Prime Video shared today the official trailer for Like A Dragon: Yakuza. Announced in June, the Japanese action drama — a live-action adaptation with an original story based on SEGA's global hit game franchise — is set to hit the streaming service on October 24th (Oct. 25 in Japan).
Directed by the critically acclaimed Masaharu Take, the series will feature Ryoma Takeuchi as the lead character, Kazuma Kiryu. Like a Dragon: Yakuza follows the life, childhood friends, and repercussions of the decisions of Kiryu, "a fearsome and peerless Yakuza warrior with a strong sense of justice, duty, and humanity."
The official trailer plunges us deep into the dark underworld of the yakuza, giving us our best look yet at the upcoming series.
The official synopsis reads:
This Japanese action drama plunges into the dark underworld of the yakuza, exploring the universal theme of family not only through bloodline but also through ties between yakuza bosses and their underlings, orphans and their caretakers, as well as mentors and students. These relationships are marked by deep affection at times, and by intense conflict at others, all intricately intertwined. Set in the fictional town of Kamurocho, the story unfolds across two intersecting timelines—1995 and 2005.
In 1995, eager to escape their restrictive lives, Kiryu and his friends, Nishiki, Yumi, and Miho plan a heist at a local arcade. However, the arcade is under the control of the Dojima Family, a powerful yakuza organization that rules Kamurocho. They dive into the yakuza-controlled underworld of 1995 Kamurocho. Meanwhile, in 2005, Kiryu is set to be released from prison. He learns from Detective Date that his friends are in danger and decides to return to Kamurocho to protect them. However, their friendship has deteriorated, as tensions between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance are at a boiling point.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza is based on SEGA's Yakuza game series. Premiering in 2005, the franchise has become a commercial and critical success. The series has reportedly sold a combined 21.3 million units since its debut. The games, which are primarily described as crime dramas, tend to target adults, and you can see that influence the dark tones and themes of the series through the trailer above.
The video games are primarily set in the huge entertainment district, Kamurochō, a fictional district modeled after the violent Shinjuku ward’s Kabukichō. Like a Dragon: Yakuza showcases modern Japan and the dramatic stories of the characters many of us know from the video games already.
“I have poured out my heart, soul, and the experience that I have garnered over 35 years into Like a Dragon: Yakuza,” director Masaharu Take said back in June. “The unbridled passion, talent, and countless hours of efforts from the entire team have helped bring this spectacular story to life in the form of a riveting series that will be launched this year, the year of the dragon. Please look forward to Kazuma Kiryu, played by Ryoma Takeuchi.”
Like a Dragon: Yakuza is a Japanese Original series. It will begin streaming on October 24 in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. It will be available in its original Japanese language with subtitles, or with a dubbed voiceover.