A panel discussion for the Amazon Prime Video exclusive drama ‘Like a Dragon: Yakuza’ was held at San Diego on July 26, revealing that Kento Kaku will star in the series.
The drama is based on Sega’s ‘Yakuza’ video game series, first launched in 2005. It follows the story of legendary character Kazuma Kiryu and his childhood friends, set in the bustling, crime-ridden district of Kamurocho. The narrative intertwines two timelines, 1995 and 2005, in a crime suspense action plot. Takashi Miike, known for directing ‘The Naked Director’ and the film ‘100 Yen Love,’ is at the helm, with Ryoma Takeuchi already announced as Kiryu.
During the panel at the San Diego Comic-Con International, new cast member Kento Kaku, who will play Kiryu’s brother figure Akira Nishikiyama, joined Takeuchi, Amazon MGM Studios International Originals head James Farrell, and executive producer Eric Barmack. The event also saw the release of the teaser visuals and trailer for the series.
Ryoma Takeuchi made a dynamic entrance by shouting “Hey!” and raising his fist, introducing the teaser trailer with “I have a gift for you all.” He shared his thoughts on taking the lead role in the live-action adaptation of the globally popular game, ‘Like a Dragon: Yakuza.’ “I was very surprised when I first received this opportunity. It’s a game franchise that has been popular in Japan for over 20 years. I had previously worked with the director 10 years ago, so it’s exciting to collaborate again. I’m looking forward to evolving the character of Kazuma Kiryu even further.”
Regarding his role preparation, Takeuchi said, “First, I thoroughly studied the original and then created something new and unique for the drama version. I focused on portraying Kiryu’s life struggles and contrasting the two eras of 1995 and 2005. With makeup and fitting costumes, I gradually became Kazuma Kiryu.”
Kento Kaku, who will play Akira Nishikiyama, shared, “When I was offered this role two years ago, I initially thought about turning it down because it’s such a famous and legendary game. However, after talking with Director Miike and the producers, I saw their strong passion for creating a new version of Yakuza that no one has ever seen, so I decided to take the role.” He spoke fluently in English to the 500 people gathered at the event.
Kaku also mentioned, “The character of Akira Nishikiyama appears likable on the outside, but he is a sad and unfortunate person inside. He experiences a range of complex emotions, which will make him relatable to anyone. By exploring the two different eras of 1995 and 2005, you’ll see different aspects of him. Nishikiyama and Kiryu have a brotherly relationship, so we talked a lot during filming, discussing everything from how to create the drama to training. Now, we have a relationship like real brothers.”
Additionally, a video message from Masayoshi Yokoyama, the head of the Yakuza Studio and executive producer, was also presented at the event.
Masayoshi Yokoyama reflected on his first viewing of the project, saying, “Honestly, I was so impressed that it made me feel a pang of jealousy. To see how the settings we created 20 years ago have been transformed into something so fresh was a breathtaking shock. That said, the original work hasn’t been disregarded. Whether it’s the affection of the screenwriters or the production team, there are little nods to Yakuza throughout that true fans will definitely recognize. Even as it breaks away from the original, it’s really something that will surprise you about every 30 seconds if you know the series. If you don’t know it, you’ll just see this world as it is; if you do, you’ll be surprised every 30 seconds. After watching the first episode, I couldn’t help but stand up and exclaim ‘This is amazing!’ It’s so wonderful it makes me tremble with frustration.”
Regarding the performances of the lead actors, Ryoma Takeuchi and Kento Kaku, Yokoyama said, “To be honest, their portrayals of Kiryu and Nishikiyama are completely different from the original. But that’s what makes it good. I believe there’s nothing more to add to the character of Kazuma Kiryu that we created 20 years ago, so these two are tackling a battle of portraying Kiryu and Nishikiyama in a world that isn’t simply about the game. I highly praise their work.” He concluded, “And it’s not just these two; many characters will appear. Especially, the performances and presence of the female cast surrounding them are truly shocking, so please look forward to the cast announcements and enjoy it.”
Like a Dragon: Beyond the Game will start streaming on October 25 (Friday). The series is made up of six episodes, with three episodes being released on October 25 and the remaining three on November 1.
Amazon Original Drama ‘Like A Dragon: Yakuza’
Release Date: October 25, 2024 (Friday) – Exclusive global streaming with subtitles and dubbing in over 30 languages, including dubbed versions
Episodes: 6 episodes total (3 episodes released on October 25 and 3 more on November 1)
Cast: Ryoma Takeuchi, Kento Kaku, and others
Based on: SEGA’s Yakuza series
Directors: Masaharu Take, Kengo Takimoto
Executive Producers: Erik Barmack, Roberto Grande, Joshua Long
Screenplay/Story: Sean Crouch & Yugo Nakamura
Japanese Screenplay/Script: Yasuhiro Yoshida, Kana Yamada
Production Company: The Fool
©2024 Amazon Content Services LLC or its Affiliates.
