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Drama / VIVANT /
VIVANT (2023)
OverviewMediaEpisodesReviewsNewsOshi Spots
| Country | Japan |
| Season Year | Summer 2023 |
| Air Dates | Jul 16, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023 |
| Episodes | 10 |
| Runtime | 54 |
| Timeslot | Sunday at 9:00 pm |
| Network(s) | TBS |
| Affiliate Link(s) | Buy from CDJapan |
Native Title VIVANT
Alternate Title(s) ヴィヴァン
Synopsis
Pre-release Synopsis: “VIVANT” is a TV drama scheduled to broadcast on TBS starting July 2023. The main character will be portrayed by Sakai Masato.
This drama is an original written by Fukuzawa Katsuo, who directed “Hanzawa Naoki.” The storyline will not be revealed until the first episode airs.
Sakai, Abe Hiroshi, and Matsuzaka Tori will be co-starring for the first time together in this drama.
“VIVANT” means “alive” in French.
Actual Synopsis:
Nogi Yusuke is a bumbling businessman that works at an elite company, Marubishi Corporation. One day he is involved in an erroneous money transfer to a business partner, Ali, in Balka (located in Central Asia) related to a solar power business contract. He’s unable to contact Ali and is forced by his company to head to Balka to recover the misdirected funds within a month before the books close.
A series of unfortunate events happen as Nogi tries to solve this issue. He meets a cast of characters which involve a doctor from the WHI, a Public Security officer from Japan, and a mysterious organization called TENT.
Will Nogi recover the misdirected funds or will he get involved in a vortex of global proportions?
Cast
- Sakai Masato as Nogi Yusuke
- Lead Role
- Abe Hiroshi as Nozaki Mamoru
- Support Role
- Nikaido Fumi as Yuzuki Kaoru
- Support Role
- Matsuzaka Tori as Kurosu Shun
- Support Role
- Yakusho Koji as Nogon Beki
- Support Role
- Ninomiya Kazunari
- Support Role
- Tomisakae as Drum
- Support Role
- Hayashibara Megumi
- Support Role
- Drum's Voice
- Ryusei Ryo as Shinjo Kotaro
- Support Role
- Sakoda Takaya as Yamamoto Takumi
- Support Role
- Iinuma Ai as Ohta Riho
- Support Role
- Yamanaka Takashi as Ali Khan
- Support Role
- Watanabe Kunito as Kawai Koji
- Support Role
- Furuya Robin as Mizugami Ryo
- Support Role
- Marin as Iria Saihan
- Support Role
- Mizutani Kaho
- Support Role
- Hayashi Kento
- Support Role
- Takanashi Rin
- Support Role
- Hashimoto Satoshi as Hara Tomohiko
- Support Role
- Kohinata Fumiyo as Nagano Toshihiko
- Support Role
- Batbold Barslkhagva as Genghis
- Support Role
- Martin Starr as Sam
- Support Role
- Kochi Yamato
- Support Role
- Baba Toru
- Support Role
- Uchino Kenta
- Support Role
- Sakurai Kaito
- Support Role
- Inoue Jun
- Support Role
- Hayashi Yasufumi
- Support Role
- Yoshihara Mitsuo
- Support Role
- Uchimura Haruka
- Support Role
- Inoue Hajime
- Support Role
- Ichikawa Enya II as Usami Tetsuya
- Support Role
- Ichikawa Emisaburo
- Support Role
- Hirayama Yusuke
- Support Role
- Tamaki Ryo
- Support Role
- Nishiyama Jun
- Support Role
- Dan Rei
- Support Role
- Hamada Gaku
- Support Role
- Bando Yajuro
- Support Role
- Kimura Midoriko as Commander
- Support Role
Crew
- Fukuzawa Katsuo
- Director, Screenwriter
- Iida Kazutaka
- Producer
Music
Theme Song 1
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Theme Song 2
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(,,#ﾟДﾟ) Nothing found!
Theme Song 3
(,,#ﾟДﾟ) Nothing found!
(,,#ﾟДﾟ) Nothing found!
Promotional images, screencaps, .gifs, etc.
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Episode 1 - July 16, 2023 (90)
- English Title: A Great Adventure from Japan Springs Into the World!
- Native Title: 日本から世界へ翔る大冒険が始まる!
- Synopsis:
Nogi (Sakai Masato) of Marubishi Corporation goes to the Republic of Balka to recover 13 billion yen that was mistakenly transferred. Mistaken for a bomber, Nogi meets Nozaki (Abe Hiroshi), a Public Security police officer, and Kaoru (Nikaido Fumi), a doctor.
- Notes:
- [spoiler]Marubishi [/spoiler]Corporation: While Marubishi Corporation is a fictitious company, its logo looks suspiciously similar to Mitsubishi Corporation, which is Japan's largest trading company and has business segments from banking, energy to chemicals and food.
- Energy infrastructure of Japanese companies in Central Asia: Interestingly, Mongolia's first solar farm was also won by a Japan-led bid', so the basis for this story isn't too far from reality.
