Netflix is without doubt the king of streaming services. Although there have been many challengers over the years, just as your parents say “a Nintendo” when they think of a video game console, they’ll probably say “Netflix” even if they mean Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, or (heaven forfend) Peacock.
Even on Japanese Netflix, however, Japanese movies about queer men are a little thin on the ground, even if there are more TV shows in this vein. We’ve found a big three, however, that should satisfy anyone who is looking for a reason to continue justifying paying for Netflix, even after they took away password sharing (boo!). So, here are the best Japanese gay movies on Netflix!
The Big Three
These are the three biggest Japanese movies that are about gay men available on Japanese Netflix. Jump in to the top trio!
Egoist
This story is about Kosuke, who lost his mother at the age of 14. Even after leaving his rural village and becoming a fashion magazine editor in Tokyo, he is still suppressing his sexuality. But he eventually meets Ryuta, a personal trainer who lives a humble life with his mother. Over time, the two begin to share their time and their lives, becoming much closer.
Without wanting to spoil anything, the tone changes entirely in the second half of the film, bringing a raw emotion to complement the careful poetry of the first part. This is a watch that can be both charming, uplifting, and devastating. It is not to say this is not for the faint of heart, but it is perhaps not the kind of film you might want for a Friday-night comedy. Nevertheless, it is essential viewing for anyone who wants their heartstrings tugged at.
My Beautiful Man ~eternal~
The concluding chapter to a two series BL TV show, based on the novel by Yuu Nagira. The show itself, irritatingly, is only available on Amazon Prime, but fans agree that this movie is a worthy ending to the beautiful series, with many viewers appreciate that the movie takes more time to understand the internal life of Sou Kiyoi, the handsome and charismatic lover of Hira Kazunori.
The two, now living together, with Sou becoming more popular as an actor while Hira works as a photographer’s assistant, have matured since meeting in highschool, and are still growing as people. As they have never felt closer, but their lives seem to be taking different paths — with Hira worried that he is getting in the way of Sou’s career, and Sou being unintentionally flung into a media scandal. Even though they love each other, can their relationship survive their circumstances?
A dramatic yet touching ending awaits those who want to see the ending of Hira and Sou’s story. Just make sure you watch the TV series before jumping into this film.
Cherry Magic: The Movie
We reviewed the anime version of this movie last year, and the live-action movie follows much the same beats. The premise is simple if fantastical: Kiyoshi Adachi, an office worker who is terminally shy and has difficulty getting close to people, gains the magical power to read minds when he touches people on his 30th birthday, because he is still a virgin. After he does, he accidentally touches his colleague, the confident and handsome Yuichi Kurosawa, only to discover that his friend is besotted with him.
This is a weird but well-told story, which examines both Kiyoshi’s curiosity and trepidation while also giving us a look into Yuichi’s more lustful side. There are definitely interesting questions that it raises: if you could read your crush’s mind and use the knowledge to woo them, would you? What if you were Yuichi and discovered that the guy you like had essentially been reading your diary?
Whatever you think of the premise, it is well-executed, and has rightfully won fans all across the world. A sure-fire win.
Streaming Tips
If you live in Japan, then all you need to is subscribe to Netflix, download the app or open it on your browser, and boom! You can watch these three Japanese gay movies right away.
Some locations, however, will not offer these films on Netflix, as licensing laws mean that the catalogues can be very different in different countries. In this event, you should use a VPN to access other regions. You may also find that
We hope this has given you a few ideas for the next time you really do want to just Netflix and chill. Until next time, keep your popcorn buttered, reel-heads!
