Like a Dragon: Yakuza is an American-Japanese crime action series in which we follow several intense gangsters living in Kamurochō, a fictional entertainment district in Tokyo, Japan. Primarily following Kazuma Kiryu, the series explores his character and his hopes, dreams and desires, along with what drives him as a person and a conspiracy surrounding Akira Nishikiyama and the Tojo Clan.
The 6-episode series is based on SEGA’s Like a Dragon video game series, primarily the 2005 Yakuza and the 2015 Yakuza Kiwami.
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Like a Dragon: Yakuza Series Creators
Sean Crouch, Yugo Nakamura
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Like a Dragon: Yakuza 2024 Cast
Ryoma Takeuchi, Kento Kaku, Munetaka Aoki, Yuumi Kawai, Hinano Nakayama, Toshiaki Karasawa, Kōichi Satō, Subaru Shibutani, Saki Takaoka
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Like a Dragon: Yakuza Directors
Masaharu Take, Kengo Takimoto
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Native Title
龍が如く～Beyond the Game～
Like a Dragon: Yakuza Review
The Like a Dragon video game series is an extremely popular one, creating a rich tapestry for those who love deep stories along with good action sequences. The newest Prime Video series, however, will be interesting even for those who have not played the video games as the rich characters and thorough storytelling will suck you right in. There’s action and drama in all 6 episodes and it gets to the point from the first, leaving us hooked to figure out what will happen to Kazuma and his friends after a heartbreaking betrayal leaves their friendship in pieces.
The emotional backstory of the four friends acts as the glue that holds everything together in this series while a ton of blood is shed and the twists and turns leave us gasping. The relationship between Kazuma, Nishikiyama, Yumi and Miho makes your heart hurt, especially when things go off the rails. Kazuma’s backstory and what makes him tick was an interesting addition to this live-action series because the video games don’t often give a glimpse behind the curtain of the legendary character. His equation with these different characters and the effect the betrayals have on their relationship is the core of the series and makes for a dramatic watch.
This drama lends its way to the mystery and the action, which the series has a ton of. Focusing thoroughly on the intricacies of the yakuza lifestyle, the series does a great job of giving us a look into their rules and rituals that will leave anyone fascinated. The way Kazuma makes his way into the yakuza and the effect that it has on him and his friends is fascinating and heartbreaking. The twists and turns and the backstab, although expected, still leave viewers shocked. Every action has a shocking consequence that isn’t lost on anyone and the series makes sure to show it to us as well.
Plus, there is also the curious case of Nishikiyama’s rags-to-riches story and a slew of murders that will intrigue viewers. There are a lot of layers to the series that are told with a lot of dedication that ultimately sucks viewers in like no other. I think the Devil plotline came out of left field a bit, but it has its merits, and things work out surprisingly well in the end. Episode 6 is when things come together and all the plot points come to fruition, leaving us slack-jawed at the end as one last shocking revelation rocks our world. The series is done well and every twist comes at the right time to keep us hooked until the next.
Final Thoughts
Like a Dragon: Yakuza is well done and the storyline, jumping from past to present and then back, gives us enough insight into the characters to create a thrilling and blood-soaked world that leaves us on edge. From its emotions to its actions, all of it meshes well together, so much so that you can’t look away right up till the last twist that leaves us dumbfounded.
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