Entertainment
03 March 2022
Link copied to clipboardCan two people make a connection through the sound of their voices alone and get engaged before ever setting eyes on each other? That is the question posed by Love is Blind: Japan, the novel matchmaking reality show based on a new method for finding a marriage partner that was a massive hit in the U.S.
Separated from the outside world, 24 men and women spend 10 days going on blind dates inside “pods” where they are unable to see the other person’s face. After getting engaged, going on vacation and living together, there were two couples that made it to the altar and said “I do.”
Before the Japanese version of the series, Love is Blind: Japan, two other series were released; Love Is Blind and Love Is Blind: Brazil.
With the experiment now carried out in three countries, we pose the question: is the phrase “love is blind” a universal truth? In this article, we highlight what sets each series apart from each other and what makes all three of them worth watching.
＜Pod Dates＞
Saying the first thing that comes to mind, and different tastes in men between the three countries
In each version of Love Is Blind, it is easy to see how each country differs even from watching the pod dates.
In the Japanese version, most of the participants had pen and paper in hand, whereas in the U.S. and Brazilian versions, the majority of people kicked things off with exciting conversations as they felt each other out. Exchanging letters was also unique to the Japanese version, so “writing” may sum up their characteristics the best.
In Japan, many people opened up about their personal issues at the end of their dates. Meanwhile in Brazil, people were more upfront about their pasts and things like previous marriages. Several people told their partners what they wanted them to know to test their levels of interest and build detailed profiles on each other. Some people didn’t even say where they were from on the first date. But on the flip side, other couples spent the time to truly get to know each other over multiple dates.
In the U.S. version, the men with the best senses of humor and who were good conversationalists were the most popular during the pod dates. But in Japan, it was the men who kept it cool who received the most attention from the women. This is a good example of how preferences for men differed between the two countries when looking for a husband based only on conversations and their voice. However, one thing that universally brought couples closer together was the sharing of worries and personal issues. These moments served as springboards for couples to instantly grow more intimate depending on their partner’s reaction. It wasn’t uncommon to see a few tears when such couples began falling even harder for each other. Love Is Blind may be the only series where you can feel the highs of falling in love without the two people even setting eyes on one another.
＜First In-Person Meetings＞
Anticipation vs. Shyness, plus Japan’s romantic wooden bridge
In this part of the series, the newly engaged couples see each other for the first time.
While in the U.S. and Brazil, the vast majority of couples embraced in flurries of passionate hugs and kisses, only two couples in Japan locked lips. Some couples couldn’t even face each other out of shyness and met each other with a polite bow.The fact that shyness won over being happy to see each other feels very “Japanese.”The couples’ first meeting on a traditional Japanese wooden bridge was also something unique to this series. One woman even wore a kimono, a romantic gesture that deepened the couple’s feelings.
In the U.S. and Brazilian series, however, scenes where men escorted their partners back to their sides stood out. We also admit that we grinned when a few couples’ faces dropped at the sight of each other. Either way, this romantic mood continued on the couples’ vacations.
＜Living Together＞
Lifestyle, family, work-life balance and humanity’s ultimate universal issue: chores
After taking vacations, the couples begin their new lives together, and it seems that tidiness is at the root of arguments worldwide. It was not uncommon to see couples who were astounded at each other’s homes, and opinions on cleaning up would often clash once they started living together. In the Brazilian series and Season 1 of the U.S. series, some men would offer the idea of sharing toothbrushes as a way of growing closer. However, no matter how close they were, none of the women found the idea appealing. There were nerves all around when it came time to meet each other’s families, as couples worried if their family would accept their partner, and the other way around. Issues such as views on work-life balance were also seen in each country, giving viewers the ability to empathize with each couple’s issues in a way no other show does.
The Netflix series Love Is Blind season 1 and 2, Love Is Blind: Brazil and Love is Blind: Japan are all currently streaming worldwide on Netflix.