The Sunday drama VIVANT kicked off its second season with a major surprise: it was revealed on the July 26 premiere that veteran voice actress Takayama Minami voices AI Hayato, the supercomputer serving the covert intelligence unit known as “Beppu.” The casting had been kept completely under wraps until the episode aired.
About VIVANT
VIVANT is an adventure drama conceived and directed by Fukuzawa Katsuo, the creative force behind hit series such as Hanzawa Naoki, Rikuou, and Dragon Zakura. The story follows Nogi Yusuke, a salaryman at Marubishi Shoji who secretly operates as a spy for “Beppu” — an unofficial, off-the-books organization under the Self-Defense Forces — as he confronts his own harsh destiny.
AI Hayato’s Role
In Season 2’s first episode, AI Hayato establishes itself as the “brain of Beppu,” operating under the orders of unit commander Sakurai Satomi. The AI processes enormous volumes of data at remarkable speed — including security camera footage from the hospital where Beppu members received treatment and social media imagery — and draws conclusions from that data, such as determining that “Shinjo is the most likely person to have leaked information about Beppu members.”
Takayama Minami’s Comments
Takayama shared her thoughts on taking the role:
“Composure, pride, and just a touch of mischief. I discussed with the director how to inject emotion at each moment, and we had a great time recording. Even though I don’t appear in human form, I was happy to be part of Beppu.”
On her approach to voicing an AI, she noted that clarity and intelligibility were her top priorities — if the AI’s communications were hard to follow, Beppu’s operations could grind to a halt. She also focused on identifying the single most important piece of information within each dense explanation.
Takayama also sent a message to fans: “Season 2 begins with the tension from Season 1 still unresolved. What traps lie in wait this time? Can AI Hayato use its abilities to stay one step ahead? Please look forward to Beppu’s continued fight.”
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