VIVANT is in a two-week broadcast break, with the second half of season two (the Special Squad Recovery Operation) starting October 4, 2026 on TBS. The four-episode side story Chinggis -VIVANT THE ORIGIN STORY- is streaming on U-NEXT, and an immersive event runs in Kyobashi through November 27, 2026.
TBS's Sunday drama VIVANT is midway through its second season, with the second half, billed as the Special Squad Recovery Operation, set to begin October 4, 2026 after a two-week break. The first half has been spent building its central mystery: a scientist named Elisha Mamadov, played by Azerbaijani actor Manaf Dadashov, invented a fusion power technology and vanished rather than let one country control it. Episode 16 revealed that lead actor Masato Sakai is playing a third role, Liu Mingsheng, an agent with Nogi's face who once worked with Nozaki and now appears inside the hostile organization Shinshi. That episode also confirmed the return of Ryu Minshuen, and fans remain split on whether he is an ally or an enemy. A QR code on outdoor advertising has carried an extended trailer showing a photo of Adiel, a character who died in season one, behind Shinshi head Fan Linxing, which has driven speculation about Shinshi's real target.
Supporting players have moved forward. Layla Mada's Kumiko Tashiro, a hijab-wearing field agent who covers the Caucasus region, drew praise for her Azerbaijani delivery in episode 17 and had her service history revealed in episode 18. Episode 18 also put Nogi and Nokoru (Kazunari Ninomiya) on a plan to rescue five abducted Bessatsu members, and a closing scene where Nokoru's long hair appeared to be gone turned out to be tied back. The DV storyline involving investigator Wakui, played by Shunsuke Tanaka, has kept a supporting villain in circulation. Producer Kazutaka Iida said the season's AI element, including the unit Bekihan's AI Hayato, exists to make the human cast's emotions read more strongly, and he called episode 17 the essence of the series.
Away from the broadcast, TBS has built out the story in other formats. The four-episode side story Chinggis -VIVANT THE ORIGIN STORY- streams on U-NEXT from September 20, covering Chinggis's orphanage childhood under Nogoon Beki, and adds Miki Fujimoto as a clinic nurse and Eishin as Bordo. VIVANT IMMERSIVE MISSION runs at CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO in Kyobashi from September 16 to November 27, 2026, with sets including the Bukinist operations room and the underground tent prison. Thai actor Ohm Thanaphat, who plays Chokki Thepanit, greeted 300 lottery-chosen fans in Japanese at a Shinjuku event on September 19.
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The official X account for the Sunday Theater drama VIVANT released a new visual of Liu Mingxuan, played by Masato Sakai, wearing a smile while reaching out and covered in blood splatters. Fans responded with unease and theories about whose blood it is, including guesses about Mamoru Nozaki, played by Hiroshi Abe. The latter half of Season 2 resumes broadcast on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Episode 18 of VIVANT Season 2 brings in Firza Hasanova, an agent nicknamed the Steel Lady, played by Gulnar Yunusova. Yunusova is a local coordinator in Azerbaijan, not a professional actor, and had been working as a Japanese interpreter and guide. Director Katsuo Fukuzawa chose her for the part, and she performs in her own voice rather than being dubbed.
TBS announced that Alim Qasimov, a national singer of Azerbaijan's mugham tradition, and his daughter Fargana Qasimova recorded vocals for a new VIVANT theme. Akira Senju, the drama's music director in Season 1, composed "Qarabag Sikestesi in VIVANT." The production team encountered mugham while shooting in Azerbaijan. A vinyl release, "'VIVANT' THE VINYL," is set for December 2.
Yajuro Bando, who plays Public Security Bureau Chief Sano Yutaro in TBS's Sunday Theater VIVANT, will appear live in the studio on Friday, October 9 on the morning news program THE TIME,. His segment is scheduled to begin around 6:30 AM, and he is set to appear in both the entertainment and weather segments. The booking is a collaboration between THE TIME,, which marked its 5th anniversary in October, and VIVANT, whose second season resumed October 4.
