The Boyfriend (Japanese: ボーイフレンド, Hepburn: Bōifurendo) is a Japanese reality dating show on Netflix.[1][2][3] It is the nation's first same-sex dating program. It premiered on July 9, 2024.[4][5]
| The Boyfriend | |
|---|---|
.png) Promotional poster | |
| Japanese | ボーイフレンド |
| Genre | |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Original language | Japanese |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | July 9 – July 30, 2024 |
Format
editThe show features a cast of 9 Japanese and East Asian men who identify as gay or bisexual living together in a house called "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 them 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 the date. The show is not a competition and thus no participants are eliminated.[6][7]
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.[6]
Production
editFilming started taking place in October of 2023. The filming location was in the town of Tateyama, Chiba.[6]The "Green Room" house is actually the Stay Ocean Tateyama located at 1207-33 Menuma, Tateyama, Chiba 294-0221.[8][9][10]
Soundtrack
editThe track "Dazed and Confused" on Bleach by the Korean indie band Glen Check was chosen as the theme song.[11] Other songs include "Golden Hour" (Fujii Kaze remix) by Jvke and Fujii Kaze.[12]
Cast
editContestants
edit| Entrance | Name | Age | Occupation | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nakai Dai (ダイ) | 23 | University student | 1–10 |
| 2 | Kim Taeheon (テホン) | 34 | Product designer | 1–10 |
| 3 | Ryota (リョウタ) | 28 | Model and barista | 1–10 |
| 4 | Gensei (ゲンセイ) | 34 | Hair and makeup artist | 1–9 |
| 5 | Nakanishi Shun (シュン) | 23 | Artist and DJ | 1–10 |
| 6 | Kasahara Kazuto (カズト) | 27 | Japanese cuisine chef | 1–10 |
| 7 | Usak (ユーサク) | 36 | Go-go dancer | 1–5 |
| 8 | Takahashi Alan (アラン) | 28 | IT worker | 3–10 |
| 9 | Ikuo (イクオ) | 22 | Burger shop worker | 6–10 |
Commentators
edit- Megumi
- Chiaki Horan
- Thelma Aoyama
- Durian Lollobrigida
- Yoshimi Tokui
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Jones, Daisy (2024-07-09). "The Boyfriend review – the gay Japanese dating show that will have you punching the air with joy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2024-07-14. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Netflix's The Boyfriend is not just groundbreaking – it's the antidote to Love Island". The Independent. 2024-07-10. Archived from the original on 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Netflix's groundbreaking gay dating show The Boyfriend is nearly perfect". Digital Spy. 2024-07-10. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ Wangu, Elah (2024-07-10). "The Boyfriend: Latest News, Release Date, Cast & Trailer". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ Steen, Emma (July 9, 2024). "The Boyfriend on Netflix is Japan's first same-sex dating reality show". Time Out Tokyo.
- ^ a b c "The Boyfriend Trailer, Cast, Instagrams, Hosts, Filming Location, Who's Still Together, Where Are They Now? - Netflix Tudum". Netflix.
- ^ "The Boyfriend: How TV shows are finally getting gay dating right". www.bbc.com.
- ^ Singh, Sartaj (July 8, 2024). "Where is Netflix's The Boyfriend Filmed?". The Cinemaholic.
- ^ "The Green Room - The Boyfriend | OpenMovieMap".
- ^ "Cottage in Tateyama · 10 bedrooms · 18 beds · 2.5 baths". Airbnb.
- ^ Staples, Louis (2025-06-30). "The Boyfriend: How TV shows are finally getting gay dating right". BBC.com. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/k-pop/news-the-boyfriend-soundtrack-every-song-reality-show
