High‑Altitude Hijinks: Filming at the Top of Shibuya’s Skyline
Imagine this: the crew is hiking up to the foothills of Japan’s tallest tower, all the neon buzz that makes Shibuya glow, and the clock is stuck at 5 a.m. The whole team is fighting sleep while the cameras are already ready to roll.
“We Were All Toasted!”
Tao Tsuchiya, the bright star of Alice in Borderland 2, told a local journalist that the whole set felt like a sleepy, mid‑night carnival. “We wore bad, bland outfits that made us look like we were about to collapse, and yet every time someone looked at us, we burst into laughter,” she said.
The crew was baffled, but the actors—who were pretending to stare down a world of terror—just couldn’t keep a straight face. Sometimes, drama is the most powerful comic relief.
Embedded Clip
<a href="https://youtu.be/vba9ehSvro” target=”blank”>Check out the moment that got everyone giggling (click here)
About the Series
Alice in Borderland follows Ryōhei Arisu, the chill gamer turned survivor, as he and his crew navigate a dystopian playground where each challenge is a punch‑liner for life. The second season drops on December 22 on Netflix.
Tao’s Transformation
- From Action Hero to Heart‑Beat: Tao’s role in season one was all high‑octane stunts, but in season two, she plays Yuzuha Usagi, a young woman who hasn’t experienced a real fight yet.
- Less “cool” Moves: “Usagi shouldn’t look like a martial arts superstar,” Tao explained. “She should feel pure emotion—every move should be grounded in heart, not just swagger.”
- Emotional Evolution: “At first, Usagi was aloof, jaded with society. Then she met Arisu, and suddenly she’s caring, vulnerable, and for the first time, she experiences the sting of love.”
Behind the adrenaline, it’s the emotional layers that really shine. Behind trembling hands and frantic laughs, the crew and cast discovered that a raw, sleepy night can spark unforgettable moments of human connection.
<img alt="" data-caption="Tao Tsuchiya as Yuzuha Usagi.
PHOTO: Netflix” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”3eb7880b-a940-499e-b008-99a0268da1de” src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/6-1B_011_2-edit_thumbnail.JPEG”/>
Usagi’s Heartbeat: From Quiet Solitude to a Love‑Laced Spirit
In Tao’s own words, Usagi wasn’t always a solitary figure; she gradually began to crack open the emotional walls that once kept her alone. As those hidden scars surfaced, she revealed the part of her that feels all the nerves, uncertainties, and doubts.
Why Usagi Isn’t Just a “Strong” Icon
- Emotional depth – She’s more than a force of nature; she’s a tender, conflicted soul.
- Vulnerabilities – Her anxieties make her human.
- Love for Arisu – That growing affection reshapes her whole outlook.
- Real‑world relatability – It’s the mix of muscle and mess that fans fall for.
Putting It All Together
Tao wanted to showcase Usagi with a genuine sense of affection, highlighting both her inner resilience and her tender side. By balancing action with the emotional sway of her journey, he paints a protagonist who’s not just a beacon of strength but also a loving, flawed human.
<img alt="" data-caption="Tao Tsuchiya as Yuzuha Usagi and Kento Yamazaki as Ryōhei Arisu.
PHOTO: Netflix” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”14bacaaa-db76-4aa5-92be-f2ff25120ad8″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/7-7_134-edit-2_thumbnail.JPEG”/>
What to expect from season two
From Survival Mode to Chill Mode: Tao on Alice in Borderland Season 2
After two years since the first season, Tao noticed a shift in the cast’s vibe: they moved from “survival-hungry” to “calm-as-a-lens.” “We were constantly looking for the next free lunch in Season 1—no time to let our hair down,” she chuckles. “But by Season 2, we were like, ‘Hey, let’s actually talk about what we want to create and enjoy the ride instead of feeling like the whole world is on a deadline.’”
Mind Games vs. Real-World Challenges
Tao also spilled the beans on how the show steps up from the manga. Adapting a graphic masterpiece into a 3D rip‑off is no small task. “We wanted to honor the original, but you can’t just take it letter‑for‑letter in live action. Facial expressions, jazzed‑up accents—it’s all a bit more…realistic than the manga’s page‑to‑screen heartbeats,” she said. “We always kept an eye on the ‘in‑between meanings’: when a character’s eyes meet or a silent pause is full of drama. That’s how we nailed the nuance.”
Why Season 2 Is Going to Be Epic
With a bigger budget and slicker graphics, the 2022 release promise has Tao saying: “They created a world I could never have imagined.” And get ready, because the games are split about halfway between pure psychological puzzles and hard‑core physical challenges, resulting in a rollercoaster of thrills.
The Dream Team
- Nijiro Murakami
- Akaya Miyoshi
- Dori Sakurada
- Aya Asahina
- Sho Aoyagi
- Riisa Naka
Catch the full binge on Netflix starting December 22, 2022. Whether you’re a manga fanatic or a fate‑freak, Season 2 is set to make your heart race, your mind think, and your laugh muscles flex.
