The interview has been edited for clarity.
The world of SEGA’s Like a Dragon (formerly Yakuza) series paints a wild, bizarre image, especially from an external lens. In the same setting that establishes a crime drama and features characters fighting ruffians and punk groups on the streets, there’s also plenty of shenanigans laying in wait, ranging from dramatic karaoke scenes to amusing side missions with the most ludicrous twists.
But when the situation calls for it, the games don’t ever pull their emotional punches. The hit video game franchise has built a reputation for rich storytelling and strong characterisation over the years, cementing these elements as part of its core identity. With the role-playing darling hitting the small screen as Like a Dragon: Yakuza this October, the pressure is on Amazon Prime Video to inherit its unique brand of charm and reel in both newcomers and longtime fans across the globe.
It wouldn’t be in the Like a Dragon spirit to forgo its cultural roots, however. The rich slate of nine mainline entries and several spin-off titles offers a deep wealth of content to tap into, and at its core is the Japanese essence that continues to flow strongly. Pulling from the real world, the series features specific elements like hostess clubs, video arcades, shogi (otherwise known as Japanese chess), popular card game Koi-Koi, and more, which further establishes its distinctive DNA.
And where this may result in cultural dissonance elsewhere, it’s far from the case here. In fact, the specificity is what adds to the allure – and the live-action venture makes sure to give it the respect and honour it deserves.
“My theory is that the games are so popular because they are specifically Japanese,” muses executive producer Erik Barmack (Harlan Coben’s Shelter, Cromosoma 21)in a virtual roundtable interview that Geek Culture attended. “The way that clans and alliances work also feel distinctly different, and people relate to the fact that it’s different. What’s universal is that you have to care about the characters, so you have to feel like emotions of longing, love, or whatever it is, feel real and universal.”
“Our theory is it’s the combination of these things that if we tried to move it to New York, for example, it would have been a far less successful series. It has to be Japanese, and that’s what audiences are super interested in,” he adds.
Like most game to live action adaptations, Like a Dragon: Yakuza will boast a mix of original and existing elements – more the former than the latter. Kazuma Kiryu, the most-featured protagonist across the games, takes the spotlight as the lead character, with Kamen Rider star Ryoma Takeuchi stepping into the role. The beloved brawler is joined by Akira Nishikiyama (Kento Kaku, House of Ninjas), who hail from the games Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami, itself the remake of the original 2005 Yakuza, as their journey unfolds across six episodes in the fictional city of Kamurocho.
While these may mark a comfortable presence for fans, the narrative is unlikely toowon’t be. Serving as a reimagination of familiar story beats, the crime-suspense-action series, directed by Take Masaharu (100 Yen Love, The Ringside Story), brings its own spin on themes like justice, duty, and humanity, while fleshing out the characters and their exploits in a way that the games have yet to.
Suffice to say, this deviation can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it allows for more creative exploration though on the other, it may dilute the significance of established lore or fit poorly into the narrative fabric. The team, armed with boatloads of prep work, is ready to take on the challenge of staying faithful to the source material, starting with the point of origin.
“In this case, the mission was to do it in a way that felt local and authentic,” shares Barmac, pointing out the lack of authenticity in unsuccessful Japanese adaptations for Hollywood. “Once you’re cleared on that, the secondary challenge is, how do you distill a world that is literally hundreds of hours of plot into something that is emotional, resonant, and coherent in six hours? You can’t do everything, so you have to make choices about where to focus the story to start with.”
In a nod to Yakuza Kiwami, Like a Dragon: Yakuza is set in both 1995 and 2005, with each timeline focusing on a different touchpoint as the former chronicles the characters’ origin stories, while the latter dives into the corruption of power. To effectively convey both messages, special attention was poured into building an emotional core, right down to the details.
“The relationship between Kiryu and Nishiki has to feel like it’s vital, and with little twists that the characters could have gone one way, but that destiny took them another, so you have to be emotionally invested in the character,” he explains.
“Getting the tone of the series is also very important, so the neon lights in the background of this particular city block, which is evocative of not just Tokyo, but a particular part of Tokyo, was important,” continues Barmac, citing the texture of Kiryu’s suit in the 2005 timeline as an example of the team’s commitment to preserving accuracy.
As for the Dragon of Dojima himself, there are pieces of his backstory that draw from the games. Mirroring his origin story in Yakuza 0, Like a Dragon: Yakuza introduces Kiryu as an orphan alongside Nishiki, which puts Takeuchi in prime position to explore the protagonist’s desire for love and lay out his vulnerabilities in the open.
The 31-year-old muses, “He wants to be loved; it’s the emotional core that drives him. The dragon tattoo on his back is a display of strength, but at the same time, he’s craving for love, and that’s the thing driving him through the narrative.”
The emotional nuance is not new for the franchise, reinforced many times through deconstructing societal norms, humanising minority or underrepresented individuals, and celebrating ties – blood or otherwise. As well-trodden as the found family trope is, the Like a Dragon games have a steady track record of stirring emotions, and Takeuchi promises a similar treatment for its live-action endeavour.
“I think the key to the performance is to realise that the main characters are all orphans; they don’t have parents, and they’ve been craving and wanting that love all their lives,” he emphasises.
“It could be both a disadvantage or an advantage, but they turned it into their own power to form a family in Kamurocho.”
Like a Dragon: Yakuza will debut on Prime Video in two batches of three episodes on 25 October and 1 November.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
Natalie
