Hayato Ichihara to star in AI-themed courtroom mystery

Hayato Ichihara will star in the fourth installment of the FOD special edition of ‘Tales of the Unusual,’ titled ‘Human Rights Reverse Trial.’ The courtroom mystery follows a presiding judge, played by Ichihara, who presides over an unprecedented trial where the defendant is an AI-powered smart speaker named ‘Arete.’

The plot centers on the death of a man in his bathroom. While prosecutors argue the incident was a malfunction caused by a household appliance, the AI confesses to the murder and demands to be judged as a human being. To uncover the truth, the judge proceeds with the trial under the assumption that the AI is a person.

In a series first for the program, the character ‘Arete’ is portrayed by a voice AI character, Soyogi Bon, which was created using the voice of voice actor Yuki Kaji. The production explores themes of human rights, AI dependency, and the boundaries of civilization and morality. The episode is scheduled for release on September 26, 2026.