Netflix is bringing back Japanese reality romance series The Boyfriend with a brand-new chapter arriving in the middle of winter. Season 2 lands on the platform on January 13 and continues to follow queer men exploring love and connection, while shifting the action to a completely different environment and cast.
Why The Boyfriend matters in Japanese reality TV
When The Boyfriend launched in 2024, it stood out immediately in Japan’s TV landscape. It positioned itself as a romance reality show focused on same-sex relationships, following nine men who moved into a seaside house for a month. During that first outing, they also ran a coffee truck together, a setup designed to encourage everyday interactions, shared responsibilities and the slow, organic development of bonds.
The show didn’t just stay local. Released globally on Netflix, it broke through in Japan and stayed several weeks in the platform’s top 10 most-watched series there. Beyond viewing numbers, the cast members themselves gained major visibility, turning into media personalities followed far outside the confines of the show.
Season 2: same core idea, new cast and snowy backdrop
The second season keeps the essence of the format but reshapes the experience around fresh elements. This time, ten new queer men, all coming from different backgrounds, move in together in a house set against a wintry landscape instead of the sunny coastal vibe from season 1.
The new season relocates the experiment to Hokkaido, in northern Japan, where the snow-covered surroundings offer a stark contrast to the original beach setting. The participants again share a living space for roughly two months and operate a coffee truck, which continues to serve as a central tool for conversation, collaboration and getting to know one another day after day.
At the heart of the experience, the questions remain familiar: how do you open up to others, clarify what you’re looking for in a relationship and decide what it really means to “become a boyfriend” to someone?
Episode rollout: how season 2 is released on Netflix
Instead of dropping the entire season at once, Netflix is opting for a staggered release. The 15 episodes of season 2 are spread over four weeks, encouraging ongoing discussion and speculation between batches:
- January 13: episodes 1 to 6
- January 20: episodes 7 to 9
- January 27: episodes 10 to 12
- February 3: episodes 13 to 15
This schedule lets viewers settle into the dynamics inside the house, watch relationships evolve over time and see how the group handles the longer two-month stay compared with the first season’s one-month setup.
Returning commentators and how they frame the show
One of the most distinctive aspects of The Boyfriend is its commentary panel, and that structure is carried over intact into season 2. The same commentators from the first season return to watch the footage and react to the interactions on screen.
Megumi, Chiaki Horan, Thelma Aoyama, Durian Lollobrigida and Yoshimi Tokui once again observe what unfolds: small gestures, budding affection, tensions and moments of vulnerability. They do not step into the house or alter the course of events; instead, they provide an outside perspective that helps frame what viewers are seeing.
This consistent editorial approach aims to balance quiet observation with cultural context and respect for the participants. That combination played a key role in how positively the first season was received and continues to shape the tone of the series in its second outing.
A new chapter exploring modern relationships
With its move to Hokkaido, a different cast and a longer shared experience, season 2 of The Boyfriend revisits the show’s central theme: how queer men navigate intimacy, expectations and self-discovery in a confined, time-limited space. The winter setting, the group life and the coffee truck all serve as backdrops for conversations that unfold naturally over weeks rather than days.
The show continues to position itself as a space where contemporary relationships can be observed without interference, letting viewers follow along as feelings change, deepen or fade across the season.
FAQ
When does The Boyfriend season 2 come out on Netflix?
Season 2 of The Boyfriend begins streaming on Netflix on January 13, with episodes released in several batches over multiple weeks.
How many episodes are in The Boyfriend season 2?
The second season consists of 15 episodes, spread across four release dates on Netflix.
Where is The Boyfriend season 2 set?
The new season is filmed in Hokkaido, in northern Japan, in a winter setting that contrasts with the seaside house from season 1.
How is season 2 of The Boyfriend structured?
Ten queer men share a house in Hokkaido for about two months while running a coffee truck together. Their daily life, conversations and evolving relationships are observed by a returning panel of commentators who discuss what happens on screen without intervening in the experiment.
