(updated 12/17/2021)
46 Billion Years of Love (2006)
At the end of their vacant, destructive lives, two boys meet when they are both incarcerated for murder. With exactly opposite personalities, the two boys share only their instincts, but this is enough for them to discover the emotion of love. However, at the end of their love lies another murder, with one boy the accused and one the victim.
Movie/Gay
A Story of Yonosuke (2013)
Set in the 1980’s, Yonosuke Yokomichi (Kengo Kora) is a college student, with a warm heart, from the port city of Nagasaki. His girlfriend Shoko Yosano (Yuriko Yoshitaka) is the daughter of a company president.
Movie/Gay Character
A Touch of Fever (1993)
Yoshihiko and Masashi play Tatsuru and Shinichiro, respectively, both young male hustlers in Japan. The older one, Tatsuru, disconnects himself from his emotions in order to perform his job. The younger Shinichiro, meanwhile, grows uncomfortable with the work once he has fallen in love with Tatsuru. After Shinichiro gets thrown out of his parents’ house, he stays at Tatsuru’s apartment, and their once casual relationship awkwardly develops into something else.
Movie/Gay/MainStory
Ai No Kotodama (2008)
Ootani and Tachibana have been inseparable since high school. Now that they’re in college, they live together, they’re happy and everything seems prefect. But their little world is disrupted when they meet an old high school friend, Yuki, who seems to have a crush on Tachibana, making Ootani feel jealous…
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline/Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: Not bad, I like the story between the two guys who had been together for a few years.
Ai no kotodama 2 ~ Sekai no Hate Made (2012)
Hirofumi and Shinji are colleagues at the same advertising agency. Hirofumi works in IT, and Shinji is on the company’s elite fast track. The two start off completely on the wrong feet, but as time passes they find themselves falling for each other.
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline/Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: Not as good as the first one, not a great story, but nothing horrible about it.
Anger (2016)
A man brutally murders a married couple and leaves behind the words “Ikari” (“Anger”) written with their blood. The killer undergoes plastic surgery and flees.
At 3 different locations in Japan, a male stranger appear. People there suspect that the stranger might be the murderer.
At a fishing harbor in Chiba, Yohei Maki (Ken Watanabe) works at the harbor and he has a daughter, Aiko (Aoi Miyazaki). Aiko begins to date Tetsuya Tashiro (Kenichi Matsuyama). Yohei begins to suspect that his daughter’s boyfriend might be the killer, because he is using a fake name.
In downtown Tokyo, gay male Yuma Fujita (Satoshi Tsumabuki) works at an advertising agency. He meets Naoto Onishi (Gou Ayano) and they begin to live together. While getting Naoto to open his mind, Yuma begins to suspect Naoto as the killer.
In Okinawa, Izumi Komiya (Suzu Hirose) and her mother move to an isolated island there. One day, she takes a walk and meets Shingo Tanaka (Mirai Moriyama). The young is backpacking alone. Izumi gets close to Shingo, but Shingo asks Izumi to not to tell others about him.
Movie/Side Story/Gay
Stephanie’s Take: I heard it’s a super-side story, so don’t go watching if you’re looking for a lot of LGBT content.
Asymmetry (2008)
Hokuto’s dream is to travel around the world as a professional cameraman. One day, he finds that his hospitalized girlfriend’s doctor is his old classmate from high school. The doctor, Shinichiro, and Hokuto used to be very close friends, whom all shared a common love for photography. However, an accident broke their friendship apart, leaving them out of contact until now.
Movie/Gay/Bittersweet Ending
Blue (2003)
Kirishima Kayako of the third grade at a high school feels a sense of isolation in school life and vague admiration and uneasiness in the future. One day she makes friends with Endo who is isolated from her surroundings because she remained in the same class for another year. Kayako is strongly attracted by Endo who shows her a world that she didn’t know.
Movie/Lesbian/Main Storyline
Boys Love (2006)
Mamiya Taishin is assigned to write an article about the new top model, Kisaragi Noeru. They meet up and everything goes smoothly until Noeru decides to hit on Taishin, something that Taishin didn’t expect would happen.
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline/Bittersweet
Stephanie Note: For the longest time I was talking smack about this movie, but then realized I thought was a different movie. Rewatched a bit and it’s actually really good with a nice message.
Boys Love 2 (2007)
Kairu Aoi (Yoshikazu Kotani) teaches at one of the nation’s most prestigious boarding schools. One day, after a falling out with his girlfriend, he meets a young guy who provides him comfort and consolation during his time of need. Soon after that, a new student, Sora (Atsumi Kanno), transfers into…
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline/Bittersweet/Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: Not as good as the first one, in parts it’s pretty terrible actually and I’m not entirely certain how this is going to end up.
