Cast of Alice in Borderland: Actors & Characters

You’ve binge-watched both seasons, and now Season 3 of Alice in Borderland drops on Netflix on September 25, 2025. To help you navigate the new season, we’ve mapped every confirmed cast member, answered common fan questions, and tracked who’s back and who’s new.

Seasons: 2 (Season 3 confirmed for 2025) ·
Episodes released: 16 ·
Main cast members (Season 1): 8 ·
First aired: December 2020 ·
Based on: Manga by Haro Aso

Did they change the actor for Arisu?

No — there has been no recast for the lead role of Ryohei Arisu. Actor Kento Yamazaki has played Arisu consistently across all three seasons, from the deadly 3 of Clubs to the final games of Season 3. The character’s noticeably different appearance in promotional material for Season 3 is not the result of a new actor but rather a deliberate creative choice: a time skip and character growth that reflects Arisu’s evolving psychology after surviving the Borderland.

Why does Arisu look so different in season 3?

• The time skip: Events of Season 3 take place some time after Season 2, allowing for natural changes in appearance and demeanor.
• Styling shift: The art direction team has intentionally aged the character, with longer hair and a more rugged look, signaling a man burdened by what he’s experienced.
• Production context: Kento Yamazaki himself has aged since the series began in 2020, and the production leans into this rather than hiding it — a choice that adds realism to the survival narrative.

For fans worried about a Alice in Borderland recasting: the answer is a clear no. The character you’ve followed across 16 episodes is still the same Arisu — just a version who has seen things no one should have to see.

Who is in season 3 of Alice in Borderland?

Season 3 brings back the core survivors and introduces a wave of new players. The returning cast forms the emotional spine of the season, while newcomers expand the world — and the threats.

Returning main cast members

Eight familiar faces have been confirmed for Season 3 — a mix of fan favorites and key survivors from the first two seasons.

• Kento Yamazaki as Ryohei Arisu
• Tao Tsuchiya as Yuzuha Usagi
• Nijirō Murakami as Shuntaro Chishiya
• Sho Aoyagi as Morizono Aguni
• Ayaka Miyoshi as Ann Rizuna
• Dori Sakurada as Suguru Niragi
• Yuki Morinaga as Takatora Samura
• Keita Machida as Daikichi Karube

These actors are all listed in the series’ main cast by IMDb (series page), confirming their presence in the new season.

New cast announced for season 3

Seven actors join the world of Alice in Borderland in Season 3 — each bringing a new player into the games.

• Koji Ohkura as Tetsu
• Risa Sudou as Sachiko
• Hiroyuki Ikeuchi as Kazuya
• Tina Tamashiro as Rei
• Kotaro Daigo role TBA
• Hyunri as Shion
• Sakura Kiryu role TBA

A full cast list is tracked by Alice in Borderland Wiki (season 3 page), which offers ongoing updates as episodes air.

“Koji Ohkura as Tetsu, Risa Sudou as Sachiko, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi as Kazuya, Tina Tamashiro as Rei, Kotaro Daigo, Hyunri, and Sakura join the cast of Alice in Borderland season 3.” — Netflix Tudum

The pattern is clear: the show is betting on fresh faces to inject new energy while leaning on its proven leads to hold the emotional center. For audiences, the question is which of these newcomers will survive long enough to join the core ensemble.

Why is it named Alice in Borderland?

The title is a layered literary reference — and the answer involves a pun, a philosophical concept, and a debt to Lewis Carroll.

• The pun: “Alice” is a direct wordplay on the Japanese name “Arisu” — the protagonist Ryohei Arisu shares a homophone with the English “Alice.”
• The border: “Borderland” refers to the liminal space between life and death — the show’s central conceit, where the characters exist in a pocket dimension between survival and oblivion.
• The allusion: The rabbit hole of Alice in Wonderland is echoed in the sudden transport of characters to the game world, while the Queen of Hearts (the show’s boss, Mira) mirrors Carroll’s villain.

For first-time viewers wondering why a Japanese show carries an English name: the title is a deliberate bridge. It signals both the show’s literary DNA and its cross-cultural appeal — a survival thriller dressed in the trappings of a children’s fantasy.

Who had the saddest death in Alice in Borderland?

Across two seasons, Alice in Borderland has built a reputation for devastating character deaths. Four deaths are consistently cited by fans as the most emotionally brutal — each hitting a different kind of tragic note.

• Momoka (Season 1): A doctor who sacrifices herself in the Five of Spades game, her death is a quiet, wrenching moment of altruism in a world built on self-preservation.
• Asahi (Season 1): Her betrayal and subsequent death in the Beach massacre arc shatters the fragile trust the characters have built — and is made worse by its suddenness.
• Daimon (Season 2): A key ally who dies in the King of Spades game after a brutal, prolonged fight that leaves the survivors emotionally wrecked.
• Karube (Season 1): Arisu’s best friend, his sudden death by gunshot in the first game shocks both Arisu and the audience, setting the grim tone for the series.

These deaths underscore the show’s willingness to kill off beloved characters, making every game a genuine threat.

Is Chishiya a girl or boy?

Chishiya is male in both the manga and the live‑action series. He is portrayed by actor Nijirō Murakami, who has played the character since Season 1. The confusion likely stems from Chishiya’s androgynous appearance and calm, detached demeanor, but the character is unequivocally a man.

“Chishiya is a male character, played by Nijirō Murakami.” — MyDramaList

The character’s gender is never ambiguous in the source material, and the casting choice of Murakami — a male actor — confirms it.

Below is a comparison table showing the main cast across seasons:

The implication: The cast of Alice in Borderland has grown significantly in Season 3, with a strong core of returners and a wave of fresh faces.

With Kento Yamazaki firmly in place as Arisu, the series’ emotional anchor remains stable, while new faces like Koji Ohkura and Tina Tamashiro ensure the games stay unpredictable.