Netflix hit reality dating series Love Is Blind: Japan has been renewed for a second season, and fans are definitely excited for pods to open up again, meet new different people, and journey with them as they look for someone with who they could potentially spend the rest of their lives with.
But, of course, some remain unconvinced of the premise of single people finding love, nurturing it, and then committing to it – ALL BEFORE seeing each other. Mitsuko Kobayashi, the executive producer, and content acquisition manager of Netflix Japan, completely agree. He said, “This is a crazy idea, but we saw two couples get married from Love Is Blind: Japan, which is the proof of this miracle reality show.”
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Back in season 1, producers were surprised to see a record of eight people unveiling their love at the reveal bridge and getting engaged. And out of those eight were two successful real-world marriages: first was business planner Midori and IT executive Wataru and second was ad salesperson Motomi and hairstylist Ryotaro, who are both expecting their first child! Yes, just months between each other. Maybe we’ll even get to see photos of them soon.
But before we get our emotions entangled again, let’s reminisce the stories of the couples from Season 1 and what they’re doing right now.
The Early Favorites: Odacchi and Nanako
Completely obsessed w Odacchi & Nanako ???? #LoveIsBlindJapan pic.twitter.com/EUlkJoyxdK
— call it what u want, call it (@loveisbakedbri) February 12, 2022
Odacchi’s lighthearted and empathetic spirit was a puzzle-fit match to Nanako, who was at the crossroad of her life back then following a divorce and a change in profession. The two bonded quickly and steadily, and soon enough, their relationship blossomed. There was even a time that Nanako joked about getting heatstroke after a lengthy conversation of theirs. Odacchi heartily blamed it on his ability to make her laugh.
And when they finally met, sparks flew everywhere. Odacchi told Nanako that she was even cuter than he had ever imagined. Nanako was also equally endeared by Odacchi’s ‘teddy bear looks.’ Odacchi then knelt amid a bed of rose petals, he said, “Out of all the people in this world, the person I want to make laugh the most is you.”
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Sadly their ship was the one that never sailed. During the couple’s getaway, Odacchi kept to himself, and instead of talking with Nanako, he spent his time on his laptop. Nanako knew then that this wasn’t the direction she wanted her love life to go. She confronted Odacchi, who regretfully acknowledged the issue, and then left the villa.
The couple didn’t seem to reconnect afterward, but they are both doing well in life. Nanako enjoys her life as a Carat (a term used to refer to a fan of the K-Pop group Seventeen). She also went back to teaching ballet again. Odacchi, on the other hand, is bustling as a comedian in Kochi.
The Curious Partners: Mori and Minami
minami made my heart flutter, her and mori are so sweet ????#LoveIsBlindJapan pic.twitter.com/94AjwSRgkb
— erin⁷ ⎕ the 1975 exeter (@dubu_soop) February 16, 2022
Mori wasn’t really into marriage. But after seeing all his friends get into relationships, he felt curious enough to give it a go. And that was the same curiosity that led him to Minami. But unlike him, she was someone who knew exactly what she wanted in a man.
Mori learned that Minami was particular, open, honest (sometimes too honest), and strange. He felt confused about her yet, at the same time, attracted. They were a classic case of opposites attracting one another. Despite that, he still wasn’t too sure if he wanted to take the next step. But the other men convinced him that Minami’s openness was a sign that she was comfortable around him enough to be vulnerable. He proposed, and she said yes.
At first, the couple appeared to be at ease living with each other in a hotel and enjoying their time together. But things shifted dramatically when they moved to an apartment together. As it turned out, they were too different. Mori was an early bird, while Minami loved to spend extra time in bed. And Minami was more exacting and too blunt than Mori initially thought.
Despite efforts – tearful arguments and draining, long hours of discussions – to work on their relationship, Mori ultimately decided it was kinder to end things. They met at a cafe and talked before going their separate ways.
Minami is very active on Instagram, featuring photos of her food adventures and hangouts with friends. And just recently, Mori and fellow Love Is Blind cast member Ayano are in a serious relationship!
The Unlikely Couple: Yudai and Nana
Yudai’s youth and resolve to see things through to the end and Nana’s maturity into a woman who would love to settle down and have a family seemed to be a good balance for a couple. And the eight-year gap between them felt like a breeze more than a hurdle. The two hit it off early, and getting engaged was a quick decision for both of them.
Yudai asked, “If you’ll have me, I want to go to the next level with you.” And Nana immediately responded with a yes. It felt so cool and manly to her, and she believed what he said that he always follows through when he decides on something.
Unfortunately, their sweet relationship turned sour before things even started rolling. They discovered that their age gap was actually a hurdle. Nana wanted to have a baby and start a family soon. Yudai wasn’t ready to take on the responsibility. She was dumbfounded and couldn’t understand why he hadn’t been upfront about it. Yudai admitted at the confessional that he didn’t really feel the weight of the words he said until they finally met and talked. Nana ended up packing her bags and leaving.
While the two didn’t have a happy ending, they remain friends and follow each other on Instagram. Nana is happily living her life taking care of her plants and doing yoga while Yudai is back cutting and styling hair. And it seems like many foreigners are sliding into his DMs, but unfortunately, he can’t speak English and doesn’t use translation either.
The Ambitious Duo: Mizuki and Priya
Mizuki wanted someone who shared the same drive and could push him to be a better man and person. And Priya, an ambitious and progressive woman, definitely ticked that checkbox. But unlike other couples, the two had a rocky start as they were unable to feel comfortable enough to open up to each other.
