Fans of the popular Sega video game franchise Like a Dragon Yakuza are excited because they will see their favorite video game turning into the series!
The well-acclaimed Japanese crime show is expected to air for the first time as a series on Prime Video, releasing in 240 countries and regions. The first three episodes will be released on the 24th October, 2024, with the concluding three coming on October 31, 2024.
Prepare yourself for the world of Yakuza in this action-packed six-episode series. The series is about gangsters and their fight for survival in Japan’s criminal world. So, read on more to explore cast, storyline and more!
Where Can You Watch Like a Dragon Yakuza TV Show?
You can watch Like a Dragon Yakuza exclusively on Prime Video. Prime platform members can watch the series without spending a penny. Non-members can start a trial or subscribe to watch.
After the free trial, Prime Video is available for users at only CDN$ 9.99/month.
What is the Release Date of Like a Dragon Yakuza?
The first three episodes of Like a Dragon Yakuza release date is announced and it is October 24, 2024. The final three episodes will be available a week later, on October 31. For Japanese fans, both episodes will be aired the next day: October 25 for the first one and November 1 for the second one.
What is Like a Dragon Yakuza TV Show About?
Like a Dragon Yakuza Prime TV series shows the world of Kamurochō. Kazuma Kiryu, a former Yakuza go-to-guy, and his complicated friendship with Akira Nishikiyama turned rival. In this series, he deals with their romantic feelings and hatred toward each other.
This is not your typical gangster story; Kazuma Kiryu is a man of integrity. Even when he is a criminal, he only wants to harm others when necessary. According to Ryoma Takeuchi, who plays Kazuma in the show says, “Kiryu is very hard on the outside but soft on the inside…he wants to stand up for people and tries to be a hero.”
Prime Video’s official synopsis reads: “The series depicts the lives of fierce yet passionate gangsters and people living in a huge entertainment district, Kamurochō, a fictional district modeled after the violent Shinjuku ward’s Kabukichō, that acts as the backdrop of the gameplay.”
Who Are the Cast Members of Like a Dragon Yakuza TV Show?
The cast of Like a Dragon Yakuza show is as follows:
- Ryoma Takeuchi as Kazuma Kiryu, the Yakuza warrior with a strong moral compass.
- Kento Kaku as Akira Nishikiyama, Kiryu’s childhood friend and rival.
- Toshiaki Karasawa as Shintaro Kazama, the former lieutenant of the Dojima Family.
- Koichi Sato as Daigo Sasaki, chairman of the Tojo Clan.
- Misato Morita as Aiko, Yumi’s long-lost sister.
- Subaru Shibutani as Detective Date, the man who sends Kiryu back to Kamurochō.
- Saki Takaoka as Reina, owner of Club Serena.
- Ryudo Uzaki as Goda, chairman of the Omi Alliance.
- Shohei Uno as a key member of the Omi Alliance.
- Masaya Kato as Dojima, head of the Dojima Family.
- Hinano Nakayama as Miho, Nishiki’s younger sister.
- Tomoya Maeno as The Florist of Sai, a skilled informant.
Like a Dragon Yakuza takes place in 2 time periods
The program will take place in two time periods: 1995 and 2005. A lot happens in a decade, so to express that, according to Takeuchi, director Masaharu Take assigned a particular color scheme to both years.
“I think even the characters are represented in warmer and hotter colors in 1995 versus how they are in 2005, which is more cold and blue,” Takeuchi said. I think the contrast is really important. Take-san has always been saying that you just don’t want to look cool or stylish in the 1995 scenes because that’s gonna happen in 2005.”
How Will the Like a Dragon Yakuza TV Show Differ from the Video Game?
Though the TV show is based on the Like a Dragon Yakuza video games, it takes a different story path. Unlike many other video game adaptations that follow their game counterparts closely, the Dragon: Yakuza TV show goes for it in a different way.
The adapters have built another story version that pays more attention to the characters. The actors were invited to explore options for approaching their characters so that they would feel more natural on stage.
“The main focus was to dive deep into the core relationship [between Kiryu and Nishiki] and use their ultimate objectives as a feeling, and that’s what probably brought out the essence of creating a new version,” Kaku said. “We were able to dig deeper into their emotional aspects, probably more so than in the emotional depth of the games.”
“It starts with respect and knowing the property in and out to letting it go at some point when you actually start shooting,” Takeuchi added. “Because you have to embody your own character in your own way. Once you embody the character — the spiritual elements of the characters — you just start to resemble the source material. That might be the most surprising element of the show.”
Is There a Trailer for Like a Dragon Yakuza?
Yes, Prime Video recently released the trailer for Like a Dragon Yakuza. Here is it:
What Do the Creators Say About Bringing Like a Dragon: Yakuza to Life?
“I have poured out my heart, soul, and the experience that I have garnered over 35 years into ‘Like a Dragon: Yakuza’,” said director Take.
“The unfettered appeal for Japanese content from within Japan and other parts of the world has been growing exponentially. While Prime Video Japan continues to offer a variety of content across genres, adapting an internationally popular game franchise that has such deep resonance and layered characters presents a unique charm and makes for an extremely compelling watch,” said James Farrell, head of international originals, Amazon MGM Studios.
“Since I first put pen to paper on the original ‘Yakuza’ script, I’ve never thought about revisiting any of my work on the series. It’s because I understand all too well the challenges and hardships of remaking a finished title. However, if I were ever sent to the past through some kind of cosmic joke, this is the experience I’d want to create. Suppose I had to go through the wringer anyhow. In that case, I’d want to make the most engaging versions of Kamurochō and Kazuma Kiryu I could —and this show has it all,” said Yokoyama Masayoshi, head of Ryugagotoku Studio and executive producer.
“While the games let you experience their world through the subjective lens, this adaptation will be the ultimately objective way to enjoy the show. I do not doubt that fans of the series will be drawn to how it brings the games to life and adds new surprises. Newcomers, I’m sure, will find themselves invested simply in the show’s gritty realism.”
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of the Like a Dragon Yakuza video games or love good crime dramas, this TV show should not be missed. The next series looks to be a dramatic new spin on Yakuza, which fans can expect to be full of best characters, acting, and plot.
Don’t miss the premiere of Like a Dragon: Also, the movie adaptation of Yakuza is available exclusively on Prime Video starting October 24, 2024!
Also Read: Shrinking Season 2: Release Date, Cast, Trailer, And Updates
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