Japanese BL & Live Action Yaoi Manga

Triggers: still uses the kidnapping for love trope, the worst ones love a murder-gay, but otherwise tame
Queer rep: some non-visual queer elements (like implied ace) but coming out and being out is restrained, to say the least
Female rep: decent; no faen fatals; complex mother and supportive friend characters
Quality issues: few; yaoi trope reliance but cinematographically excellent, it’s a mature film industry; high audio quality; good music choices; great subs
Strengths: workplace settings; mature characters

My Rating System for BL

10/10 - highly recommended, faithful to tropes, happy ending, good chemistry, few flaws (e.g. 7D)
9/10 - absolutely recommended, probably a few pacing issues or one flaw (e.g. Cherry Magic)
8/10 - recommended, some concerns around tropes (like dub con) or story structure but still satisfies as BL (e.g. Restart)
7/10 - recommended with reservations, i.e. isn’t quite BL, convoluted, not strictly HEA, too short/long, or chemistry issues (e.g. Candy & Kiss)
6/10 - worth watching but seriously flawed probably around the ending or in narrative structure/cohesion or censorship (e.g. Ossan)
5/10 - watch it if you have nothing better to do but don’t expect much, it’s a total hot mess (e.g. Love Stage)
4/10 - it’s censored beyond recognition or fatally flawed (e.g. Pure)
3/10 - I don’t know what I’m watching & neither does it (e.g. His series)
2/10 - it’s depressing, they killed the gay, save yourself
1/10 - It’s awful, don’t waste your time, I watched it so you don’t have to (e.g. Forbidden Love)

I only list ones I've watched but I'm always adding more.

AbsoluteBL apr 7, 2021

28 Titles 8 Loves

0% Watched

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AbsoluteBL's Rating

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1. Seven Days: Monday - Thursday

Japanese Movie - 2015

10

This is not only my favorite Japanese yaoi manga adaptations it is one of the best BLs ever made. Part 1
2. Seven Days: Friday - Sunday

Japanese Movie - 2015

10

This is not only my favorite Japanese yaoi manga adaptations it is one of the best BLs ever made. Part 2
3. Absolute BL

Japanese Special - 2021, 1 episode

10

More a self referential parody meta analysis of BL than anything else. But a work of pure genius.
4. 30Sai made Doteida to Mahotsukai ni Narerurashi

Japanese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes

9.0

The sweetest most uplifting office based BL (although they are a bit old the certainly act like boys) . A big comforting hug.
5. Given

Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

8.0
6. After the Restart

Japanese Movie - 2020

8.0

Beautiful and sweet, also about finding home and family.
7. Life Senjou No Bokura

Japanese Drama - 2020, 4 episodes

7.5

AKA Life: Love on the Line, the ultimate BL manic pixie dream boy and the boy who adores him but also wants to conform to family expectations. Does end happy.
8. Hidamari ga Kikoeru

Japanese Movie - 2017

7.0

Lovely concept and well acted just doesn't quite make it all the way BL because ultimately it's not really a romance. Sadly, no kisses.
9. Candy and Kiss

Japanese Movie - 2015

7.0

Yaoi adaptation that is rather substance-less, not a lot happens but it is sweet. Based in a shopping center.
10. Ossan's Love

Japanese Drama - 2018, 7 episodes

6.0

Office set romance so not a BL, boss stalker is creepy.
11. Junjou

Japanese Movie - 2010

6.0

Atmospheric second chance romance, more gay art film than BL.
12. Does the Flower Bloom?

Japanese Movie - 2018

5.5

May December romance.
13. Love Stage!!

Japanese Movie - 2020

5.0

The original yaoi and anime are both better because this live action lost the cross-dressing element, but still pretty faithful yaoi at it's heart.
14. Ai no Kotodama

Japanese Movie - 2007

5.0

Not much happens, more a study in an LTR that's been going on since high school. Cute.
15. His - What Is Love

Japanese Movie - 2020

5.0

Not really a BL and kinda amorphous ending but very pretty and well acted. It has little to no connection to the prior surfer series. I don't know why they bothered to link them.
16. Same Difference

Japanese Movie - 2014

5.0

It's weird. Office based, so not really BL. It's a gay romance but also not, because they don't really get together fully. Odd.
17. Takumi-kun Series 1: And The Spring Breeze Whispers

Japanese Movie - 2007

4.0

Faithful to the original yaoi which is one of it's issues, that yaoi is... not good.
18. No Touching At All

Japanese Movie - 2014

5.0

Japan loves an office romance, here's another on.
19. Takumi-kun Series 2: Rainbow Colored Glass

Japanese Movie - 2009

5.0

The ultimate godfather of yaoi adapted BL. The second installment with new cast is much better than the first movie. Still problematic tho.
20. Takumi-kun Series 3: The Beauty of Detail

Japanese Movie - 2010

5.0
21. Takumi-kun Series 5: That, Sunny Blue Sky

Japanese Movie - 2011

5.0
22. Takumi-kun Series 4: Pure

Japanese Movie - 2010

4.0

Side characters.
23. Love Place: Shiawase no Katachi

Japanese Movie - 2013

4.0

This is the 2nd movie in the series.
24. Love Place: Hakanaki Kata Omoi - Gaiya no Koi

Japanese Movie - 2013

3.0

This is the first movie in the series, and it's substantial worse.
25. Fujimi Orchestra

Japanese Movie - 2012

3.0

IS this BL? I don't know. IS it a romance? No? What happens? I don't know.
26. His - Koi Suru Tsumori Nante Nakatta

Japanese Drama - 2019, 5 episodes

3.0

Ambivalent ending, slow moving, atmospheric and thinks it's a lot cleverer and more moving than it it.
27. Forbidden Love

Japanese Movie - 2008

1.0

Japan loves a murder gay
28. Mood Indigo

Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes

1.0

Sigh.