In the TBS Sunday drama VIVANT, Ohm Thanapat plays Chokki Thepnimit, a Thai businessman who works as a monitor for the organization Tent. The Thai actor and musician said in an interview that he held back in his first scenes with Ryusei Ryo, who plays Kotaro Shinjo, until Ryo told him he could hug him and go all out.
Curry House CoCo Ichibanya began selling Tom Yum Kung Soup Curry on October 1 as part of a collaboration with the TBS Sunday drama VIVANT. The soup curry is 1,320 yen, and takeout adds 54 yen. A fried anpan themed on the character Drum, called Mochitto Age Anpan, is 500 yen. The campaign runs through November 11 and includes limited cards, stickers, and a receipt lottery.
Ryusei Ryo will join Kazunari Ninomiya's personal agency Office Nino, the company announced on the 1st. The two currently co-star in the TBS Sunday drama VIVANT, where Ryusei plays Koutaro Shinjo, a former public security officer acting as a monitor for the terrorist organization Tent, opposite Ninomiya as Nokor.
The official X account for the Sunday Theater drama VIVANT released new visuals of 16 cast members during Silver Week. One image drew the most attention: Kaoru Yuki, played by Fumi Nikaido, looking straight ahead with her face covered in mud and what appears to be a smile. Social media responses split between praise for the look and questions about Kaoru's true identity, with comments asking why her face is dirty and suggesting she may be a spy. Kaoru lives with Yugo Nogi, played by Masato Sakai, and Jameen, played by Sae Honma. The second half of VIVANT Season 2 resumes broadcasting on Sunday, October 4, 2026, after a break for the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya. A trailer had shown Kaoru's expression as she fears something.
The second half of VIVANT Season 2 begins on October 4 on TBS, with six episodes left. The story picks up with a rescue mission to free a Besspan member held at Shaki Castle in the Republic of Golbad. Nogi, played by Masato Sakai, and Nokoru, played by Kazunari Ninomiya, plan to extract the member and escape on a private jet owned by Chokki, played by Ohm Thanapak. Producer Kazutaka Iida has said the back half contains about five big surprises, larger than those in the first half. A key problem is that Xinsi may have an HQ-9 surface-to-air missile, which would threaten the escape aircraft. The second half also brings Kaoru Yuki, played by Fumi Nikaido, out of Tokyo and onto the front lines after Nikaido took part in location shooting in Azerbaijan.
Thai actor Ohm Thanaphat, who plays Chokki Thepanit in TBS's Sunday drama VIVANT, appeared at the opening stage of TBS SPORTS & VIVANT PARK on September 19 at Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Triangle Plaza. He greeted 300 fans chosen by lottery in Japanese with "I love you!" and said people had asked him for autographs from the moment he landed. Ryusei Ryo, who plays Kotaro Shinjo, also attended, along with the actor playing Drum and judo gold medalist Natsumi Tsunoda, a TBS athlete ambassador for the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya. VIVANT is an original drama about Yusuke Nogi, a member of the Self-Defense Forces' top-secret intelligence organization Betsuhan. After a two-week broadcast break, the second half of season two begins October 4. Ohm said Chokki will have more scenes in the back half but could not discuss the story because of spoilers.
Miki Fujimoto will appear in Chinggis -VIVANT THE ORIGIN STORY-, the U-NEXT side story to the TBS drama VIVANT. She plays a nurse at the clinic Chinggis visits while carrying his younger sister Anu. Actor Eishin also joins as Bordo, a teacher at an orphanage run by Beki's organization Tent. The four episodes stream from September 20.
An unreleased extended trailer for VIVANT Season 2 can be viewed through a QR code on the drama's outdoor advertisements, according to Magmix. The one-minute-36-second trailer includes a scene at roughly the 41-second mark showing a photo of Adiel, a character who died in Season 1, on a monitor behind Shinshi head Fan Linxing. Fans now speculate Shinshi is pursuing Adiel or his daughter Jamin, and some ask whether Fan Linxing is Jamin's mother. The second half of Season 2, the Special Squad Recovery Operation, begins airing October 4, 2026.
