Since its debut on Netflix on July 9, audiences have fallen in love with reality romance series The Boyfriend and its cast including Shun, Taeheon, Usak, Ikuo, Gensei, Dai, Alan, Kazuto, and Ryota — an all same-sex cast, a first for Netflix in Japan.
Where many reality dating series are usually wild, salacious, and filled with drama, The Boyfriend is a different vibe. It’s a calm and wholesome unscripted series that follows the aforementioned Japanese locals from different walks of life as they run a coffee truck while living together — while trying to find that romantic spark.
It may be more serene, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some twists and turns during the series which will release its final two episodes on July 30. Through secret-admirer note swapping, private dates, and meaningful conversations over food, the new series shares very vulnerable moments where the men bond and connect.
The show is hosted by a mix of personalities including Megumi, Horan Chiaki, Thelma Aoyama, drag queen Durian Lollobrigida, and Yoshimi Tokui, who serve as a viewing panel that watches the show with the audience as we watch romances unfold.
The Boyfriend comes at a time when Japan — and the world for that matter — are seeing change when it comes to LGBTQ rights. On March 14, 2024, the Tokyo District Court and Sapporo High Court recognized the government’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.
“The court decisions today mark a significant step towards achieving marriage equality in Japan,” said Amnesty International’s East Asia Researcher Boram Jang in a statement. “The ruling in Sapporo, the first High Court decision on same-sex marriage in the country, emphatically shows the trend towards acceptance of same-sex marriage in Japan.”
GLAAD had the opportunity to interview model, DJ and YouTuber Taiki (full name Taiki Takahashi) who serves producer and casting director of the series as well as the fabulous Durian about The Boyfriend‘s global reach and impact.
There are plenty of reality dating shows around the globe — and there are a handful of LGTBQ-fronted ones. When you were developing The Boyfriend , how did you want it stand out from the rest?
TAIKI: I would not compare to the others personally. Growing up, I always wondered, “There are so many reality TV shows about relationships between men and women, but why are there no shows between men and men (or women to women)? ” As an LGBTQ+ person, I am sure that everyone wants to watch romance reality shows themselves and there would be people who would want to be on the show. I am so happy to have this show made this way and thankful.
DURIAN: I am not familiar with reality shows, as I have never been personally interested in them, given that these shows are usually between men and women. However, I loved this one because it carefully depicted the boys as they are and their natural emotional movements and interactions rather than dramas- such as excessive excitement or happenings. Nothing forced, very authentic.
Taiki, what were you looking for when you were picking the cast for The Boyfriend?
TAIKI: I have been concerned about gay and LGBTQ+ stereotypes in the media. I was sure that the people who appear in the media were trying too hard, or trying to hype up the character more than they should. But in reality, there are all kinds of people who are gay, and that is natural. We wanted to let the people know each of them as they are if the audience is LGBTQ+ or not, so we went through a lot to find various types of people, such as scouting directly, sending DMs on social networking services, and asking for introductions from acquaintances, to arrive at the nine members of this varied group. We may have gone for the quieter types, but the important point was that they could be themselves during the show.
Fans of Terrace House will recognize a similar format with a panel watching along with the audience. This is may be new format for United States audiences. Why do you think the panel is important to the series?
TAIKI: I was mainly involved in casting, not production, so I was not involved in the format, but the main emcee, Megumi, was very famous as an ally for a long time, and Durian, the drag queen, was there, and the atmosphere in the studio was full of love, which made me feel at ease. I also felt that the emcee’s honesty in speaking about things can lower the hurdle for everyone watching the show.
DURIAN: I think this style with emcees presence may not be for everyone, but since this is the first LGBTQ+ unscripted production in Japan, I wanted to play the role of an interpreter to bridge between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+. Through casual conversations with the other emcees, I hope to lower the emotional hurdles and deepen the understanding of LGBTQ+ everyday life towards wider viewers. I appreciated this style because of this.
Were you nervous about the pushback you may receive from more conservative audiences?
TAIKI: I am often asked if I was nervous because the show was the first attempt in Japan, but I was just so excited and overflowing with motivation. I strongly felt that I did not want any boys to get hurt. We communicated wholeheartedly during the whole process. In order to ensure safety and security, Netflix has prepared a very generous support system, and they have supported us not only during the production of the program but also after production and during distribution, which is very reassuring.
DURIAN: I don’t worry about myself, but I am very concerned about whether there would be any prejudice against the boys, who are ordinary people. Therefore, I wanted to protect them to the best of my ability. During my appearance, I tried to convey the message without any misunderstandings. I was also glad that the show is on Netflix, where you can watch it by choice, unlike regular TV.
How has the response been to the series?
TAIKI: We are getting a tremendous response from all over the world. In Japan, I can clearly feel the love and support from all my friends, and overseas, I hear that we are in the top 10 in more than 10 countries! In Japan, it has been trending on X. I feel that the reaction overseas is stronger than in Japan, and I would like to see our voice spread more widely to the Japanese people as well.
DURIAN: It became the #1 show in Japan as of July 2), and everyone around me was really happy. I went to 3-4 gay bars in the gay district the other day and all of them were playing this show, I was so happy to see that there was a frank exchange of opinions there and everyone enjoyed it. As you can see from the comments on social, I can feel the #ShunDai and #Chicken smoothies in the US and other countries are so popular, and I am proud that all this excitement came from this first ever show from Japan.
How do you think The Boyfriend speaks to the current social landscape of the LGTBQ experience?
DURIAN: Compared to when I entered the community, the times are changing, especially among younger people. [There is more] of this content coming out on Netflix, and more people are out and about on social media with their own sexual identities. However, for many sexual minorities, there are still prejudices and issues, as discussed on the show. I would be happy if this show contributed to everyone’s happiness.
TAIKI: Through this show, I hope that many people will feel that love is love; it is natural for people to love others. Thanks to your support, it has been seen by a very large number of people worldwide and has received a very positive response. In general, I can only express my gratitude, but at the same time, I hope these positive feelings to have more spread in Japan, and I would like more people to see and discuss it. I think that interest is the first step toward understanding each other.
What would it have been like for you to see a series like The Boyfriend when you were younger?
TAIKI: I think we were able to create “exactly what I wanted to see.” Growing up, I thought that there was only one person like me in the world, so if my younger self had been able to see this kind of show, I would have cried with joy. I strongly hope that it will reach people like me all over the world.
DURIAN: I am proud of being gay because I was able to meet cool people from the same community. Seeing people of the same sexuality as myself enjoying life, making friends, and falling in love with so much joy and sparkle, and seeing this unscripted show being accepted by the world, would have given me a sense of self-affirmation and pride. I am so proud that this work was created.
All episodes of The Boyfriend are available now on Netflix.