Like a Dragon: Yakuza is finally out, with the first three episodes out now on Amazon Prime. Following the struggle between longtime friends Kazuma Kiryu and Akira Nishikiyama, the series also has plenty of callbacks and easter eggs to the long-running game series. Here are some of the references from the first three episodes, spoilers ahead!:
KICKING OFF IN KAMUROCHO
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The series’ first major set piece has to start in Kamurocho, one of the games’ most storied and important locations. It’s based on the real-world location of Kabukicho, and it draws plenty of visual inspiration from it. Kamurocho is the seedy home of Kiryu and many other Yakuza, filled with activities and wild characters. The opening sets the tone perfectly, taking us through the iconic red Tori gate, showing off bombastic yakuza on motorbikes and crowded streets.
As the opening heist kicks off, Kiryu, Nishikiyama, Yumi, and Miho are in the midst of robbing an arcade. There are plenty of arcades across the Yakuza series, and there is a regular stop for side activities and games. We can also see glimpses of Theater Square, packed to the brim with people. It’s called Fountain Square in the series, a change-up from the games, but visually looks almost identical.
SUNFLOWER ORPHANAGE
The Sunflower Orphanage is one of the most important locations in the series. The place that Kiryu, Nishikiyama, Miho, and Yumi grew up in is more realized here, as they spend much more time in the company’s home than in the first game. It shares a visual identity with the Morning Glory Orphanage, one that Kiryu opens and runs later in Yakuza 3.
SERENA
The iconic bar appears in the series, though transformed into a hostess bar. In the games, it’s run by Reina, a close friend and ally to Kiryu. It’s a safe haven for them, one that’s regularly used as a place of respite between battles and plot twists. In the series, while it’s still run by Reina in 1995, it’s a much bigger and fancier affair. Full of yakuza, hostesses, and alcohol, it’s a far cry away from the quiet bar Kiryu calls home.
HEAT ACTIONS
One of the coolest parts of any Yakuza fight are the heat actions, brutal assaults that seriously mess up Kiryu’s enemies. We see a few of them referenced here, from smacking two assailants heads together, tossing enemies at walls, making enemies stab themselves with their own knives, smashing and dragging their faces across walls, and Kiryu’s iconic head to head smash. The show captures Kiryu’s brawler attacks and finishing moves well, even slowing down time for impact, just like the games.
KAMUROCHO UNDERGROUND FIGHT CLUB
Kiryu starts throwing down in Kamurocho’s Underground Fight Club, intent on making a name for himself and becoming the Dragon of Dojima. Fight clubs have appeared multiple times throughout the Yakuza franchise, from the Cat Fights in Yakuza 0, to the underground Coliseum in Purgatory across the series. Known for huge fights and plenty of cash, the fight club in the series is much grittier and darker. It’s a more personal location for Kiryu with high stakes, while the games’ clubs were usually grand and flashy.
MILLENIUM TOWER
A mainstay from the series, planted in the heart of Kamurocho, is Millenium Tower. A massive center and usually home to many closing fights in the games, it remains an important location in the series. The show even recreates a visual we’ve seen many times across the games, with Kiryu looking up at it after being released from prison, a towering behemoth of how things have changed since he got locked up.
CABARET CLUB DRESS UP
As Yumi and Miho join Serena, we get a scene with Reina that looks a lot like the cabaret club dress-up mini-game from Yakuza 0. As Reina helps them find their style, with a dress for their new jobs, the shot changes quickly across different dresses and styles. Yakuza 0 has a mini-game where you do just that, as Majima Goro runs a cabaret club in Sotenbori. It’s also a mini-game in Yakuza Kiwami 2, this time centered on Kiryu helping a failing club. It’s a fun reference to one of the most beloved mini-games from the games.
TAIGA SAEJIMA
Goro Majima makes his debut in episode two, with none other than his long time friend and comrade, Taiga Saejima. Another beloved character from the Yakuza series, Taiga, is a monster in combat while simultaneously having one of the biggest hearts and caring deeply about his friends. While he hasn’t appeared in the series for long, having actually joined the games in Yakuza 4, it was awesome to see him. Hopefully, we get more of him later on.
KEIJI SHIBUSAWA
When Kiryu and company arrive in Kamurocho, they’re taken to their new home by none other than Keiji Shibusawa, a major antagonist from Yakuza 0. In the games, Keiji has his own family and is a power hungry threat, constantly at odds with Kiryu. In the show, they have a much closer relationship, with Shibusawa acting in more of a mentor role.
FUTOSHI SHIMANO
Another familiar name with a much different role in the show is Futoshi Shimano. Appearing first in the scene with the Tojo Clan assembled, Shimano doesn’t do much in the show thus far. In the games, he’s a massive pain in the ass and antagonist across both Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami. He’s ruthless and conniving, always trying to get his way using whatever means possible. Time will tell if the show’s version ends up anything like the games.
HARUKA SAWAMURA
YES, Haruka IS in the series. A fun surprise that was hidden during the trailer, Haruka’s introduction is quite similar to the one in the games. In the show, she’s in a manga cafe that gets attacked by yakuza, a bloody mess as she runs and hides before she’s saved by Kiryu. In the games, Kiryu similarly finds her hiding with a gun in her hand and bodies all over the floor of a bar. It’s so exciting to see her here.
THE FLORIST OF SAI
Another major recurring character joins the fray in episode 3, with the Florist of Sai making his debut. The characters are similar in function but incredibly different in personality. Instead of operating and running Purgatory, an underworld location in Kamurocho, he’s based out of Millennium Tower. In the show, he’s a sleazy ex-cop who operates as an information broker, working with a team of people.
While he has a similar story in the games and operates functionally the same as Kamurocho’s watcher, he’s much less gross. While still a careful and conniving businessman, he’s also much more willing to help and less creepy than he is in the show. Yumi and Kiryu go to him for help, and even his offer is similar to the one in the games. To get the information they’re after, Kiryu promises to battle in the underground fight club again. In the games, Kiryu had to brawl in the Coliseum in Purgatory.
So much of the games have been touched on in some way, shape, or form, making it a fun watch for long time series fans. With all these easter eggs and references to the games in the first half of the series, there’s even more to come in the final 3 episodes. Check back next week for another breakdown!
Like a Dragon: Yakuza drops on Amazon Prime in two parts, with the first three episodes available now. The second batch drops a week later, on Thursday, October 31.
