Original subtitles

I've really been feeling great lately!

My headaches and stiff shoulders have been blown away!

That's because business has been going so well at this hospital, Director.

We've gotten more outpatients, and more introductions from other hospitals.

Doctor Murata sent you about your pleurisy, I see.

And the number of surgeries has doubled!

OK, how are his vital signs?

Stable.

And we've increased the number of nurses so they aren't feeling overworked.

- I'm finished. - Thanks.

And what's changed the most are the doctors!

They're not only getting along better with the patients, but with the nurses as well.

Yoshikawa-san, I'll be prescribing more medication later, so please check it.

I really wonder why our hospital became such a nice place.

Same here. It's a real wonder why we changed so much.

Wait!

- Do you think we've changed too much? - Yup, too much for the better.

You know, this hospital sure has become a really nice place to be.

I guess so.

I don't know what it was like before.

Looks like Kimura-san has returned to normal. That's good.

I think it's changed since you came here ...

- Sagara sensei. - You think so?

I guess I came a the right time.

Oh, here. Thanks.

Please check this patient's vitals every six hours.

Yes sir.

What's wrong?

Oh, nothing. I'll head back to the ward now.

Bye.

Yum. That's good.

Kotaro Yashiro.

A ten-year old boy.

Hepatic cirrhosis ...

He was born with congenital biliary atresia and he received a hepatic portoenterostomy soon after birth.

But after that his bile flow worsened ...

And now he's ended up like this.

Does this hurt?

- Hm? - Kotaro?

Does it hurt, dear?

OK.

Now how about here? Does this hurt?

Our boy has been hospitalized so much since he was little that he hasn't attended much school.

He won't open up to anyone, really ...

It's been very hard on all of you, hasn't it?

If he could only get better ...

However ...

The way things are now, it will be very difficult to cure his hepatic cirrhosis.

In fact, I believe it's getting worse.

What will happen if that keeps up?

Eventually his liver will cease functioning ...

And he will die.

But ...

At first they told us he could be cured.

When they operated for his congenital biliary atresia ...

They said he'd be fine.

Sensei ...

Does my son ... have much longer to live?

There is a way to save Kotaro-kun.

Really?

- A liver transplant. - A liver transplant?

We take part of the liver of one of his parents and transplant it in him.

It's called a live-donor liver transplant.

If it succeeds, Kotaro will recovery completely.

- But ... - All the doctors have said that transplanting into a child was impossible.

True ...

It is definitely a difficult procedure.

But ...

It's not impossible.

- Really? - Can you really do it, sensei?

Yes, we can.

Please save Kotaro, Sagara sensei!

Please give my liver to Kotaro!

Please, Mr. and Mrs. Yashiro. You don't need to beg.

Even if I perform this surgery, as his parents you two must be the ones to bring him through it.

I understand.

All of us here ...

- Will work together to save Kotaro-kun. - We will!

First, if you are to be the donor, Mrs. Yashiro, we must check to see if you are suitable.

What kind of check?

Have you ever had any diseases of the digestive system?

Wha?

Have you?

I've had hepatitis and gallstones.

- Hepatitis and gallstones. - But that was in university.

An organ that's had that kind of disease even just once ... can't be used.

How about you, Mr. Yashiro?

It's OK ...

Actually ...

I'm not Kotaro's real father.

Really?

I ...

When Kotaro was six months old I got divorced and then remarried.

If we're not related by blood, you can't use me for a transplant, can you?

No, that's not true.

- It can be done? - Then use my liver for Kotaro.

There's just one thing.

What's your blood type?

A.

Kotaro-kun is O.

If the donor's blood type ... is different ...

Or, for example ... if the donor is a heavy drinker ...

Or is of large stature ... that is ...

If there's a big difference in liver size ...

Then ...

Considering that Kotaro is only ten years old ...

Transplanting would be very dangerous.

Is it possible ...

To contact your former husband?

Wha?

Normally after the operation, you can leave the hospital after two weeks. But ...

Recovery until you're well enough to go back to work will take two to three months.

Even after leaving the hospital ... you may have to take medication to improve liver function ... your whole life.

You will also have to to do other things like give up alcohol ...

And you will get fatigued easily.

I've heard enough.

I understand.

Takasugi-san.

- Please help Kotaro. - Please! I beg you!

I can't.

We ...

We divorced soon after our son was born. We're strangers now.

