Ryoma Takeuchi, the Japanese actor tasked with bringing Amazon’s live-action adaptation of Like a Dragon: Yakuza to life, keenly acknowledges the weight of responsibility that comes with portraying this iconic character.
Last month, Sega announced that its Yakuza franchise, recently rebranded as Like a Dragon, is set to receive a live-action television series adaptation on Amazon. It’s not the first time the Yakuza series has ventured into live-action territory; however, it will likely be the first to explore the “are video game adaptations good now?” narrative on this scale? The film will naturally revolve around mainstay character Kazuma Kiryu, with Ryoma Takeuchi taking on the role for this outing. Takuya Takeuchi recently conversed with IGN Japan regarding his involvement in the series, during which he reflected on his experience portraying a character from an existing franchise, and the hurdles that accompanied it.
“I was initially taken aback when I was offered this role,” Takeuchi explained. “I was familiar with the game series and had played the first installment at my uncle’s residence.” Playing a character from a current work is a genuine challenge, and I meticulously considered whether I was qualified to portray Kiryu and if it was suitable for me. From the outset, I understood that I had to invest every ounce of my being into it, or risk forever falling short. For Takeuchi, crafting his own interpretation of Kiryu became an all-consuming endeavor, driven by a desire to create the character anew. Given Kiryu’s revered status, he was acutely aware of the expectations that came with reimagining such an iconic figure, and he set out to honor those expectations while also forging his own unique vision.
“I have a great deal of respect for the sentiments of the fans,” Takeuchi said. Despite playing a character, I must then render their traits in my own unique way, which means I cannot be influenced by others’ preconceptions. Through independent research of video games, I sought to grasp Kiryu’s distinct characteristics and infuse them with my own unique flair. Ultimately, I’m hoping my performance will meet with the approval of the audience – yet I can confidently assert that I’ve done everything in my power to bring Kiryu to life. When creating a game, there’s no denying the allure of pushing boundaries and exceeding expectations. In my mind, it’s essential to acknowledge and pay homage to the original work while still striving to innovate and bring something fresh as an artist.
Takuya Takeuchi has spent nearly two decades honing his craft as an actor, with his most notable role to date being the titular character in the popular TV series Kamen Rider Drive. With a background in voicing characters, Justice Smith’s friend is no novice to video game adaptations; he lent his voice to Tim Goodman, the protagonist, in the Japanese dub of Detective Pikachu.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video later this year, specifically on October 24th.
