The final episode of 'The 19th Medical Record,' starring Matsumoto Jun, aired on September 7th, concluding a production period riddled with an almost unbelievable string of bad luck for the TBS Sunday Theater slot.

A Finale Besieged by Competition

The drama's last chapter faced a perfect storm of competing events. A prolonged women's volleyball World Championship match delayed the broadcast by 55 minutes. To make matters worse, it coincided with the Hanshin Tigers clinching their first baseball league championship in two years, dominating social media buzz and diverting viewer attention.

A History of Hard Luck

This was merely the culmination of a troubled run. The series was condensed to 8 episodes due to the World Athletics Championships. Its second episode was postponed a week for election coverage, and a later episode was overshadowed by a popular star's appearance on a competing channel's charity marathon broadcast. The final blow came just before the finale when a supporting actor, Shinji Kiyohara, was arrested for alleged drug law violations, forcing producers to cut all his scenes.

Perseverance Pays Off

Despite these overwhelming challenges, the drama managed to finish with an average rating of 10.2%, a testament to Matsumoto Jun's enduring popularity and the show's quality. It became a symbol of resilience, beloved by viewers who stuck with it through every unforeseen obstacle.