Fuji TV drama ratings show split between medical hit and high-budget flop

Fuji TV's autumn drama lineup is seeing mixed results. The medical drama series ‘Kyumei Byoto 24-ji’, starring Yosuke Eguchi and Nanako Matsushima, has seen a successful start, recording a 6% individual viewership rating for its premiere. This marks a notable return for the series, which is airing for the first time in 13 years.

In contrast, the high-budget production ‘kiDnap GAME’, starring Kentaro Sakaguchi, has struggled with low viewership. Despite a massive production budget exceeding 1 billion yen and an international cast including Lee Joon-gi, the series recorded a 2.6% individual rating in its first episode. Reports suggest the production faced criticism regarding Japanese voice dubbing for international actors and a perceived lack of connection with the audience.