Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
A friend of mine met her fiancé for the first time in person only on the day of their engagement because he was living abroad and their marriage was arranged by their parents. And this happened in 2017. So, the concept of Netflix’s dating reality show Love Is Blind won’t seem too “out of the box” for Indians, as the show format follows a group of men and women who don’t know each other, interacting through a wall over a period of ten days, going on literal blind dates before deciding to get engaged. Those who feel connected enough to want to marry each other get to meet only after they are engaged, and then they live together for three weeks before finally deciding if they want to tie the knot. The reality series started in America in 2020, and the franchise has since expanded to various other countries, with the American version having six seasons so far (as of 2024).
I decided to watch Love Is Blind: Japan (2020) after streaming four episodes of Love Is Blind: UK (2024) because the series was still ongoing and yet to air the entire season. The four episodes of the UK version were totally binge-worthy, and so was the entire season of Love Is Blind: Japan. Both versions feature some very interesting individuals, many of whom are in their 30s, making the majority of them seem genuine, smart, and earnest in their desire to find love on the show and settle down with someone at the end of the road.
The first few episodes are super entertaining because we get to see how people interact and flirt with someone without being able to put a face to the name. Many contestants candidly admit to falling for people based on looks alone, leading to unfulfilling romantic connections, so they hope that not seeing a person’s face will help them forge a deeper bond with their date and maybe lead to eternal love. The blind dates take place in the first four episodes, and it’s like watching people speed-date because everybody gets a chance to speak with all contestants, with a total of 24 participants—12 men and 12 women. The men and women thus carry diaries to make notes about who they’re talking to, which seems funny at first, but obviously makes so much sense.
From episode 5 onward, the couples who get successfully engaged go on a three-day romantic getaway to spend some time together in stunning beachside locations. The cultural differences between the Western versions of the show and Love Is Blind: Japan are striking, with Japanese contestants often being notably more polite and exceptionally mindful of their behavior. One humorous moment featured a couple who, despite living together, simply shook hands after having dinner at home after a heated discussion. An interesting cultural quirk I noticed was how everyone would say “sorry for the intrusion” each time they entered someone’s home, even if it was empty.
After the dreamy holiday comes the real test—they must live together in a flat (provided by the show) while going about their daily lives and jobs, like a regular couple would, to see if they can really stand each other’s quirks, habits, and behaviors. Not surprisingly, quite a few couples fail the cohabitation test, but some do make it to the altar. I spent half my Sunday watching this show and would totally recommend it to those who have some free time on the weekend and are open to exploring this reality series.
Stream “Love Is Blind: Japan” on Netflix.
Read Next: His Man Season 3 Review – Dates, Drama, Situationships
Also Read: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series Review (Short Audio Version Below)