Can You Kiss Me First? live-action series unveils teaser trailer and theme song ahead of October premiere.

The official production committee for the upcoming live-action adaptation of the boys’ love (BL) manga Can You Kiss Me First? (Omae no Hou kara Kiss Shitekure yo) has released a compelling new teaser trailer. This promotional video provides audiences with their first substantial look at the series’ aesthetic, character dynamics, and tone, while simultaneously confirming the official theme song, titled “Shiranai” (I Don’t Know), performed by the popular Japanese music group Urashimasakatasen.

Production Overview and Broadcast Schedule

The live-action series is slated to debut on Fuji TV on October 19. Following its terrestrial broadcast, the show will be made available for streaming via the network’s digital platform, Fuji TV On Demand. The production features a creative team led by director Meigetsu Takahashi, who is tasked with bringing the nuanced, office-based narrative to life. The screenplay, written by Emi Amamoto, aims to balance the professional tensions of the corporate environment with the intimate, evolving romantic connection between the two protagonists. The auditory landscape of the show will be further defined by the musical compositions of Nobuhiro Tateno and Ami Yamashita.

The casting choices for the leads have been finalized to reflect the contrasting temperaments of the two central characters. Jin Suzuki, known for his performances in the live-action adaptations of Kimi ni Todoke and Teasing Master Takagi-san, has been cast as Ueno. Opposite him, Gaku Oshida, recognized for his work in Grapara! and Samurai Sensei, will portray Kanda.

Narrative Context and Source Material

The source material, authored by Yamayade, was originally serialized on the digital platform Renta! between March 2023 and April 2024. Despite its relatively short run, the series gained significant traction within the BL genre, leading the publisher Takeshobo to compile the work into a single volume. International audiences will also have the opportunity to engage with the original story, as Seven Seas Entertainment has secured the English-language license for the manga, with an initial release scheduled for September 29.

The story centers on two men who exist in disparate social spheres within their workplace. Ueno is an accountant characterized by a rigid, unyielding professionalism that often intimidates his colleagues. In stark contrast, Kanda is the charismatic, outgoing star of the sales department, widely considered the frontrunner for a future management position.

While their public personas suggest they are professional rivals or at least incompatible, their private lives tell a different story. The narrative reveals that they are, in fact, close friends who frequently spend time together outside of office hours, with Kanda often staying at Ueno’s home. The central tension of the plot is triggered when Ueno discloses his sexual orientation to Kanda. This revelation forces both characters to re-evaluate their intimacy and the boundaries of their friendship. The conflict is exacerbated by Ueno’s internal struggle with Kanda’s physical affection and Kanda’s lingering frustration over a past comment where Ueno dismissed him as "not his type."

Chronology of Development

The trajectory from a serialized digital manga to a live-action television series represents a rapid acceleration in popularity. The following timeline highlights the key developmental milestones for the project:

• March 2023: The manga begins serialization on the digital platform Renta!.
• April 2024: The serialization concludes, with the work subsequently compiled into a physical volume by Takeshobo.
• August 2026: The official announcement regarding the live-action adaptation is made, confirming the primary cast and production staff.
• September 2026: Seven Seas Entertainment prepares to release the official English translation of the manga.
• October 19, 2026: The series is scheduled for its television premiere on Fuji TV.

Market Trends in the Boys’ Love Genre

The decision to adapt Can You Kiss Me First? into a live-action series is part of a broader, sustained trend in Japanese media. Over the past decade, the boys’ love genre has transitioned from a niche demographic to a significant segment of mainstream broadcasting. Fuji TV, among other major Japanese networks, has increasingly invested in live-action BL dramas, often targeting a demographic that appreciates the "office romance" trope.

This trend is driven by high audience retention rates and the cross-media potential of these titles. When a manga is adapted for television, it frequently results in a "multiplier effect," where the increased visibility of the actors and the soundtrack drives renewed interest in the original manga and associated merchandise. The inclusion of an established musical act like Urashimasakatasen—a group with a dedicated, multi-generational fan base—suggests that the production committee is aiming to maximize the show’s reach beyond the core BL fandom.

Implications for International Licensing

The simultaneous licensing of the manga by Seven Seas Entertainment and the broadcast of the series in Japan highlight the increasingly global nature of the Japanese entertainment market. In previous years, there was often a significant delay between the domestic release of a title and its international availability. However, the current model emphasizes "simultaneous or near-simultaneous" availability to combat piracy and capitalize on global social media buzz.

By releasing the English volume just weeks before the Japanese TV premiere, the publisher is strategically aligning the print release with the height of the series’ promotional cycle. This strategy is intended to capture the interest of new viewers who may be introduced to the story through the live-action medium and subsequently seek out the source material.

Production and Creative Analysis

The choice of Meigetsu Takahashi as director is notable given her previous experience in character-driven narratives. By focusing the screenplay on the interplay between the two leads, the production aims to emphasize the psychological development of the characters rather than relying solely on the tropes associated with the genre.

The aesthetic choices seen in the teaser trailer—highlighting the contrast between the cold, sterile environment of the accounting department and the more domestic, warmer lighting of Ueno’s apartment—serve as a visual metaphor for the characters’ internal conflicts. The music, specifically the theme song "Shiranai," is expected to play a critical role in establishing the series’ emotional stakes, as the title implies themes of ambiguity and the "unknown" feelings that the protagonists must navigate.

As the October 19 premiere approaches, the focus for the production committee will shift toward the marketing phase, which will likely include interviews with Suzuki and Oshida to promote their chemistry. The success of this adaptation will depend on the show’s ability to maintain the emotional complexity of the manga while navigating the structural requirements of a broadcast television format. Given the strong reception of the manga during its serialization, expectations are high for a faithful, yet cinematically distinct, adaptation that captures the nuanced dynamic of these two salarymen struggling to reconcile their professional responsibilities with their growing personal feelings.