Bokura no Ai No Kanade (2008)
Maki is a young gay music student who’s completely smitten with his classmate Ruiku, who plays piano with incredible passion but is cold and distant to everyone. Maki decides to do whatever it takes to get Ruiku to return his feelings.
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline
Boys Choir (2000)
A young teen’s father dies, and he is sent to an orphanage. He’s teased because he stutters almost runs away, until a beautiful, androgynous boy, Yasuo (Sora Toma), convinces him to join the choir.
Movie/Gayish
Stephanie Note: Haven’t seen this but from what I’ve heard it’s not super gay.
Candy And Kiss Ame to Kisu (2015)
A new BL live adaptation of the manga ‘Ame to Kiss’ by Akihira Shiro. (Haven’t been able to find a synopsis more than this. Or an English subbed version of it. If you find it, let me know!
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline/ Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: You can really tell this is an adaptation of a manga, one they didn’t try very hard to convert. The acting is pretty terrible, and the plot works better on the page. I love the fact that there is so much out there now that we are allowed to be more picky that we can go and expect a BL plotline AND quality.
Cherry Magic (2020)
While still a virgin at the age of 30, Kiyoshi Adachi gains a magical power. His magical power allows him to read other people’s mind by touching them. At first, he is overwhelmed by his power. His new magical ability is not helpful to him at all. Things change when he accidentally touches Yuichi Kurosawa and reads his mind. Yuichi Kurosawa has romantic feelings for Kiyoshi Adachi.
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline
Stephanie’s Note: We started watching this one, got three episodes in, realized its the CUTEST THING EVER and immediately stopped watching it so we could binge watch it with our friend who loves Japanese shows. Can’t wait!
Stephanie’s Second Note: Finished this and it IS the cutest thing ever. Srsly, go out and watch this.
Close Knit (2017)
Tomo is a neglected 11-years-old girl. She lives with her mother, who abandons her when she falls in love with a new man. Whenever that happens, Tomo goes to live with her uncle, Makio. However, this time around, Makio is cohabitating with his girlfriend, Tomo, who is a transgender woman. The film portrays the drama that unfolds in an unconventional family and Tomo’s acceptance of LGBT people.
Movie/Trans/Main Storyline
Coming Out (2014)
Yo is a gay university student who keeps his sexuality a secret. Yo has feelings for Noboru, who hangs out within his group. The only place Yo can be himself is at the bar “Bb.” One day Noboru decides to quit school and move to US to study acting. What will happen to their relationship?
Movie Short/Gay/Main Storyline
The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese (2020)
Otomo Kyoichi works at an advertising company. He has an indecisive personality. Even though he is married, he repeatedly has affairs. One day, a man appears in front of Kyoichi. The man is Imagase Wataru. Wataru graduated from the same university as Kyoichi. It’s the first time they have met since Kyoichi graduated. Wateru currently works for a jack of all trades agency that does anything for their customers. He is sent by Kyoichi’s wife to investigate whether Kyoichi is having an affair. Wataru tells Kyoichi that he has liked him for the past 7 years. He also tells Kyoichi that he wants to have a sexual relationship with him and in return he won’t tell his wife about his infidelity.
Movie/Gay
Docchi mo Docchi (2014)
Ozaki and Tsuburaya both work at the same company but want to determine who is seme.
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline
Stephanie Note: This was not a very good movie based on a manga I didn’t really like and the fact that the version I watched had subs up until the last 5 minutes did not endear me to the dumb story anymore. Update: Found subs for the last five minutes. Nope. Still terrible.
Double Mint (2017)
“We can’t live without each other. You’re my other half.” “I’ve killed a woman.” The domineering voice on the phone was that of a high school classmate, Mitsuo Ichikawa(Shunsuke). Buried memories from the past resurface in the heart of a man with the same name, Mitsuo Ichikawa(Yasushi Fuchikami). It drags him right back into the passions of the past. They reunite as accomplices, yet their relationship as master and servant slowly changes into something else.
Film/Gay/Main storyline
Dousoukai (1993)
This is the story of Onihara Natsuki, who is married to Ando Fuuma. During his high school days, Ando Fuuma was once in love with a schoolmate, Atari Kousuke. However, as Kousuke is straight, Fuuma tried his best to forget about him, by hanging out at Shinjuku 2-chome. Together with Kousuke’s girlfriend’s brother, Tanno Arashi, Fuuma has sexual orgies with partners of both sexes. Now, Ando Fuuma is married to Onihara Natsuki,who doesn’t know that Ando is gay. One day, Natsuki accidentally found out that Ando is gay. In her despair, she sets out to Shinjuku 2-chome, wandering around aimlessly deep in the night. There, she bumps into Arashi, and had a one-night stand with him, after which Arashi demanded money from her. Soon after, Natsuki realises she is pregnant with Arashi’s child. She abhors the thought of having a child from paid sex and is adamant to have an abortion.
