The Chinese state broadcaster CCTV and the global newspaper Global Times have criticized the second season of the Japanese TV drama VIVANT, which portrays a Chinese secret intelligence organization subjecting Japanese civilians to torture. The drama, starring Katori Shingo and Kôsei Abe, has been accused of depicting China as a threat and propagating "China threat theory." TBS TV chief president Ryōhei Takeda responded by stating that the show is purely fictional and has no intention of vilifying any specific country, but added that they will investigate whether the portrayal of violent scenes is distressing to viewers. CCTV also criticized the drama for portraying contemporary China as a hypothetical enemy, deliberately creating conflicts, and distorting Chinese soldiers' images. Meanwhile, character traits of Japanese military forces in the 1930s and 1940s were presented as the Chinese army's perspective.
VIVANT's controversial content has extended to affect its commercial partnerships. Oriental Characters Shanghai announced it would halt the related collaboration. The Japan headquarters further stated that they received various opinions regarding the affiliate merchandise and deeply apologized for causing any concerns. The company decided to terminate all related collaborations, subsequent projects, and promotional activities due to content that does not align with their corporate values. Furthermore, they will enhance the review mechanism for future affiliate plans. The VIVANT series, which first aired in 2023, focuses on the covert operations of a secret Japanese Self-Defense Force squad, chronicling their infiltration into terrorist organizations and overseas missions.
The criticism from Chinese media and the backlash from corporate partners have underscored the sensitivity of the subject matter in the drama, especially given its portrayal of historical events and characters. TBS has acknowledged the need to balance storytelling with viewer sensitivity and respect for international relations. As this case highlights, cultural and historical depictions in media can spark significant reactions across different geographical and cultural contexts.