The Like a Dragon series (Formerly known as the Yakuza series in the west) is one of the most iconic open-world action games ever put to disc, and now it joins the ranks of video game TV adaptations as Amazon announces Like A Dragon: Yakuza for Prime. 

Revealed by release late on June 3, Like A Dragon: Yakuza will air in two parts, with three episodes releasing on Oct. 25 and a further three on Nov. 1. The series will air exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, be subbed and dubbed in over 30 languages, as well as the original Japanese. 

Like a Dragon: Yakuza TV Series

A live-action TV production, the Like A Dragon: Yakuza series is set to span cross two time-periods, just like the original game. Following the story across 1995 and 2005, the show will follow the life of Kazuma Kiryu as he navigates the dangerous world of the yakuza underground.

Kiryu will be portrayed by actor Ryoma Takeuchi, who had this to say about playing the iconic character:

“I am truly honored to be given the opportunity to play the role of Kazuma Kiryu, a beloved character and the game series. I strongly felt that I was willing to put my life on the line. Audience will enjoy the show’s human drama and conflict that unfolds around Kazuma Kiryu. Moreover, please take a look Kiryu’s intense fighting scenes with the Dragon tattoo on his back.” – Ryoma Takeuchi

Masaharu Take the series’ director stated that he’d poured his “heart, soul, and the experience that I have garnered over 35 years into Like a Dragon: Yakuza.” As mentioned, the first three episodes will air on Oct. 25, with the remaining three airing on Nov. 1. This will likely incorporate a time skip in the story, which will be no surprise for fans of the game.

The Yakuza Series

The Yakuza series of games started in 2005, published by Sega and made by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (which, perhaps confusingly translates to Like a Dragon Studio). Initially known as a cult classic outside of Japan, the franchise has slowly broken through into mainstream appeal in the West through dedicated fans highlighting the games.

A blend of open-world brawling, tense yakuza-movie story beats, and light hearted slapstick comedy, the Like a Dragon series is something special. And those more intense story beats, mixed with the comedy, make it perfect for small screen adaptation.

However, this isn’t the first adaptation of Kiryu Kazuma’s life story or the Like a Dragon franchise. The 2007 film Like a Dragon, directed by Takashi Miike, is an over the top martial arts movie that adapts portions of the original game. The second game in the series was adapted to stage play in 2015.

Video Game Adaptations Take Over Streaming Services

Amazon is clearly keen to capitalize on the success past video game adaptions. Their Fallout tv show achieved critical acclaim earlier this year. However, one point of criticism was that the Fallout series didn’t have a new game for fans of the series to jump right into. Instead, they were forced into playing either the maligned Fallout ‘74, or a hastily updated Fallout 4.

In contrast, the Like a Dragon series released its ninth mainline entry in January 2024, with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. That game, a RPG-style game which follows the stories of both Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu as they travel to Hawaii for the first time, was a commercial and critical success. Doubtless, it will receive even more attention as this new Yakuza TV show releases.