Love is Blind: Japan (ラブ・イズ・ブラインド JAPAN)

- I can't see at all. - I can't either.

I can't see your expression either.

It's super weird with just a voice.

Is this real? What is it?

This is not ordinary dating.

Seriously?

I really don't get it.

I think I like this person. I want to see him.

If I were to lose my sight, I would still love you.

Isn't it crazy that I can't see his face but feel so into him?

LADIES' LOUNGE

- How lovely. - Very "Japan."

Wow, amazing.

They have Jenga.

PRIYA, 27 ENTREPRENEUR

I tend to make decisions based on visual input.

If I connected with somebody without judging them visually,

maybe they'd turn out to be someone I can't live without.

Hi, I'm Kaoru.

I'm 31 and a musician.

KAORU, 31 SINGER-SONGWRITER

I've never experienced love without considering looks.

But in the long term,

looks aren't what's most important.

Yeah. I want to meet my soul mate.

MEN'S LOUNGE

Nice.

No way.

Wow, they even have cards. Cool.

RYOTARO, 32 HAIRSTYLIST

Rather than having a type,

being able to really like someone for who they are inside

would be like fate, right?

- Hi, I'm Shuntaro. Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.

If it's fate, I'll be happy with whoever it is.

SHUNTARO, 56 CONSULTANT

I dated someone for being pretty, but she was awful inside.

When I think it through,

I tend to fail by overthinking things.

So if I meet someone here it will be great.

TAKASHI FUJII - YUKA ITAYA

- Hello there. - Hi!

- Hello. - Hi there.

- Welcome to Love is Blind, Japan. - Welcome.

Thank you so much for joining us.

- We are-- - I'm so nervous.

We were super nervous.

But all of you are relaxed and talking.

- So I feel a little better. - Yes, relieved.

Why did you sign up?

ERI, 32 FITNESS TRAINER

I tend to go for looks.

- Will you be okay? - I'm not sure.

What do you want out of marriage?

MISAKI, 31 BASEBALL COACH IN KENYA

- I live in Africa. - Africa?

I want to bring her to Africa.

Wow.

Now we will explain the rules of this program.

On Love is Blind,

we want you to find a marriage partner using only emotional bonds,

- not looks. - Right.

For ten days, starting now, the men will stay here.

The women will stay on the other side of that wall.

MEN'S LIVING QUARTERS

LADIES' LIVING QUARTERS

You can only interact with or "date" women

when in the pods here.

You're separated by a wall, so you won't be able to see your date.

You'll rely on the voice from the other side to build a connection.

Then, building on your pods dates,

when you think you've found your lifelong companion,

you will propose.

- What should we do? - Indeed.

We've run through the rules.

This is a big deal though.

Yeah, it's for life.

If you manage to get engaged,

you will be able to meet with your partner for the first time.

Right.

After you've met your dear betrothed,

you will live together for three weeks.

Finally, you will have a wedding ceremony.

Anybody want to drop out yet?

Is this okay?

AYANO, 30 CORPORATE WORKER

- It could be fun to fantasize. - That's positive.

MORI, 37 COSMETIC DERMATOLOGIST

I probably wouldn't get married if it weren't for something like this.

He's got such a kind smile.

- They won't be able to see each other. - That's right.

- They won't be able to. - What a shame.

- What questions could they ask each other? - Yeah.

MINAMI, 26 ARCHITECTURE FIRM

I definitely want to ask how frequently they use their bath towels.

I want to know what they prefer spending money on.

I value experiences more than material possessions.

Even if he said he'd buy you lots of fine diamonds?

No, I want those.

Oh, I see.

All right. Are you mentally prepared?

Whoever's ready, go ahead.

Please go to the pods.

The pods are already open.

I'm quite shy, so not seeing his face might be good

because we can talk about anything.

YUDAI, 23 MEN'S HAIRSTYLIST

What I'm afraid of is having a change of heart

when I see her for the first time.

MIDORI, 30 BUSINESS PLANNER

I'm not sure it's possible to like the opposite sex without going by looks.

I'm still on the fence.

37 DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING

MOTOMI, 27 ADVERTISING SALESPERSON

WATARU, 38 EXECUTIVE

- Hello? - Hello.

- Can you hear me? - Yes, I can.

We can't see even if we come up close?

No, I can't see.

Are you comfortable with first meetings?

- You mean am I shy? - Yes.

- Not at all. - Great.

- You? - Me? Totally.

MIZUKI, 29 RESTAURATEUR

Really?

- Good thing we have this moon. - Yeah.

TOSHIE, 39 AROMATHERAPY INSTRUCTOR

What kind of lifestyle would you want if you found your match?

- Yes? - No, you go ahead.

- I, well-- - Yes?

I interrupted you, didn't I?

I did too. Sorry.

We went at the same time.

Yeah, we did.

- Nice to meet you. - I'm Maki.

- Maki? - Yes.

MAKI, 34 YOGA INSTRUCTOR

- What do you do? - I'm a yoga instructor.

What pose do you recommend?

- But you can't see. It's embarrassing. - Just say what pose it is.

- Warrior. - Warrior?

Warrior pose?

I'm Odacchi. 31 years old. I'm a comedian.

ODACCHI, 31 COMEDIAN FROM NAGASAKI

It's about the face, 100%.

I haven't actually found anyone that way,

so I want to change.

And on the flip side,

if I meet someone who sees good or attractive qualities in me

that I don't know about,

it would be a miracle that could only happen here.

- I do comedy in Kochi. - Kochi?

Kochi. Not Coach, the brand.

- I wasn't confused. - No?

- I'm also biracial. - What's your background?

Half gorilla, half chimpanzee.

MINAMI, 26 ARCHITECTURE FIRM

- I'm Odacchi. - Odacchi's appeared!

Appeared? Hang on, I don't see anything coming out.

You're quite popular back here, so I wondered when I'd get to meet you.

Seems the comedian's really popular.

- I wonder what marriage would be like. - Just for a change.

He's funny and fun in the pods,

but is he really looking for someone to marry?

- I wondered about that too. - That was how I felt about him.

- Hello. - Hi.

You have a cute-sounding voice.

I'm Nanako.

What do you do, Nanako?

Currently, I do nothing.

I quit my job.

Nothing? What do you want to do then?

I've been in ballet forever, so I want to do something related to that.

- Ballet? Like dancing? - Yes. That's right.

I'm not a young woman who's overly idealistic about marriage.

NANAKO, 35 - EX-BALLET INSTRUCTOR FROM FUKUOKA

Like dreaming of the wedding dress, where I want to live, or how it will be.

I'd like someone that I can live with simply and realistically.

That is, to have a real connection,

to meet someone I can be at ease with so we can spend our lives together.

Why did you quit at 30?

I didn't want my own studio.

And I wanted to see a completely different world.

I wanted to be more social.

- You weren't social? - I wasn't.

It didn't feel right to be teaching kids when I didn't know anything myself.

I get it. Wow, that really hits home.

It does? This might be the first time anybody's identified with that.

I really relate. I wanted to be a teacher.

I got a teaching credential in college for high school physics.

Oh, wow.

I'm from a small island in Nagasaki called Tsushima.

I felt sorry for anyone who might be my student.

- I could only teach them what I know. - I see what you mean.

- That's so interesting. - Right?

This is the first time anybody's been able to understand.

Really?

So what's the longest you've ever dated somebody?

My ex-husband. We dated for four years--

- You were married? - Yes. Once, and then we got divorced.