Episode 18 of TBS's Sunday Theater drama VIVANT revealed the service history of Kumiko Tashiro, the Separate Squad member covering the Caucasus region, and brought a wave of reactions to off-shots posted by Layla Mada, who plays her. Mada also shared photos and video from the VIVANT Immersive Mission event space, where she was the first to sign the black signature board.
The TBS drama VIVANT gets an immersive event, VIVANT IMMERSIVE MISSION, running from September 16 to November 27, 2026 at CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO in Kyobashi. Visitors tour sets used in filming, including the Bukinist bookstore operations room, the Metropolitan Police Department Public Security Bureau Foreign Affairs Division 4, and the underground tent prison, while completing missions through the Auris app. An adjacent cafe serves items supervised by the production team.
Episode 18 of VIVANT's second season has Nogi Yusuke, played by Masato Sakai, working with his brother-in-law Nokoru, played by Kazunari Ninomiya, on a plan to rescue five abducted Bessatsu squad members held by the Chinese intelligence organization Shinshi. In the closing scene, Nokoru steps off a private jet at Garaman Airport beside Thai businessman Chokki Thepanit, and viewers flooded social media with reactions that his long hair was gone. A side angle shows the hair is tied back.
A four-episode side story about Chinggis, the elite Balka police officer from the TBS Sunday drama VIVANT, will stream on U-NEXT starting Sunday, September 20. Bokuzo Masana plays Akram, the orphanage principal, and Rena Matsui plays Naira, a teacher. The story covers Chinggis's orphanage childhood under Nogoon Beki, his first meeting with Beki, and why he became a police officer. Episodes run Sundays and Wednesday the 23rd at 9:00 PM.
On September 8, the official VIVANT social media account posted a video of Shunsuke Tanaka, 36, signing the TBS program logo monument. Tanaka plays Wakui Shunsaku, the Foreign Affairs Division 4 investigator revealed in Season 2 to commit domestic violence against his wife. Viewers responded to his off-screen appearance with surprise at how different he looks without glasses.
Kyoko Miyashita plays Han Linshin, head of the private intelligence organization Xinsi, in the second season of the TBS Sunday Theater drama VIVANT. She says she built the role to avoid a one-dimensional villain, and suggested the character's long braid herself before the costume fitting. She also describes the difficulty of performing lines in Chinese.
Producer Kazutaka Iida discussed the use of AI in the second season of "VIVANT," the TBS Sunday Theater drama, in remarks tied to Episode 17, which aired on September 6. Iida said the show's AI element, including the AI Hayato operated by the Self-Defense Forces unit Bekihan, has what he called a bigger aim than the era's inevitability or its function as an information organizer. That aim, he said, is making characters' emotions stand out more: the combination of the group's mechanical quality with AI heightens the inhuman atmosphere so that scenes of people feeling for others read as more human. In Episode 17, protagonist Nogi Yusuke, played by Masato Sakai, made a move applying AI technology. Iida also said Episode 17 drew more emotional comments on social media than the episodes up through Episode 16, and that he considers the episode the essence of the series.
Yuria Kizaki, a former member of SKE48 and AKB48, played the wife beaten by Public Security Bureau officer Wakui in the "boiled egg DV" scene of VIVANT Episode 17. Wakui, played by Shunsuke Tanaka, throws a hard-boiled egg at her and slaps her. After the episode aired, Kizaki posted a photo with Tanaka holding the rubber prop egg, and viewers said they had not recognized her.