Kotaro is your son, Yashiro-san.

But ... but your coming here means that you're concerned about our son.

Of course. When I heard he was in trouble, I was shocked.

- Then help him! - That's easy for you to say!

- You're the one who wanted to get divorced. - Takasugi-san.

I haven't seen you or him for ten years.

I can't even remember what he looks like anymore.

- How can you ask me to give up my liver for him now? - I ... I never thought it would turn out like this either.

Takasugi-san ...

If I refuse, what will happen to him, doctor?

In that case ...

Kotaro-kun ...

Will be put on the liver waiting list ...

- And have to wait until one becomes available. - But since he's only ten ...

The chance one will become available is unlikely.

We fully understand that what we're asking is completely selfish.

But the only one who can save Kotaro ...

Is you, Takasugi-san!

Please, dear ...

Please!

I too ...

Have a family.

My daughter ...

Doesn't even know Kotaro exists.

But if for the sake of a stranger ...

I give up part of my own body ...

And have to be on medication my whole life ...

There's no way my wife and daughter would understand why I did it.

I heard that Takasugi-san refused to be a donor.

What will happen to Kotaro-kun?

What will happen to him?

Don't talk as if you can't do anything about it. We're going to cure him.

Sengokukai?

It's a group of alumni from Seito Medical University who were students of Sengoku sensei.

I can't tell which one's better.

Could you hold them up like this? I'll take a look from over there.

- Go like this, switching them. - You also have to have studied abroad to get into the club.

To put it simply, we're the best of the best.

And they're having a party tonight, right?

Sengoku sensei's returned from Boston, so we'll be having a get together every week.

That one!

Thank you.

To be honest, until now I've been too ashamed to attend, but from now on I can proudly show my face.

Too ashamed? But why?

Because they've all established themselves at university hospitals or top class universities.

- I'm the only one who's working as a simple resident physician. - What are you talking about, Suguru-chan?

- Dogami General is now a rising superstar! - That's why I can attend with my head held up high today.

Everyone now can see that my skill ...

As a surgeon ...

And as a businessman ...

- I something to be reckoned with. - That's right. I'm so proud of you, Suguru-chan.

OK.

That tie looks great on you.

I'm a ...

Winner.

Welcome, sir.

[Sengokukai]

Wow! That's incredible!

Oh, Moriyama!

You're late.

Work kept me.

- Gin tonic, please. - So you're pretty busy, Moriyama sensei?

- I heard you've been getting a lot more patients at your hospital. - That's right.

We were just talking about you.

We were wondering why Dogami General Hospital suddenly became so popular.

- The number surgeries has increased dramatically, I heard. - I've been training our staff.

I've changed their way of thinking. ... Thanks.

Really?

So, you've got a mind for business as well?

Don't you think they should add another qualification for becoming a member of Sengokukai?

You have to be a doctor that gets patients.

Well said, Moriyama sensei.

Hey, everyone.

Sengoku sensei's arrived.

Yo!

- We've been waiting. - Is everyone here?

- Of course. - Great! Great!

Sengokukai is an iron brotherhood, after all.

- Sensei, what would you like to drink? - Whiskey and water.

So, you're here too, Moriyama.

Welcome back, Sengoku sensei. How was Boston?

Well, I was there as a visiting professor for a year, and the doctors there are quite outstanding.

But ... Japanese doctors are just as good as them.

In particular ...

I could see that my own students were clearly ... as good as them over there.

Thank you, sir.

You're welcome.

- So, Moriyama. - Yessir?

As soon as I got back to Japan, I heard about Dogami General Hospital.

I heard it's become a fine hospital.

- Thank you, sir. - I also heard that you're saying you were responsible for it's upsurge.

Since I'll be taking it over someday anyway, I want to make changes as soon as possible.

But hasn't it really been the work of that surgeon Sagara?

Dogami's reputation has improved only after Sagara arrived, right?

Isn't that right?

No, I don't think so, sensei.

Sagara's just an average guy. What could he possibly have done?

Then how could an average guy ... become one of the top 100 surgeons of Japan, huh?

- He used to work at Tokyo Medical University, didn't he? - Yes.

Then ...

He moved to your hospital, Moriyama.

- Oh, this is Hagiwara. - That's right.

- Oh, good job! Good job! - Thank you, sir.

And here's Kai.

- Thank you. - Good job, good job.

It's much farther back.

Here, just his name.