- Ringisho: For the folks who are unfamiliar with Japanese corporate culture, Nogi is attaching a ringisho with the relevant management approvals to his overseas remittance application of US$10 million to FL. A ringisho is meant to reflect the consensus building within the organization by getting the relevant stakeholders to review and approve the contents of the approval paper.
- Balka: This is a fictitious country created for the sake of this drama. The people of Balka speak the Mongolian language, and on VIVANT's world map, Balka lies on the borders of Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and China. As Balka is a fictitious nation, VIVANT is filmed at various sites in Mongolia and the characters appear to speak the Mongolian language. Nogi is seen walking in Sukhbaatar Square, which is the central square of Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar.
- World Health Institute: Kaoru works as a doctor in the fictitious World Health Institution, which is probably based on the World Health Organization, given the similarities in their logos.
- Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: The organization chart for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, or TMPD for short, is shown below. In the drama, it is also referred to as the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
- Public Security Bureau, Foreign Affairs Section: The Public Security Bureau (PSB) is a bureau under the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Nozaki Mamoru (played by Abe Hiroshi), is a superintendent at the PSB's Foreign Affairs Department, Fourth Section. In real life, that section would deal with international terrorism and extremist organizations in the Middle East'. Nozaki's first name is "Mamoru*, which means "to protect". A fitting name for a police officer, yes?
Episode 2 - July 23, 2023 (68)
- Native Title: 裏切りと別れ…明かされるヴィヴァンの意味
- Synopsis:
たどり着いた日本大使館で、「VIVANT」の謎に気づき驚愕する乃木（堺雅人）と野崎（阿部寛）、薫（二階堂ふみ）。「VIVANT」をめぐる物語が遂に動き出す…。
- Notes:
- Sleeper agent: A sleeper agent is someone who is unofficially employed by an intelligence service and living as an ordinary citizen in a foreign country. They act only when a hostile situation develops. Contrary to what Nozaki is suggesting, it sounds like "Monitors" are local citizens in a country who have been radicalized for extremist causes.
- Sekihan (red bean rice): Sekihan (赤飯) translates to "red rice" in Japanese as the glutinous rice is tinted with an attractive shade of red hue from cooking with Azuki beans (red beans). The red color of the rice symbolizes happiness and prosperity. It's a traditional dish served on many happy and celebratory occasions, such as New Year, birthdays, festivals, and weddings. Toraya^ is a Japanese confectionary maker that dates back to the 16th century. As they use the same Azuki beans from the confectionaries in their sekihan, their sekihan has a lovely fragrance of red beans.
- Tetralogy of Fallot: Tetralogy of Fallot is a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart. This heart defect can cause oxygen in the blood that flows to the rest of the body to be reduced. Infants with tetralogy of Fallot can have a bluish-looking skin color - called cyanosis - because their blood doesn't carry enough oxygen.
- Japan's Self-Defense Forces (JSDF): The JSDF, or SD, are the unified military forces of Japan.
- BEPPAN: According to The Asahi Shimbun Globe+ who spoke to a former government official, the organization BEPPAN does exist. While BEPPAN was portrayed to be a foreign intelligence gathering service similar to the CIA in VIVANT, Asahi Shimbun's source said that BEPPAN is actually closer to a domestic intelligence and security service like the FBI. It is also true that BEPPAN would cooperate with the Public Security Bureau (PSB). However, as there were Aum Shinrikyo believers amongst the JSDF, relationships soured between BEPPAN and PSB. To this day, it is said that the PSB distrusts BEPPAN. Like in the drama, BEPPAN members would infiltrate different organizations in society under a cover. As they need to defend Japan against foreign threats, they are required to have language skills and also graduated from the JGSDF Kodaira School. The members are now educated at the JGSDF Military Intelligence School in the fundamentals of intelligence warfare, Russian, Chinese and Korean languages.
Episode 3 - July 30, 2023 (58)
- Native Title: 誤送金完結へ！絶体絶命の反撃開始
- Synopsis:
薫（二階堂ふみ）の姿が消えていることに気づかず、死の砂漠を進んでいく乃木（堺雅人）たち一行は…。さらに、１３０億円の誤送金を引き起こした人物がついに正体を現す！
- Notes:
- Episode 3 doesn't have much in terms of notes, but you see Nogi subtly glancing at a spot underneath a tree during his shrine visit. He's actually looking out for a signal (red manju) from his BEPPAN handler, Sakurai.
- Such communication tactics are commonly used in intelligence operations. Jack Barsky, a former sleeper agent of the KGB who spied on the US, also described a similar tactic in his book.
- When Nogi and Nozaki meet with the cyber defense specialist Tojo in Tsukishima, they're eating this unattractive liquid-y dish. It's called monjayaki, which is a less photogenic cousin of its Kansai counterpart, okonomiyaki. More about monjayaki: https://tokyocheapo.com/food-and-drink/tsukishima-monja-street/
Episode 4 - August 6, 2023 (46)
- Native Title: 誤送金編完結!裏切り者は許さない!
