Why did 'VIVANT' sequel rank first?

It was praised for its cinematic scale and depth, earning strong viewer trust.

What kind of drama is 'Toyotomi Kyodai!'?

An NHK Taiga drama focusing on Hideyoshi's brother Hidenaga, acclaimed for its human drama depth.

Was the survey conducted reliably?

Yes, via crowdsourced online survey with 249 nationwide viewers.

'2026 Summer Drama Anticipation Ranking' Revealed: 'VIVANT' Sequel Takes 1st Place by Just 7 Votes Over NHK's Taiga Drama 'The Toyotomi Brothers!'

Published Jun 16, 2026 6:00 PM ・ Updated Jun 16, 2026 9:27 AM ・ 6 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

TV drama media 'TV Maga' conducted an original survey among 249 viewers nationwide who are watching the 2026 summer dramas. The 'VIVANT' sequel ranked first with 23.3%, followed closely by NHK's 'The Toyotomi Brothers!' at 20.5%, revealing a tight race between commercial and public broadcasting dramas.

TV drama media 'TV Maga' (https://saru.co.jp/tvmaga/) conducted an original 'Anticipation Survey' among 249 viewers nationwide who are currently watching the 2026 summer dramas. When asked to select the one work they most strongly want to watch until the very end, the 'VIVANT' sequel ranked first with 58 votes (23.3%), followed by NHK's Taiga drama 'The Toyotomi Brothers!' with 51 votes (20.5%)—just 7 votes behind—resulting in a close battle between a popular commercial network series and NHK's flagship historical drama.

Survey Summary

・ The 'VIVANT' sequel ranked first in anticipation (23.3%). Viewer comments highlighted its 'cinematic scale' and 'engaging depth for analysis.'

・ 'The Toyotomi Brothers!' ranked second (20.5%), trailing the leader by only 7 votes.

・ A tight competition emerged between commercial network hits and NHK's traditional dramas. Approximately 58.7% of respondents said their anticipation for the next season (autumn) has 'increased.'

2026 Summer Drama Anticipation Ranking TOP 5

1st: VIVANT (Sequel / TBS Network) – 58 votes (23.3%) 2nd: NHK Taiga Drama 'The Toyotomi Brothers!' – 51 votes (20.5%) 3rd: NHK Asadora 'Kaze, Kaoru' – 31 votes (12.4%) 4th: GTO (Fuji TV Network) – 27 votes (10.8%) 5th: Mushoran: Three Stars – 24 votes (9.6%)

Viewer Comments (Excerpts)

＜VIVANT (Sequel)＞ "Season 1 had a cinematic intensity I wouldn't expect from terrestrial TV. I'm really looking forward to the sequel."

＜The Toyotomi Brothers!＞ "A groundbreaking drama focusing on Hideyoshi's younger brother, Hidenaga. I was so drawn in that I couldn't help but shed tears."

＜Mushoran: Three Stars＞ "The unique premise focusing on prison meals feels fresh. It's a shame it ends at just five episodes."

Editorial Analysis

This survey was conducted in June 2026, prior to the official broadcast start, measuring pre-air 'anticipation' (desire to watch). The close race between the commercial hit 'VIVANT' sequel and NHK's traditional 'The Toyotomi Brothers!' shows strong viewer expectations for both 'trusted sequels' and 'classic human dramas.'

Survey Overview

Survey Name: 2026 Summer Drama Anticipation Survey Target Audience: 249 viewers nationwide who reported watching the 2026 summer dramas (or at least one episode) Method: Internet survey via crowdsourcing Period: June 2026 Conducted by: TV Maga Editorial Department * When citing this survey, please clearly reference the following article URL: Article URL: https://saru.co.jp/tvmaga/2026-summer-drama-kitaido/

Media Overview

Name: TV Maga (TV Magazine) URL: https://saru.co.jp/tvmaga/ Overview: An information media site delivering the latest news on TV and video entertainment, including dramas, anime, and actors.

Operator / Contact

Company: WonderSpace Inc. Email: info@wonderspace.co.jp Phone: 03-5778-7648

FACT BOX

Source: PR TIMES
Category: Survey
Products / services: GTO

'2026 Summer Drama Anticipation Ranking' Revealed: 'VIVANT' Sequel Takes 1st Place by Just 7 Votes Over NHK's Taiga Drama 'The Toyotomi Brothers!'

⚡ Key Points