STARTO ENTERTAINMENT has unveiled the official key visual and supporting cast for “Chat Boy,” the fourth installment in its vertical short drama project, S DRAMA. Starring Ae! group‘s Yoshinori Masakado, the upcoming series takes a timely look at AI dependence and the search for genuine human connection through an emotional suspense story.
Alongside the newly released visual, the agency also announced additional cast members joining the project. While Travis Japan member Noel Kawashima had previously been revealed as part of the lineup, the drama will also feature acclaimed actors Jin Katagiri, Motoki Ochiai, and Tokiei Wakabayashi.
Yoshinori stars as Keito Utsumi, a highly capable manga editor who, beneath his professional exterior, struggles with self-confidence. Rather than trusting himself, he relies on a Chat AI to validate his decisions and maintain his sense of self-worth. When the government suddenly enforces an AI ban, however, his emotional support system disappears overnight.
Desperate for an alternative, Keito is led to Rental Shinyuu, a company specializing in lifelike humanoid AI companions. There, he encounters an AI that looks exactly like his former high school classmate, Makoto Fujino (played by Noel). As the pair begin an unusual life together, Makoto constantly encourages and supports Keito, offering the reassurance he has long depended on. But their peaceful coexistence begins to unravel after Keito discovers a secret hidden behind the AI’s existence, raising questions about identity, dependence, and whether an artificial companion can ever truly become a “shinyuu”—a close friend.
Although Yoshinori and Noel have appeared together on large-scale music programs in the past, “Chat Boy” marks their first drama together. Filming began with flashback scenes set during their high school days, with the two reportedly laughing at seeing each other back in school uniforms and commenting that they suited the look. According to the production notes, the initially awkward atmosphere gradually gave way to a close working relationship, with both actors feeling reluctant to say goodbye once filming wrapped.
The newly revealed key visual also offers a creative glimpse into the series’ concept. Rather than serving as a conventional promotional image, director Yuka Eda envisioned it as “Utsumi‘s instruction manual,” assembling photographs captured between filming to create a collage of the protagonist’s face, expressions, and personal details. The result reflects both the fragmented nature of the character himself and the intimate, psychological tone of the story.
“Chat Boy” is scheduled to premiere on August 1 at 5:00 p.m. JST via the official S DRAMA YouTube channel, where all episodes will be available to watch free of charge. Additional content will also be released across the project’s social media platforms throughout the series’ run. English subtitles will follow, just like the previous episodes released on the channel.
With a premise that feels increasingly relevant in today’s AI-driven world, “Chat Boy” looks poised to deliver both psychological suspense and emotional depth, while offering another compelling acting showcase for Yoshinori and Noel as they continue to expand their careers as actors.
【About Yoshinori Masakado】
Member of J-Pop boy band Ae! group, debuted in May 2025 under Universal Music Japan with their hit single 《A》BEGINNING and currently wrapping up their latest 8-city national tour in celebration of their second studio album “Runway.” In addition to music, Masakado is a regular star across Japanese film, television, and live theatre, including the hit romantic drama “Musashino Rondo” and as Viola in an original Japanese stage production of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
▶Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kadostagram_official/
【About Noel Kawashima】
Member of J-Pop boy band Travis Japan, debuted in October 2022 under Universal Music Japan and Capitol Records with their hit single JUST DANCE! In addition to two world tours, Kawashima also commands the spotlight as a published author and with recent starring turns in critically-acclaimed live theatre productions “Knockin’ on Locked Door,” “A Better Tomorrow,” and the long-running Japanese megahit “Endless SHOCK.”
▶Follow him on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@noelnosukimajikan
【About the S DRAMA Vertical Short Drama Series】
With smartphones and social media now the primary means of engagement between viewers and the stories they love, J-Pop talent agency and media production house STARTO ENTERTAINMENT has launched its own initiative into that space with the 2026 “S DRAMA” series. Standing for “SPECIAL SHORTS,” the dramas—spanning from thriller to horror to rom-com and more–are fully produced in-house by STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, shot and edited for vertically-oriented handheld screens easy to enjoy in bed or on the go!
▼2026 Lineup (※Available in Japanese with English subtitles)
MEMORY ACQUIRER
・Starring: Koichi Domoto, Taiki Shinozuka of timelesz (ep. 1 only)
・Watch here: https://youtu.be/3cTywKiZfPw
・Three-episode miniseries
All the pretty monsters
・Starring: Shori Sato of timelesz
・Watch here: https://youtu.be/ibV_g5iZl2c
・Available to enjoy as one hour-long drama (URL above) or as 5 episode miniseries
Fall in Love, Young Master
・Starring: Ryosuke Hashimoto of A.B.C-Z
・Watch here: https://youtu.be/hT171j_6cfs
・Available to enjoy as one hour-long drama (URL above) or as 4 episode miniseries
