The Boyfriend (Japanese: ボーイフレンド, Hepburn: Bōifurendo) is a Japanese reality dating show. It was the nation's first same-sex dating program. The first season premiered on Netflix on July 9, 2024.
Commentators are Megumi, Chiaki Horan, Thelma Aoyama, Durian Lollobrigida, and Yoshimi Tokui.
Contents
Format
The show features a cast of Japanese or East Asian gay or bisexual men. They navigate their daily lives while cohabiting in a shared residence known as the "Green Room". Each day, one cast member is selected by the show's unseen producers to run a coffee truck; that cast member may select one other participant (with an additional option of choosing two others later on the show) to run the truck with him on that day. The coffee truck allows participants to deepen their relationship without interference from the rest of the cast, who remain at the Green Room and maintain the house, relax, or socialize. Periodically, the cast are allowed to indicate who they would like to take on a more conventional date; each participant gets only one vote, and only mutual matches get to go on a date. The show is not a competition, and no participants are eliminated.
Periodically, the show cuts to a panel of commentators chaired by Megumi, who discuss the cast's actions and relationships, and offer their own opinions on who should date whom. They also provide additional commentary and insight regarding homosexuality in Japan and LGBT rights in Japan.
Cast
Episodes
Production and release
Filming started taking place in October 2023. The filming location was in the town of Tateyama, Chiba. The first season premiered on Netflix on July 9, 2024.
In December 2024, Netflix announced that the show had been renewed for a second season, with a new cast of queer men and all of the commentators returning. Set in Hokkaido, the second season premiered on January 13, 2026.
Soundtrack
The track "Dazed and Confused" from Bleach by the Korean indie band Glen Check is featured as the show's theme song. A second track by Glen Check, "4ever", is used as a leitmotif, or recurring refrain, to highlight key moments in the series when two cast members progress their relationship, or when an individual shows emotional growth. The "Golden Hour" (Fujii Kaze remix) by Jvke and Fujii Kaze also features in some episodes.
In 2026, Glen Check released the single "Bloom" through Netflix Music, in conjunction with Season 2. The track plays a role similar to "4ever" on the first season, with several recurring snippets playing during moments of dramatic tension, unexpected revelation, or relationship development.