Shuntaro Chishiya shouldn't be likable. He’s manipulative. He’s cold. He watches people die with the detached curiosity of a scientist observing ants under a magnifying glass. Yet, when Nijiro Murakami in Alice in Borderland first appeared on screen, leaning against a wall with that shock of bleached hair and a smirk that suggested he knew the punchline to a joke nobody else had heard yet, the collective internet lost its mind.
It’s rare.
Usually, live-action adaptations of beloved manga feel like a hollow imitation—a "cosplay" version of the real thing. But Nijiro Murakami didn't just play Chishiya; he seemed to inhabit the very soul of the character in a way that bridged the gap between 2D logic and 3D reality. If you’ve watched the Netflix series, you know exactly what I’m talking about. There is a specific kind of magnetism he brings to the role that kept viewers glued to their screens, even when the plot got incredibly bleak.
The Mystery of the White Hoodie
When we talk about Nijiro Murakami in Alice in Borderland, we have to talk about the physical presence.
Acting isn't just about saying lines. It’s about how you occupy space. Murakami’s Chishiya is almost always still. While Arisu (played by Kento Yamazaki) is frantic, sweating, and hyper-emotional, Chishiya is a statue. He wears that signature white zip-up hoodie like a suit of armor. It keeps him separate from the dirt and blood of the games.
Honestly, it’s a masterclass in "less is more." Murakami uses his eyes to do 90% of the heavy lifting. In the "Witch Hunt" game at the Beach, he barely raises his voice. While everyone else is screaming and pointing guns, he just stands there, calculating. It’s terrifying. It’s also incredibly cool. That’s the Nijiro effect. He manages to make apathy look like a superpower.
Why Murakami was the Perfect Choice
Before he was dodging lasers and playing high-stakes poker in a parallel Tokyo, Nijiro Murakami was already a darling of the Japanese indie film scene. He’s the son of actor Jun Murakami and singer UA, but he’s carved out a path that is entirely his own. He has this "it" factor—a mix of vulnerability and edge—that directors like Naomi Kawase saw in him early on.
For Alice in Borderland, director Shinsuke Sato needed someone who could play "intellectual" without being boring. Chishiya is the smartest person in the room, but if he’s played too straight, he becomes a caricature. Murakami added a layer of feline grace. He moves like a cat. He’s observant. He’s slightly dangerous.
The Games That Defined Chishiya
We can't talk about Nijiro Murakami in Alice in Borderland without diving into the specific games that cemented his legendary status among fans.
The Jack of Hearts (Solitary Confinement) is the big one. This is Season 2, Episode 3 and 4. If you haven't seen it, stop reading and go watch it. It’s psychological warfare at its finest. Chishiya is trapped in a prison with a group of people, and they have to guess the card symbol on the back of their collars. If they get it wrong? Their collar explodes.
Murakami is brilliant here.
He plays the game with a bored nonchalance that infuriates the other players. There’s a specific moment where he’s eating a snack while people are literally losing their minds around him. It’s a subtle bit of character work. He’s not being mean for the sake of being mean; he’s just genuinely uninterested in the drama of survival. He cares about the logic.
Then there’s the King of Diamonds.
The balance scale game. It’s just five people sitting around a table with containers of sulfuric acid hanging over their heads. It’s a math game. A game of game theory. Here, we see a different side of Nijiro Murakami in Alice in Borderland. We see his backstory—the disillusioned medical student who realized that life isn't equal. Murakami plays these flashbacks with a haunting softness. You realize that Chishiya’s coldness isn't born of malice, but of a deep, bruised disappointment in humanity.
Why the Fans Are Obsessed
Let’s be real for a second.
The internet's obsession with Nijiro Murakami isn't just about his acting chops. It’s the vibe. He’s got that effortless "alt" aesthetic that thrives on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The raspy voice. The way he sticks his hands in his pockets.
But it goes deeper than just a "crush."
Fans appreciate that he stays true to the source material. Haro Aso’s original manga depicts Chishiya as a sly, Cheshire Cat-like figure (the name Chishiya is actually a Japanese transliteration of "Cheshire"). Murakami captured that smirk perfectly. He brought a sense of playfulness to a show that is often suffocatingly tense. When he’s on screen, you feel like you might actually win the game, even if you don't trust him for a second.
