Japan did make some progress regarding LGBTQ+ rights in the two years between The Boyfriend season 2 — released today on Netflix — and its inaugural season in 2024. Alas, the country is still behind in its support, legitimization, and protections for queer people.
"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," executive producer Dai Ota told Tudum in an interview. "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."
But where do LGBTQ+ rights stand as this second season of The Boyfriend premieres today on Netflix, and how does this new reality affect season 2? Let's break it down.
LGBTQ+ rights in Japan: The years leading up to The Boyfriend season 1.
Cast members on The Boyfriend season 1.Netflix
Six same-sex couples filed separate lawsuits against the Japanese government to challenge the country's stance on marriage equality in 2019, as reported by The Loop. Generally, the couples argued that a ban on marriage equality was "unconstitutional." The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly subsequently "committed the city government to raising awareness of LGBTQ people and outlawed the expression of hateful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric in public," as noted on The Conversation.
Despite marriage equality in Japan having a "mixed ruling" in 2022, several cities did allow for queer couples to get married by 2023.
Within this context, the years leading up to The Boyfriend season 1 had a pretty significant momentum for LGBTQ+ rights in Japan.
The very different reality around The Boyfriend season 2.
Cast members on The Boyfriend season 2.Netflix
In a shocking turn of events, marriage equality was actually banned in 2025.
"A court in Tokyo ruled Friday that the country's ban on marriage equality does not violate Japan's constitution," Alex Cooper wrote on The Advocate. "Several court cases in recent years have found the ban unconstitutional, meaning the most recent ruling is an outlier."
On the one hand, BBC News reported that Japan wasn't an outlier in Asia. In fact, only Thailand, Taiwan, and Nepal had passed marriage equality legislation. On the other hand, Japan became the only country among G7 nations to not offer protections or marriage equality for people in the LGBTQ+ community.
As The Boyfriend season 2 premieres today on Netflix, these cast members are surprisingly experiencing a different set of circumstances regarding LGBTQ+ rights in Japan — a negative one, without the same momentum and progress that cast members were navigating in the first season.
The Boyfriend season 2 is streaming on Netflix.
