Hit Japanese video game is now a streaming series aiming for global appeal
TOKYO — Amazon Prime Video’s “Like a Dragon: Yakuza,” set to premiere in October, has all the glorious elements of a classic gangster story: bloody fights, beautiful women, expensive cars, muscles and flashy costumes.
Based on a popular Sega video game released in 2005, the story centers on Kazuma Kiryu, a gangster with a heart of gold. But the latest version has evolved to appeal to today’s global audience, according to its stars and production team.
“We weren’t looking to make another copy of the original, but to create it anew, while paying homage to it, but exploring it on a deeper human level,” said Ryoma Takeuchi, who plays Kiryu.
“We’re taking the concept that underpins the hit game and creating a modern human drama that people can more easily relate to,” he said.
The role proved to be the most difficult and time-consuming of his career, involving weight loss, preparation for fight scenes and character development, as well as the arduous filming itself.
Masayoshi Yokoyama, Sega Studios’ executive producer and the game’s writer, hopes that longtime fans will be pleasantly surprised by the series’ new twists, while newcomers might find it interesting to play.
“Looking back, the original feels like an old samurai movie, whereas this one dramatizes a new kind of sensibility,” he said.
“Like a Dragon” is a universal coming-of-age saga, but set in a fairy tale world, in a fictional Japan. The narrative spans two decades, between 1995 and 2005.
The characters, including Kiryu’s friend from their orphanage days, Akira Nishikiyama, are filled with an unwavering belief in honor, justice, and loyalty, as well as courage in the face of danger.
This film is not for the faint of heart. Each of the six episodes moves from one superbly choreographed violent scene to the next, without giving anyone time to catch their breath.
But the innocent love that the heroes and heroines show each other is the driving force of “Like a Dragon,” despite the screaming, kicking and gunfire.
“The story of Like A Dragon contains eternal themes, such as love, human relationships and betrayal, that everyone can relate to. So rather than being an old or new story, it’s really mainstream,” said Kento Kaku who plays Nishikiyama, known as Nishiki.
Telling the story in an era where streaming entertainment connects audiences around the world simply feels like perfect timing, Kaku said.
Executive producer Erik Barmack pointed out that the franchise offers something that makes it a huge success not only in Japan but elsewhere.
“We think it’s because the characters themselves have a lot of heart. It’s not a cold, existential crime story,” he said.
“It’s about why relationships can go wrong, even between people who love each other.”
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