Machida Keita and Takeuchi Ryoma headlined the adaptation of Inoue Satoh’s acclaimed Japanese manga, 10 Dance.
10 Dance is a 2025 Japanese romantic drama now streaming on Netflix, adapted from Sato Inoue’s popular BL (Boys Love) manga of the same name. The film premiered on the platform on December 18, 2025.
The story follows two highly skilled dancers, Shinya Suzuki and Shinya Siguki, each specializing in different competitive dance styles. When they decide to team up to prepare for the Dance World Championships, a bond gradually forms between them, pulling them closer both on and off the dance floor.
Running over two hours, the film concludes with a somewhat ambiguous ending, leaving certain questions open to interpretation.
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Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers. Proceed with caution.
10 Dance Summary Plot
Adapted from the manga of the same name, 10 Dance follows two Japanese dancers, each a champion in their own right, as they face a new challenge. Suzuki Shinya (played by Takeuchi Ryoma), a passionate dancer with strong ties to Cuba, and his partner Aki dominate the Latin dance floor. Despite their talent, they have never aimed beyond the national level, content with their current achievements.
On the other side is his rival, Sugiki Shinya (portrayed by Machida Keita), who shares a similar name but not the same approach to dance. Ambitious and disciplined, Sugiki has trained in ballroom dancing since childhood. His partner, Fusako, works tirelessly to keep up, yet his mentor doubts that he will ever win the World Championship, criticizing his performances as lacking emotion.
Determined to prove everyone wrong, Sugiki proposes a bold plan: he and Suzuki, along with their respective partners, will teach each other their styles. Their goal is to compete in the ultimate dance contest—10 Dance. This prestigious competition crowns a male-female duo that excels in ten dances: five Latin styles and five ballroom styles.
What Happened During the World Championship Three Years Ago in 10 Dance?
Suzuki begins to understand the root of Sugiki’s strict and controlling nature when he discovers Sugiki’s first performance with Fusako—a moment she does not remember. Through flashbacks, Sugiki recalls the events that shaped him. Initially, Fusako was not a strong dancer, but Sugiki took her on as his partner, confident that he could train her into a champion. However, during the World Championship, Fusako accidentally injures another dancer, repeating a past mistake. Overwhelmed with shame and frustration, she suffers a nervous breakdown.
During the final performance, Fusako is disoriented and nearly fails to reach the dance floor. To keep them on track, Sugiki resorts to harsh verbal coaching, pushing her through the performance with gritted teeth.
Looking back, Sugiki admits that he felt a troubling sense of satisfaction in controlling Fusako, a feeling that leaves him ashamed. This same controlling tendency appears later during the current World Championship, as he restricts Suzuki from participating in the ballroom category, believing he is not yet prepared.
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Why Does Suzuki Provoke Sugiki?
After confessing his dark secret, Sugiki sinks into self-pity, consumed by guilt. He cannot forgive himself for straying from the image of the perfect gentleman expected of him, feeling instead that he has become a controlling, grim figure reminiscent of his mentor.
Despite this, Suzuki admires Sugiki deeply—his skill, discipline, and restraint impress him. Rather than showing pity, Suzuki provokes Sugiki, pushing him to embrace his anger and rise as a worthy opponent. He believes that only by confronting his emotions and performing at his peak can Sugiki overcome his guilt.
This approach—tough love—is Suzuki’s way of breaking through Sugiki’s facade, helping him rediscover his true self. Together, they enter a tentative situationship and prepare for the World Championship with renewed determination.
This dynamic becomes clear again during the 2025 World Championship. Sugiki’s old partner and ex-girlfriend, Liana, competes alongside her partner and fiancé, Giulio, the reigning ballroom champion. Even when Giulio attempts to provoke him, Sugiki remains calm, accepting second place without complaint and participating in an impromptu performance with Liana.
Suzuki, frustrated on Sugiki’s behalf, urges him to release his anger rather than suppress it. Yet this time, the strategy backfires: Sugiki ends their relationship, fearing the person he might become if he loses control over his emotions.
Why Does Sugiki Choose to Dance with Suzuki?
Following the disappointing World Championship, Sugiki and Suzuki part ways. Six months later, Aki encourages Suzuki not to give up, and they compete in the Asian Cup Dance Championship. However, it’s widely known that the organizers intend to award the prizes to invited foreign participants as part of business arrangements.
As expected, two international duos take first place in the Latin and ballroom categories. To close the championship, the organizers invite Sugiki and Fusako to perform as the leading Asian duo. Yet Fusako chooses Aki as her partner, prompting Sugiki to approach Suzuki instead.
A flashback reveals the reason behind Sugiki’s decision: after his breakup with Liana, he regains his passion for dance upon witnessing Suzuki and Aki’s performance. He is captivated by their energy, the emotion they convey, and the story told through their movements—this envy and admiration initially inspired Sugiki to propose the 10 Dance partnership.
Sugiki finally grasps his mentor’s lesson that love completes a dance. He realizes that technical precision and control alone are insufficient; what truly matters is the passion and emotional connection Suzuki brings. Choosing to embrace this truth, Sugiki takes a leap of faith, rekindles their relationship, and dances alongside Suzuki. Together, they perform all ten dances across both Latin and ballroom categories, uniting skill with heart.
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10 Dance Ending Explained and Review
The film concludes with Sugiki kissing Suzuki and teasing him about competing against each other in the 10 Dance championship. Interestingly, the actual competition never appears on screen.
The manga that inspired the movie is far more expansive, featuring multiple story arcs leading up to the 10 Dance championship, which has not yet been depicted. This Netflix adaptation focuses on the opening arcs, exploring the evolving relationship and dynamic between Suzuki and Sugiki. If a sequel is produced, fans may finally see the long-awaited championship.
In many ways, 10 Dance isn’t really about the competition at all. The championship acts more as a backdrop to showcase the characters’ growth and romantic development while they confront their personal challenges. Through their journey, Sugiki learns to loosen his control and embrace the emotional side of dance, while Suzuki discovers purpose and gains appreciation for the precision and elegance of ballroom techniques, often overlooked in Latin dance.
10 Dance is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
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Source: Netflix, Netflix Japan
