Dramas With LGBTQ+ Content
Dramas and movies that include, depict or have LGBTQ+ characters or performers.
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1. Kinou Nani Tabeta?
Japanese Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
Awesome drama about the romantic and domestic relationship of two men in their 40s and the amazing food they cook.
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2. Koi Senu Futari
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Two aroaces creating a family together and learning about themselves, their experiences and the place they can create for themselves in society.
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3. After the Restart
Japanese Movie - 2020
Fantastic adaptation of the just as amazing manga by Cocomi, a gentle and heartwarming story about finding oneself with a developing romantic relationship between two men in their late 20s.
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4. Joshi-teki Seikatsu
Japanese Drama - 2018, 4 episodes
It's centered on the life of a transgender woman who identifies as a lesbian and the plot is focused on her experience. It does not star a trans actress, however.
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5. My Brother's Husband
Japanese Drama - 2018, 3 episodes
Excelent drama depicting family dynamics, grief and hope with a pure heartwarming spirit.
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6. 30Sai made Doteida to Mahotsukai ni Narerurashi
Japanese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
Two mlm relationships and one aroace girl side character (confirmed by the script adaptors). The plot is weird in that bizarre jdrama way but it allows for interesting interactions and trope reversals that make it somewhat a breath of fresh air for men-centered relationships. It was a pleasant surprise.
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7. Kimi no Hana ni Naru
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
This one has one canon bi side character, one canon aroace side character, one gay side character and one very probably but not outright-stated other gay side character.
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8. Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
A girl who loves to cook but hates being told that cooking is something expected for a woman's role, something to do for a husband or something to do as a potential mother. Another girl loves to eat but hates people assuming that because she's a girl she should eat less and behave differently. They find each other and soulmate stuff ensues through amazing food and cooking.
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9. Bokura no Shokutaku
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
A closed off sensitive guy meets a cute little kid and his initially scary big brother, who might not be as scary as he looks. Getting a found family through food and home cooking.
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10. Mondai no Aru Restaurant
Japanese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes
One of the characters from the protagonist's entourage and whose story is involved in the plot is a trans woman, however she is portrayed by a cis actor. She is, however, identified not as accurately as in Life As A Girl but it's very present in the plot, especially because the entire team is made up of female characters.
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11. Ossan's Love
Japanese Drama - 2018, 7 episodes
The lead character is thrust into relationships with men, a main one that gets developed and another one that is used as a sort of "comic relief" but which I couldn't quite get the appeal of for the plot's purpose. Still, it was an enjoyable drama, not completely devoid of some of the problematic bl tropes, but still a step forward in comparison to some predecessors.
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12. Ossan’s Love: LOVE or DEAD
Japanese Movie - 2019
I liked the movie more than the series, I'd watch this after it and skip the "2nd season" which is actually an au.
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13. Ossan's Love Returns
Japanese Drama - 2024, 9 episodes
Actual Season 2 of Ossan's Love, I enjoyed it more than the first one and the subjects depicted are deeper, in regards to their relationship and the way in which marriage and family works for two men in Japan.
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14. KinnPorsche
Thai Drama - 2022, 14 episodes
It includes: three mlm couples (one with an explicitly romantic and sexual relationship, one that starts as dub con sexual relationship and evolves into romantic, one romantic and non sexual relationship), a non disclosed but clearly queer side character and a trans woman side character. It involves the mafia, violence, people getting shot, people getting tortured, lots of pools, amazing fashions, Maserati product placement and lots of suits. Also, Jeff Satur singing.
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15. The Handmaiden
Korean Movie - 2016
A wlw relationship in a period piece that involves suspense, drama, twists and turns, explicit scenes and beautiful scenery.
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16. Moonlight Chicken
Thai Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
Explores mainly two relationships and one is hinted at with not much development. The first is a bit of a slowburn between the owner of a restaurant and an architect/designer and the second is between the owner's younger brother and the son of the mayor, who is deaf and speaks in SL. I found that the younger two had a much stronger development and interesting storyline, but the series was enjoyable all around.
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17. Imawa no Kuni no Arisu Season 1
Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
The first season has a recurring character who is a trans woman, however she is portrayed by a cis actress.
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18. Kimi ni wa Todokanai
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
Coming of age teen mlm romance, based on a very cute manga.
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19. Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!: The Movie
Japanese Movie - 2022
Doesn't really add much to the previous season.
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20. Omotesando Koukou Gasshoubu
Japanese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes
One of the kids in the group is a gay boy and his coming out is handled as well as could be expected in a school drama, maybe even better than I expected.
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21. Kasa wo Motanai Aritachi wa
Japanese Drama - 2016, 4 episodes
A central character is a gay man and his backstory is important to the main plot but his plot doesn't end in the best way possible.
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22. Tumbling
Japanese Drama - 2010, 11 episodes
One of the characters in the team is a gay boy and he comes out to his team and they have to learn how to open their minds and accept him, in a very heart-warming episode.
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23. SHARK 2nd Season
Japanese Drama - 2014, 12 episodes
One of the side characters is a trans woman, played by a trans actress, IVAN. Her role isn't as big in the series but IVAN deserves to be on this list.
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24. Be Crazy About Me
Japanese Movie - 2012
This is in the list because trans male singer and actor Shuto Yoshihara is in it and he deserves so much more praise and inclusion than he gets. In this movie though, he was unfortunately cast as a girl, when he could have very well being cast as the male lead, and AKIRA, who's made a career in gender non-conformity, could have very well been cast as the female lead, but they just play side-characters (and Shuto got misgendered casting at that). In any case, support him.
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25. Paradise Kiss
Japanese Movie - 2011
Oh boy, so I'm not a fan of this adaptation in the list BUT Isabella is one of my favorite characters ever and Igarashi Shunji played her very well, we should state though that he's a cis man. George's canon bisexuality wasn't much of a plot point but then again they butchered the ending of the original, so what can you do.
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26. Re:Mind
Japanese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
I was wondering whether to include this or not because I'm avoiding adding fanservice-type of content, but I feel that even if this was clearly conceptualized as such, because it's an idol drama, the plot kind of focused on these two girls' relationship in a way that deserves to at least be mentioned, it could have been a lot worse, all this considered, so I'm giving it a pass.
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27. Shitsuren Chocolatier
Japanese Drama - 2014, 11 episodes
Sato Ryuta plays a gay man and he's the only character in this drama I wasn't annoyed with, so we're including it.
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28. Raise de wa Chanto Shimasu
Japanese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
to be watched