Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon

Michiko Daimon is a 37-year-old freelance surgeon who fills short-term vacancies at hospitals through a placement service, arriving wherever understaffing has left surgical departments hollow. She looks nothing like the usual doctor, with flashy clothes and a blunt manner, and she refuses to do work that doesn't require a medical license. Early on she openly challenges a hospital chief about a planned operation after spotting rusty surgical skills, which shocks colleagues and shifts the ward's balance. Patients, staff and rival doctors all wonder how she developed such elite technique and why she keeps her personal life so closed, while she stays focused on operations and exacting professional standards.

The show premiered in 2012, created by Miho Nakazono and anchored by Ryoko Yonekura as Michiko Daimon. It ran on Japanese television and built a loyal audience quickly, credited often for its strong central performance and procedural energy.

The series became a ratings success in Japan and drew wide attention from critics and industry observers, boosting Ryoko Yonekura's profile. It generated discussion in domestic TV circles and helped define contemporary portrayals of female professionals in network dramas.

Michiko's attitude and memorable lines penetrated popular culture, inspiring parodies, media references and fashion nods to her bold wardrobe. The program's visible presence in talk shows and commercials helped it feel like more than a medical drama, turning the lead character into a recognizable figure beyond the series.

Critics generally praised the show for sharp plotting and the lead's charisma, reflected in an average user score around 7.4 out of 10. Themes include medical ethics, institutional politics, professional competence and the cost of personal privacy, with episodes balancing mystery, hospital intrigue and focused surgical set pieces.