Drama/Gay/MainStoryline
Followers
FollowersNara Rimi, an established and popular photographer, meets Hyakuta Natsume who has come to Tokyo with dreams of becoming an actress. Although Natsume suffers setbacks, she grows from these experiences in this story about the lifestyles of women whose lives intersect in this world dominated by social media.
Series/Gay/Bi/Lesbian Side Characters
Forbidden Love; Kindan no koi (2008)
“Kindan no Koi” starring “Gogo Sentai Bokenger” actor Takashi Mikami! When an apparel designer returns home after studying in New York, he begins living with the company president and his two sons .
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Bittersweet
Stephanie Note: Bad ending! Seriously! GAHHHH.
Fujimi Orchestra (2012)
Kanreizensen Kondakutaa – Fujimi Nichoume Koukyougakudan ShiriizuFujimi Orchestra is a Boy’s Love film that has come from a Japanese novel series that has also had a manga and an anime Original Video Animation created for it. Tonoin Kei, a musical genius who has studied extensively in the area of conducting, falls in love with a violinist, Morimura Yuuki. Morimura acts as the concertmaster for a small amateur orchestra that meets three times a week at the Fujimi CivicCenter. Morimura is in love with Kawashima Natsuko, a female flutist in the orchestra, but Kawashima falls for Tonoin when he joins to act as the group’s new conductor in order to get closer to Morimura.
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Open Ending
Stephanie Note: Gah! gah! I don’t want to get tooooo spoilery, but this show irritated me as the conductor does something pretty unforgivable which irritated me when it was forgiven.
Gay Lovers Itsuka no kimi e (2007)
After Noboru saves Hayase from drowning by giving him mouth-to-mouth, Hayase grows confused about his feelings. It doesn’t help that around the same time he meets Noboru’s twin brother Ryu who has a very different, outgoing personality.
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline/Bittersweet
Stephanie Note: this one is a bit of a cheat as I think I’ve seen it but am not super sure and I remember it not ending well, so I’m forever going to take a pass on it.
Girls Blood Aka X Pinku(2014)
Four girls take part in illegal underground fighting event “Girl’s Blood” held at an abandoned school building in Roppongi every night. The girls have their own stories and quirks from their private lives. Satsuki suffers from a gender identity disorder, Chinatsu ran away from an abusive husband, Miko is a S&M queen and Mayu has a Lolita face
This one was a rec from a reader, I haven’t seen it so I can’t classify it.
Given (2021)
Tightly clutching his Gibson guitar, Mafuyu Satou steps out of his dark apartment to begin another day of his high school life. While taking a nap in a quiet spot on the gymnasium staircase, he has a chance encounter with fellow student Ritsuka Uenoyama, who berates him for letting his guitar’s strings rust and break. Noticing Uenoyama’s knowledge of the instrument, Satou pleads for him to fix it and to teach him how to play. Uenoyama eventually agrees and invites him to sit in on a jam session with his two band mates: bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji.
Satou’s voice is strikingly beautiful, filling Uenoyama with the determination to make Satou the lead singer of the band. Though reticent at first, Satou takes the offer after an emotional meeting with an old friend. With the support of his new friends, Satou must not only learn how to play guitar, but also come to terms with the mysterious circumstances that led him to be its owner.
Series/Gay/Main Storyline
Gohatto (1999)
Set during Japan’s Shogun era, this film looks at life in a samurai compound where young warriors are trained in swordfighting. A number of interpersonal conflicts are brewing in the training room, all centering around a handsome young samurai named Kano Sozaburo. The school’s stern master can choose to intervene, or to let Kano decide his own path.
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline
Gymnasium Baby (2008)
Based on the novel awarded the first prize at “The First Junon Love Novel Grand Prix,” this is a boys’ love film depicting the love triangle among handsome guys.
Jun, the ace in his swimming team, lost against his rival, Naoki, at the summer college tournament. But since then there is a special feeling between them….
Movie/Gayish/Side Story/Open Ending
Stephanie Note: I think I’m going to have to do a whole review on this one, as I said it’s gayish. Naoki is definately gay, but I’m not entirely sure the hero is. Or that he even thinks of him in that way. I enjoyed this movie as an interesting movie, not really as a gay one.
