Like a Dragon: Yakuza

In Like a Dragon: Yakuza, the story skips between 1995 and 2005 in the neon-soaked district of Kamurocho. In 1995, four young friends raised in an orphanage try to shake off their limited futures by plunging into the yakuza-run nightlife, where loyalty and danger are daily realities. Ten years later, in 2005, those same bonds have frayed as rival factions collide, and old choices come back to shape new violence and moral compromise. The series focuses on how histories and loyalties follow people across time, keeping the mystery of key turning points intact while tracking the emotional fallout among the core group.

Released in 2024, this is a live-action adaptation of Sega's Like a Dragon video game series, set in its trademark Kamurocho. The show stars Ryoma Takeuchi as Kazuma Kiryu, Kento Kaku as Akira Nishikiyama, Yuumi Kawai as Yumi Sawamura, and Hinano Nakayama as Miho Nishikiyama.

As of its initial run, the series hasn't gathered major awards from big industry bodies. It has drawn attention in genre-focused outlets and fan communities, but no prominent festival or award circuit wins have been reported up to now.

Because it brings a well known video game world to television, the show has generated steady discussion among fans of the games, especially about casting choices and how faithfully Kamurocho's look and set pieces translate to a live-action format. That connection to an established franchise helped boost interest and social media conversation when it premiered.

Critics and viewers have had mixed reactions, reflected in an average rating near 6.1 out of 10 from early audience votes. Praise tends to focus on the leads' chemistry and the show's action choreography, while criticism often mentions uneven pacing and the challenge of compressing complex game plots into episodic TV. Major themes include loyalty, honor in a criminal world, and the long shadows cast by youthful decisions.