VIVANT season 2 episode 17 made a talking point of the local field agent Tashiro, played by Leyla Mada, whose hijab-covered appearance and fluent Azerbaijani drew praise. Tashiro first appeared in episode 15 photographing public security officer Nozaki, played by Hiroshi Abe, during his undercover work against the Chinese intelligence organization Xinxi. In episode 17 she investigated a cafeteria owner near Shaki Castle in the Gorbad Republic. Mada has worked as a singer since 2013, with live shows in Taiwan, China and Macau.
TBS Sunday drama VIVANT introduced Elisha Mamadov, a scientist whose fusion power invention could reshape global energy. Played by Azerbaijani actor Manaf Dadashov, Elisha discarded his data and vanished rather than let one country monopolize the technology. Episode 16 showed him only in photographs, confined in an anechoic chamber.
Koki Maeda's brief role as a mercenary in VIVANT Season 2 episode 16 became a talking point after he delivered all his lines in Chinese. Director Yohei Miyazaki thanked him on SNS for attending every rehearsal with the mercenary group despite a lead role elsewhere, noting the casting was decided at the last minute. Maeda posted practice videos on September 3, drawing praise for his pronunciation, including from a Taiwanese viewer who said the Chinese was understandable without subtitles.
Episode 16 of VIVANT, broadcast August 30, brought back Ryu Minshuen, played by Masato Sakai in his triple role. Ryu was reported to have disappeared and died five years ago. He reappeared before Nozaki (Hiroshi Abe) as a member of the hostile organization Shinshi, and his confrontation scene with his former superior drew heavy attention on social media. Fans are split on whether Ryu returned as an enemy or an ally. The ally theory draws on the pair's history: Ryu disappeared after going on a reckless mission alone out of a desire to be recognized. Some read the opening line delivered with a slap as a message that Ryu knows all Nozaki's lies, and the confrontation itself as a performance to divert suspicion. Bolder theories propose a secret pact made five years ago to undermine Shinshi from within. Skeptics counter that a double agent has weak motivation to side with Nozaki at the cost of abandoning his homeland, and that the thrill of finishing off Nozaki with his own hands seems stronger. Director Miyazaki Yohei said comedian Shinya, who played a mercenary in the flashback, has a brother in the Balka police. Fans connect this to the unnamed officer Shinya played in Season 1 episodes 1 and 2.
The 16th episode of TBS's Sunday drama "VIVANT" aired on August 30, and it was revealed that lead actor Sakai Masato is playing a third role. Following protagonist Nogi Yusuke and his alternate personality F, Sakai now plays Liu Mingsheng, an agent with a face identical to Nogi's who once worked alongside Public Security's Nozaki (Abe Hiroshi) during intelligence activities in Beijing five years ago. Liu was reported dead after a solo undercover operation, but he reappears as a member of the mysterious organization Shinshi, bearing torture scars on his forehead. Liu loved Nozaki and knows his methods, putting Nozaki, who carries out double-agent activities, in a tight spot. The episode also confirmed that Chou Keishi, another agent from that time, was played by Mitsuomi Takahashi, who broke through in "GoGo Sentai Boukenger" and previously worked with director Katsuo Fukuzawa on "No Side Game" and "Shitamachi Rocket." Viewers reacted with shock on social media, with comments like "He was alive!" and "Gives me goosebumps." The episode 17 preview shows a decision to abandon the rescue of five Betsuban members, with Nogi stating, "If captured, I will end my life immediately." Episode 17 airs September 6 at 9 p.m.
Pattarapon Kantapot, the Thai actor who plays the tattooed agent Gern in the TBS drama VIVANT, posted on Instagram that fans tell him he resembles Tomoya Nagase and Kazuma Kiryu. He shared comparison photos and thanked fans in Japanese, drawing responses that agree he looks like both.
Kaito Sakurai, who played a young Yusuke Nogu in season one of the Sunday Theater drama VIVANT, is drawing renewed attention as calls grow for his return in the current second season. His profile has risen sharply since 2023 through lead roles including Aqua Hoshino in Oshi no Ko and Meguru Bachira in Blue Lock.
