Same-Sex Japanese dating reality show ‘The Boyfriend’ launched by Netflix
June 6, 2024Next month, Netflix will debut its first Japanese same-sex dating reality TV series, titled “The Boyfriend.”
The show features nine men who move into a beach house to find love. Over the course of a month, they live together, work shifts at a coffee truck, form deep friendships, and discover more about themselves.
The show will be hosted by a diverse group of personalities, including Megumi, Horan Chiaki, Thelma Aoyama, drag queen Durian Lollobrigida, and Yoshimi Tokui.
According to ‘Variety, starting on July 9, new episodes will be available every Tuesday, with a total of 10 episodes released over four weeks.
Image Credit: Canva
“We started out wanting to highlight the young men’s friendships and personalities. Our focus wasn’t just on romance but also on spending time together and experiencing personal growth,” said Dai Ota, executive producer of live action originals at Netflix Japan.
This is a significant step in a country that remains largely socially conservative and is generally considered less LGBTQ+-friendly than most other developed nations.
In recent years, several legal developments suggest a potential shift in the established order. Tokyo’s metropolitan government began issuing special same-sex partnership certificates in November 2022, though these certificates have limited legal value. In June 2023, the Japanese government went a step further, passing a law aimed at promoting understanding of LGBTQ+ people.
Earlier this year, courts in Sapporo and Tokyo ruled that the Japanese government’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. “The Japanese government now needs to be proactive in moving towards the legalization of same-sex marriage so that couples can fully enjoy the same marriage rights as their heterosexual counterparts,” said Amnesty International’s East Asia researcher Jang Boram. However, there is no timeline yet for the introduction of legislation to legalise same-sex marriage.
Netflix describes “The Boyfriend” as part of its 2024 lineup, aiming to showcase unique Japanese stories and perspectives. The series follows the success of recent original local productions like “Sanctuary,” “House of Ninjas,” and “City Hunter.” It has also added new seasons of the reality TV series “Love Village” and the comedy talk show “Last One Standing.”
“I discussed with the cast how growth and valuable experiences stem from shared friendships, youth, and struggles, not just romance. This led to many unexpected miracles on set,” said Hishida Keisuke, chief producer and director at Kyodo Television.
“I’m so happy with how this series took shape. I listened to each participant with a goal to produce a show that left everyone feeling valued and loved,” said Taiki, producer and casting director.
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