Amazon's 'Like A Dragon: Yakuza' Series Star Ryoma Takeuchi Discusses Becoming Kazuma Kiryu
Image Source: Reddit
The Yakuza, or Like A Dragon series as it’s called in Japan, has recently gained more popularity in the West. The newest installment, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth was the fastest-selling game in the series, as it sold one million copies within a week of release. To capitalize on the popularity of the games, a Yakuza series has been announced, and recently got a release date. The show was released in October, and Ryoma Takeuchi, the star of the show playing Kazuma Kiryu, talked about what it’s like to prepare for the role of such an iconic character.
The show will follow the events of the first game, Yakuza, and will also tell an original story. It will follow protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and his misadventures in the Japanese crime underworld. The games, and show, are based in Tokyo, in a fictional red-light district called Kamurocho.
RELATED:
Image Source: Tokyo Weekender
Ryoma Takeuchi plays the role of stoic anti-hero Kazuma Kiryu. He played the titular role in the 2014 movie, Kamen Rider Drive, which reached a wide audience in Japan. He went on to star in various dramas and film series. When talking to IGN Japan, he says he was surprised that he was offered the role. He talks about how he played the first game at his uncle's house when he was a kid and had to think about whether or not he wanted to play the iconic Kiryu, “From the beginning, I knew I would have to give it everything I have, or I would never pull it off”. His mission is to play the character with “great respect to the original game”. He however does want to create his take on the character.
Takeuchi sees Kiryu as a man who is “starved for love”. For those who have played the games, I think they would agree. He goes on to say how Kiryu “wants a family, wants love, and he doesn’t even realize how much this drives him. He is a hero who lives his life with honesty, but he fights when he has to fight, and sometimes makes mistakes”
Takeuchi is preparing for the role with rigorous training and a carefully controlled diet he devised. The series will promise plenty of action, and Takeuchi will perform all the fights himself and is currently learning martial arts for the role.
Like A Dragon: Yakuza will be released globally on Amazon Prime in two batches, with the first batch releasing on October 25th.
READ NEXT:
Source: IGN
Latest News
Featured