Hana wa Saku Ka / Does the Flower Bloom? (2018)
Kazuaki Sakurai is a 37-year-old man working at an advertising agency. For a CM shooting, he goes to a beautiful house. At the house, he meets Yoichi Mizukawa (Tsurugi Watanabe) while he is painting a picture. Yoichi Mizukawa is a 19-year-old art student. He lives with his cousins in the big old house. Kazuaki Sakurai becomes attracted to Yoichi Mizukawa.
Meanwhile, Yoichi Mizukawa is only interested painting, but he begins to take an interest in Kazuaki Sakurai. The two men get closer, but Kazuaki Sakurai gets transferred to Osaka.
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline
Stephanie Note: Started watching this one, going to have to go back to it. Wasn’t super awesome but wasn’t terrible, which seems to fit right in my wheelhouse.
Hidamari ga Kikoeru(2017) Japanese
Sugihara Kohei, a college student who has distanced himself from others unconsciously because he is hard of hearing and it keeps causing one misunderstanding after another. One day his classmate Taiichi stumbles into him and notices his delicious bento. Kohei gives Taiichi part of his lunch, to Taiichi’s delight, but leaves without saying a word to Taiichi. Taiichi only later finds out from others that Kohei is hard of hearing. Taiichi hasa bright personality to the point of foolishness, and he tells Kohei, “It’s not your fault that you can’t hear!” Those words save Kohei, and he begins to change. Taiichi and Kohei begin a relationship that’s more than friends, but less than lovers.
Movie – Gay – Main Storyline
His (2020)
High school students, Shun and Nagisa first meet and fall in love with each other during their first year. Years later around the time Shun is about to graduate from university, Nagisa tells him that he can’t see a future with him. They make the decision to break up despite Shun’s still strong feelings. Years later, Shun lives alone in a rural area, working as the owner of his own store. But what happens when Nagisa unexpectedly shows up with his 6-year-old daughter Sora, and Shun still harbors feelings for Nagisa. As they begin spending time with each other, can Nagisa accept the feelings he knows have been there all along?
Movie/Gay
Stephanie’s Note: Found this on youtube and put it on my BL playlist. Haven’t watched it yet as I’m nervous its not going to end well!
Kinou Nani Tabeta? / What Did You Eat Yesterday?
Kinou Nani Tabeta? / What Did You Eat Yesterday?Kakei Shiro is a 45-year-old lawyer who works at a small law firm. He is a good cook and a meticulous and thrifty person who keeps the monthly food budget to 25,000 yen. Shiro’s daily routine is to leave work on time and head to a discount supermarket nearby. His partner Yabuki Kenji is the affable hairdresser in his 40s. The two of them share a two-bedroom apartment and thefiner points of two men living together comes up at the dining table every day. Although two of them have been in a relationship for three years and Kakei’s parents know he is gay, Kakei never shares the fact that he is gay or Kenji is his partner to anyone.
Gay/Series
Jinroh Shokei Game (2015)
Taiga wakes up in an unknown place, next to Niina with whom he had lost contact. Confined in a school with former elementary school classmates and their teacher, they find themselves forced to participate to a sadistic game: “The Werewolf’s game”
Movie/Gay/Side Story/Bittersweet
Stephanie note: Dude. If you find this one subbed—let me know! Update: Someone found it subbed for me, it was pretty terrible. But I watched it and it’s terrible prequel, not so much for the story but because once it started I realized I’ve actually played the werewolf game.
Joshi-teki Seikatsu(2018)
Miki Ogawa yearned to live the life of a lovely girl and moved to the city from the countryside because of this. She holds a job at a fashion mail order company. Miki Ogawa also has a secret. She is transgender. Although she has a pretty woman’s appearance, her sex is male. One day, Tadaomi Goto appears in front of Miki Ogawa. They graduated from the same school. Tadaomi Goto is flusteredby Miki’s different appearance, but they happen to live together.
~~Based on the novel “Joshi teki Seikatsu” by Tsukasa Sakaki
Movie/Trans/Main Storyline
Junjou Pure2010
Tozaki (Rakuto Tochihara), who works as a writer, meets by chance his first high school crush Kurata (Yuta Takahashi) while working on an assignment. The pair later go out for drinks with Tozaki confessing his old feelings for Kurata…
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Happy Ending
Stephanie note: This movie isn’t terrible! I’ve actually now seen these actors in a couple of different gay themed movies. The one guy is a little rapey for me, but it all ends out well.
