We finally get our first full trailer for the upcoming Like a Dragon: Yakuza show less than a month before it airs on Prime Video. With this being its own adaptation the one cast member that seems to be suspiciously missing is Haruka with her part in the story being seemingly removed entirely. It’ll be exciting to see how this adaptation plays out. We’ve recently recieved a bunch of cast reveals and a description of the show that goes over some more of the plot changes we can expect in this retelling:
Plot of the Like a Dragon: Yakuza series
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.
We also got the cast list which includes a few noticeable additions and missing characters:
- Yumi Kawai as Yumi Sawamura, a childhood friend who grew up alongside Kiryu and Nishiki.
- Toshiaki Karasawa as Shintaro Kazama, the former lieutenant of the Dojima Family who now runs the orphanage where Kiryu and his friends were raised.
- Koichi Sato as Masaru Sera, the chairman of the Tojo Clan.
- Misato Morita as Aiko, Yumi’s long-lost sister.
- Subaru Shibutani as Detective Date, the man who sends Kiryu back to Kamurocho to stop the impending yakuza war.
- Saki Takaoka as Reina, the owner of Club Serena, where Yumi worked in 1995.
- Ryudo Uzaki as Goda, the chairman of the Omi Alliance.
- Shohei Uno as a key member of the Omi Alliance.
- Masaya Kato as Dojima, the head of the Dojima Family in 1995.
- Hinano Nakayama as Miho, Nishiki’s younger sister.
- Tomoya Maeno as The Florist of Sai, a former cop turned skilled informant.
Changes from the Yakuza/Like a Dragon Video Game
- Misato Morita as Aiko is Yumi’s long lost sister, while it would make sense if they’re doing the Mizuki plot line from Yakuza 1 having 2 different actresses portray them seems to stand out that this is something completely different.
- Haruka Sawamura is conspicuously missing from the cast list and based on the trailer isn’t in the show at all
- Kiryu’s original story being changed to have him rob an arcade run by the Dojima family being his entry in to the Yakuza underworld.
- Miho, Nishikik’s younger sister, plays a much expanded role and may be the reason Nishiki is even in the life at all.
- Shintaro Kazama is a former lieutenant of the Dojima family and has seemingly retired from the life?
- Majima doesn’t have an eyepatch in 1995, this will likely be part of his story throughout the series.
- With the events of the show happening in 1995 and 2005 we’re skipping Yakuza 0 for a brand new origin story for all of the characters.
Let me know in the comments if I missed anything!