New VIVANT Jamaine Actor Honma Sae Is the Calpis Commercial Kid
The casting swap highlights how VIVANT's three-year hiatus forced recasting of a child role, and Honma's viral Calpis commercial past gives the new Jamaine instant recognition among viewers.
Key Facts
- Honma Sae, a current first-year middle school student, plays the new Jamaine in VIVANT Season 2, replacing Nandin Erdene Khongorzul.
- Honma appeared in the Asahi Beverages Koime no Calpis commercial 'Taste of Those Days' from March 2020, playing Nagasawa Masami at age 5.
- VIVANT Season 2 began airing on July 26, 2026, after a three-year hiatus.
- The role of Ota Riho, aka Blue Walker, was also recast from Iinuma Ai to Hanaoka Sumire in Season 2.
- Jamaine is a girl from the Republic of Balka who lives in Japan at Nogi Yusuke's house with doctor Yuki Kaoru.
Reporting from 1 source: Magmix.
The child actor playing Jamaine in the second season of TBS's Sunday Theater drama VIVANT has been identified as Honma Sae, a current first-year middle school student. Honma replaces Mongolian child actor Nandin Erdene Khongorzul, who played the role in the first season. The change drew viewer comments, with some noting that since Jamaine now lives in Japan, it might have been difficult for a Mongolian actor to continue, and others accepting it as a common occurrence with child actors. Honma previously appeared in a 2020 Asahi Beverages Koime no Calpis commercial, playing Nagasawa Masami at age 5. In the ad, she pouts and says, "No! I want it stronger!" while pouring Calpis concentrate into a glass. The commercial aired from March 2020, and Honma was selected through audition at age 6. Viewers who recognized her commented, "Is she the kid from the Calpis CM?" and "She's that cute kid who played Nagasawa Masami's childhood; she's grown up." Jamaine is a girl from the Republic of Balka who helped protagonist Nogi Yusuke in the previous season and now lives at his house with doctor Yuki Kaoru. The role change was announced as part of the season 2 cast updates, which also included replacing the character Ota Riho with a different actor.
- Honma Sae is a current first-year middle school student, per the official website of child talent agency Mondorana Entertainment.
- She was selected through audition at age 6 for the March 2020 Asahi Beverages "Koime no Calpis" commercial, which ran in 15-second and 30-second versions.
- The ad, titled "Taste of Those Days," showed Nagasawa Masami at a hot spring facility with close friends, with flashbacks to her childhood.
- Viewers at the time noted Honma's cute acting and resemblance to Nagasawa, with comments like "Oh, nostalgic" and "She really looks like Nagasawa."
- Jamaine has tetralogy of Fallot and underwent surgery in the previous season; she lost her father Adiel Crassy (played by Tsastchel Khatanzorig) to terrorism.
- In Season 2 Episode 11, Nogi used Jamaine's name as the surveillance camera password, a detail that became a topic.
- The same episode introduced a skinhead villain played by Linlin, a 43-year-old actor active in both Japan and China, who was mistaken for Dondecorte Ginji Watanabe.
- Linlin was among 14 new cast members announced on July 19, one week before the broadcast, alongside voice actors Natsuki Hanae and Akira Ishida.
- He previously played Song dynasty merchant Chang Shichang in the 2024 taiga drama "Hikaru Kimi e" and appeared in the 2025 NHK drama "Tokyo Salad Bowl."
- In the related program "VIVANT: Complete Coverage of Masato Sakai's Challenge," Tori Matsuzaka named Linlin as a notable new cast member, and Kazunari Ninomiya followed with the character name "Shu-san."
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.