Kieta Hatsukoi (Vanishing My First Love) 2021
Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, the girl in the seat next to him in class. But he despairs when he borrows her eraser and sees she’s written the name of another boy—Ida—on it. To make matters more confusing, Ida sees Aoki holding that very eraser and thinks Aoki has a crush on him!
Will we watch? Wellllll can you tell me if this is an actual BL or not so much. That will really determine if we watch or not.
Kizumomo (2008)
Aki, who loves freedom, mets Masaya, an aspiring watchmaker. The two have opposite personalities and initially clash. The two reach better terms when Masaya is able to see Aki’s inner pain. Eventually, Masaya uncovers Aki’s sad past which was supposed to be held secret from everyone.
Movie/
Stephanie Note: Adding this as most lists consider it a gay movie, however, I watched it and it’s really not.
La Maison de Himiko (2005)
Saori has always disliked her gay father and has lived her life denying his existence. One rainy day she receives a visit at work from a young man called Haruhiko. He tells her that her father is dying of cancer and that the nursing home he operates is in danger of closing. Out of curiosity and debt, Saori goes to visit her father at the House of Himiko, a nursing home forgay old men. It is a sad place but filled with sardonic good cheer. Surprised but pleased, Haruhiko shows her around. The old men who live there are delighted. Saori is at first repelled by the relationship between Haruhiko and Himiko but she soon sees that their feelings are genuine. She begins taking an interest in keeping the nursing home alive…
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline
Last Friends (2008)
Last Friends tackles issues that afflict the current generation. Michiru’s mother has brought a man back to their home and she is bullied at her workplace where she works as a beauty parlour assistant. She starts cohabiting with her boyfriend, a good young man who works at the Child Welfare Division and the only person who can give her emotional support, but ends up the victim of domestic violence and becomes fearfulof love. The boyishly charming Ruka was a classmate of Michiru’s in junior high school. She has performed brilliantly as a motocross racer and aims to win the national championship, but as the story progresses, a deep worry that she can neither confide in her parents or close friends grows evident. Takeru is a hair and makeup artist acquainted with Ruka. He is a good confidant to females due to his kindness and perceptiveness, and finds himself attracted to Ruka but has a phobia of sex as a result of a past trauma. The three of them become house mates and through their associations with others, gain the capacity to be positive about life.
Series/Recommended by a reader – Trans Character
Life Senjou no Bokura (2020)
One day after school, the serious Ito and the child-like Nishi meet by chance, as each endeavors to remain walking on the sidewalk`s white line. As time goes by, Ito recognizes he is drawn to Nishi in a way that is new to him. Nishi, for his part, is frustrated that they only get to meet on the sidewalk. Ito decides to act upon his feelings and kisses a surprised Nishi, who agrees they need to walk side by side for a change. The sparks between them are undeniable as their relationship blossoms in high school, survives the college years, and matures into adulthood. A deeply moving work that bears witness to loving partners, whose unchanging feelings must co-exist within a world of changing realities.
Series/Gay/Main Storyline/Happy Ending
Stephanie’s Note: Watched it! Can’t believe I forgot to put it on the list. Its cute. Its like the life of these two together (and apart). The ending was a little…ummm really? But its a BL just close your eyes and go with it.
Like Grains of Sand (1995)
A psychological drama about love, longing, homosexual desire and psychological turmoil–i.e., the perils of puberty. Ito is a shy boy in the top class at secondary school. He feels attracted to his classmate and best friend Yoshida, who is not aware of Ito’s intimate feelings. They spend alot of time with Kanbara, whose comic actions hide his sensitive nature. Aihara is new at school and remains aloof with her cool attitude. Noone knows that at her previous school she was raped and is now in therapy. Meanwhile Yoshida, who’s currently involved with the insecure Shimizu, is interested in Aihara, the mysterious new girl… It is obvious, the each teen is hiding behind a wall which they must break through in during this tough process of maturation.
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline
Love My Life (2006)
Ichiko falls in love with Ellie. Yes, she is a girl. When Ichiko introduced Ellie to her father, he was surprised but understood them contrary to her expectation. However, she did not know that he would confess some secrets to her as well.”Ichiko, I am gay. And your mother was lesbian.” What is love? What is usual? Those questions never stop coming to her head but no one give her answers.
Movie/Lesbian/Gay/MainStoryline
Love Stage!!(2020)
With a father who’s a singer, a mother who’s a movie star, and an older brother Shougo who’s the lead vocalist for the super-popular band “The Crusherz,” Sena Izumi—an otaku college student—is the only dull one born into this super-famous and talented family. He loves “Magical Girl LalaLulu” and is working hard to become a mangaka, but one day he winds up appearing in a TV commercial he just can’t turn down. There, he’s reunited with Ichijou Ryouma, the super-popular young actor he costarred with on a project ten years prior.
