Japanese BL dramas
Originally more popular in works of anime and manga, Japan has recently started producing more live-action Japanese BL dramas. These dramas feature boisterous, comical scenes woven perfectly into a range of mature and meaningful stories – with toe-curling live-action chemistry.
To bring your BL intake to live-action level, here are 13 Japanese live-action BL dramas to add to your starter pack.
1. My Love Mix-Up! 消えた初恋 (2021)
Image credit: TV Asahi
Main cast
- Michieda Shunsuke as Aoki Sota
- Meguro Ren as Ida Kousuke
Aoki Sota borrows an eraser from his crush, and finds out that she likes another boy, Ida Kousuke, whose name is written on that eraser.
Ida accidentally knocks the eraser off Aoki’s table and is shocked to see his name on it. Aoki admits to owning the eraser to protect his crush. This throws Ida off and it doesn’t take long for Aoki and Ida to form a special bond.
Image credit: TV Asahi
This is a youthful romance story that portrays the struggles of a gay couple in a conservative country. It follows the characters as they navigate new friendships, school, and their love for each other in the face of ups and downs.
Watch My Love Mix-Up! for sweet, funny moments and a noteworthy depiction of healthy and communicative relationships – you’ll smile, laugh, and even cry.
Image credit: @_waytflag_ap
Here’s a fun fact: the show’s OSTs are sung by the main characters themselves!
Genre: Romance, comedy, youth
Length: 10 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Viki
Watch the trailer here:
Video credit: Johnny’s official
2. Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But To Kiss! 不幸くんはキスするしかない! (2022)
Image credit: GagaOOLala
Main cast
- Sota Ryosuke as Fukuhara Kota
- Sato Yusuke as Shinomiya Naoya
Fukuhara Kota, a university student who has incredibly bad luck, gets into unfortunate situations no matter where he goes. Stepping in dog poop is just one of the small mishaps he has had to endure.
Fukuhara meets lucky Shinomiya Naoya and has a good time around him. Due to a misunderstanding, they end up as lovers.
Image credit: GagaOOLala
Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice but to Kiss! has all the sweetness and fantasy of a quintessential BL, complete with unpredictability and attractive male leads with cute chemistry.
Genre: Romance, comedy, slice of life, youth
Length: 8 episodes
Available on: Viki
Watch the trailer here:
Video credit: MBS（毎日放送）
3. My Beautiful Man 美しい彼 シーズン1 (2021)
Image credit: Viki
Main cast
- Hagiwara Riku as Hira Kazunari
- Yagi Yusei as Kiyoi Sou
17-year-old Hira Kazunari enjoys photography but is a social outcast in his high school. He wants to stay invisible and hopes only that he gets noticed by one person. That person is Kiyoi Sou, the popular guy in class. Kiyoi starts bossing Hira around, and despite this, Hira simply obeys, worshipping him like a god.
Image credit: GagaOOLala
While My Beautiful Man begins by following the narrative of Hira, who has a hopeless crush. The drama later progresses to reveal the complexities of both characters, who are struggling with their own set of issues.
This show features a masochistic character, tension, and a unique dynamic between the male leads that gives the drama a slightly dark vibe. It shows how love can hurt.
Nonetheless, My Beautiful Man delivers with good acting, beautiful cinematography, and a catchy soundtrack.
Genre: Psychological, romance, youth
Length: 2 seasons; 6 episodes and 4 episodes respectively
Available on: Viki, WeTV
Watch the trailer here:
Video credit: GagaOOLala – Find YourStory
4. Ossan’s Love おっさんずラブ (2018)
Image credit: Viki
Main cast
- Tanaka Kei as Haruta Soichi
- Hayashi Kento as Maki Ryota
- Yoshida Kotaro as Kurosawa Musashi
Working at a real estate office, 33-year-old Haruta Soichi is struck by reality when his mother leaves him, forcing him to live independently.
Since Haruta is used to depending on his parents, he struggles to complete simple chores such as cooking at home. As a result, he moves in with his coworker, Maki Ryota, who is capable of maintaining the house.
Maki develops a liking for Haruta, but he’s not alone. Haruta has also sparked the interest of his older boss, Kurosawa Mudashi.
Ossan’s love explores a love triangle, creating a light-hearted and over-the-top storyline packed with humorous moments.
Genre: Business, comedy, romance
Length: 2 seasons; 7 episodes and 8 episodes respectively and 1 movie
Available on: Viki
5. What Did You Eat Yesterday? きのう何食べた? (2019)
Image credit: AsianWiki
Main cast
- Nishijima Hidetoshi as Shiro Kakei
- Uchino Seiyou as Kenji Yabuki
Shiro Kakei and Kenji Yabuki are lovers and live together in their humble abode. Every day, after Shiro finishes his work at a law firm, he goes to a mart and buys ingredients for dinner at discounted prices. As soon as Kenji comes home, the couple enjoys their hearty, homemade dinner over a good talk.
