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The epic video game series Yakuza, Like A Dragon, which has had its own fan community since its first release in 2005, is getting ready to have a new Amazon Prime TV Drama Series in October 2024.



The TV series is based on the first video game with the story about Kazuma Kiryu, who is associated with the Yakuza based in the Kanto region. He takes the blame for a murder to protect his sworn brother, Akira Nishikiyama. When he gets out of prison ten years later, he notices that although the area and the people he knows have changed a little, the chaos and conspiracy within the yakuza world remain the same.

The appeal of this video game series lies in its resemblance to an open-world game, allowing players to take it slow and enjoy the locations, which mostly take place in a fictional district called Kamurochō. It is modeled after an actual area in Tokyo called Kabukichō, an entertainment district in Shinjuku.

This video game series also brings many spin-off games, books, stage plays, a TV series made from spin-offs, and a movie.



And there are more than 20 mini-games that you can play in these video games. You can enjoy classic games like dart, bowling, karaoke, and arcade games, and you can try more complicated ones like Cabaret Club Management, Weapon crafting... etc. But of course, since this is a beat 'em up, action-adventure, rpg game, you need to know how to fight.

One of the most intriguing updates about Yakuza is the upcoming Japanese-American co-production TV series, which was initially intended to be a movie before the decision was made to adapt it into a series. The TV series will have Ryoma Takeuchi as Kazuma Kiryu. It also includes Kento Kaku as Akira Nishikiyama and Munetaka Aoki as Goro Majima. Will the fighting scenes please the fans of the video game? Or Will the characters and location appearances be liked by the new audience who doesn't know a thing about the video game series? Can't wait to read about your thoughts. Are you a gamer or a movie buff? What are your impressions of the new Yakuza TV series? Share your opinions with us on social media, and don’t forget to tag us!

About the Author

Özlem Burcu Öztürk
Author, Culture Blogger, Scriptwriter, Documentary Director, Video Game Translator

Ö. Burcu focused on the significance of intercultural communication and since 2015, she has done volunteer writing to establish a bridge of culture between Japan and the world.

She released four story books; Shine Like A Star (2016, English and Turkish), Chocolate Flavored Murder (2017, English and Turkish), The Guardians Series Book 1 - Dream (2018, Turkish, English and Japanese) and Mystery Vacation (2020, English and Turkish).

She continues to focus and work on projects that can enhance intercultural ties.

Instagram: @authorburcu
Twitter: @AuthorBurcu




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