Movie/Gay/Main Plot
Stephanie’s Take: Oooh I’m excited for this one, I think I read the manga!! (See what I did there?) Let me know if you know where I can find this one to watch..
Lychee Light Club (2016)
This is a live-action story adaptated from Usamaru Furuya’s manga with the same title.
The story revolves around nine students at an all-boys school who create a god-like Lychee machine to capture the beautiful women of the world. However, the machine eventually becomes self-aware “and is soon equally capable of measuring beauty and executing justice.
Movie/Gay Character
Mood Indigo (2019)
The story begins with Shiro Kido’s reunion with a former classmate, Rio Kijima, at a college teacher’s funeral.
In the past, when they were students, Kijima used to show talent as a novelist, even earning a big prize. Kido was jealous of Kijima’s success, but after reading his works he became aware of his lack of talent and gave up writing novels and became an editor of erotic novels. However, after reunitingit became clear to Kido that Kijima was stuck; facing a wall. He had used up all his talent. With Kido also being in a lost state he offers Kijima the opportunity to write pornographic novels.
With the intense eroticism and closeness, both men open up and feed into their desire. As their lust grows so does their toxic craving. The two become a relationship beyond the line while a mixture of emotions are drawn from the suffering Kijima.
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline
Stephanie’s Note: Thanks for the suggestion guys! This is billed as a sequel to Pornographer. Huh. Maybe these are characters in the original?
No Touching At All Doushitemo Furetakunai(2014)
On the first day of Shima’s new job he met a man with a hangover in the elevator. That was his first meeting with his new boss, Togawa. Though Togawa seemed rude and cross, Shima was drawn to the kindness beneath his rough facade. Both men harbor a painful past but unlike Togawa, who was open with his feelings, Shima seems unable to move on. ~~ Based on the manga with thesame name by Yoneda Kou.
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: An inside joke on the podcast is calling this movie the boring Japanese movie, but both Cherry and I love this movie. It’s quiet, sad, and yet so hopeful and touching. Then go read the manga.
Ossan’s Love (2016)
Soichi Haruta (Kei Tanaka) is 33-years-old, single and works in the product development division at a company. He wants to get married, but he isn’t popular with women. One day, he finds his senior at work, Musashi Kurosawa (Kotaro Yoshida) saving a lot of his pictures on Musashi Kurosawa’s cellphone. Soichi Haruta is scared. One day, Musashi Kurosawa confesses to him that he likes him.
Series (single episode)/Gay/Main storyline
Ossan’s Love (2018)
Haruta Soichi is a 33-years-old single man who isn’t popular with women. He works at a real estate office and lives with his parents. However, one day, his mother kicks him out and he has to live independently. Soichi doesn’t know basic things such as cooking or washing his clothes. He then decides to live with Maki Ryota, a coworker who is good at housekeeping. One day, Ryota and Kurosawa Musashi, a gay coworker, both confess their feelings to Soichi.
Series/Gay/Main storyline
Stephanie’s Note: This one is really hard to find! I’ve been unsuccessful so far.
Pornographer (2018)
Kuzumi Haruhiko is a university student. One day, he causes a bicycle accident. The accident causes novelist Kijima Rio to break his arm. Kuzumi Haruhiko doesn’t have insurance or money to pay Kijima Rio for his injury. Kijima Rio asks Kuzumi Haruhiko to transcribe a story he is writing. Kuzumi Haruhiko is surprised to learn the story is obscene.
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline
Stephanie Note: This was recced to me by a bunch of you, thanks for the heads up! I can’t wait to give this one a try.
The Reason Why He Fell In Love With Me Season 2
Sequel to Kare ga Boku ni Koishita Wake
Synopsis to Kare ga Boku ni Koishita Wake:
Two teachers work together at the same high school. Hikawa Toru is a methodical but naive, elite graduate from the University of Tokyo while Akagi Masashi is a physical education teacher who is kind-hearted but a little rough around the edges. Before Akagi knows it, he finds himself attracted to Hikawa, whose personality is the opposite of his own. Unable to hold back anymore, he kisses Hikawa one night. Seen by a passing student, everyone including the student body, parents, and even the school principal will become involved. What will become of these two?
Schoolgirl Complex (2013)
At a female high school, Manami (Aoi Morikawa) is a senior and a member of the school’s broadcast club. Graduation is near for the students. Meanwhile, Chiyuki (Mugi Kadowaki) becomes a new member of the broadcasting club. Manami is becomes shaken by Chiyuki.
