TV series based on ‘Yakuza’ video game keeps Japanese culture front and center

The Sega video game and show immerse people in a crime drama inspired by the Yakuza genre in Japanese films, which follows the Japanese mafia

SAN DIEGO, USA – Japanese actor Ryoma Takeuchi believes video game fans will find a special bond with the new television series Like a Dragon: Yakuza.

The series, based on the popular video game Yakuza: Like a Dragonis available to stream on Amazon Prime Video starting October 24. The film was unveiled last month at San Diego Comic-Con.

The Sega video game and series immerses people in a crime drama inspired by the Yakuza genre of Japanese film and focusing on the Japanese mafia.

“I think deep down it’s about the emotional core of the drama and that’s something that the true fans of the game can definitely relate to and that resonates with them,” said Takeuchi, who plays the lead role of Kazuma Kiryu, who is part of a secret political organization.

“There will also be a connection to the original source material, so that’s something you can expect as a surprise,” he added.

The series begins with a group of children in an orphanage who conspire to steal money from the local mafia. When they are caught, the mafia finds various roles for them in retaliation for their crimes.

There is a jump in time of decades, which begins with the adult orphans, former friends living deep in the world of crime.

The series, like the globally popular video game, is steeped in Japanese culture and the dialogues are all in Japanese.

“The global audience loves the game because it is quintessentially Japanese and set in a very specific location, with specific characters and the way business transactions happen,” executive producer Erik Barmack told Reuters.

“The way the crowd operates in the game is specific to a particular place. To do this show well, you have to be authentic to the culture of the game and what that game represents,” he added.

For James Farrell, head of international programming at Amazon Studios, it’s important to note that audiences today are primarily watching foreign programming, while in the past people were less interested in subtitles.

“The pie is getting bigger,” he said.

“Our biggest show ever outside the US was ‘Maxton Hall’ from Germany. If you had said a German drama was going to be the No. 1 show, you’d be like, ‘No, it’s going to be Spanish, it’s going to be one of the others we mentioned,'” he added.

The goal, Farrell says, is to find the perfect balance between what’s “grounded and local,” but also “accessible and familiar.” – Rappler.com