TV Review | Like a Dragon: Yakuza

“Like a Dragon: Yakuza is a riveting story about family and yakuza with great performances by Ryoma Takeuchi and Kento Kaku.”

Like a Dragon: Yakuza is a TV series based on SEGA’s popular game franchise Yakuza: Like a Dragon. It’s an international co-production from Japan and the United States, starring Ryoma Takeuchi and Kento Kaku. The series is composed of 6 episodes and features an original story. The first three episodes premiere today on Prime Video while the final three will be available 31th October.

STORY

Like a Dragon: Yakuza follows the story of a family of four orphans – Kiryu Kazama (Ryoma Takeuchi), Akira Nishikiyama (Kento Kaku), Yumi Sawamura (Yuumi Kawai) and Miho Nishikiyama (Hinano Nakayama). Their lives change when they are drawn into the world of yakuza. The story takes place in 1995 and 2005. In 1995, we see the characters as they get to know the criminal world of Kamurochō. This is their beginning. The events of that year shapes them into who they are in 2005.

Each episode jumps between moments in 1995 and 2005, with each storyline progressing at the same pace. With 6 episodes, the series could have easily made 3 episodes in 1995 and 3 episodes in 2005. But mixing the two decades in each episode is actually the better choice. Jumping between 1995 and 2005 makes sense story-wise as the two decades complete each other. It also makes the twists and turns more exciting as we learn the full story little by little. In addition, having a story taking place in two decades allows to explore the characters with more depth. Indeed, we see them during two different chapters of their lives, two important chapters. There’s a clear evolution for each character, which is so compelling to see.

At its heart, this is a story about family, a found family who has to navigate into the world of yakuza. And this world affects the characters differently. From start to finish, you’ll be invested in these characters and their story. Undoubtedly, it’s a riveting series. While the final episode concludes the current storylines, there’s definitely room for a second season.

CAST

Furthermore, this series has a talented cast lead by Kento Kaku and Ryoma Takeuchi who both deliver great performances. Ryoma is the right fit for this cocky character. He knows how to be overconfident while still displaying a certain kindness. And yes, he has the right muscles for the role. It’s a beautiful sight to look at. Kento really impresses as his character is drastically different between the two decades. In 1995, Kento plays Nishiki as an innocent and spirited young man. In 2005, he plays him as a controlled and cold yakuza. Just like Yuumi Kawai, her character is also really different between the two decades. She nails both sides of Sawamura. In 1995, she plays the character as innocent while in 2005, she plays her as a poised adult.

VISUALS

Moreover, the story mostly takes place in the fictional entertainment district of Kamurochō. This is basically the infamous Kabukicho district in Shinjuku. It has the same entrance gate, the same types of buildings except instead of the Kabukicho Tower, there is a giant stylish tower. Plus, there is also a fountain plaza next to the cinema. It’s the perfect aesthetic for a Yakuza story – a shady nightlife district. There is a striking contrast between this big tower that represents the luxury of the yakuza and the buildings surrounding it that are old and quite insignificant next to it.

However, it feels weird to see the characters talking about real places like Shinjuku and Ueno Park but then say the name Kamurochō, even more so since this place is based on Kabukicho. It would have made more sense to simply use the district of Kabukicho instead of creating a fictional district that looks almost the same. It would have been less confusing too.

SOUNDTRACK & OPENING CREDITS

The score feels like it’s something that was made in the 90s. It takes inspiration from gangster films and retro video games. It’s funky at times while also bittersweet but it can also be serious and tensed when needed. This is a good fit for who the characters are. In addition, the series also uses American and Japanese songs. Each time, these songs are the right ones for the scenes but for most of them the sound of the songs is so low that they’re too much in the background. When a series or film uses a song it’s for a reason so the audience needs to be able to properly hear it.

Finally, Like a Dragon: Yakuza has an opening credits and that’s always a good sign. It’s a stylish and dark opening featuring a dragon and the district of Kamurochō. It puts you right away in the mood.

VERDICT

Like a Dragon: Yakuza is a riveting story about family and yakuza with great performances by Ryoma Takeuchi and Kento Kaku.

On a side note, the title in Japanese is Ryū ga Gotoku: Beyond the Game (龍が如く～Beyond the Game～) which makes more sense than the English title since this is actually an original story.