Netflix's 'The Boyfriend' Season 2 Premieres Amid Setback in Japan's LGBTQ+ Rights Landscape

Netflix's "The Boyfriend", Japan's pioneering reality television series featuring same-sex romance, returned with its second season, premiering in a winter wonderland setting in Hokkaido. Unlike Season 1's sunny seaside backdrop, which made history as the country's first show exploring gay relationships, Season 2 unfolds in a cozy lodge named The Green Room amid snowy landscapes popular for skiing and snowboarding.

The new season features a cast of men ranging in age from 20 to 40, hailing from various locations and professions, many with past heartbreaks as they attempt to open up to new connections. Similar to the first season, participants work shifts in pairs at a coffee truck, fostering intimate bonds in the snug setting. This season expands to 15 episodes from Season 1's 10, allowing deeper exploration of relationships, potential breakups, and personal growth. From Season 1, one couple—Dai Nakai and Shun Nakanishi—continues their relationship strongly, recently marking their two-year anniversary.

Executive producer Dai Ota highlighted the show's commitment to authenticity: "Being the first same-sex romance reality show in Japan, we paid careful attention to ensure that the story was an authentic portrayal of these relationships. In season 1, we showed not just romance, but their friendship and meaningful connections with one another. In season 2, we will continue to showcase their compassion and stories of growth, with more unique perspectives and backstories." This approach underscores the series'role in depicting transgender people and other LGBTQ+ individuals with person-first dignity, focusing on their full humanity beyond labels.

The premiere coincides with a challenging moment for LGBTQ+ rights in Japan, where progress has stalled. Season 1 aired in 2024 amid building momentum: in 2019, six same-sex couples filed lawsuits arguing Japan's marriage equality ban was unconstitutional. By 2022, courts issued mixed rulings on the issue, and several cities permitted queer couples to marry by 2023. The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly also committed to raising awareness of LGBTQ+ people and prohibiting hateful anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in public spaces.

However, a Tokyo court ruled in 2025 that the national ban on same-sex marriage does not violate Japan's constitution, reversing recent trends where multiple courts had deemed it unconstitutional. This decision positions Japan as the only G7 nation without marriage equality or comprehensive protections for LGBTQ+ people, contrasting with neighbors like Thailand, Taiwan, and Nepal, which have enacted such legislation. Cast members in Season 2 thus navigate a landscape lacking the forward momentum of prior years, highlighting ongoing disparities for gay men, transgender individuals, and the broader LGBTQ+ community in Japan.

"The Boyfriend" remains a vital platform, offering visibility to same-sex relationships in a society where transgender people and LGBTQ+ individuals continue advocating for equal recognition. The extended episode count promises nuanced stories of compassion and resilience, potentially influencing public perceptions amid legal hurdles. As the series streams globally on Netflix, it spotlights both the joys of queer connections and the persistent fight for rights in Japan.