What Happens at the End of Dr. Hikojiro 2?

One day, Hikojiro goes to visit Sayo Kujo, an old lady who has been hospitalized. Sayo has been told that she has a year to live by assistant professor Natsuhiko Moriwaki, and insists on returning to the house she was born and raised in. It so happens that Hikojiro will be the one to treat her at home from now on. At the university hospital, Hikojiro runs into a familiar face - Hazuki, the daughter of Tetsuji Tonoyama, the man who taught Hikojiro how to make takoyaki. Hazuki is now a nurse at the university hospital and Hikojiro is surprised to see a strange poster on the hospital bulletin board that implies she's having an affair with Moriwaki. The hospital is currently preparing to elect a new chief surgeon, and the candidates are assistant professors Moriwaki and Shinsuke Noguchi, heads of the first and second surgical department. Both of their factions have been publishing defamatory statements about each other.

Keiichirō Yoshida's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Susumu Terajima (Hikojiro Oyabu)'s journey. Sayo has been told that she has a year to live by assistant professor Natsuhiko Moriwaki, and insists on returning to the house she was born and raised in.

How Does Susumu Terajima (Hikojiro Oyabu)'s Story End?

• Susumu Terajima: Susumu Terajima's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Keiko Toda (Kyoko Uchikura): Keiko Toda's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Takashi Ukaji (Takamaro Goshirakawa): Takashi Ukaji's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Dr. Hikojiro 2 Mean?

The ending of Dr. Hikojiro 2 brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Susumu Terajima's story may not satisfy all audiences.