Japan's Tottori Pref. ramps up 'Vivant' drama tourism push, urges filming-site sleuthing

Tottori Prefecture, a former filming location for the popular Japanese TV spy series "Vivant," is ramping up its tourism efforts. The prefectural government is posting homage videos on social media and creating a sand logo as a photo spot at the Tottori Sand Dunes. Governor Shinji Hirai and tourism officials staged a skit portraying a secret intelligence unit within the drama's storyline, urging viewers to photograph locations they believe were used in the show and share them online using a designated hashtag for a chance to win Tottori's famous snow crabs.

At the Tottori Sand Dunes, a prominent filming site, officials erected a large sand-made "Vivant" logo monument, measuring 3.4 meters wide and 1.2 meters high, to serve as a photo opportunity for visitors. Shimane Prefecture, which also served as a filming location for "Vivant," is planning events to attract tourists. Their prefectural and municipal employees are dressed as members of the "Beppan Shimane branch" for the promotional campaign, with Shimane's tourism mascot, Shimanekko, participating in social media campaigns.

"Vivant" is a high-budget drama starring Masato Sakai as Yusuke Nogi, an ordinary corporate worker thrust into a world of international espionage involving the secretive "beppan" unit of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.