![The cast of 'The Boyfriend' Season 1](https://cdn.statically.io/img/dnm.nflximg.net/api/v6/2DuQlx0fM4wd1nzqm5BFBi6ILa8/AAAAQYC0mDiULXauddwbagNESZFqlpjLlS6_wfOAPq3vHJsnb32Qy3-omFWETe1dOE6Kbn69Y0CKnARtsW6LWRnfWcOuh2PeLMbclQzDj4v9vishJcYJLBm7w0b2-7i58mj8EUhe8zv-mWQdOgwu3cTUE_rs.jpg?r=d52)
![The cast of 'The Boyfriend' Season 1](https://cdn.statically.io/img/dnm.nflximg.net/api/v6/2DuQlx0fM4wd1nzqm5BFBi6ILa8/AAAAQYC0mDiULXauddwbagNESZFqlpjLlS6_wfOAPq3vHJsnb32Qy3-omFWETe1dOE6Kbn69Y0CKnARtsW6LWRnfWcOuh2PeLMbclQzDj4v9vishJcYJLBm7w0b2-7i58mj8EUhe8zv-mWQdOgwu3cTUE_rs.jpg?r=d52)
Summer comes and goes, but the connections made in a Japanese seaside city on The Boyfriend, the country’s first same-sex reality romance series, could last a lifetime.
Launching in July, the reality series follows nine young men in search of love and friendship as they spend a summer living together. Each participant arrives at their new home — a beachside abode called the “Green Room” — with their own unique story to share. But the group has one thing in common: They are all attracted to men.
Over 10 episodes, they’ll experience the highs and lows of first love and heartbreak, all while working together at a coffee truck. As their time together grows, so do the connections they forge, as the men express themselves and their feelings for each other in bold and brave new ways.
“We started out wanting to highlight the young men’s friendships and personalities,” says executive producer Dai Ota. “Our focus wasn’t just on romance but also on spending time together and experiencing personal growth.” Broadening the discussions beyond romantic relationships “led to many unexpected miracles on set,” adds chief producer Keisuke Hishida, who says that the series also explores “shared friendships, youth, and struggles” among the cast.
Read on for everything you need to know about The Boyfriend Season 1.
Starting on July 9, new episodes of The Boyfriend will be released every Tuesday over four weeks up until the finale.
Get to know the nine men who’ll live in a house together during a life-changing summer of love and friendship.
23, artist
34, designer from Korea
36, go-go dancer
22, food service industry worker
34, hair and makeup artist from Taiwan
22, university student
29, IT company employee from Brazil
27, Japanese cuisine chef
28, model and barista
Watching along with the viewers is an eclectic group of commentators offering insights and opinions, as the young men’s romantic journeys unfold over the season.
Scroll up to the top of the page to see what’s just on the horizon.
The series was filmed in Tateyama, a city in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.