Ninomiya Kazunari, who plays Nokoru in VIVANT Season 2, spoke at the Sunday Theater VIVANT PREMIUM SUMMER PARTY event on August 23 at the National Yoyogi Stadium First Gymnasium before 11,000 fans. Asked whether his screen time was reduced from Season 1, he asked producer Iida Kazutaka directly, who confirmed Nokoru appears more in Season 2. Iida added that based on Ninomiya's social media posts and the number of times he has eaten Midoriyama's tantanmen, there is still more to come.
Gaku Hamada, the actor playing white-hat hacker Tojo Tojo in the TBS Sunday drama "VIVANT" Season 2, attended a one-day event on August 23 and said he was shocked by fan theories about his character. Speaking at the "Sunday Theater VIVANT PREMIUM SUMMER PARTY" at Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium, Hamada said viewers had speculated that because he is the actor, his character would not commit a large betrayal. He said he learned his own product value through that speculation. He added that as an actor he wants to betray the audience, and that the comment suggesting he would not do anything big was a shock. The event also featured cast members including Masato Sakai, Kazuya Ninomiya, Hiroshi Abe, and Ryusei Ryu. Episode 15 aired the same day, showing Tojo being interrogated by Nogi's alternate personality F, who slapped Tojo's cheeks with a fly swatter and warned him he would not be killed if he answered honestly. Tojo wet himself during the scene. Producer Kazutaka Iida called it the funniest episode of Season 2 so far.
Sumire Hanaoka, the new Blue Walker in season two of the drama VIVANT, posted off-shots on social media on August 19. The photos show her eating Betsupan red melon bread, viewing a shark specimen at a museum, and playing in a park. Fans reacted warmly, praising her relaxed vibe.
TBS will live-stream and archive the VIVANT PREMIUM SUMMER PARTY event from Yoyogi Stadium on August 23. Streaming tickets cost 3,000 yen and go on sale August 20. The event features 11 cast members, a big band performance, talk segments, and a mystery-solving activity. The archive will be available until September 6.
Pattarapon Kantapoj, who plays Thai agent Gern in TBS's drama VIVANT, revealed on Instagram a close-up of the tiger tattoo covering his back. The Japanese-style tattoos on Gern's body are Kantapoj's own. Fans reacted with comments like 'Super cool!' and wondered if the back tattoo will appear in the main story.
Takashi Yamanaka, who plays former Tent executive Ali Khan in the second season of TBS's Sunday drama VIVANT, opened a two-day pop-up curry shop in Kichijoji, Tokyo, on August 15 and 16, 2026. The shop, named Street Corner Chicken Curry with Iced Milk Tea, drew attention after Yamanaka posted photos on X and Instagram showing a poster of himself in a red turban and curled beard holding a ladle, which reminded fans of his VIVANT character. Yamanaka, a certified Curry Meister since 2016, has a history of curry-related projects, including a BS11 program where he created original curries. Fans who visited praised the curry's gentle flavor and noted long lines. Yamanaka hinted at a possible future reopening, suggesting the next event may draw even larger crowds.
The TBS drama VIVANT will bring back Chinggis, the Barca Republic police officer played by Barsarakhagva Batbold, in episode 15 airing August 23. It is his first full appearance in season 2, after a brief glimpse in episode 11. His return sets up a possible alliance or conflict with Nogii and Nozaki.
TBS drama VIVANT has collaborated with Kamakura confectioner Toshimaya on Hato Sabure cookies in collectible tins. Two versions, Ver.N and Ver.F, feature the show's characters alongside the brand's signature dove mascot. The tins are available at Toshimaya stores, the TBS Store Tokyo Station, and online for 1,944 yen each.
