From Cherry Magic to My Beautiful Man: Japanese BLs That Are Instant Favourites
Begin your BL journey with these classics from Japan that will definitely get you hooked.
Japanese BL series feature unique plots, fascinating manga adaptations, and hilarious scenarios that excite viewers. The country created Boys Love (or yaoi, for those in the know) in manga and anime, after all. Is it surprising that their offerings are fresh and highly watchable? From Cherry Magic to My Beautiful Man, here are five Japanese BL live adaptations you must watch as a newbie to the genre!
1. Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You A Wizard?! (2020)
Office romance is huge in the country, but Cherry Magic blends it with magical realism to create a masterful Japanese BL that explores trust in relationships. After turning thirty as a virgin, Adachi discovers that he can hear people’s thoughts when he touches them. All hell breaks loose when he accidentally hears that his co-worker, Kurosawa, has feelings for him. Bonus, it stars Akaso Eiji (Onigiri and Kimbap) and Machida Keita (10Dance)!
🍒 Title: #CherryMagicJP
Pause the dance and let’s go back to the classic with Adachi and Kurosawa (yes, available on Gaga!)
Watch or re-watch this masterpiece here▶️https://t.co/coNQE7UOGb
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🌏 Worldwide (except 🇯🇵🇹🇼)#30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい #チェリまほ pic.twitter.com/gTj6IqmHi5— GagaOOLala (@gagaoolala) January 8, 2026
2. My Love Mix-Up! (2021)
Do you remember the first time you had a crush vs. the first time you fell in love? A beautifully scripted My Love Mix-Up touches this when Aoki realizes the girl he likes has feelings for someone else, thinking that it’s Ida. With J-pop idols Michieda Shunsuke and Meguro Ren in main roles, a comedy of errors ensues when Ida assumes Aoki has a crush on him instead!
We can’t stop squealing over these adorable on-set photos of #ShunsukeMichieda and #RenMeguro’s new drama! 🤩💕😍
Don’t miss a moment of their story! Watch #MyLoveMixUp, premiering 12/10, on #Viki: https://t.co/mBLKUYPALw pic.twitter.com/3aTjAb2D4z
— Viki (@Viki) November 19, 2021
3. Ossan’s Love (2018)
Haruta finds himself in a fix when his employer and male co-worker/roommate both confess their love for him. He is straight, he says, but gets caught in a push-and-pull of epic proportions. Massively successful, Ossan’s Love was touted as a pioneering Japanese BL with multiple spinoffs. A Thai version, starring Earth Pirapat and Mix Sahaphap, was released by GMMTV in 2025.
4. Our Youth (2024)
When two opposites meet at school for the first time, sparks fly. Despite wanting to stay away from bad boy Hirukawa Haruki, straight-A student Minase Jin is inexplicably attracted to him. Growing pains, secret intimacy, and elaborate tenderness abound in this high school boys’ love drama.
our youth (2024) — dir. shibata keisuke, makino masaru#ytv未成年 #OurYouth pic.twitter.com/D04r4vGH5S
— luya (@soundofsunspot) January 20, 2025
5. My Beautiful Man (2021-23)
A mature take on the Boys Love genre, My Beautiful Man attempts to dissect the psyche of a popular high school boy and his fan. What happens when hero worship develops into a relationship? Hira, introverted and inconspicuous, has observed Kiyoi Sou until one day, he notices Hira right back. With two seasons out, this BL series will make you question the pair’s relationship dynamics.
Also Read: If Heated Rivalry Hooked You, These 5 BL Anime Will Keep You Glued!
Whether you prefer PG-13 series with sweet hand-holding or more risqué takes on romance, these 5 Japanese BL series have got you covered! Which one intrigues you the most?
Also Read: Is GMMTV’s Cat For Cash BL Worth Watching? Here’s The First Impression!
First Published: February 05, 2026 6:36 PM
