[Includes comments from the actor!] Yudai Chiba's first essay series, 'The Roommate Who Doesn't Pay Rent,' begins in the April issue of the monthly magazine 'Nami'!
Key facts
- [Includes comments from the actor!] Yudai Chiba's first essay series, 'The Roommate Who Doesn't Pay Rent,' begins in the April issue of the monthly magazine 'Nami'!
- Actor Yudai Chiba begins his first essay series in Shinchosha's monthly magazine 'Nami,' documenting his life with his beloved dog.
- Date: March 29, 2026
Direct answer
Actor Yudai Chiba begins his first essay series in Shinchosha's monthly magazine 'Nami,' documenting his life with his beloved dog.
- Citation
- [Includes comments from the actor!] Yudai Chiba's first essay series, 'The Roommate Who Doesn't Pay Rent,' begins in the April issue of the monthly magazine 'Nami'! (March 29, 2026)
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- March 29, 2026
Actor Yudai Chiba begins his first essay series in Shinchosha's monthly magazine 'Nami,' documenting his life with his beloved dog.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 29, 2026 at 22:08
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 26, 2026 at 21:27 (1391h 19m after Published)
The April issue of the monthly magazine 'Nami,' on sale March 27 (Fri), marks the start of actor Yudai Chiba's first essay series, 'The Roommate Who Doesn't Pay Rent.' Inspired by his life with his dog, he writes about his daily experiences and thoughts.
■ Series Content
Chiba writes, 'I realized I'm 37. I'm approaching middle age. It's been 18 years since I moved to Tokyo, and the time I've spent here has now surpassed the time I spent in my hometown. ... That familiar daily routine changed after my roommate (my dog) arrived.'
The first installment, 'Summer Time Machine,' which weaves together memories of summers past with the summers he now spends with his dog, is featured in the April issue of 'Nami.' Each month, the series will also feature photos offering a glimpse into the life of Chiba and his dog.
The cover art is provided by artist Yu Nagaba, who is active both in Japan and abroad, known for his work in magazines, advertisements, and collaborations with the '24-Hour Television' charity T-shirts, Uniqlo, and Pokémon cards.
■ Comment from Yudai Chiba
Even though I work in the public eye, I am a cynical person who finds it embarrassing to leave traces of my life in the world, and I'm not very good at being honest. When the offer to 'write an essay' came to me, my initial reaction was that it would be difficult because of my personality—the idea of writing about myself for 4,000 characters felt embarrassing. But when the topic of 'writing about your dog' came up, my perspective suddenly brightened.
Since welcoming my dog, my life, which I had lived aimlessly as a 'single' person, has become rich with responsibility, anxiety, and love. I am 'one' person, but I am not 'alone.' My roommate doesn't pay rent, but he has made my ordinary days feel very precious.
Unfortunately, a dog's lifespan is shorter than a human's. I had said I didn't want to leave traces of my own life, but I realized I do want to preserve the days I spend with my dog. That is why I decided to take on this series.
March 27, the day the series begins, is the day my life with my dog started. I am very happy to be serializing this in 'Nami,' a magazine I used to read during my university days, on such a personal anniversary.
I would be happy if you could enjoy our 'two' ordinary days and, as embarrassing as it is, fragments of my life.
■ Profile: Yudai Chiba
Born March 9, 1989. From Miyagi Prefecture.
Debuted as an actor in 2010 as Arata/Gosei Red in 'Tensou Sentai Goseiger.'
Won the Newcomer of the Year award at the 40th Japan Academy Film Prize for the film 'The Magnificent Nine.'
Recent major works include 'Unmet: A Brain Surgeon's Diary' (2024), 'Dame Mane!' (2025), 'Okome no Onna' (2026), and stage plays 'Jazz Daimyo' (2023) and 'Watashitachi wa Monogatari' (2024).
Appearing in the reading drama 'Rogai no Hito' starting May 4, 2026 (Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Akita).
FAQ
What is the title of Yudai Chiba's new essay series and where will it be published?
Yudai Chiba's first essay series is titled 'The Roommate Who Doesn't Pay Rent,' and it will be published in the monthly magazine 'Nami.'
What inspired Yudai Chiba to start writing this essay series?
The essay series is inspired by Yudai Chiba's life with his dog, focusing on his daily experiences and thoughts.
What is the theme of the first installment of the essay series, titled 'Summer Time Machine'?
The first installment, 'Summer Time Machine,' weaves together memories of past summers with the summers he now spends with his dog.
What kind of additional content will be featured in the essay series each month?
Each month, the series will also feature photos offering a glimpse into the life of Yudai Chiba and his dog.
What was Yudai Chiba's initial reaction to the offer to write an essay series, and what changed his mind?
Initially, Yudai Chiba found the idea embarrassing due to his personality, but his perspective brightened when the topic shifted to writing about his dog.