One day, Kenji’s customer from his hair salon sees the couple out in public and asks Kenji if Shiro is the boyfriend whom he has been talking about. This stirs trouble as unlike Kenji, who is openly gay, Shiro is a closeted gay who becomes embarrassed.
Image credit: @oriana_banana
What Did You Eat Yesterday? is a series that shows the daily life of a gay couple in their 40s, with a focus on food. Every episode, a specific meal is prepared and even taught to the audience.
Image credit: @oriana_banana
This drama cleanses your palate, serving you not only entertaining but heartwarming reminders about appreciating each other and living harmoniously.
Genre: Food, comedy, romance, life
Length: 12 episodes and 1 movie
Available on: Viki, Netflix
Watch the trailer here:
Video credit: J. Wang
6. Life~Love On The Line Life 線上の僕ら (2020)
Image credit: WeTV
Main cast
- Shirasu Jin as Ito Akira
- Raiku as Nishi Yuuki
As kids, we would have tried walking on a sidewalk’s white line, as if we were walking on a tightrope. Our main leads Ito Akira and Nishi Yuuki meet for the very first time while doing this exact thing.
Ito, who is usually serious and stoic, slowly starts warming up to the playful Nishi as they continue to meet on the sidewalk. Nishi starts to lose patience about the slow progress of their relationship when one day, Ito follows his heart and kisses Nishi.
Sparks fly and we follow the couple as they progress from high school, to college, and to adulthood – walking side by side together.
Image credit: Viki
Life~Love on the Line portrays the importance of staying true to yourself. The show also employs the symbolism of lines such as life lines and lines on the ground, delivering not merely a wholesome but also a profound series.
Genre: Romance, life, youth, drama
Length: 4 episodes
Available on: Viki, WeTV
Watch the trailer here:
Video credit: Viki Global TV
7. Cherry Magic! Thirty Years Of Virginity Can Make You A Wizard?! 30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい (2020)
Image credit: IMDb
Main cast
- Akaso Eiji as Adachi Kiyoshi
- Machida Keita as Kurosawa Yuichi
Adachi Kiyoshi is a virgin, and on his 30th birthday, he magically gains the power to read other people’s minds with a touch. This new power sends him into panic and shock as he tries to repress his ability.
One day, Adachi accidentally touches his colleague, Kurosawa Yuichi, who has feelings for him. With this revelation, their relationship becomes complicated and intertwined.
Image credit: @haeingfs
Cherry Magic is an international hit that delivers a love story with sensibility, balancing emotional scenes with comedy. If you want a feel-good drama with no toxicity and where all the characters are lovable, this is it.
Image credit: IMDb
If you end up loving the drama and want more, be sure to watch its movie sequel and 2 more spin-offs. There is even a Thai adaptation with Thai actors Tay Tawan and New Thitipoom (TayNew) releasing this year, in 2023.
Genre: Comedy, romance, life, supernatural
Length: 12 episodes, 1 movie and 2 spinoffs
Available on: Crunchyroll, TVer, WeTV
Watch the trailer here:
Video credit: 映画・ドラマ情報！カルチュア・エンタテインメント
8. Old Fashion Cupcake オールドファッションカップケーキ (2022)
Image credit: GagaOOLala
Main cast
- Takeda Kouhei as Nozue
- Kimura Tatsunari as Togawa
39-year-old Nozue goes through his daily routine with no ambition, and this catches the eye of his 29-year-old subordinate, Togawa. Togawa tries to motivate Nozue to explore more of life, and they soon find themselves visiting various dessert parlours, usually filled with women.
Despite the gap in seniority and age, the two of them lean on each other and deepen their relationship.
Image credit: GagaOOLala
Old Fashion Cupcake tells a compelling tale about how spicing things up sometimes can bring variety, fun, and even sweetness to life and change long-standing dynamics – for the better.
Genre: Romance, life, drama
Length: 5 episodes
Available on: Viki
Watch the trailer here:
Video credit: GagaOOLala – Find YourStory
9. More Than Words モアザンワーズ (2022)
Image credit: Prime Video
Main cast
- Fujino Ryoko as Mieko Takagi
- Aoki Yuzu as Makio Senoo
- Nakagawa Daisuke as Eiji Fukunaga
Best friends Mieko Takagi and Makio Senoo work part-time jobs together in a restaurant, where they meet university student Eiji Fukunaga. Eiji takes a liking to Makio, and Mieko becomes an ally who supports them.
More Than Words is a sad, emotional, and introspective story about a compelling love triangle that explores both platonic and sexual relationships between the 3 leads and follows their journey from childhood to adulthood.