- Synopsis:
乃木（堺雅人）たちは誤送金を仕組んだのが財務の太田（飯沼愛）だと突き止め、野崎（阿部寛）ら公安は太田の自宅へ急行するが…誰も予想できない衝撃の展開が待ち受ける！
- Notes:
- Rakugo and Kokontei Shinsho V: When the MPD searched the house of hacker Ohta Riho, Nozaki found a stack of CDs featuring Kokontei Shinsho V's rakugo classics. Kokontei Shinsho V is a rakugo storyteller who was active from 1910 to 1973. Rakugo is the traditional art of Japanese storytelling, where the rakugo performer sits on a raised platform and tells a comical story with the use of limited props. Rakugo is featured in Japanese dramas such as "Tiger and Dragon" and "Akamedaka."
- Hokora: A hokora is a miniature Shinto shrine found on the precincts of a larger shrine and dedicated to deities not under the jurisdiction of any large shrine. Again in Episode 4, we see Nogi glancing at the hokora beneath this tree to see if his handler had left him a message disguised as an offering to the gods.
- [spoiler]Truth serum: In this scene, BEPPAN agent Kurosu injects truth serum into Yamamoto. Truth serum is a colloquial name for a group of psychoactive drugs used in an effort to obtain information from suspects who are unable or unwilling to provide it. While truth serums have been researched for their effectiveness in obtaining intelligence from a subject, it is unclear whether a reliable truth drug exists[/spoiler]
Episode 5 - August 13, 2023 (59)
- Native Title: ヴィヴァンの真実…明かされる運命の絆
- Synopsis:
乃木（堺雅人）は次の目的のため、ある人物の元を訪れる。一方、山本（迫田孝也）の死に違和感を抱いた野崎（阿部寛）が乃木を徹底的に調べると、衝撃の過去が明らかに…。
Episode 6 - August 20, 2023 (46)
- Native Title: 愛する父は悪魔か!? F誕生の秘密…
- Synopsis:
“テント”のリーダーであるノゴーン・ベキ（役所広司）が生き別れた父だと確信し、探す乃木（堺雅人）。果たして“テント”の実体とは？さらに、Fの秘密が明かされる！
Episode 7 - August 27, 2023 (45)
- Native Title: 宿命の兄弟の対峙!!そして…
- Synopsis:
乃木（堺雅人）たち“別班”が徐々に“テント”へ近付いていく中、乃木を徹底的にマークする野崎（阿部寛）たち公安。“テント”の真相を暴き、日本を守るのはどちらか—。
Episode 8 - September 3, 2023 (45)
- Native Title: 真実への序章…父と二人の息子の宿命
- Synopsis:
乃木（堺雅人）は“別班”を裏切り、４０年越しに父・ベキ（役所広司）との再会を果たす。乃木、ベキ、“テント”幹部のノコル（二宮和也）、それぞれの想いが絡み合い…。
Episode 9 - September 10, 2023 (66)
- Native Title: 激動の最終回前SP〜真実への反撃開始!
- Synopsis:
父・ベキ（役所広司）のもと“宿命の兄弟”乃木（堺雅人）とノコル（二宮和也）は協力体制を敷くことに。そして、ベキの壮絶な過去と、“テント”の真の目的が明かされる！
Episode 10 - September 17, 2023 (67)
- Native Title: 40年の宿命が完結!選ぶのは父か日本か?
- Synopsis:
過酷な運命を乗り越えた乃木（堺雅人）、ノコル（二宮和也）、ベキ（役所広司）たち親子の宿命の物語の結末は―。愛を探す冒険の果てに、それぞれの想いが集結する！
20 Reviews for VIVANT
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tuturuSeptember 22, 2023tuturu’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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Senpai KanaSeptember 14, 2023SenpaiKana’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful? -
JiaYSeptember 23, 2023pgycjk’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful? -
Dubgee2002November 21, 2023dubgee2002’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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AnnaApril 21, 2024annasvensson91’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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zundamochiDecember 18, 2023zundamochi’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful? -
YuefromBlueGablesOctober 31, 2023YuefromBlueGables’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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sandreenJuly 22, 2023sandreen’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful? -
ranforestAugust 5, 2023ranforest’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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QueenieOctober 27, 2023possumroyalty’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful? -
monskiAugust 31, 2023monski’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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ArnoOctober 27, 2023minispace’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful? -
jschocoJune 30, 2024jschoco’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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chihayadayoSeptember 24, 2023chihayadayo’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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KaiApril 3, 2024Kaichan’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful? -
IsmskiJanuary 27, 2024Ismski’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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IncuboNovember 14, 2023Incubo’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful? -
tekkichanDecember 11, 2023tekkichan’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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IamFishDecember 21, 2023IamFish’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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BryantMay 6, 2024bluk’s review – VIVANTIs this helpful?
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