Black Pean

In a university hospital, Seishiro Tokai is a surgeon whose skill is unmatched and his record flawless. He handles operations with precision and the room seems to bend to his will, yet his arrogance stirs friction with colleagues and superiors. A medical device arrives claiming to perform key steps without the surgeon's hands, a prospect that unsettles Tokai. He doubts the invention, questions its efficacy, and challenges the hospital administration in a way that puts him at odds with the power structure around him. As he digs, he uncovers a cloud of corruption and a hidden past linked to the device, with consequences that ripple through the campus and beyond. The suspense thickens as each clue hints at a conspiracy.

Directed by Masaki Nishiura and released in 2018, Black Pean adapts the story from Kaido Son's medical thrillers. The ensemble features Kazunari Ninomiya as Tokai, joined by Ryoma Takeuchi and Seiyo Uchino. The adaptation preserves the book's tension and details.

There are no widely reported major nominations or wins for Black Pean. The show received moderate attention from critics and fans, praised for performances and atmosphere but did not become a trophy magnet at major ceremonies, nor did it win prominent international prizes. It did not feature in awards lists.

Beyond its run, Black Pean sits as a solid though niche entry in Japan's medical drama landscape. It attracted a devoted audience curious about hospital politics and surgical ethics, but it did not spark lasting memes or a broad pop culture footprint, leaving impressions mostly among fans.

Critics praised Ninomiya's screen presence and the show's pacing. It centers on ambition and authority while examining the use of new devices with human skill, raising questions about corruption and the costs of progress, all set within a tense hospital hierarchy. It resonates with viewers who enjoy gray hospital thrillers.