomoda's credit cards. At the warehouse, Tomoda offers to be their hostage so they can get ransom money from his father. But when Mamoru draws close to him, Tomoda catches him unaware and beats him up badly ... ...

Sayoko asks Haruo to locate Aimi, whom she claims is her missing patient. Haruo gets suspicious ... ... Then Sayoko receives a call from Tomoda, telling her that Aimi is about to die.

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Episode 4 Synopsis - Crime

 click to show spoilers

Tomoda, who has battered and hurt Mamoru seriously, takes Aimi along and leaves the warehouse but ends up calling Sayoko to ask for help when Aimi's condition suddenly deteriorates. Suzuki receives Sayoko's call. He throws Matoba off, abandons the unmarked patrol car and rushes to get to Aimi's side in Sayako's car ... ... Aimi is having a fever due to the side effects of the cancer drug, but Suzuki first lies to Tomoda and then Sayoko, and conceals Aimi and himself in a safe place ... ...

Mamoru is discovered by the police and taken to a hospital. Matoba questions him about Aimi and leads him to believe that Aimi has died. But the only thing he learns is the surname of the dead man who was last seen alive with Aimi. That man turns out to be the relative of a victim of the Bonipal drug incident and he had made Aimi's acquaintance while at Koto University Hospital ... ...

Meanwhile, Fukami, the Health and Labour Minister, who is just about to report the miracle cancer drug to the Prime Minister, hears from Professor Otaguro that the research data and clinical trial patient is missing, and is taken aback.

A few days later, Otaguro manages to convince Fukami that the miracle cancer drug will help to distract the public's attention from the Bonipal drug fiasco. He secures Fukami's agreement to stop the police from conducting further investigations into Aimi's case, arguing that the drug's development will be hampered if the police continue to pursue her.

The next morning, a police car finds Matoba's patrol car abandoned near a river. Seething with anger, Matoba, who has been deceived by Suzuki, vows to locate Suzuki's whereabouts at any cost by conducting his own investigation. But at the same time, he gradually finds himself in a corner ... ...

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Episode 5 Synopsis - Subterfuge

 click to show spoilers

Mamoru, who thought Aimi had died, ambushes and stabs Tomoda for revenge ... At that moment, Aimi is sleeping sounding in a hospital ward at Midorikawa Hospital. Weighed down by crime, the new drug's development ... Despite the dilemma Suzuki feels, he insists on developing the anti-cancer drug no matter what it takes. Midorikawa makes a suggestion to Suzuki in an attempt to reason with him.

Meanwhile, Matoba appears at Houei Hospital where Chiba prefecture police are conducting an on-site investigation. Although he was told to back off from the Shinagawa murder case, he has been continuing the investigation on his own because he finds it hard to accept. However, two men stand in his way ... They are from public security and their presence arouses his suspicion as well as Haruo who has also arrived at the scene.

The next morning, the headline "New anti-cancer drug discovered?" appears in the magazine Shinsei, which is sold at train station kiosks. Sayoko confronts Haruo over the article and warns him that his life would be in danger if anyone knew he was behind the article. This leak fuels varied speculations and maneuverings that eventually leads to Aimi and Suzuki being taken into custody by public security and brought to Koto University Hospital to complete the development of the drug.

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Episode 6 Synopsis - Wrath

 click to show spoilers

Suzuki realises that if he doesn't follow the government's orders, there's no way he can take care of the new drug's research. However, he refuses to heed Midorikawa's advice and even speaks to Aimi coldly. His transformation terrifies Sayoko.

Meanwhile, everything surrounding the new drug's development is controlled by the government. Even the murder case is left unsettled. Matoba and Tachikawa are unable to accept that. The two of them cling to their convictions and vow to find out the truth. The warehouse in Shibaura was the starting point for the chain of events and so they head back there ...

At that moment, a press conference is held at Koto University Hospital and this is broadcast on TV. Tomota is in the hospital ward watching Professor Otaguro issuing comments before the cameras and journalists, when his father, Tomota Katsunosuke, President of Tomota Pharmaceuticals appears.

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Pandora won Best Drama, Best Screenplay and Best Director at the First Tokyo Drama Awards!

[Lady Zhuge]

Pandora won Best Drama, Best Screenplay and Best Director at the First Tokyo Drama Awards!

And probably deservedly so, but it was snubbed by the Television Drama Academy Awards. Why the disparity and who are the "key figures" in the "Competition Jury" of the Tokyo Drama Awards?