The official recap project "After VIVANT" for the TBS Sunday drama "VIVANT" released its Episode 13 segment on August 15, and producer Kazutaka Iida discussed the reactions to the revelation that Public Security officer Nozaki Mamoru (Hiroshi Abe) is the true traitor who captured the Separate Unit. In Episode 13, broadcast on August 9, Nogi Yusuke (Masato Sakai) secured custody of former Public Security officer Shinjo (Ryuto Dragon Star), who confessed after torture that he had not sold information on the five Separate Unit members. Producer Iida said the reactions on social media, from friends, and from family were "truly chaos, unlike anything before," and recalled letting out an "Ehhh!" when first reading the script. He also praised Ryuto's performance in the torture scene, noting his extraordinary determination on the filming day. Director Katsuo Fukuzawa had said before Season 1 production that Shinjo would be a key figure in the sequel, and Iida offered Ryuto the role. Meanwhile, the post-broadcast radio program "Villain Meeting Room" on TBS Radio and YouTube featured actor Takaya Sakata as Yamamoto, mimicking Nogi's scream "Nozaki-san ga!!" and being scolded by Wanzu (Yamato Kawachi), which drew laughter from fans.
Knights member Tsuchiya Nobuyuki, who studies at Nihon University College of Art, recreated the interrogation scene from 'VIVANT' Season 2 Episode 12 in a pencil drawing parody. The drawing, posted on Instagram, includes parody elements and has drawn high praise from fans for its quality and humor.
The media platform note has published its 2026 Summer Season Drama Ranking, based on the number of posts using the official prompts '#TVドラマ感想文' or '#ドラマ感想文' along with a program-name hashtag between July 1 and July 31, 2026. The list is led by 'T-Shirt ga Kawaku made' (TBS), an original work by screenwriter Ubukata Miyu, known for 'silent' and 'Umi no Hajimari.' It also drew attention because Aoi Yu starred in a terrestrial drama series for the first time in 18 years. Second place went to 'VIVANT' (TBS), a sequel for the first time in three years since the first season in 2023, which ranked despite only its first episode airing during the aggregation period. The Netflix original 'Gas Ningen' placed third, marking the second consecutive season that a streaming-originated work has broken into the top three, following 'Kyujo no Taizai' in the spring season. The rest of the top 10 includes 'Sayonara Noir,' 'Last Note,' 'Ichijigen no Sashiki,' 'Kokuhaku -25-nenme no Himitsu-,' 'Kimi no Suki wa Muteki,' 'My Fiction,' and 'GTO.'
Ai Iinuma, who played Blue Walker in the first season of 'VIVANT,' posted Instagram photos from a shoot for Monthly Basketball magazine. She left Tanabe Agency in March 2026 and joined TSUKIMI Inc. in April. Her departure from the 'VIVANT' sequel was announced in October 2025, with Sumire Hanaoka taking over the role.
VIVANT producer Kazutaka Iida revealed that actor Yutaka Yamanaka, who plays Ali, continued his furious performance well beyond what aired in episode 12. Iida said the cut footage may surface somewhere, hinting at possible release of extended material from the interrogation scene.
TBS has announced a special collaboration between the Sunday drama "VIVANT" and the morning information program "THE TIME,". Starting August 7, cast members will appear live on the show every Friday. The first guest is Takashi Yamanaka, who plays Ali, a former Japan division executive of the international terrorist organization Tent. Ali fled to Venezuela with his family in the first season and reappeared in episode 12, where he helped protagonist Nogi in Cyprus. The program will feature exclusive advance footage of the drama every Friday, and on Mondays it will broadcast a portion of the making-of series "VIVANT-Adventure Log-" from TVer. Lead actor Masato Sakai and Hiroshi Abe, who plays Osamu Nozaki, will appear on Fridays only for the "Shimaenaga-chan Time Signal" segment. During August, a stamp rally will let viewers enter to win prizes including autographed goods. The collaboration runs alongside the drama's second season, which airs Sundays at 9 p.m.
