An exclusive interview footage has been released from the Amazon Original drama 'Like a Dragon: Yakuza' (6 episodes), starring actor Ryoma Takeuchi. The cast shares insights into the highlights of the original script, portraying everything from a human drama about “family” to a large-scale brawl involving 300 participants. The drama will be exclusively distributed on the streaming service Prime Video, with three episodes available on October 25 and three more on November 1. Membership registration is required to watch the series.

In the footage, Takeuchi as Kazuma Kiryu, Kento Kaku as Akira Nishikiyama, Yumi Kawai as Yumi Sawamura, Subaru Shibutani as Detective Date, Munetaka Aoki as Goro Majima, and Koichi Sato as Daigo Sasaki appear. They express their respect for the game source material while discussing the themes of family love and the impressive action scenes unique to the drama.

Takeuchi reveals, “While respecting the original game, I portrayed Kazuma Kiryu’s upbringing and the reasons behind his tattoo of a dragon on his back, focusing on what drives him.” He emphasizes the deep character exploration in his performance. Regarding the story of a non-biological family, he states, “I believe the drama delicately and powerfully depicts the beautiful aspects of the game.”

Kaku mentions, “Kiryu, Nishiki, Yumi, and Miho grew up in very impoverished environments, spending their childhood and youth together; they are truly a ‘family.’ There was an incredible chemistry among the four actors on set.” He adds, “The drama dramatically shows how the characters changed over ten years, contrasting 1995 and 2005. It’s not just a yakuza story or an action tale; it’s a work that focuses on humanity.” Regarding the impressive set and large-scale action scenes, Shibutani shares, “I was overwhelmed. The set was incredibly powerful, and just being there was enjoyable.” Sato comments, “We auditioned 300 actors to play the yakuza members, feeling the scale of this production through the talent and action assembled.”

Aoki, who plays the popular character Goro Majima, portrays him as the ruthless enforcer of the Dojima family, stating, “I’m making quite a splash, so I hope you look forward to it. I collaborated with the action team to develop a fighting style true to Majima!” Kawai reflects on the unique experience of filming, saying, “I had an incredibly rare experience that I could only have on this set.” The drama is based on Sega’s hit game series 'Like a Dragon.' Set in the same entertainment district of Kamurocho, it tells the story of Kazuma Kiryu (Takeuchi) and Akira Nishikiyama (Kaku), who become entrenched in the world of the yakuza, weaving together original scripts in a crime-suspense action narrative that intersects two timelines, 1995 and 2005.

In 1995, Kiryu, Nishiki, Yumi, and Miho, who grew up together in the children's home "Himawari," attempt to escape their life of strict discipline by staging an attack on an arcade. The store they target is under the influence of the Dojima family, a yakuza organization dominating Kamurocho, which leads to pressure from Dojima to settle the score. Shinji Kazama (Toshiaki Karasawa), who runs "Himawari" and acts as a father figure, hopes for Kiryu and the others to lead normal lives, but contrary to his wishes, the four descend into the underworld... Ten years later, in 2005, Kiryu returns to Kamurocho to protect his precious "family" and face a blood-soaked battle.

In 2013, the series returned to the big screen for the first time in 17 years, with consecutive box-office hits. The anime series Dragon Ball Super, based on a concept by Toriyama, began in 2015. In 2022, the film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero was released.

Source : ORICON NEWS