Japan’s justice ministry cancels a collaboration with Netflix over the dating show “Badly in Love,” after public backlash. The show features young men and women presented as former juvenile delinquents, with some participants described as having backgrounds connected to criminal or violent subcultures.
Reporting describes the program as highlighting Japan’s “yankii” delinquent subculture. The Free Malaysia Today account says the cast includes people with troubled pasts, including former yakuza members and motorcycle gang affiliates, as part of the show’s premise. CBS News reports that the cancellation follows the ministry’s decision, citing concerns linked to the controversy surrounding the series. While outlets focus on different aspects—the show’s themes and participant backgrounds versus the government’s stated action—both describe the same outcome: Japan ends its collaboration with Netflix tied to the program.
The details of the ministry’s specific reasons beyond the existence of backlash are not fully specified in the provided accounts, but the decision is presented as a direct response to the controversy in Japan.