The Impact on Global Japanese Media
The success of Nijiro Murakami in Alice in Borderland is part of a bigger shift. For a long time, Japanese live-action adaptations were hit or miss—mostly miss. Think of the Attack on Titan movies or the Death Note (2017) disaster.
But Alice in Borderland changed the narrative.
Along with the success of One Piece on Netflix, this series proved that if you cast the right people and respect the tone, you can make magic. Murakami is a huge part of that. He didn't play it like a "live-action anime character" with over-the-top expressions. He played it like a real person in an impossible situation. That groundedness is why the show traveled so well outside of Japan. It didn't feel "foreign" or "weird"; it felt like high-stakes prestige television.
What Happened After Season 2?
After the explosive finale of Season 2, many wondered what was next for Nijiro Murakami in Alice in Borderland.
As of now, Netflix has officially greenlit Season 3.
This was a massive surprise. The manga ends where Season 2 ended. The Joker card at the end of the finale suggested a new chapter, but fans were skeptical. Will Chishiya return? While the plot details are being kept under wraps, it’s hard to imagine the show without him. He’s become the face of the franchise just as much as Arisu and Usagi.
Murakami himself has been relatively quiet, taking time for his health and choosing projects carefully. He’s an actor who values the craft over the fame. This makes his return—if and when it happens—even more anticipated.
Technical Mastery: The Voice and Movement
If you watch the show with subtitles (which you absolutely should), pay attention to his vocal delivery. Murakami has a very specific cadence. He speaks slowly. He punctuates his sentences with long pauses. This forces the person he’s talking to—and the audience—to lean in.
It’s a power move.
And then there’s the movement. In the King of Diamonds game, watch how he sits. He’s relaxed. He’s slumped. He looks like he’s at a cafe, not in a room where he could be melted by acid at any moment. This physical choice tells you everything you need to know about Chishiya’s psyche. He has already accepted death, which makes him the most dangerous man in the Borderlands.
Addressing the Misconceptions
There’s a common misconception that Chishiya is a villain.
He’s not.
He’s an anti-hero, sure. But throughout the series, especially when we see Nijiro Murakami in Alice in Borderland interacting with Kuina, there’s a flicker of something else. Loyalty? Maybe. Respect? Definitely. Murakami plays those moments with extreme subtlety. He never goes full "hero." He never gives a big speech about the power of friendship. He just... stays. He shows up when it counts.
Another misconception is that the role was easy because he "just has to stand there."
Anyone who has tried to act knows that "just standing there" is the hardest thing to do. If you don't have the internal life to back it up, you look like a cardboard cutout. Murakami has to convey a thousand calculations per second while maintaining a blank face. That requires an incredible amount of focus and control.
Practical Takeaways for Fans and Creators
If you’re a fan of the show or a creator looking to learn from Murakami’s success, here are a few things to keep in mind.
First, character consistency is king. Murakami never breaks character. Even in behind-the-scenes clips, you can see he has a deep understanding of who Chishiya is. He doesn't try to make him "likable." He makes him "interesting." There is a big difference.
Second, the importance of "the look." The costume design for Chishiya is iconic, but it only works because Murakami knows how to wear it. If you’re building a brand or a character, find that one visual element that summarizes the personality and lean into it.
Finally, watch his other work. If you loved Nijiro Murakami in Alice in Borderland, go back and watch Still the Water or his turn as Okita Soji in Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning. Seeing his range will make you appreciate his performance in Alice even more. He isn't just a "cool guy in a hoodie." He’s one of the most talented actors of his generation.
The Future of the Borderlands
The announcement of Season 3 has set the internet on fire. With the Joker card in play, the rules have changed. We don't know if they are still in the Borderlands or if they’ve returned to a reality that is even more twisted.
One thing is certain: the bar has been set incredibly high.
The success of the show rests on the shoulders of its cast. While Arisu provides the heart, and Usagi provides the strength, Chishiya provides the brain. And as long as Nijiro Murakami is the one bringing that brain to life, we’re in for something special.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Alice in Borderland, your next steps are clear. Start by re-watching the "Checkmate" game in Season 2. Pay close attention to Chishiya’s interactions with the King of Diamonds. Look for the small smirk he gives when he realizes he’s met an intellectual equal. It’s those tiny details that make Murakami’s performance a landmark in modern television.
Then, keep an eye on the official Netflix Japan social media accounts. With production for Season 3 ramping up, we’re bound to get a glimpse of the bleached hair and white hoodie sooner rather than later. The game isn't over yet. Not by a long shot.