If there’s one thing everyone likes to do simultaneously with chill, it’s Netflix. For anyone who has recently moved to Japan, or anyone visiting, you may be amused and surprised by the differences in offerings here compared to your previous location.
Those surprises can sometimes be pleasant, but sometimes… less so. Today we’re going to take you through all of the Japanese lesbian movie you can watch on Netflix as of October 2026. And no, that wasn’t a typo. At present, there is only one Japanese lesbian movie on Netflix in Japan: ライド・オア・ダイ. So what happened since last year? Why so few? Ride with us, and we’ll let you know.
Ride or Die (彼女/Kanojo, 2021)
Released in 2021 as a Netflix exclusive, ライド・オア・ダイ is an adaptation of the manga 郡上 (羣青) by Ching Nakamura. It tells the story of Rei Nagasawa and Nanae Shinoda, two former classmates — and perhaps more — reunited through devotion and murder.
Rei is working as a plastic surgeon and is in a relationship with another woman, but gives up her partner and her work to come to the aid of Nanae, who is being abused by her husband. Rei kills Nanae’s husband to save her, and the two become fugitives from the law. On the run, they are united by the weight of the crime, but also by the complex love that they have for one another.
As well as being a Japanese film depicting a sapphic love story, this is a dark drama, setting it apart from many other “Girls’ Love” (GL) movies that have grown in popularity over the years.
What Happened to the Japanese Lesbian Movies That Used to Be on Netflix?
You’ve probably found guides that list more Japanese lesbian movies on Netflix — you may have even seen it on the Japan Gay Guide itself, before we made this update! Indeed, for those of us in Japan, the options were once more plentiful, but alas, no longer.
While we cannot say for certain why any movie has been removed from Netflix, it is the case that licenses for films and TV shows are often time-limited, and if not renewed, then the film or show is removed from the streaming service. This can even include Netflix originals, such as the セーラームーン-inspired sapphic smash hit シェーラとプリンセス・オブ・パワー, which was left without a streaming home in most territories when it left Netflix in 2026.
Some of these movies are still available to be streamed, but you will need additional subscriptions to do so. For example, ホワイトリリー そして アイスクリーム・フィーバー, previously hosted by Netflix in Japan, can be found via Amazon Prime.
Netflix Availability Varies by Country
Outside of Japan, you may find that there are more choices when it comes to Japanese movies about lesbians. This is because, interestingly, the licenses are not global. This is why Netflix in one location can have different movies or shows compared to another location.
To see if your location outside of Japan has any Japanese lesbian films, you can simply search “Japan lesbian,” or on the profile for ライド・オア・ダイ, choose “More Like This.”
Want More Japanese Lesbian Movies?
Despite Netflix’s unfortunate dearth of movies about Japanese women who love women, there are plenty of movies and TV shows to choose from. Why not check out our list of 10 Best Japanese Lesbian Movies & Series to Watch? Happy watching, my sapphic cinephiles!
