A gay dating show from Japan is wowing international viewers since premiering earlier this month.
The reality series, titled The Boyfriend, follows nine gay men living together in a house as they search for love over the summer.
To build their connections with each other, the group is also tasked with running a coffee truck together.
Viewers have been stunned by the same-sex series, with many praising it as a more wholesome alternative to raunchy western reality shows.
‘This seems insanely sweet, with none of the manufactured drama we’re used to from other reality dating shows,’ commented one viewer.
Netflix fans have been sent into a frenzy over a new gay Japanese dating series that premiered earlier this month
The reality series, titled The Boyfriend, follows nine gay men living together in a house as they search for love over the summe
‘This is interesting how calm they are compared to American reality shows,’ added one.
Another commented, ‘They’re about a billion times hotter than the guys on British Love Island.’
Speaking to Netflix about The Boyfriend, executive producer Dai Ota said, ‘We started out wanting to highlight the young men’s friendships and personalities.’
He continued, ‘Our focus wasn’t just on romance but also on spending time together and experiencing personal growth.’
The show has a diverse array of singles, from a 22-year-old university student through to a 36-year-old go-go dancer.
Last year, the BBC launched the UK’s first ever gay dating show with I Kissed a Boy.
The series, hosted by Dannii Minogue, followed ten single men who are matched together and must kiss before even saying a word to each other.
It was renewed for a second season in May.
To build their connections with each other, the group is also tasked with running a coffee truck together
Viewers have been stunned by the same-sex series, with many praising it as a more wholesome alternative to raunchy western reality shows
The show has a diverse array of singles, from a 22-year-old university student through to a 36-year-old go-go dancer (pictured)
Meanwhile, Asian reality shows have turned out to be a big hit for Netflix in recent years, beginning with Single’s Inferno, which premiered in 2021.
The South Korean series follows a group of sexy singletons stranded on a deserted island and forced to live together.
With limited supplies and the searing summer heat, they must work together to survive the outdoors while competing in challenges each day.
In a surprising twist, none of the singles are allowed to share their ages or occupations with each other, and must instead rely on their ‘natural charms’ to form a connection.
If they do manage to couple up, they’re able to escape the ‘inferno’ for the night and head to ‘paradise’ – a luxury hotel nearby where they can say and do anything.
The next South Korean sensation to storm Netflix was Physical 100, which briefly became the most-watched show on the streaming platform following its premiere 2023.
The show’s premise revolved around finding the ‘ideal human physique’ based on physical performance.
South Korean dating show Single’s Inferno became a huge hit back in late 2021
Physical 100, also from South Korea, has been a huge success for the global streaming giant
It begins with 100 competitors, with many being professional sports stars or fitness influencers, and puts them all through grueling challenges.
Participants are eventually whittled down until one winner remains.
The series sparked a huge reaction on social media, with one fan writing, ‘This show is amazing. There’s something different about this show compared to American or other western physical competition shows.
‘I think it’s the attitudes of the competitors – most are very humble and respectful of each other.’
Another viewer wrote, ‘Koreans know how to make entertainment. Excellent show.’