Shiori Kubo Brings Ai's Proposal Mission to Life
Kubo, who graduated from idol group Nogizaka46 in November 2025 and appeared in NHK's 2023 taiga drama What Will You Do, Ieyasu?, plays the adult version of Ai Suotome (酢乙女あい). In the original Crayon Shin-chan anime, Ai is the rich girl who follows Shinnosuke everywhere, always accompanied by her stern bodyguard Kuroiso.
The new episode, titled "Ichizu na Ai-chan da zo!" (Devoted Ai-chan!), picks up that thread in the series' future timeline. Japanese entertainment news site Comic Natalie reports that the grown-up Ai launches a full-on "proposal operation" targeting Shinnosuke, her feelings completely unchanged since childhood. Narushi Ikeda (池田成志) plays the live-action Kuroiso, cheering on Ai's romantic mission the same way his animated counterpart always has.
Behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot were also released alongside the episode.
Inside the Live-Action Shin-chan Universe
The series, Mō Hitotsu no Crayon Shin-chan: Yakan no Kazoku da zo! (roughly, "Another Crayon Shin-chan: A Kettle Family!"), is a collaboration between the Crayon Shin-chan anime franchise and Coca-Cola Japan's Yakan no Mugicha barley tea brand. It launched in April 2025 as the franchise's first-ever live-action adaptation, presenting the Nohara family in a future where Shinnosuke has grown up.
Fumiya Takahashi stars as a 25-year-old Shinnosuke, with Taizō Harada playing Hiroshi at 55 and Kumiko Asō as Misae at 49. Meiku Hata joined the cast as an adult Himawari during Season 1. Each episode runs as a short film, blending gentle family comedy with the barley tea branding.
Season 2 began rolling out in April 2026, and Episode 3 marks the first time a character from outside the Nohara household has appeared in the live-action series.
Coca-Cola Japan also launched 15 limited-edition summer Crayon Shin-chan bottles on June 15, featuring iconic scenes and quotes from the theatrical Shin-chan films on the labels. A giveaway campaign is running alongside the bottle release.
Looking Ahead
All episodes of the live-action Shin-chan series, including the new Ai-chan installment, are available free on YouTube through the Yakan no Mugicha official channel. No region lock has been reported, making the shorts accessible to international viewers.
The original Crayon Shin-chan manga by Yoshito Usui was published by Futabasha starting in 1990, and the TV anime has aired on TV Asahi since 1992. The franchise produces a new theatrical film every year. No English-language distributor has picked up the live-action short series, but the YouTube availability effectively serves the same purpose for fans outside Japan.