Movie/Lesbian/MainStoryline
Seven Days Monday – Thursday (2015)
Bright and early one Monday morning, Shino Yuzuru asks Seryou Touji out on a lark when they run into each other at the school gate. Seryou, who’s immensely popular, has the odd habit of going out with anyone who asks him out first at the beginning of the week, then promptly dumping them at the end of it. “Anyone” apparently includes male upperclassmen like Shino, and as a boyfriend, Seryou is perfect–unfailinglythoughtful and kind. Shino, obviously, has no intention of being in a serious relationship with Seryou.
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Open Ending
Stephanie Note: Watch it. Seriously, stop searching for titles and just go watch this. Then watch the second one, and then read the manga.
Seven Days Friday – Sunday (2015)
Yuzuru asked Touji out as a half-hearted joke, not expecting to be taken seriously. Touji accepted, and Yuzuru knew he was like the rest, relationship begun on a Monday, and dumped on the Sunday. What eh did not expect was the feelings that went beyond friendship that emerged. It’s now Friday, and the end is approaching. But is it? Yuzuru may be mourning the inevitable, but what about Touji? Friday begins the end, but Sunday reveals all ~~ Based on the manga with the same name by Tachibana Venio!
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: Watch it. Seriously just watch it. Well, watch it after watching the first part of the series. Then go read the manga.
The Shortest Distance (2019)
Haruto spends a lonely high school. The new teacher, Aoyama, cares about him and starts an exchange diary. Haruto gradually opens up, but one day, when he was resting because of a cold, he was kissed by Aoyama who came to visit him. Agitated by the sudden incident, Haruto violently refused and Aoyama was chased away from teaching. Three years later: Haruto, who graduated from high school and became a host, has debts and sells his body. But suddenly he mets Aoyama again. The film has two versions: 《blanc》(rated 15+) and 《noir》 (rated 18+).
Movie/Gay/Main Storyline/ Questionable Ending
Stephanie’s Note: There are two versions of this movie, Blanc which has more a romantic happy ending and noir where the ending twists and you go WTF? Both versions are exactly the same with the exception of the last 15 minutes. Its hilarious how they are rated differently when both versions are STRAIGHT UP PORN. I could not look away, gobsmacked the whole way through. While the teacher portion of it makes this whole thing gross even in the happy ending, the Noir version takes that and makes it even worse. I still am trying to figure out who is in that last picture and its driving me crazy.
Sukitomo (2007)
Young and earnest, Tomokazu is a third year college student and also a member of the boxing team. He has a great friendship with Yoshiki, who he sees as a younger brother. But, unlike Tomozaku, Yoshiki’s feelings are much deeper. To complete the confusion, Tomozaku’s stepsister Misao (Komatsu Airi), also secretly nurtures feelings for him and starts to get jealous of the relationship of two friends. What Tomozaku will do when hefinds out about the true feelings of Yoshiki and Misao?
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline
Taboo (1999)
Set during Japan’s Shogun era, this film looks at life in a samurai compound where young warriors are trained in swordfighting. A number of interpersonal conflicts are brewing in the training room, all centering around a handsome young samurai named Kano Sozaburo. The school’s stern master can choose to intervene, or to let Kano decide his own path.
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline
Takumi KunSeries
Series 1; And The Spring Breeze Whispers (2007)
Set at Shidou Gakuin, a boys’ Boarding school, situated off the beaten track. In the second year at school, Takumi Hayama is allocated a room in a dorm to share with Giichi Saki, AKA Gii. Gii was brought up abroad and is the school idol with his exceptional academic performance, as well as his good looks. One day, Gii confesses to Takumi that he has been in love with Takumi for sometime. This unexpected truth of events unsettles Takumi, however, he comes to realize the true sensitivity of Gii.
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: This movie is the introduction to the series, however after this one they recast the main couple, so it kind of stands out. Weird thing is that they have a higher production value here and a better couple in the following ones. After watching it for the first time, I didn’t need to go back. (Especially after finding the fanmade version of the first movie using hte replacement couple.)
Series 2; Rainbow Colored Glass (2009)
This is the second part of the Takumi-kun series. Takumi and Gii are now a couple and the envy of the whole school. However, their relationship becomes rocky when first year student Morita Tooru appears in the picture. Hayama Takumi begins to doubt Gii’s love, and thinks that his lover has given up on him and has moved on to Morita, a freshman student. How will the story end? Will Takumi andGii eventually break up, or will their love become stronger as they fight for their love?
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: I really don’t like this epsiode, but it’s still Takumi Kun so I’ll skim through it. I’m just not as interested in a story that is not Takumi and Gii based.
