The Boyfriend season 2 streams as Japan’s first gay dating show
Updated
Updated · Washington Blade · May 7
The Boyfriend season 2 streams as Japan’s first gay dating show
10 articles · Updated · Washington Blade · May 7
On Netflix, contestants and commentator Durian say the series gives LGBTQ people in Japan rare visibility and tells viewers they are not alone.
Cast members describe growing up with little public discussion of sexuality and mostly stereotyped portrayals of gay men, while the show offers community, romance and a fuller picture of queer life.
Set in the Green Room, the programme follows men living together over a summer, highlighting how acceptance struggles differ across cultures without rejecting Japan, as participants hope it broadens representation.
Can shows like Japan's 'The Boyfriend' truly change minds when the nation's government opposes marriage equality?
Are today's explicit 'trauma plots' a better form of queer representation than the hidden lives of the past?
As trauma stories fuel lawsuits, is Richard Gadd’s fictional new series the future for creators exploring their past?