I can't believe a Seito Medical University alum, and my own student as well ... is rated below a Tokyo Medical University guy!

There's not a person around that thinks you're the one who changed Dogami, Moriyama.

After being bested by Sagara ...

You've got a lot of gall ...

Showing your face around me.

Sorry.

You can go back to sleep, Kotaro-kun.

Sagara sensei's on the night shift tonight.

Pulse 88.

I'm ...

Just gonna die anyway, right?

You can't give me a transplant, can you?

Kotaro-kun.

I ...

Am going to make you healthy.

If I haven't given up yet ...

How can you be giving up yourself?

He's right, you know.

OK.

- Good night. - See you tomorrow.

Could you get me some information on a man named Makoto Takasugi?

- Makoto Takasugi? - Right.

He's the father of a boy here for hepatic cirrhosis.

That's the man who refused to be a donor, right?

Wow! You sure know well, Shibuya-san.

That's because I have lots of contacts.

What would you like me to find out about Takasugi-san?

Hello?

Oh, yes? Sorry, sorry.

Uhm ... Look into his family life and his work. Basically ...

I'd like to find out anything I can about him.

A live-donor liver transplant?

- What? - Right.

I'd like to do it here at Dogami General.

Are you nuts?

In order for us to see Kotaro Yashiro through to complete health ...

We must perform a live-donor transplant here at this hospital.

- We could never do that! - Live-donor transplants are only performed at the best university hospitals.

- That's not true. - The only other places are national hospitals!

- Can a private hospital like ours do that? - How could we do such an incredible thing?

I have gone through the same procedure several times at Tokyo Medical University.

Having done that ... I know that we can do it here too.

There are two teams. One to remove the liver from the donor ...

And a recipient team to transplant it into the patient.

The two teams work together to complete the procedure.

If the doctors here work together ...

We can succeed for sure.

At first I thought it was impossible too.

But the only way to save Kotaro-kun ...

Is for us to do all that we can for him.

But ...

What about a donor?

There isn't one.

His real father has refused, right?

I haven't given up on him yet.

We ...

Need to believe that we can perform this transplant ...

And must begin preparations for it now.

If we succeed in this operation ...

This team ...

Will become one of the top level teams in the nation.

In addition, Dogami General Hospital ...

Will be on par with university hospitals ...

And among the top class private hospitals in Japan.

Top class ...

That's right.

I wondered what you had called all the surgeons to the director's office for.

A live-donor transplant?

You must be crazy!

- What a load of nonsense! - Moriyama sensei.

Listen.

You need to understand that there are just some things that you cannot try!

I will give you a lecture on all the procedures.

- If we all perform several simulations, we can improve our skills ... - Lecture us?

Who made you boss? Hey, don't let this guy fool you!

Director ...

And Admin. Director too ...

Quit letting this guy lead you by the nose!

- Moriyama sensei! - And you, Minagawa sensei!

The lives of our patients are more important than improving the reputation of Dogami General, right, Sagara sensei?

If you want to save that child, then you should put him into the hands of an experienced hospital!

But ... but if you still want to do it, leave this hospital ...

And do it somewhere else!

Moriyama sensei!

Wait!

C'mon ...

Think it over ... about the live-donor transplant.

It's a great chance to let the world know about your abilities, Suguru-chan.

- My abilities? - Yes.

- Nobody cares about that anymore. - What?

They think this hospital's gotten better ...

All because of Sagara.

Sengoku sensei and all the Sengokukai members too.

They made me a laughing stock!

You're kidding!?

Suguru-chan ... Suguru-chan!

I'm just a loser!

Kotaro-kun ...

Time to change your IV.

Are you OK. Let me raise up the bed a little.

When can I get out of the hospital?

Huh?

When I get better I wanna play soccer.

Well ...

Sagara sensei promised me.

- Kotaro-kun. - Don't touch me!

Actually, I'd like to do that live-donor transplant.

What are you talking about?

We could never do it.

Is it really impossible for us?

- Ken-chan! - But Sagara sensei said that ...

- Stop it! - Why?

How can you keep talking about work when you've got me?

Fumi ...

You know this is where me an my co-workers like to relax.

- Since when did you become such a workaholic? - I am not!

But lately you've been doing the night shift regularly.

Bring me another.

- Me too. - And me too.

Remember what you said to me before, Ken-chan?

- Doctor's can just take it easy and make money hand over fist. - Wait a second here!