Series 3; The Beauty of Detail (2010)
The third live-action film based on Goto Shinobus yaoi light novel series Takumi-kun, Bibo no Detail continues the boys love tales of romance, friendship, and all that angst at an all-boys boarding school.
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: Series 2, series 5 and the fan made version of the first movie are the ones I go back to all the time. I love it when Takumi stands up to Gii, although the forced separation is irritating since it doesn’t have a reasoning for it.
Series 4; Pure (2010)
Different from 3 previous movies, this Takumi Pure’s movie is focus on the relationship between Misu Arata (Ryouma) and Shingyouji Kanemitsu (Taiki). Started from their 1st meeting when Shingyouji was taken the test to enter in Shidou Gakuen as a junior high student and felt in love with Misu at the first sight, and two years later in the present time. The appearance of the legendary sempai; Sagara Takahiro (Yuusuke) became aproblem between them ’cause Misu is always admire Sagara-sempai. Takumi (Mao), Gii (Daisuke), and Akaike (Takki) want to help Misu and Shingyouji in this matter. On the other side, there’s also a little side-story of Takabayashi (Ryo) and his lover Yoshizawa (Yutaka).
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: Eh. I watched it the one time and never felt the urge to go back to it. I guess if it weren’t based on Takumi and Gii, I didn’t care.
Series 5; That, Sunny Blue Sky (2011)
It’s June of their third year of high school, and Takumi has an important anniversary to attend back in his hometown. He wants to invite Gii along for the trip, but time and scheduling and possibly broken promises stand in the way. 5th and final film to feature Daisuke Watanabe and Kyosuke Hamao as Saki Giichi and Takumi Hayama respectfully.
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: We’re back to their fake separation, but at least they are on the same page, until they aren’t. Bad video quality (could they not afford a tripod, at all???) but I have to say, I do love this series.
DaiMao version
Youtube fanmade video using deleted scenes, flash backs, and other bits to recreate the first movie using the actors from the rest of the series, sounds weird but it’s actually better than the real first movie.
Movie/Gay/MainStoryline/Happy Ending
Stephanie Note: See above, I wrote that it’s a great version of the first movie and whoever did it did a great job!
Transit Girls (2015)
“Transit Girls” tells the story of two girls, aged 18 and 21, who become stepsisters when their parents remarry. The girls clash at first but then fall in love.
Drama/Lesbian/MainStoryline
Utsukushii Kare (My Beautiful Man) (2021)
Hira Kazunari, a high school student who doesn’t talk much, has no friends and belongs to the bottom of his class. The person he falls in love with at first sight is Kiyoi Sou. He is “The King” who doesn’t hang out with anyone, is equally ruthless, and reigns at the top of the class. With the hope Sou will notice his presence, Kazunari serves him devotedly, running errands and buying lunch.But his faith in the absolute monarch gradually falls into lust.
Will we watch? OOOOH This looks like it could be cute? The falls into lust makes it seem
Wait for Me at Udagawachou(2015)
In bustling Shibya, Momose sees his high school classmate Yashiro. Yashiro is dressed as a girl. Momose continues to observe Yashiro and becomes attracted to him. Meanwhile, Yashiro becomes embarrassed that Momose knows that he dresses up like a girl.
Movie/Gay/Trans/MainStoryline/Happy Ending
Yasha (2000)
The story is about a set of twin baby boys who were created/cloned in the laboratory as a part of gene altering/gene therapy experiment. Because of the nature of the project, the twins were born with superior physical strength, supernatural powers and extremely high IQ. Unfortunately, the twins were separated at birth. One of the brothers, Sei, grew up to be an elite bio-chemistry scientist in America. He was assigned to aproject where he has to travel to a small island in Japan to investigate an unidentified virus that is spreading on the island. By a freak of nature, he found out that he has a twin brother, Rin, whose evil, dark personality is entirely opposite of him.
What is going to happen when they finally meet face to face? WHat are their true identities? Why were they separated at birth, what other secrets are hidden from them? Does the fast spreading virus has anything to do with the twins? Who created them? And why?
Drama/Gay/MainStoryline
Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai vs Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko (Absolute BL/Man Who Defies The World of BL)
One day, the protagonist realizes that he lives inside a “world of BL.” As he likes girls, he fights back against any hot guys that might draw near, but this is a “world of BL”… he’s still assailed with the sight of people in lovey-dovey situations one after another!
Series/Gay/Main Storyline
Stephanie’s Note: Will We Watch? More a matter of ‘can we find it?’ If we can, with solid subs and a fair quality, we’ll watch but those Japanese ones are hard!