Netflix to release 'The Boyfriend,' a Japanese same-sex dating show
Looking for Boys' Love (BL) series to watch? Netflix is set to launch a Japanese same-sex dating show titled The Boyfriend.
Nine men are taken to a beach house with the goal of finding love. They're stuck living together for a month and take turns working shifts at a coffee truck, forging friendships and learning more about themselves along the way.
The series also features hosts MEGUMI, Chiaki Horan, Thelma Aoyama, drag queen Durian Lollobrigida, and Yoshimi Tokui.
Netflix has also already released a trailer for the reality show, which showed a glimpse of the seaside setting, coffee shop, nightlife, and interactions of the contestants.
"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," the show's executive producer Dai Ota said.
The Boyfriend premieres on July 9 with new episodes dropping on Tuesdays.
In Japan, same-sex marriages or civil unions are still not recognized but strides have been made in the past couple of years. The Tokyo metropolitan government began accepting applications for same-sex partnerships in 2022.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government has also passed a law to "promote understanding" and avoid "unfair discrimination" of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Most recently, the Sapporo High Court ruled that the country's ban on same-sex marriage is "unconstitutional."