Amazon’s original drama “Like a Dragon: Yakuza” will be distributed exclusively worldwide on Prime Video from October 25 (Friday). A report from the press conference held at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo on Tuesday, June 4 has now arrived.
The “Yakuza” series of games was created by Sega in 2005 based on the concept of “entertainment for adults. Set in Kamurocho, a huge entertainment district swirling with desire and violence, the game dramatically depicts the lives of men, centering on the legendary Kazuma Kiryu, and has captured the hearts of fans in Japan and abroad.
The drama “Like a Dragon: Yakuza” is a crime suspense action series featuring an original script that portrays the growth story of the protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, known for his strong sense of justice and unmatched fighting skills. To protect his childhood friends, who are like family to him from the orphanage, Kiryu enters the world of the yakuza. The series intertwines their lives across two timelines, 1995 and 2005. Directed by Masaharu Take, who is known for the film “100 Yen Love” and the drama series “The Naked Director,” the lead role of Kazuma Kiryu is played by Ryoma Takeuchi.
At the press conference, Ryoma Takeuchi and director Masaharu Take appeared on stage. Takeuchi, dressed in his own black kimono, passionately shared, “Filming took about six months, starting last May. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this project, so I’m thrilled to finally announce its release. I just met the team from Sega, and hearing ‘It’s great!’ from the creators of ‘Yakuza’ made all the hard work worth it.”
He also commented on the highlights of the film, saying, “The film takes place in 1995 and 2005, so you can see parts of Kazuma Kiryu that have not yet been depicted in the game. I was under a lot of pressure to create a new “Ryu ga Gotoku” while respecting the original work, but I think their way of life is vividly and realistically depicted in the setting of Kamurocho,” he said. He also revealed the charm of the live-action drama that combines respect for the game and an original script.
He also shared an episode about how he spent two hours each time during filming to apply makeup to the dragon tattoo on Kiryu’s back. Director Masaharu Take said, “When we were casting, the first person that came to mind was Takeuchi. The reason was that he was big. In order to play the role of Kazuma Kiryu, I needed someone who had a presence just by being there. And someone with a big back to get this big dragon tattoo and someone who knows his body and how to work hard and train it. I was sure that Mr. Takeuchi would fit that bill, so I trusted him and asked him to do it,” he said.
In addition, a message from Masayoshi Yokoyama, representative of Ryu ga Gotoku Studio, also arrived.
“Like a Dragon: Yakuza” will undoubtedly become another iconic work in the ‘Yakuza’ series. While the game is enjoyed from a first-person perspective, this drama offers the ultimate third-person perspective. Fans of the game will be captivated by the surprises and realism that come every few seconds, while those unfamiliar with the original will be immersed in a world that feels incredibly real. I want to share these tension-filled hours, where not a moment can be missed, with people all over the world.”
Masayoshi Yokoyama
The drama “Like a Dragon: Yakuza” will consist of six episodes, with three episodes each to be released on Friday, October 25 and Friday, November 1.
Amazon Original “Like a Dragon: Yakuza”
Distribution Date: October 25, 2024 (Friday) Exclusive worldwide distribution of subtitled and dubbed versions in more than 30 languages, including dubbed versions
Number of episodes: 6 (3 episodes each on October 25 and November 1)
Cast: Ryoma Takeuchi (Kazuma Kiryu) and others
Original story: Sega’s “Ryu ga Gotoku” series
Director: Masaharu Take, Kengo Takimoto
Executive Producer: Erik Barmack Roberto Grande Joshua Long
Screenplay/Story: Sean Crouch & Yugo Nakamura
Japanese Screenplay: Yoshida Yasuhiro, Yamada Kana
Production: The Fool
