Masato Sakai Spotted in Central Nihonbashi as Filming Begins for VIVANT Sequel

Filming has finally begun!

On a Sunday morning in late June, a large group of filming staff gathered in the heart of Nihonbashi (Chuo Ward, Tokyo), right in front of Mitsukoshi. Holding scripts and having detailed discussions, they moved with purpose. At the center stood a man in a white dress shirt and necktie—actor Masato Sakai (51).

On June 11, it was officially announced that the sequel to TBS’s Sunday drama VIVANT, which originally aired in July 2023, would broadcast in 2026.

“VIVANT is an original drama created by Katsuo Fukuzawa (61), known for directing the Hanzawa Naoki series. The project garnered attention for reuniting him with Sakai. ‘VIVANT’ refers to Beppan, a secret government agency that conducts espionage both domestically and internationally. The series follows the adventures of the protagonist Yusuke Nogi, played by Sakai, as he operates between Mongolia and Japan,”

explained a TV journalist.

“While the typical production budget for a primetime drama episode ranges from 30 to 50 million yen, VIVANT cost about 100 million yen per episode. Its cinematic scale and powerful visuals were unprecedented for terrestrial TV. The show was a massive success, achieving an average household rating of 14.5% (Kanto region, Video Research data).”

In the sequel, Sakai and Fukuzawa team up once again, with the story beginning right after the final scene of the first series. That finale showed the resolution of a major incident, followed by Nogi reuniting at Kanda Myojin Shrine (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo) with his lover Kaoru Yuzuki (played by Fumi Nikaido, 30) and Jamine (a Mongolian child actor), an orphan. As they embraced, Nogi spotted a “Beppan Manju”—a symbol of his next mission—placed nearby.

On the day of filming, Sakai reviewed the script with staff in detail before cameras rolled. The scene featured Nogi briskly walking through Nihonbashi while being tailed by a man in a suit. Suddenly, Nogi blends into the crowd and disappears. The tailing man then shouts into his radio, “I’ve lost him!”

Where did Nogi go? Although the sequel won’t air until next year, anticipation is already building.

“FRIDAY Digital” welcomes tips and information from readers. Please send your insights via the submission form below or through the official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Information form: https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/tips
Official X: https://x.com/FRIDAY_twit