Not your typical BL romance, this delivers a realistic perspective of LGBTQ+ relationships and how they influence the people around them. We see the relationship of 2 best friends evolve and blur as they welcome more people and drama into their lives.
Genre: Romance, youth, drama
Length: 10 episodes
Available on: Prime Video
Watch the trailer here:
Video credit: Prime Video JP – プライムビデオ
10. Eternal Yesterday 永遠の昨日 (2022)
Image credit: GagaOOLala
Main cast
- Rio Komiya as Koichi Yamada
- Sora Inoue as Mitsuru Oumi
Mitsuru Oumi and Koichi Yamada are two opposites attracted to each other. Mitsuru is a recluse while Koichi is popular and usually has a smile on his face.
One morning, whilst they are walking to school, Koichi meets with an accident and Mitsuru witnesses it. Koichi magically “lives”, but only Mitsuru can interact with him as his classmates begin to forget about Koichi.
Image credit: GagaOOLala
Eternal Yesterday deals with grief, hope, and longing. Mitsuru deals with a range of emotions such as anger and denial, and the audience are brought on an emotional rollercoaster ride of pain and bittersweet love.
Image credit: GagaOOLala
Get your tissues ready, especially if you cry easily, as the drama carries a melancholic vibe throughout the series.
Genre: Mystery, romance, drama, supernatural
Length: 8 episodes
Available on: Viki
Watch the trailer here:
Video credit: GagaOOLala – Find YourStory
11. His: I Didn’t Think I Would Fall In Love His 〜恋するつもりなんてなかった〜 (2019)
Image credit: IMDb
Main cast
- Kusakawa Naoya as Shun Igawa
- Kura Yuki as Nagisa Hibino
17-year-old Nagisa Hibino lives separately from his parents in the seaside town of Fujisawa in Kanagawa. Besides working at a bathhouse, Nagisa usually spends his time surfing – a hobby he enjoys.
One day, Nagisa meets Shun Igawa, who is on spring break and coincidentally the same age. The friendship of these 2 boys develop into a romantic relationship as they spend time with each other surfing.
Image credit: @doramasaurusrex
His: I Didn’t Think I Would Fall In Love is a cosy and innocent drama between 2 young boys falling in love. If you’re looking for something simplistic and dream-like, with attractive leads, this is the one to watch.
Image credit: IMDb
For a continuation, catch the movie sequel that shows Nagisa and Shun navigating their love as adults.
Genre: Romance, youth, sports
Length: 5 episodes and 1 movie
Available on: Viki, Apple TV
Watch the trailer here:
Video credit: Viki Global TV
12. A Man Who Defies The World of BL 絶対BLになる世界VS絶対BLになりたくない男 (2021)
Image credit: GagaOOLala
Main cast
- Inukai Atsuhiro as Mob
Our protagonist, Mob, suddenly realises he lives in a BL world. It’s a world where everyone is gay and no one judges because it is the norm. Life is like a drama there, where couples get together serendipitously and affection is everywhere.
Hot guys approach him only to be rejected by Mob who is straight. As the odd one out, Mob struggles to cope and maintain his identity.
Image credit: GagaOOLala
The comedy series A Man Who Defies The World Of BL is a fanservice to fans of BL as it shows deliberate extra-ness and parodies classic BL moments, but it can also be watched by people who just want a laugh, or to watch something different. Overall, it is an over-the-top drama that completely switches up the conventional norms in our society.
Genre: Comedy, romance, life, youth
Length: 2 seasons; 4 episodes each and 1 spinoff
Available on: Viki, WeTV
Watch the trailer here:
Video credit: GagaOOLala – Find YourStory
13. Mood Indigo インディゴの気分 (2019)
Image credit: Viki
Main cast
- Takezai Terunosuke as Kijima Rio
- Yoshida Munehiro as Kido Shiro
Kijima Rio used to have a talent for writing. But now, he is a struggling author who decides to write erotic novels upon the suggestion of his former classmate, Kido Shiro.
Kido works as an editor for erotic novels. As Kijima learns the ropes of erotic writing and the pair starts working together, these circumstances become a catalyst for them to reveal their desires. A secret relationship forms as Kido and Kijima fulfil their craving and lust with each other.
Mood Indigo reveals the vulnerability of 2 men in a sensual relationship, with both actors delivering a raw and delicate performance. This one’s for the mature ladies and gentlemen – viewer discretion is advised.
Genre: Psychological, romance, life, drama
Length: 6 episode
Available on: Viki, WeTV
Japanese BL dramas to watch
Take your first dive into the treasury of live-action Japanese BL dramas with this list of shows, which range from angsty and emotional to wholesome and comedic. Some will have your sides hurting from laughter, while others may even deliver new perspectives on life and sexuality.
Here are more movies and series to binge-watch:
Cover image adapted from: @mewtul, IMDb, @247withlove
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