‘Like a Dragon: Yakuza’ live-action series announced

Prime Video has announced a live-action series adaptation of the SEGA game franchise “Yakuza Like a Dragon.”

This six-part crime-suspense-action series, directed by Take Masaharu (“100 Yen Love”) and Takimoto Kengo (“Kamen Teacher”), features Takeuchi Ryoma (known for multiple “Kamen Rider” titles) as the lead character, Kiryu Kazuma, as reported by Variety.

Set in two time periods, 1995 and 2005, the series explores the life, childhood friendships, and the consequences of the decisions made by a formidable and honorable Yakuza warrior. The screenplay and story are crafted by Sean Crouch and Nakamura Yugo, with the Japanese screenplay by Yoshida Yasuhiro and Yamada Kana.

Originally released in 2005 by SEGA, the “Yakuza” game series was designed as an engaging experience for adults and gained immense popularity among its audience. The series “Like a Dragon: Yakuza” portrays the lives of intense yet passionate gangsters in Kamurocho, a fictional entertainment district inspired by Shinjuku ward’s Kabukicho.

Prime Video remarked that the series “showcases modern Japan and the dramatic stories of these intense characters, such as the legendary Kazuma Kiryu, that games in the past have not been able to explore.”

Director Take expressed, “I have poured out my heart, soul, and the experience that I have garnered over 35 years into ‘Like a Dragon: Yakuza’.”

James Farrell, head of international originals at Amazon MGM Studios, commented, “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.”