Like a Dragon executive producer addresses fans’ concerns about Kazuma Kiryu being out of character in Amazon live-action adaptation
Amazon Prime Video’s live-action series based on Sega’s Like a Dragon franchise is set to start streaming on October 24. Titled Like a Dragon: Yakuza, the crime suspense action series follows the life of protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. With a decidedly grittier and more realistic tone, the adaptation aims to put a new spin on the original games. However, a recent teaser got fans concerned over how faithfully the series’ beloved characters will be depicted.
In the teaser clip above, Kiryu, played by Ryoma Takeuchi, is shown saying, “I want to become the Dragon of Dojima.” Although it’s just one line, both Japanese and English-speaking Like a Dragon fans rushed to point out its hefty implications. Users argued that this detail suggests a mischaracterization of Kiryu, who is, in the original games, depicted as indifferent to titles (or “cute nicknames,” as he calls them) and even experiences his legacy as Dragon of Dojima as a burden. Therefore, the line made people anxious that Amazon’s live-action adaptation might fail to depict the depth of Kiryu’s character.
However, RGG Studio’s director and Like a Dragon series’ executive producer Masayoshi Yokoyama quickly stepped in to address the matter. In a post on his personal X, Yokoyama, comments, “I dropped in to check on X, and saw the Dragon of Dojima becoming a hot topic! Oh, so that’s what you’re talking about, I understand. However, the meaning of the keywords is different…” Although his initial post is a bit ambiguous, in a reply to a commenter, the developer confirms that there is a proper reason why Kiryu says something he usually wouldn’t in that scene.
Since its initial announcement, Like a Dragon: Yakuza has been marketed as a show that goes beyond a 1:1 adaptation of the games (it’s even titled Like a Dragon: Beyond the Game in Japanese), taking liberties in tone and narrative. Previously, Yokoyama has called it a fresh take on the story, and while he expressed surprise at how “bold” and “new” the adaptation is, he has confirmed that it does not neglect the original story nor essence of the games.
As long as there are deviations from the original plot and characters’ personalities, there are bound to be disagreements about them among Like a Dragon fans. However, the fact that the series’ original creators seem to approve of how the adaptation is handling the source material should provide some reassurance.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza is scheduled to premiere on October 24 on Amazon Prime.
