• [Dailystar Icon]
• TV
• Netflix

Netflix's 'The Boyfriend' stirs excitement with Japan's first same-sex reality romance series

Netflix has dropped a new reality TV show that looks at love and friendship. The Boyfriend is the first same-sex dating series set in Japan and fans are already obsessed

Netflix fans are raving over a new reality TV show which only launched yesterday (Tuesday July 9).

Set in Japan, The Boyfriend is the country's first same-sex reality romance series. It sees a group of nine men search for love and friendship as they spend the summer shacking up at a beachside house in Tateyama, Chiba prefecture, around 50 miles south of central Tokyo.

The men bond as they work together at a coffee truck, wittily titled Brewtiful. But could jealousy also be brewing as the men become closer? Each participant has their own emotional tale to share - and the show's storytelling and formatting has already been praised by viewers.

READ MORE: Disney icon who starred alongside Zendaya and Bella Thorne stuns fans with controversial new job

READ MORE: Aljaz Skorjanecs Strictly return set to bring show back to its best after scandal

The first three episodes, between 40 and 45 minutes long, debuted on the streamer on Tuesday. The episodes will release in batches on the same day each week - with episodes four to six dropping on July 16, seven and eight on July 23 and nine and ten on July 30.

Among those taking part is artist Shun, 23, designer Taeheon, 34, dancer Usak, 36, and food service worker Ikuo, 22. Hair and make-up artist Gensei, university student Dai, 22, IT worker Alan, 29, cuisine chef Kazuto, 27, and model and barista Ryota, 28, are also hoping to find the one.

Watching along with the viewers is an eclectic group of commentators offering insights and opinions, as the men's romantic journeys unfold over the season. They are Megumi, Chiaki Horan, Thelma Aoyama, Durian Lollobrigida and Yoshimi Tokui.

Content cannot be displayed without consent

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, some viewers have binge-watched all three episodes already - with one admitting they were 'obsessed.' @friendlygemni said: "the boyfriend show on netflix is hit like i've already cried and there's only 3 eps so far. this is REAL storytelling", adding: "There's something so early 00s real world mixed with Terrace House [Japanese dating show] about it".

@konnichihello said: "I'm tuning into The Boyfriend on Netflix and it's only the first episode but all the participants talking about what they want to accomplish from joining the show made me CRY..." as @perrii305 asked: "Ok....why am I obsessed with The Boyfriend on Netflix".

Meanwhile @snoofluke_OGFK praised: "Just finished watching "The Boyfriend" on Netflix and I must say that they formatted the show well. I like that all of them get enough time to know each other so feelings might change as they get to together. "

If you can't wait for next week to get your Japanese dating reality fix, then Netflix has you covered with a similar show. There are four seasons of Terrace House currently available to stream. The hit docu-soap follows the lives of six strangers, three men and three women from different walks of life, who live under the same roof while getting to know and date each other.

Like The Boyfriend, there are also a group of commentators giving their analysis on developments in the house. There are also 11 episodes of Love is Blind Japan to really sink your teeth into.

The first three episodes of The Boyfriend are available to stream now on Netflix. Episodes four, five and six air on Tuesday July 16.

[Google Preferred Source Badge]