Alice in Borderland’s Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya Discuss Season 3

Netflix is returning to the mysterious and deadly Borderland with the third season of its hit Japanese sci-fi series, Alice in Borderland, debuting on the platform on Sept. 25.

The series, a live-action adaptation of Haro Aso’s popular manga of the same name, is by some distance Netflix’s most-watched Japanese title of all time, scoring over 200 million viewing hours in four weeks following the debut of its second season in December 2022, according to figures provided by the streamer. Alice in Borderland also landed in Netflix’s coveted Top 10 lists in over 90 countries, proving that the show has found an audience beyond Japan, and has tapped into the seemingly insatiable global demand for content adapted from manga as well as shows built around so-called ‘death games.’

In a telling sign of the importance of the show for Netflix Japan, the streamer held launch events for Alice in Borderland‘s third season in Tokyo earlier this month, that included a pop-up shop filled with merch and interactive games as well as a lavish premiere-like event (although no footage was screened) where attendees could listen to a live Q&A with the cast of season three. Guests included the usual mix of fans and journalists, as well as influencers such Kawaiii Coco and, randomly, AEW wrestling superstar Kenny Omega. After a brief chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Omega, who has strong ties to Japan and speaks fluent Japanese, revealed that Alice in Borderland was his favorite show.

Fans will be pleased to know that returning to helm and co-write season three of Alice in Borderland is Shinsuke Sato. Also returning are the two leads of the show, Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya, who play Arisu and Usagi, respectively, but several new castmembers who were introduced at the Tokyo launch event. Filling out the cast are Hayato Isomura, Ayaka Miyoshi, Katsuya Maiguma, Koji Ohkura, Risa Sudou, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Tina Tamashiro, Kotaro Daigo, Hyunri, Sakura Kiryu, Yugo Mikawa, Joey Iwanaga, Akana Ikeda and Kento Kaku.

Per the logline, season three of Alice in Borderland picks up the action after Usagi and Arisu manage to “escape” parallel Tokyo to wake up in a hospital and then slowly discover that they were survivors of a devastating meteor strike on Shibuya. Crucially, they have no memories of Borderland or the games. The logline reads, “After Usagi is abducted and left unconscious by a mysterious scholar obsessed with the afterlife, Arisu returns to the perilous “Borderland” to save her. Teaming up with new players, they must face the yet-unseen “Joker” stage in a desperate bid to find a way back to their original world.”

Ahead of the Tokyo launch event, THR sat down with Yamazaki and Tsuchiya to discuss the increasing global popularity of the show, returning for a radically different season of Alice in Borderland and how they dealt with the intense trauma that is such a theme of the series.

Let’s begin with a question about the global response to Alice in Borderland. It’s become a bit of a phenomenon, and outside of Japan are watching it. What are your thoughts on the global success of the show?

Kento Yamazaki: I was surprised at the beginning, but, I’m of course elated that the global fans have embraced this show. It also true that even from season one, we had this resolve to create something for the global audience. So I’m so happy that [this passion] has continued up to season three.

Tao Tsuchiya: I don’t have words on how moving it is [that the show is popular globally]. I think in Borderland, you can kind of see [the themes] in your own society, or your school, or even our world of acting. Survival is part of our lives and I think in that way the show is universal, and I think that’s why the global audience responded.

The show itself is quite traumatic, there’s a lot of deep trauma for all the characters, and quite a lot of heavy themes such as suicide, death, depression and lots of other issues. Was it quite draining for you as actors to be in that emotional space for a show like this?

Kento: Yes absolutely! [The material] takes a toll on you and there were lots of challenges, but we just did our best to overcome all of that, which led to us having, and me particularly, having a sense of confidence with the work being able to move global audiences. And being able to continue up to season three makes me feel vindicated. I’m so glad I was able to pull through [the dark moments] when I was really struggling.

Tao: There was the challenge or difficulty of what you just mentioned. Those heavier themes, [well], when you put yourself in a very dark place for a long time, in a very Stoic way, it can affect your physical health as well. So what we actively did on set was to just laugh, there was a lot of laughter on set. I was just talking to Kento, to the crew [the whole time], and I think that made the work itself not just something that was brutal but something that also makes you feel a sense of love.

On the subject of returning to Alice in Borderland. You have both lived with this project for over 5 years, how does that feel to come back to it? And looking forward, would you be keen to maybe do a fourth season or a spin-off perhaps?

Kento: I am a fan of the show myself, and to be able to make season three comes with a bit of pressure as well because it’s so beloved by the global audience. But we have such an incredible team that I was just filled with joy on set. And of course if it’s going to continue in some way, I’ll be very much keen to be part of that.

Tao: When season two wrapped up, I felt like that was a great way to finish the story, so I was kind of surprised when they presented season three to me! Thinking ahead, obviously in this season, which you haven’t seen yet, [Usagi is] pregnant, so there’s going to be a child in the future, and she would love to see that child return [to the normal world], not just the two lead characters. The story is set to be familial, I think that could be really interesting.