CHAPTER1 Launches Film "HARUJI ~The Man Called Sugar King~" and Produces AI Drama for TOKYO MX "AI EYES"

CHAPTER1 Inc. (Headquarters: Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, Representative Director: Sho Nakajima) is pleased to announce the launch of its film project "HARUJI ~The Man Called Sugar King~," which depicts the life of the real-life entrepreneur Haruji Matsue, and the broadcast of the full AI short drama "Before the Rain Stops," produced by our team, on TOKYO MX's new program "AI EYES."

We are embarking on new video production that fuses live-action and generative AI in both film and drama.

CHAPTER1, Engaged in AI Video Production, Fully Launches Film and Drama Production Business

Since its establishment in 2025, our company has focused its business on producing corporate promotional videos and videos for social media. Now, as a new challenge, we are entering the film and drama sector to create new video content that fuses live-action and generative AI.

Film "HARUJI ~The Man Called Sugar King~" ~A Story of an Unknown Japanese Man for the Next Generation~

This film project portrays the life of Haruji Matsue, an entrepreneur who developed the sugar industry in the South Seas Islands before the war and was known as the "Sugar King."

Haruji Matsue dedicated himself to industrial development, primarily in Saipan during the Japanese colonial period, making significant contributions to the regional economy and the livelihoods of its people. However, his achievements are not widely known today. This film aims to depict not only his challenges as an entrepreneur but also his interactions with people and his pursuit of an ideal society, posing questions to the present day. CHAPTER1 aims to reconstruct the life of this buried historical figure into a visual work and deliver it to the next generation.

Our Vision for This Project

CHAPTER1 utilizes generative AI not merely as an efficiency tool, but as an expressive technology to convey human emotions and history to future generations.

By depicting Haruji Matsue's challenges and aspirations through contemporary visual expression, we aim to create a work that will be passed down to the future.

Challenging New Film Production with Live-Action x Generative AI

In this project, we are challenging new film production by fusing:

- Live-action filming

- Video production using generative AI

Generative AI technology now makes it possible to depict historical backgrounds and large-scale scenery that were difficult to reproduce with traditional video production due to budget and scale limitations, presenting them as new visual expressions.

CHAPTER1's philosophy is not to "replace human work with AI," but to "extend human creativity and expressiveness with AI."

In this work, we will combine AI technology with the creators involved in filmmaking to challenge the next generation of film production.

HARUJI Official Website Latest information, production progress, and production member details for this project are available on the official website. "HARUJI ~The Man Called Sugar King~" https://haruji.jp/

*Please visit the HARUJI official website for details on the production members.

It has been decided that the full AI short drama "Before the Rain Stops," produced by CHAPTER1 Inc.'s AI Creative Team and produced by Tobogan Inc., will be broadcast on TOKYO MX's new program "AI EYES."

"Before the Rain Stops" Work Overview This is a human drama set in a late-night laundromat, depicting regret for the past and feelings for loved ones.

It is a story that confronts "words that could not be conveyed" by expressing emotions found in everyday life through facial expressions, gazes, and the "pauses" of silence.

July 2, 2026

Broadcast begins at 27:30!

TOKYO MX 9ch

Available on TVer for those who missed it *The broadcast date for "Before the Rain Stops" is currently undecided, so please check the program schedule.

Official Website: https://aieyes.jp/

Official Instagram/Twitter: ai_eyes_project

About Full AI Production

This work is a full AI short drama produced using AI technology for video, music, narration, and more.

However, instead of using AI-generated material as is, it was supervised by directors, producers, AI creators, editors, and sound teams to be completed as a single work.

It is also a challenge for new visual expression through the co-creation of AI and humans.

Comment

"Before the Rain Stops" is not a work to showcase AI technology, but a work to depict human emotions.

While utilizing AI as a material, we spun the story through the direction and editing of creators, challenging the possibilities of new visual expression. We will continue to create works through the co-creation of AI and humans.

"Before the Rain Stops" Production Creative Team

A production team composed of creators in the fields of AI, video, editing, and direction.

Future Developments CHAPTER1 will continue to focus on the following core businesses:

- Film and Drama Production Business

- AI Video Production Business for Corporations

- Generative AI Education and Creator Training Business

- Development of Proprietary AI Products

- Regional Revitalization and Brand Produce Business

We will also promote the "1791 Project," which disseminates the appeal of Japan's 1,741 municipalities to the world, and "SABLEKOKU," a brand platform connecting Japan's traditional culture, artisans, and creators with the world, aiming to build a new creator ecosystem that spans video, AI, creativity, regions, and manufacturing.

Furthermore, we plan to launch our own app for AI creators in the summer of 2026, accelerating the creation of an environment where creators can learn, create, disseminate, and monetize.

Media Inquiries We welcome interviews and inquiries regarding this matter. Please feel free to contact us using the information below.

【Company Profile】 Company Name: CHAPTER1 Inc. Representative: Sho Nakajima, Representative Director Location: Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture Established: December 2025 Business Activities: - Video Production Business - Generative AI Utilization Support Business - Corporate Knowledge DX Business - Film and Drama Production Business

HP: https://chapter-1.jp/ HARUJI Official Website: https://haruji.jp/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@chapter1-social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapter1_ai/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapter1_ai.studio Contact: info@chapter-1.jp