As marriage equality inches toward reality in Japan, Netflix is returning to the East Asian country for another shot at love.
On Sunday, the streamer announced Season 2 of its same-sex dating show The Boyfriend, which premiered its first 10-episode season in July, featuring nine Japanese and East Asian men who identify as gay or bisexual, searching for a connection.
“THE BOYFRIEND WILL BE BACK FOR SEASON 2!!!” Netflix announced on X, noting that the new season is “coming soon.”
The country’s first same-sex reality dating series follows the group of men as they live together in the beachside residence ‘The Green Room’, where they forge connections with each other while running a coffee truck together.
“Thanks to the love from our viewers, it is exciting to return for a new season,” said executive producer Dai Ota in a statement. “Being the first same-sex romance reality show in Japan, we paid careful attention to ensure that the story is an authentic portrayal of these relationships. In Season 1, we showed not just romance, but their friendship and meaningful connections with one another, which I believe touched the hearts of fans around the world.”
Ota added, “In Season 2, we will continue to showcase their compassion and stories of growth, with more unique perspectives and backstories. Please look forward to a new season with new participants, a new Green Room, and new storytelling.”
Season 1 commentators Megumi, Chiaki Horan, Thelma Aoyama, Durian Lollobrigida and Yoshimi Toku will be back for the sophomore outing.
The Season 2 renewal comes after Japan’s Fukuoka High Court ruled Friday that the refusal to recognize same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, the Associated Press reported. The eighth overall ruling to find the ban unconstitutional, it brings Japan closer to legalizing same-sex marriage.
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