Chinese government outlets, state media and online opinion have escalated their criticism of the second season of "VIVANT," TBS's Sunday-night drama. A Chinese expert quoted in the Japanese press warned that Beijing is hardening its stance while the Japanese side, TBS first among them, has been slow to defend itself.
The criticism may intensify around two broadcasts: the drama's final episode, scheduled for November 8, and, less expectedly, NHK's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" on December 31, Japan's year-end televised song contest.
How the backlash began
China Central Television's news account, CCTV News, published the first criticism of the drama's second season in a commentary distributed on October 25. A Hello Kitty collaboration with "VIVANT" drew the next attack, in an article carried by the Global Times, which is published under the People's Daily, the Communist Party's official newspaper.
The campaign has spread beyond one drama. Pokémon and My Hero Academia have also been drawn into the dispute, according to the report.
"VIVANT" has been a talking point in Japan partly for its cast. Playing Doram, an investigator in the Metropolitan Police Department's public security bureau who handles every request made by the detective Nozaki (Hiroshi Abe), is Tomisakae Doram, 31, a newcomer who has drawn attention alongside the drama's established stars.
His character is a local fixer in the fictional Republic of Balka, which borders Mongolia. Doram scouts ahead, arranges cars and procures food to help Nozaki get the protagonist, Nogi (Masato Sakai), out of the country.