The Boyfriend Trailer, Cast, Instagrams, Hosts, Filming Location, Who’s Still Together, Where Are They Now?
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.
What’s the release date for The Boyfriend?
Starting on July 9, new episodes of The Boyfriend will be released every Tuesday over four weeks up until the finale.
- Batch 1: July 9 (Episodes 1-3)
- Batch 2: July 16 (Episodes 4-6)
- Batch 3: July 23 (Episode 7-8)
- Batch 4: July 30 (Episodes 9-10)
Who’s in the The Boyfriend cast?
Get to know the nine men who’ll live in a house together during a life-changing summer of love and friendship.
Shun
Taeheon
About
34, designer from Korea
Usak
Ikuo
About
22, food service industry worker
Gensei
About
34, hair and makeup artist from Taiwan
Dai
About
22, university student
Alan
About
29, IT company employee from Brazil
Kazuto
About
27, Japanese cuisine chef
Ryota
About
28, model and barista
Who’s still together from The Boyfriend and where is the cast now?
Below, hear from each of the men about how the experience changed their outlook on love and friendship — and if any of the couples are still together today.
Alan
Alan is “happily growing and filled with gratitude every day” thanks to the incredible response from fans around the world. After living with his fellow housemates on The Boyfriend, Alan now cherishes “person-to-person connections,” having learned the importance of supporting friends through life’s ups and downs. “When something good happens, we celebrate together; when we’re feeling lonely, we support each other; and when there’s a problem, we talk it out and find a solution together,” he tells Tudum. Reflecting on his experience, Alan says the only thing he regrets is “sharing too much” about his first date with Kazuto. As for his relationship status, Alan is currently single, but keeping his eye out for someone he “always wants to get to know more deeply.” He remains close with the rest of the cast, adding, “we all stay in touch and are planning to get together and hang out again soon.”
Kazuto
Realizing the “importance of fully engaging with the feelings of others” and his own “difficulty in expressing feelings in words” is Kazuto’s major takeaway from The Boyfriend. “Whether in romance or friendship, I’ve learned that it’s crucial to be considerate of the other person’s feelings and to communicate effectively,” he tells Tudum. If there’s one thing he could change about the experience, Kazuto wishes he’d raised his hand for the coffee truck shift, as he feels the time he spent with Usak was “too short” for his liking. While he may not have found a romantic partner, there’s one particular connection among the group that Kazuto still cherishes deeply to this day. “While things didn’t progress into a romantic relationship with Alan, he remains an invaluable and dear friend,” he says.
Dai
#DaiShun fans, rejoice! The two are still very much a couple many months later. “We’ve both experienced many ups and downs and we have never given up on facing each other,” Dai tells Tudum about their relationship. “As a result, our bond has become even stronger.” While he says leaning into vulnerability taught him how to take his love life one step further, Dai still believes that “meeting someone who can make you feel that deeply is truly a matter of fate.” As for his other housemates, Dai says he has a special place in his heart for all the boys, sharing that the group goes out for meals together when their schedules allow. Leaving the experience with zero regrets, Dai is “grateful every day” for his journey on The Boyfriend, which has pushed him to explore opportunities to try new things.
Shun
Two months after filming wrapped, Shun says he was the one to suggest to Dai that they explore a relationship back home. They’ve been together ever since and their connection is worlds apart from those Shun experienced in the past . “My relationships were often self-centered, and I couldn’t see the people around me,” Shun tells Tudum. “Meeting Dai changed my entire perspective on love. Now I strive to respect what my loved one thinks and feels while maintaining a balance of mutual love.”
Gensei
Gensei returned to his native Taiwan once filming ended and resumed his job as a professional hair and makeup artist. While he left the Green Room without a romantic connection, he gained a lifelong friend in Taeheon. “We talk every day and share silly conversations. He’s a dear friend whom I really love,” he tells Tudum. In fact, friendship has never been more crucial for Gensei who’s focused on cherishing “those who have supported me both before and after the show.” He isn’t holding onto any major regrets from the experience apart from some first day jitters. “I was a bit nervous at first. I think it would have been better to be more natural. However, being nervous is also part of who I am, so it’s fine as it is,” he adds. When it comes to love these days, Gensei, who is currently single, learned that “it’s important to find someone who respects not just your appearance but also your inner self.”
Taeheon
Since The Boyfriend came to an end, Taeheon has been on a “journey of self-discovery and growth,” prompting him to explore new hobbies and take on personal and professional challenges. “It’s been an exciting time, and I’m embracing each new opportunity with enthusiasm,” he tells Tudum. Now he approaches both love and friendship in brand new ways, as joining the cast made Taeheon “appreciate the depth and value of friendship and showed [him] that love can come in many forms.” During certain moments in the house — like choosing the name of the coffee truck — Taeheon thinks he was a “bit too assertive and could have done a better job of considering everyone else’s ideas.” But at the end of the day, he’s proud of how he navigated the experience and grateful for the valuable life lessons. As for his love life today, Taeheon is single and says he’s taking time to really focus on himself and clarify what he wants in a relationship. He still keeps in touch with all of the Green Room boys, but his connection with Gensei remains the strongest. “We chat almost every day and share both the highs and lows of life,” he says. “Since we’re the same age, we relate to many of the same experiences, which has really strengthened our bond.”
Ikuo
These days, Ikuo is taking on each day with Alan’s mantra in mind: “Live in a way that makes you happy.” That means embracing being with someone who makes him feel content, in both platonic and romantic relationships. Ikuo is still on the hunt for someone special, as he’s currently single, but has recently made some professional moves. He’s since left his job and is now working at a new restaurant. While Ikuo is not holding onto any deep regrets, he does wish he could change one moment in the house. “I wanted to finish on a positive note and tried to mediate between Dai and Shun to restore their relationship and express my feelings,” he tells Tudum. “Unfortunately, it backfired.”
Ryota
Keep an eye out for Ryota, because his modeling career has skyrocketed since The Boyfriend. “I’ve been getting a lot more modeling work since the show,” he tells Tudum, adding that he’s taken a break from his job at the cafe to focus on fashion. Being a part of the experience “reinforced the importance of the values I had always cherished,” he says, adding that he’s even more aware of “being empathetic and considerate of other people’s perspectives.” Embracing empathy and compassion made Ryota realize “how crucial it is to think about what makes others happy instead of what just pleases me.” He is currently single and learned a key lesson about dating going forward, thanks to his journey: “I’ve realized I should avoid sending Line messages if I see someone I’m interested in –– on a date, or out and about –– in the future.”
Usak
Usak is single, but has never been so hopeful about the “possibility of a fateful encounter” should the right guy cross his path. “I feel like I’m less hesitant about relationships than before,” he tells Tudum. “I used to be the type to keep my feelings hidden. Being on the show gave me the opportunity to open up.” Going forward, Usak plans on making it a priority to “communicate my feelings in both romantic and friendship relationships.” That holds particularly true for his one regret in the house: The chicken breast incident. “I regret not considering the feelings and efforts of Dai and Gensei –– who managed the money –– and the other members,” he says. “Looking back, I think I was obsessed with chicken at the time.” These days, work has taken up much of his focus, as Usak continues to perform as a go-go dancer in Japan and around the world, in addition to launching his own fan site.
Where can I watch The Boyfriend reunion?
Want to catch up with all the Green Room boys? Watch the videos below to see the cast members reminisce on their journey of a lifetime.
Who are the hosts of The Boyfriend?
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.
Where can I watch the trailer?
Scroll up to the top of the page to see what’s just on the horizon.
Where is The Boyfriend filmed?
The series was filmed in Tateyama, a city in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
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