VIVANT's Ari actor compares the series to a weekly manga

Takashi Yamanaka, the actor who plays Ari in VIVANT, sat down for an interview published by TBS on October 3. In it, he reflects on his role as one of the operatives of Tent, the international terrorist organization at the center of the Sunday dorama's plot, and shares some behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

The actor describes Ari as a kind of accountant within the organization. He isn't one to charge ahead on missions; instead, he stays behind to protect the rear guard. "He's a guardian who supports everyone from behind," he explains. In his reading, the character has recovered part of his identity after being accepted by Nokor, Tent's new leader.

The challenge of acting in Thai

One of the most striking aspects of the interview is his work with languages. Yamanaka had to perform several scenes in Thai, a language he had never spoken. He requested as many lessons as possible and admits the first day was a disaster: the supervising teacher told him he couldn't understand a word he was saying.

The actor compares the difficulty to what he faced when studying Chinese, which has four tones. "When I found out Thai has five, I thought: 'Five!?'" he recalls with a laugh. After plenty of repetition, the teacher eventually told him he sounded like a real Thai speaker. Even so, he confesses he was very nervous on set.

During scenes with Thai actors, he couldn't follow everything. He relied on emotion and the rhythm of the conversation. "I didn't understand the words, but I understood the feelings," he says. Noticing when the anger rose and fell was enough for him to know when to jump in.

An anecdote in Azerbaijan

The interview also offers a curious moment from his trip to Azerbaijan. While sightseeing on his own, he got into a taxi and the driver became furious over how he closed the door. "I thought: 'How scary,'" he admits. But everything changed when he said he was from Japan.

Upon hearing "Japan," the driver's attitude completely shifted. He told him how much he loved the country and became extremely friendly. When he got out, the driver even came around to open the rear door for him. Yamanaka was surprised by the turnaround, but also proud of the image Japan has there.

The excitement of the fans

On the show's reception, the actor highlights the energy of the viewers. He says people stop him on the street to tell him they're watching, and he can genuinely feel how eager they are to know what happens next. He's even shaken hands with fans who squeeze with unexpected force. "Ah, this is serious," he thought.

For Yamanaka, the great appeal of VIVANT is that it awakens a sense of adventure. It reminds him of being a kid and waiting every week for the next chapter of his favorite manga. "It ends here? I can't wait until next week!" was the feeling. He believes the series manages to bring that thrill back to adults.

Episode 19 leaves Ari guarding the Balca base while the rest head out on a rescue mission. He himself jokes about being on guard duty, but warns: in VIVANT, you can never let your guard down. "Will Ari really be able to protect it?" he wonders. And he makes it clear that what's coming will have an even more adventurous tone.