The child actor playing Jamaine in the second season of TBS's Sunday Theater drama VIVANT has been identified as Honma Sae, a current first-year middle school student. Honma replaces Mongolian child actor Nandin Erdene Khongorzul, who played the role in the first season. The change drew viewer comments, with some noting that since Jamaine now lives in Japan, it might have been difficult for a Mongolian actor to continue, and others accepting it as a common occurrence with child actors. Honma previously appeared in a 2020 Asahi Beverages Koime no Calpis commercial, playing Nagasawa Masami at age 5. In the ad, she pouts and says, "No! I want it stronger!" while pouring Calpis concentrate into a glass. The commercial aired from March 2020, and Honma was selected through audition at age 6. Viewers who recognized her commented, "Is she the kid from the Calpis CM?" and "She's that cute kid who played Nagasawa Masami's childhood; she's grown up." Jamaine is a girl from the Republic of Balka who helped protagonist Nogi Yusuke in the previous season and now lives at his house with doctor Yuki Kaoru. The role change was announced as part of the season 2 cast updates, which also included replacing the character Ota Riho with a different actor.
The mystery tattooed man who appears in episode 12 of TBS Sunday Theater's "VIVANT" is played by Thai actor Pattarapol Kantapoj, who turned 40 this year. The episode, which aired August 2, shows protagonist Yusuke Nogi, played by Masato Sakai, arriving in Bangkok with Drum, played by Tomiei Dora, to pursue Kohtaro Shinjo, the detective suspected of masterminding the abduction of Separate Unit members. While Nogi waits at a restaurant for a new Separate Unit member to join, the tattooed man catches his eye. The official program social media posted a scene cut after broadcast with the caption about a mysterious man glaring at Nogi in a Thai restaurant, suggesting the character's importance. Viewers noted Kantapoj's resemblance to former TOKIO member Tomoya Nagase, and comments on his Instagram suggest the tattoos are his own rather than makeup. His pinned September 2025 pool photo includes Thai text about adding more tattoos, with hashtags referencing Japanese-style tattooing, which fits the show's line that tattoos are part of fashion in Thailand.
A new traitor theory has emerged for the TBS Sunday drama "VIVANT" after its 12th episode aired on August 2. The episode showed a change in the home of white-hat hacker Shota Tojo, played by Gaku Hamada. In Season 1, Tojo's room was filled with merchandise from Tsuburaya Productions' "Ultraman" series, and a poster for the 1999 film "Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna & Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace" appeared, a movie in which Hamada acted as a child. In Season 2, that merchandise is gone, replaced by posters and figures of the classic pro wrestling manga "Tiger Mask." The manga's protagonist, Naoto Date, donates his prize money to an orphanage anonymously, a practice viewers note resembles the ideology of the terrorist organization Tent, led by Nogoon Beki. On social media, fans speculate that Tojo may sympathize with Tent or is on its side, making the room change foreshadowing that he is the traitor. The next episode, Episode 13, is previewed to reveal the "biggest traitor."
The 12th episode of TBS's Sunday Theater drama "VIVANT" aired on August 2, revealing the identity of the new Betsuban member who appears before protagonist Yugo Nogi. The character is Toshihiko Nagano, the managing director of Marubishi Shoji where Nogi works, played by Fumiyo Kohinata. Nagano had been suspected of being a Betsuban member since season one, with theories about a two-year blank period in his history. Viewers reacted with shock on social media, with comments like "The managing director, really?" and "No way, Nagano-san..." The episode also introduced a mysterious tattooed man played by Thai actor Pattarapol Kantapoj, who appeared for only a few seconds in the final scene. When Nogi's alternate personality "F" points him out, the man glares back, but F denies he is the contact. Nogi notes that tattoos are fashion in Thailand, and the man's identity remains unrevealed. The episode also featured the first appearance of Chokky Thepanit, a monitor for the terrorist organization Tent, played by Thai actor Tanapak Jongjaiphar, whose quirky character drew reactions like "too quirky" and "too intense I trembled."