Gimme a break! If you're a serious doctor, you're incredibly busy.

- Why'd you become so serious? - Well, everybody else has too.

- Hold on a second, there! - Don't be blaming us.

- This is your problem. - Ken-chan. ... Ken-chan!

God dammit ...

God dammit!

God damn damn damn damn dammit!!

Welcome.

Nana-chan ...

What's wrong, sensei?

You scared away all the other girls.

Is it Sagara sensei again?

What has he done to you this time?

He really is ...

An awful person, isn't he ...

That Sagara sensei.

[Pediatric Live-Donor Transplants]

[Subject: Info on Takasugi-san]

- Shibuya here. - Hi. Sagara speaking.

Thanks for the email.

- I'm sorry, but that's the only photo I could get. - That's Takasugi-san's family, right?

His wife is Naoko. She's 31. His daughter is Remi. She's in second grade.

Thank you.

Sensei.

Are you going to try to convince Takasugi-san to become a donor?

That's against the rules.

But ...

If Takasugi-san is really concerned about Kotaro-kun ...

Then if he doesn't do anything ...

He'll probably feel a lot of regret for it in the future.

If there's anything else you need, let me know.

Thanks.

An ulcerative lesion on the pyloric portion of the stomach.

This could be cancer.

- If it is ... it's still only stage two. - Nothing showed up in last month's examination.

But it's already developed this far in under a month. It's progressing far too quickly.

Eventually it'll permeate through the stomach wall and infiltrate other organs.

Sagara.

It's ironic, isn't it?

- A doctor coming down with the same disease he's a specialist in. - Let's operate right away. If we do it now, it's still plenty early.

Sagara.

- Let me think about it a little, Kamiyama sensei. - Think about what?

I ...

Think I'm pretty lucky.

Huh?

Are you hung over, Moriyama sensei?

Where were you drinking last night? We called you several times.

- Without you around, Moriyama sensei, it's not much fun. - That's because we're Team Moriyama!

Why ... ?

- Huh? - Why ...

Why do you guys like being around me?

- What? - Why are you asking?

But you hate me, right, Minagawa sensei?

- What? - You guys do too, don't you?

I've never done a single thing for you to make you like me.

But still ... you guys hang around me.

Why do you call yourselves Team Moriyama!?

I bet it's because I'm going to inherit this hospital someday.

You're just kissing up to the man with the power.

- No, that's not true. - What's the matter, Moriyama sensei?

That's right.

How can you be saying that kind of thing now that the surgical team here has finally started working so well together.

The whole reason they treat you like the lead surgeon is because they recognize your abilities. Right?

You sure are determined, aren't you?

- What? - Excuse me.

All the time you're flattering others ...

Inside you're calculating how you can get them to carry out your will.

Sometimes you touch the heart ...

Spouting ideals, grinning the whole while ... menacing us!

You're fantastic ...

The epitome of a doctor ...

And now you're working on getting us to perform a live-donor transplant.

Of course if it succeeds, the level of this hospital will improve, along with everyone's skills.

But ...

Ultimately the one who benefits from it the most ...

Is you.

You're doing this all just for yourself!

For myself?

I don't think so.

- Sagara sensei is thinking about this hospital as a whole ... - No!

It's just like Moriyama sensei says.

The one who improved this hospital ...

Was me.

The plan to have Kotaro Yashiro's live-donor transplant performed at this hospital ...

Is my own personal challenge.

I want to be able to brag about how much I've improved our surgical department.

What are we, your puppets?

You're a medical team.

- And once you're finished with us, you'll move on. - I want to make this a better team.

I bet you don't even trust us at all.

- Of course I do. - Don't lie.

Don't lie!!

I'd like Team Moriyama ...

To perform a surgery.

What?

My surgery.

Yours ... ?

This morning ...

I went for tests at Tokyo Medical University Hospital where I used to work.

I've developed ... stage two cancer on the pyloric portion of the stomach.

What?

Operate on me, Moriyama sensei.

Please.

No doubt about it.

Stage two stomach cancer.

Really?

But ... if he's operated on now, he can be cured.

- Right, Suguru-chan? - Why do I gotta do it?

Moriyama sensei.

He got his tests at Tokyo Medical, so why doesn't he get operated on there?

It's his alma mater, and they've got lots of excellent doctors.

Sagara sensei ... chose you!

That means he trusts you, right?

But I hate that guy's guts! And I know he hates me too!

