TOKYO: The hit Japanese television drama Vivant has unexpectedly found itself at the center of a geopolitical firestorm, drawing fierce criticism and condemnation from the Chinese government.
The popular thriller—often described as a cross between 24 and Homeland—follows Japanese intelligence operatives protecting their country from overseas threats. However, its expansion into featuring fictional Chinese agents has sparked sharp rebukes from Beijing as bilateral tensions continue to simmer.
The controversy centers on the show’s narrative choices, particularly regarding its antagonists:
-
The “Xinxi” Agency: In its second season, which premiered in July, the series introduces a fictional Chinese intelligence agency named “Xinxi” as a central adversary. Recent episodes feature intense plotlines, including scenes of Chinese agents torturing Japanese operatives. (By contrast, the first season left the primary enemy state unnamed.)
During a news conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun slammed the series, stating: “This television series once again reveals that there is a force in Japan that attempts to use cultural products to smear China and spread anti-China sentiment.”
In response to the mounting pressure from Beijing, the creators of Vivant have firmly defended their work, maintaining that the series is a piece of entertainment and is “completely fictional.”
Broader Geopolitical Tensions
The diplomatic spat over the television drama does not exist in a vacuum. Beijing’s public criticism of Vivant comes amid a wider, multifaceted pressure campaign by China against Japan. Relations have remained strained following comments made last year by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested that Tokyo could intervene militarily if China were to launch an attack on self-governed Taiwan.
In the wake of those remarks, Beijing has targeted various sectors of Japanese exchange and commerce—spanning critical minerals, tourism, seafood, pandas, and now, popular culture.
Leave a Reply