Despite that barrier, Mizuki felt that what they had was worth trying to commit to. In his speech, he expressed his admiration and respect for Priya. Then he finally said, “I think that with you, Priya, I can overcome anything. Will you marry me?” They got engaged, then everything went downhill soon after.
During the couple’s double date with Misaki and Kaoru, Priya felt Mizuki’s pretentiousness and immediately saw that as a red flag. She openly admitted that to him, and Mizuki expressed that he may have painted himself as more ambitious than he actually was. But what ultimately ended their relationship was when Priya discovered that Mizuki was an employee, not the business owner he claimed to be.
The couple parted ways and cut off any connection. Priya is currently running her skincare business Mukoomi and teaching at Tohoku University as an associate professor. On the other hand, Mizuki is back at the restaurant where he works, and he seems to be enjoying his life. Both have written about their time in the show, saying how grateful they were for having met each other.
Building on Shared Experience: Misaki and Kaoru
Misaki and Kaoru’s relationship started with a shared experience. Misaki worked as a coach of Kenya’s National Baseball Team, and a partner who would be down to travel with him to Africa from time to time would be a good fit for him. Kaoru had been to Kenya and she loved it, so that created a common ground. They also have pet dogs which further bridged the connection between them.
They started sharing many things about themselves, but Misaki felt they were not emotionally on the same page. Kaoru acknowledged that and let him know that her passion has always been late to catch up with her. She then suggested that they still give it a shot. Misaki then proposed to her the day after their conversation.
But at some point, their relationship hit a bumpy road. Kaoru felt that Misaki was an ‘airhead’ who knew nothing about her and that he was still unable to be more open and vulnerable with her. They didn’t really progress as a couple, so Kaoru decided to part ways with him.
After that, Misaki went back to Kenya while singer-songwriter Kaoru stepped on stage again to perform. The two follow each other on Instagram, so it seems like they separated on good terms.
The Misunderstood: Shuntaro and Ayano
Despite being bubbly and charming, Ayano was often misunderstood, which was why she struggled early on in the show to establish connections. But it turned out that she wasn’t the only one who experienced the feeling of always being misconstrued. Shuntaro was also a victim of this, which led them to bond.
Their 16-year difference also helped nurture their common ground. Shuntaro’s maturity and experience in life gave Ayano a safe space to be herself and to be vulnerable. He hadn’t been explicit though, with his feelings for her, only lending an ear to her worries. But when he was given a chance, the man of few words poured out everything which touched Ayano.
Shuntaro definitely knew his way with words, and his proposal was no exception. He said, “Aya, being with you, I’ve been able to be my natural self for the first time. This is the first time I’ve met such an extraordinary person. So, I could say something arrogant like ‘I’ll make you happy,’ but that’s not it. I need you, Aya. Please marry me.”
But what drove them together ultimately drove them apart. Communication became burdensome to the point where Shuntaro felt he had been forcing Ayano. Ayano, on the other hand, felt that they were not moving along like the other couples, and she hadn’t been honest with her feelings. Shuntaro called off the wedding on the day itself.
In Ayano’s Instagram post, she said she was thankful to Shuntaro and greatly enjoyed their time together. And after the show premiered, she and Mori started seeing each other. And she just recently announced that they are in a serious relationship. On the other hand, Shuntaro doesn’t have any social links, but it’d be safe to assume that while things didn’t end well for them, he was completely okay with the outcome.
Going All In: Ryotaro and Motomi
When Motomi and Atsushi’s connection fizzled, Ryotaro didn’t waste any time charming his way in. The two talked about everything under the sun – including their undying love for chinchillas. They also did quick-fire questions where they discovered their many similarities and where Ryotaro learned that Motomi had been married once before. But Ryotaro assured her through a note that he understood her past relationship. From there, they started writing old-school handwritten letters to each other.
It was clear that their connection at this point was unmatchable. And soon enough, they got engaged – which was definitely not a surprise. After spending time together, they decided they were ready to take the next step. But there was one remaining obstacle that they had to get past through. That is, Motomi’s family hadn’t been exactly thrilled with her joining Love Is Blind, so she wasn’t sure how they’d take the news of her getting actually married to a guy from the show. And a blonde guy at that.
But all of Motomi’s worries were swept away. Ryotaro made the change and dyed his hair black to show her that he was all in with her. And while it took some time, her dad warmed up to the idea and even Ryotaro. He even called him ‘a fine young man.’
They got married on the show and signed the legal paperwork afterward. And now the couple is excitedly expecting the fourth member of their family (chinchilla included) and their first child!
The Doubtful Duo: Wataru and Midori
Midori went into the show skeptical about marriage, while Wataru was married once before joining. Nevertheless, their shared experiences in the US and future plans connected them and became the building blocks of their relationship. Midori was actually very interested in Wataru, but he wasn’t sure if she was really the one. So Midori made an entire presentation about why they should get engaged, which successfully convinced Wataru.
But when it was time to decide whether they should get married, Midori admitted that she wasn’t a hundred percent sure. Wataru tried his best to assure her of her worries, and he also promised that he would make an effort to work on himself. More importantly, he gave Midori the time and space to think about it. Ultimately, Midori’s feelings for Wataru outweighed any skepticism she had about marriage.
Just like Ryotaro and Motomi, the couple got married on the show and signed the legal paperwork afterward. And they are also expecting their first child soon!
Love Is Blind: Japan is returning for a second season in Netflix this 2023, and they’re currently on the lookout for hopeless romantics! It would definitely be a different dynamic from the first season and a very interesting one. Don’t worry, we’ll keep you in the loop.