How can I say no when he asks right in front of everyone? If I said no they'd think I didn't have confidence.

That guy ...

Sagara ...

He's backed me up against the wall.

What on earth are you talking about, Moriyama sensei!?

Someone with cancer wouldn't be thinking about such a thing!

Sagara sensei's operation will be in four days.

It's been set for 3 p.m. on Thursday the 8th.

The surgeon will be ...

Moriyama sensei.

OK ...

The OR nurse will be ...

Miyabe-san.

If you would, please.

OK ...

Come in.

- Minagawa sensei. Here's Ohno-san's discharge record. - Oh, thank you.

Why ...

Why did Sagara sensei ask Moriyama sensei to do his surgery?

Why couldn't it be some other doctor?

- Miyabe-san ... - Everybody knows how much Moriyama sensei hates Sagara sensei.

- I'm sure Sagara sensei has a good reason for it. - But his life depends on this!

I just can't ... understand it!

Using a laparoscope first we'll dissect the lymph-nodes ... then proceed to removal of the tumor.

If it has metastasized to the lymph-nodes ...

What will you do?

In that case ... it will become an extended operation.

- And if it's metastasized to the liver? - We'll remove any small metastases.

If it's disseminated, I'll remove the disseminated lesions.

I'll do whatever it takes depending on the circumstances.

I see.

Sagara sensei.

Oh, Director.

How are you feeling?

I'm fine.

- There are no subjective symptoms. - I see.

- You can take time off if you like. - Why?

- You can have inpatient tests done at Tokyo Medical University too. - Tokyo Medical?

- Yes. - But the operating surgeon is Moriyama sensei.

Sagara sensei ...

- Let me talk to you. - Yes?

- I don't want you to tell anyone this ... - OK.

- Moriyama sensei's a little unstable right now - Unstable?

This club he's in, Sengokukai, made up of Seito University alumni, had a get together, and they said some terrible things to him.

His former professor told him he was useless, and things like that.

And he ... compared him to you.

So, you know ... to have him operate on you at a time like this ...

Oh, of course it's not like he wouldn't try his best or anything like that.

He's like, "Why me!?" ...

I think you understand.

Sengokukai ... ?

It's not like I'm trying to protect him just because he's my nephew, but ...

He may not look it, but he is actually a very sensitive person.

- Director. - Yes?

- Shame on you! - What?

I'm a patient.

Why are you getting a patient all worried about the doctor's mental condition?

Sensei ...

Shibuya here.

Sorry, Shibuya-san. I've got another favor to ask you.

Sensei, shouldn't you be worrying about your own condition right now?

No, I can't do that. I'm a doctor, after all.

What do you want me to look into?

Sengokukai.

What's with that guy?

What's he got up his sleeve?

He certainly must be up to something, that Sagara sensei.

What should I do ... ?

If I were you ...

I'd make a mistake during surgery on purpose.

- What? - Well ...

If Sagara sensei isn't around, then you'll be the top doctor, right?

Nana ...

Kill him.

Kill him.

Kotaro-kun.

How are you feeling? ... Oh dear.

What's up? Why are you doing this?

You're a liar!

You keep lying that I'll get better!

I'm not lying to you.

Listen ...

I became a doctor in order to save patients' lives.

Will I be able to play soccer someday?

Yes. Of course.

But ...

From today ...

For about a week ...

I won't be able to visit you.

But ...

I'll be thinking about you the whole time, Kotaro-kun.

The whole time.

So you be a good boy while you're waiting.

Sagara sensei's operation will be starting soon.

I see ...

Any moment now!

Don't just stand around. Keep working like usual.

I hope it goes OK.

Would you quit talking like that.

I'm the new surgeon starting today, Kousuke Sagara.

- She's having surgery here? - I'm doing it.

Dogami's reputation has improved only after Sagara arrived, right?

There's not a person around that thinks you're the one who changed Dogami, Moriyama.

After being bested by Sagara, you've got a lot of gall showing your face around me.

The one who improved the level of this hospital ...

Was me.

If Sagara sensei isn't around, then you'll be the top doctor, right?

Kill him.

Kill him.

I put myself into your hands, Moriyama sensei.

Leave it to me.

Put him under.

Yes sir.

OK, let's begin.

Are we ...

Going to tape this?

Tape this?

That's Sagara's way.

I don't need to record my surgeries.

Scalpel!

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