NetflixAlice in Borderland Season 3 has just landed on Netflix, but if you were looking for Shuntaro Chishiya (Nijirō Murakami), we have some news for you.
Based on Haro Aso’s manga of the same name, Alice in Borderland is a brutal, excellent series that shares undeniable parallels to Squid Game – both see players forced into a series of deadly games.
But beyond that core similarity, Alice in Borderland stands apart as a supernatural sci-fi that delves into themes on the value of life itself. The games are a huge part of the show, but so are the characters.
Since Season 2 ended where the manga does, the long-awaited third chapter goes beyond the pages, showing Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) and Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya) as they’re drawn back into the Borderlands. Warning: minor spoilers ahead!
Is Chishiya in Alice in Borderland Season 3?
NetflixOther than a cameo appearance, one character you shouldn’t expect to see is Chishiya, and the same goes for Hikari Kuina, another fan favorite. The reason they don’t play a big part in Alice in Borderland Season 3 is simple: actors Nijirō Murakami and Aya Asahina were unable due to their schedules.
According to reports from multiple Japanese outlets, during production for the latest chapter of the Netflix show, Murakami took an acting break to focus on his mental health. He’s now said to be back to acting and feeling better, but this does mean he isn’t in Season 3.
For Asahina, the filming schedule for the new chapter conflicted with her maternity leave, having announced her pregnancy in December 2023.
On the plus side, this does mean their characters get a happily ever after. At the end of Alice in Borderland Season 2, both Chishiya and Kuina choose to go back to the real world after Arisu beats the Queen of Hearts.
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Chishiya wakes up in the hospital next to his rival and vows to live a better life, while Kuina is reunited with her parents, including her transphobic father who finally accepts her.
Right at the end of Season 3, the pair make a cameo appearance, with Arisu interviewing them both about what gives meaning to their lives. This was the hope shared by Alice in Borderland fans ahead of the latest chapter’s release.
Over on Reddit, one said about Chishiya, “He posted on Twitter saying ‘can’t say yes or no’ which leads me to believe that he’s either gonna have a minor role in the form of a flashback (like Thanos in Squid Game Season 3), or he has a major role that they’d like to keep secret.
Another commented, “He’s a fan favorite of so many people lmao. He has been my favorite character since introduction, he may as well be the MC.”
As for Kuina, one Redditor commented, “She’s my favorite character and I really hope she comes back for Season 3.” Another replied, “I don’t think so but I hope she shows up in a flashback or has a cameo.”
Alice in Borderland Season 3 is streaming on Netflix now. For more on what to watch, check out the best shows of 2025 so far, the most binge-worthy series, and everything that’s coming up with our 2025 TV release calendar.