Love Is Better the Second Time Around

Japanese drama

Love Is Better the Second Time Around (2024)

恋をするなら二度目が上等

  • Drama

Ended 13 episodes

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Love Is Better the Second Time Around (2024) guide: plot, cast, episodes and where to watch this Japanese second-chance BL drama in the Philippines.

Love Is Better the Second Time Around: Plot and Premise

Love Is Better the Second Time Around (original Japanese title: 恋をするなら二度目が上等) is a Japanese boys’ love (BL) drama built around a second chance at first love. At its center is Akihiro Miyata, a journalist, and Takashi Iwanaga, the boy he loved back in high school. Years have passed, and Takashi is now a university professor.

When work brings Akihiro back into Takashi’s orbit, the meeting is anything but simple. Both men are adults with careers to protect, so every conversation becomes a balancing act between staying professional and acknowledging a shared history neither has forgotten. Feelings Akihiro thought he had put away start to surface again, and the question becomes whether an old romance can be approached differently the second time.

The story leans on inner monologue, so viewers hear what the characters think but don’t say aloud. Flashbacks to their younger selves sit alongside the present day. Themes include ex-lovers meeting again and the pressure that family expectations can put on a relationship. The series is adapted from a manga.

Love Is Better the Second Time Around — Mood illustration, not a still from the series
Mood illustration, not a still from the series

What Makes Love Is Better the Second Time Around Notable

  • Cast: Makoto Hasegawa plays Akihiro Miyata, and Robin Furuya plays Takashi Iwanaga. Both appear in all 13 episodes. Aloha Takamatsu plays Yuto Shiraishi, also in every episode. Shunya Shiraishi plays Kyosuke Sugimoto.
  • Supporting cast: Akune Haruse (Taniguchi Rui), Motoki Fukami (Takaki Hibino), Yusuke Onuki (Sota Arima) and Riko Nagase (Ako Fukuda).
  • Younger versions of the leads: Haruki Mochizuki plays young Akihiro, and Nose Rin plays young Takashi.
  • Directors: Yuka Yasukawa and Nao Nomura.
  • Broadcasters: MBS and TBS in Japan.
  • Format:
    • Two seasons, 13 episodes in total.
    • Season 1 has 6 episodes and premiered on March 5, 2024.
    • Season 2 has 7 episodes and premiered on September 2, 2026.
    • Episodes run about 24 minutes each, making it a compact watch.
  • Source material: Based on a manga.
  • Status: The series has ended.

Who Will Enjoy It

  • Fans of Japanese BL dramas and gay romance stories.
  • Viewers who love second-chance romances and reunions with a first love.
  • Anyone who prefers short episodes of around 24 minutes.
  • Readers of manga who enjoy seeing adaptations come to life on screen.
  • Viewers who like character-driven stories told through inner monologue.

Where to Watch Love Is Better the Second Time Around in the Philippines

Official streaming platforms for Love Is Better the Second Time Around in the Philippines are not yet listed. A Philippine release date is also not yet listed.

In Japan, the series aired on MBS and TBS. Check back on this page for updates on legal viewing options in the Philippines.

Trailer

Cast

  • Makoto HasegawaMakoto Hasegawaas Akihiro Miyata13 episodes
  • Robin FuruyaRobin Furuyaas Takashi Iwanaga13 episodes
  • Aloha TakamatsuAloha Takamatsuas Yuto Shiraishi13 episodes
  • Shunya ShiraishiShunya Shiraishias Kyosuke Sugimoto10 episodes
  • Akune HaruseAkune Haruseas Taniguchi Rui7 episodes
  • Motoki FukamiMotoki Fukamias Takaki Hibino7 episodes
  • Yusuke OnukiYusuke Onukias Sota Arima7 episodes
  • Nose RinNose Rinas Takashi Iwanaga [Young]6 episodesSee credits →

Photo: TMDB

Episode guide

SeasonEpisodeOriginal air date
11Aired
12Aired
13Aired
14Aired
15Aired
16Aired
21Aired
22Aired
23Aired
24Aired
25Aired
26Aired
27Aired

Dates are original broadcast dates in the country of origin (Korea/China). Official streaming platforms in your country may add episodes the same day or later.

FAQ

How many episodes does Love Is Better the Second Time Around have?
The series has 13 episodes across two seasons: 6 in Season 1 and 7 in Season 2. Each episode runs about 24 minutes.
Where can I watch Love Is Better the Second Time Around legally in the Philippines?
Official streaming platforms in the Philippines are not yet listed. In Japan, the series aired on MBS and TBS.
Who is in the cast of Love Is Better the Second Time Around?
Makoto Hasegawa plays Akihiro Miyata, and Robin Furuya plays Takashi Iwanaga. They are joined by Aloha Takamatsu, Shunya Shiraishi, Akune Haruse, Motoki Fukami and Yusuke Onuki, among others.
When did Love Is Better the Second Time Around premiere?
Season 1 premiered in Japan on March 5, 2024, and Season 2 premiered on September 2, 2026. A Philippine release date is not yet listed.
What genre is Love Is Better the Second Time Around?
It is a Japanese drama with a second-chance boys' love (BL) romance at its core, adapted from a manga.

Sources

  1. TMDB
  2. IMDb

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