Sega's Like a Dragon series, known mainly as Yakuza in the West, has entertained audiences for nearly 20 years with its mixture of martial arts action, character-driven storytelling, and delightfully convoluted crime drama plotlines. Now, the story of the original 2005 title is being adapted for a Prime Video original series, called Like a Dragon: Yakuza.
Though ostensibly based on the main plotline of the original 2005 Like a Dragon game, the series borrows elements from different games in the series, including Yakuza 0 and Yakuza 4. The series takes many creative liberties with the story in order to present a more character-driven story that nevertheless features many unexpected twists and turns that will surprise even longtime Like a Dragon fanatics. The series stars Ryoma Takeuchi as series hero Kazuma Kiryu, though this version of the character is significantly younger than his video game counterpart. Furthermore, the show bounces between multiple time periods, showing a version of Kiryu who is even younger, hungrier, and more desperate than audiences have ever seen before.
With the upcoming Yakuza: Like A Dragon series almost here, there are some important elements the show must not fail to bring over from the games.
S creenRant spoke to Ryoma Takeuchi about his role on Like a Dragon: Yakuza. He talks about digging into corners of Kiryu's character that haven't been fully explored in the games so far, and how he feels the video game incarnation of the character within him every time he dons the character's iconic white and red suit. He also talks about the show's numerous fight scenes and how they didn't have many stunt doubles to lean on, so he had to do a vast majority of the fighting himself.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza Actor Ryoma Takeuchi On What Makes His Version Of Kazuma Kiryu Different & Special
"We start from the respect for the original game. Then we create something new."
Screen Rant: Kazuma Kiryu is one of my favorite characters in all of fiction. Were you aware of his cultural significance when you were preparing for the role?
Ryoma Takeuchi: When I try to envision who Kiryu is, I wanted to pay attention and value who he is, especially when he was a child. I looked into it and how he was born, what kind of environment he was in, and what kind of family he was surrounded by. All these details actually brought him to who he is today as an adult human being. These are the sort of details that are not fully depicted in the game. I had to create this idea myself in order to play out the role of Kiryu.
I love this depiction of a younger Kiryu than we usually see. Tell me about not being so precious or feeling the need to adhere to the game version and the freedom to make it your own.
Ryoma Takeuchi: Thank you for that question. In order to do this, of course, at the very beginning and as a fundamental value, we pay respect to the original game. There are many different styles of live-action adaptation of the game series. First of all, we set a goal for this particular drama. We start from the respect for the original game. Then we create something new there.
We respect all the good elements that the game has. Together with the production team, including myself, for the drama, we add and focus a lot and pay attention to the humanity element of the game. This is a live-action adaptation of a series or a franchise that has been hugely loved and has a big fan base all over the world. It is a difficult task for us to adapt that. However, we took that mission and we took the risk. If I want to put it in new words, give it a new life, we will. We really cherish that mindset amongst the team.
Kiryu's suit. His style is such an important part of the character. His suit, I think he wears for 30 years in a row in the games. Tell me, when it came to that famous white and red suit, did you feel like you became Kiryu when you put on that suit?
Ryoma Takeuchi: Yes, thank you for the question. The suit that he's wearing in the game, it symbolizes who he is, and his character and personality in the game. When I actually wear that suit myself, it's very complex. I don't really become Kiryu myself on the surface, but I'm trying to say that Kiryu comes into my heart and comes inside to my unconscious in a way. So whenever, during the shooting, I hit the wall and I had some hard times and moments that maybe I felt I couldn't pull it off, he's there inside me when I wear the suit.
The Kiryu from the game is there to support me and empower me. That's how I felt. And for Kiryu, that suit itself is like an armor in a way. He is a human being, of course, and he's not strong at all the time. There's weakness in everybody. And when those weaknesses come out, or almost comes out, he's protected by that armor. I think Kiryu himself uses that suit for that purpose, too.
Ryoma Takeuchi On Like a Dragon: Yakuza's Depiction Of Chosen Family Bonds
"He's fighting for the love of his family. And he's fighting to bring back the love that has been stolen away."
In the show, we see Kiryu meet with Haruka. Can you tell me a little bit about working with that young actress and that character who fans of the game know will become the most important person in Kiryu's life moving forward?
Ryoma Takeuchi: Thank you for bringing that up. Talking about drama itself, the show is about the importance of family, the value of the family, and the bond amongst the family members. They could be connected by blood, but in this case, they are not connected by blood. In this case, they all grew up together from childhood. However, they're not really related in terms of DNA or blood. They're not biologically family. But, along the way, they're trying to fill in that gap. Living in Kamurocho, they are struggling, they have conflicts, and all these things they go through together. They're not related by blood, but they try to overcome this through all these struggles. And that's the value that I would say comes out of this drama.
I love the drama, all the interpersonal relationships, the emotions and the sadness that surrounds Kiryu... But also, a big part of the appeal is seeing Kazuma Kiryu kick butt, beat up some bad guys. Can you tell me a little bit about playing that side of the character, about being the Dragon of Dojima?
Ryoma Takeuchi: We have the underground fighting arena. This fighting sequence leaves a strong impression amongst the viewers. And this is one of the key points that you want to see out of the drama. But there's another way of interpreting it. The fighting sequence itself can also show that Kiryu inherently doesn't want to fight. He wants to avoid as much as possible.
But he has to, and he's dragged into fights because of the dragon on his back. This struggle within him is also something we want to portray in the series. So he's fighting for the love of his family. And he's fighting to bring back the love that has been stolen away through all these struggles. And also, I just want to add that there's not too many body doubles in the fights. We didn't use stuntmen that much, so I had to play it myself most of the time. It was quite difficult. It was challenging.
More About Like a Dragon: Yakuza
This Japanese action drama plunges into the dark underworld of the yakuza, exploring the universal theme of family not only through bloodline but also through ties between yakuza bosses and their underlings, orphans and their caretakers, as well as mentors and students. These relationships are marked by deep affection at times, and by intense conflict at others, all intricately intertwined. Set in the fictional town of Kamurocho, the story unfolds across two intersecting timelines—1995 and 2005. In 1995, eager to escape their restrictive lives, Kiryu and his friends, Nishiki, Yumi, and Miho plan a heist at a local arcade. However, the arcade is under the control of the Dojima Family, a powerful yakuza organization that rules Kamurocho. They dive into the yakuza-controlled underworld of 1995 Kamurocho. Meanwhile, in 2005, Kiryu is set to be released from prison. He learns from Detective Date that his friends are in danger and decides to return to Kamurocho to protect them. However, their friendship has deteriorated, as tensions between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance are at a boiling point.
The first 3 episodes of Like a Dragon: Yakuza are now streaming on Prime Video, with the remaining 3 episodes premiering on November 1.
Former Yakuza member Kazuma Kiryu, fresh out of prison, returns to Tokyo's underworld to find his kidnapped surrogate daughter. Navigating the treacherous streets of Kamurochō, he faces old enemies and new alliances, uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire city.
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