Bandai Spirits announced the prize lineup for the first Ichiban Kuji based on the TBS Sunday drama VIVANT on July 24, 2026. The lottery-style merchandise set includes 49 prizes across nine grades plus one Last One prize, with items ranging from a Bepan Manju cushion to a Nogi family crest display and an adventure acrylic stand. The A prize is a soft cushion modeled after the key in-show item Bepan Manju, available in two versions: one with the Bepan lettering and one with the Nogi family crest. The B prize is a Nogi family crest display, and the C prize is a large acrylic stand featuring protagonist Nogi Yusuke, marking the first VIVANT product to depict his likeness. Other prizes include bath towels, desktop figures, small plates, hand towels, acrylic assortments, and clear files with stickers. The Last One prize is a large-scale figure of the VIVANT logo. Each Ichiban Kuji draw costs 790 yen. Sales begin sequentially at FamilyMart, bookstores, and hobby shops from August 1, 2026, with online sales starting August 3. Fans on social media expressed strong interest in the Bepan Manju cushion, while some noted the absence of prizes for the character Nozaki, played by Abe Hiroshi.
Masato Sakai, star of TBS's Sunday Theater drama "VIVANT," appeared at a Season 1 special edition screening event on July 25 at Tokyo International Forum Hall A alongside producer Kazutaka Iida and director Yohei Miyazaki. The event preceded the Season 2 premiere, which aired on July 26 at 9 p.m. as Episode 11. Sakai, who had viewed an almost-complete version of the episode, called it "interesting" and said viewers would be drawn in and unable to stop, advising them to prepare everything around them before watching. The episode opens immediately after the Season 1 finale, with protagonist Yusuke Nogi returning from missions against the terrorist organization Tent and spotting a red bun at a shrine, signaling an emergency summons from the Betsuban intelligence unit. The premiere revealed that five Betsuban members have been abducted, including Shun Kurosu played by Tori Matsuzaka, prompting Nogi to travel to Balka and Cyprus. The episode also introduced surprise guest appearances: game creator Hideo Kojima appeared as a photo of Superintendent General Ken Watanuki, and voice actress Minami Takayama voices the new supercomputer AI Hayato. Voice actors Natsuki Hanae and Akari Kito appeared as news anchors, and judoka Natsumi Tsunoda appeared in an airport scene. Takayama, known for voicing Conan Edogawa in "Detective Conan," said she focused on clarity and ease of understanding for the AI role. Director Miyazaki stated the team aims to deliver a work that meets audience expectations.
TBS announced that free streaming views of the first season of the drama "VIVANT" have exceeded 11 million, and TVer favorites have surpassed 2.2 million as of July 23, setting a record for the highest figure among TBS's past serial dramas. The second season, starring Masato Sakai, begins airing on July 26 at 9 p.m. in the Sunday Theater slot and will run for two consecutive cours. The first episode picks up immediately after the first season's final scene, with protagonist Yusuke Nogi responding to an emergency summons from the separate unit. To commemorate the broadcast, Oyatsu Company will release two limited-edition Baby Star Dodekai Ramen flavors inspired by the series starting August 10, and BANDAI SPIRITS will launch an Ichiban Kuji lottery with 49 prize types on August 1. The lottery includes items such as a Betsuhan Manju cushion, a Nogi family crest display, and an acrylic stand featuring Nogi's portrait for the first time as official merchandise.
The second season of the TBS drama VIVANT premieres July 26, retaining its full cast and adding large-scale location shooting in Azerbaijan. Two consecutive cours have been ordered. The article reviews unresolved mysteries from season one, including the fate of terrorist leader Nogon Beki, the true nature of Nozaki, the identity of the alternate personality 'F', and Kaoru Yuki's past.
The spin-off drama "Drum: VIVANT THE ORIGIN STORY" has announced Rei Maruyama, Kumi Goshiro, and Takuro Nagata join the cast. Maruyama plays teacher Marsha, Goshiro plays mother Amira, and Nagata plays servant Nabil. The four-episode series is distributed on U-NEXT starting July 12, with Season 2 of the main series beginning July 26.