Like a Dragon
Encyclopedia
Like a Dragon or Yakuza: Like a Dragon known in Japan as is a 2007 Japanese crime drama
-comedy film directed by Takashi Miike
. It is based upon Toshihiro Nagoshi
's 2005 video game Yakuza
released on PlayStation 2
. This game's storytelling was inspired by yakuza film
s and is the original episode of a successful franchise that has since expanded to four episodes plus a spin-off and an Original Video called Like a Dragon: Prologue.
The English subtitled version premiered on June 23, 2008 at the New York Asian Film Festival
'08 and was released on DVD on February 23, 2010 by a Media Blasters
affiliate.
Shinjuku's Kabukichō.
The night begins with a bank robbery by a manzai duo
of amateur masked gunmen, and the disappearance of ten billion yen from the Tojo Clan's deposits. Meanwhile in Kamurocho streets, former yakuza Kazuma Kiryu and a young girl called Haruka Sawamura search for Mizuki Sawamura the youngster's mother and the former's childhood love, with Kiryu's rival, psychotic yakuza, Goro Majima and his gang on their trail.
After a meeting with Kiryu and Haruka in the convenience store
Poppo, employee Satoru and his new girlfriend Yui decide to start holding up stores for money and for fun. Elsewhere in the district a mysterious South Korean hitman, Park, tracks down the culprit behind the Tojo Clan heist which leads him toward the infamous Mister N and the Millennium Tower.
The search for Mizuki brings Kiryu to the top of the Millennium Tower and ends with a clicmatic battle with yakuza Akira Nishikiyama which is Kiryu's childhood best friend (they were raised in the same orphanage see Like a Dragon: Prologue
) gone deadly enemy.
edition on September 28, 2007 in Japan, with a limited edition "Deluxe Box" featuring three Kubrick figures (Majima, Kiryu and Haruka).
American distributor Tokyo Shock released a licensed DVD titled Yakuza: Like a Dragon on February 23, 2010 to coincide with the North American localization of Yakuza 3
. The release date was originally planned to March, probably in order to coincide with the North American localization of the PlayStation 3
video game Yakuza 3
.
Prior to this official release, the English subtitled DVD was distributed in North America by Bonzai RCS, the case featured a Korean cover for some reason (it was likely an unlicensed product), it was similar to the Korean market edition by CJ Entertainment
.
from his 2006 album Galaxy released on the Almond Eyes label (XNAE-10010), these are Hama no Ambassador (ハマのアンバサダー, hama no anbasada, lit. "ambassador of Yokohama") featuring Fire Ball and Papa B., Kuroi Kizuato no Blues (黒い傷跡のブルース, kuroi kizuato no burusu, lit. "black scar blues") and the ending theme 12 gatsu 17 nichi (12月17日, lit. "December 17th"). The latter two are also included in the Yakuza 2 game's soundtrack.
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
-comedy film directed by Takashi Miike
Takashi Miike
is a highly prolific and controversial Japanese filmmaker. He has directed over seventy theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. In the years 2001 and 2002 alone, Miike is credited with directing fifteen productions...
. It is based upon Toshihiro Nagoshi
Toshihiro Nagoshi
is a Japanese video game producer and designer for Sega. Nagoshi headed Sega AM4/Amusement Vision. He is best known as the producer and director of the Super Monkey Ball series, excluding Super Monkey Ball Adventure. His credits also include Virtua Striker, Daytona USA, and Spikeout...
's 2005 video game Yakuza
Yakuza (video game)
Yakuza, originally released in Japan as is an action-adventure fighter video game developed and published by Sega in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2...
released on PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
. This game's storytelling was inspired by yakuza film
Yakuza film
is a popular film genre in Japanese cinema which focuses on the lives and dealings of yakuza, also referred to as the Japanese Mafia.-Ninkyo eiga:...
s and is the original episode of a successful franchise that has since expanded to four episodes plus a spin-off and an Original Video called Like a Dragon: Prologue.
The English subtitled version premiered on June 23, 2008 at the New York Asian Film Festival
New York Asian Film Festival
The New York Asian Film Festival was first held in 2002, growing out of the previous year's New York Korean Film Festival...
'08 and was released on DVD on February 23, 2010 by a Media Blasters
Media Blasters
Media Blasters is an entertainment corporation founded by John Sirabella and Sam Liebowitz, based in New York City. They are in the business of licensing, translating, and releasing to the North American market manga compilations and anime and live-action movies and television series to home-video...
affiliate.
Plot
The plot is loosely based on the original Yakuza game and is a "one-night-story" that unfolds in a hot summer night in Kamurocho, the fictitious version of TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
Shinjuku's Kabukichō.
The night begins with a bank robbery by a manzai duo
Manzai
is a traditional style of stand-up comedy in Japanese culture, which usually involves two performers —a straight man and a funny man —trading jokes at great speed...
of amateur masked gunmen, and the disappearance of ten billion yen from the Tojo Clan's deposits. Meanwhile in Kamurocho streets, former yakuza Kazuma Kiryu and a young girl called Haruka Sawamura search for Mizuki Sawamura the youngster's mother and the former's childhood love, with Kiryu's rival, psychotic yakuza, Goro Majima and his gang on their trail.
After a meeting with Kiryu and Haruka in the convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
Poppo, employee Satoru and his new girlfriend Yui decide to start holding up stores for money and for fun. Elsewhere in the district a mysterious South Korean hitman, Park, tracks down the culprit behind the Tojo Clan heist which leads him toward the infamous Mister N and the Millennium Tower.
The search for Mizuki brings Kiryu to the top of the Millennium Tower and ends with a clicmatic battle with yakuza Akira Nishikiyama which is Kiryu's childhood best friend (they were raised in the same orphanage see Like a Dragon: Prologue
Like a Dragon: Prologue
Like a Dragon: Prologue, known in Japanese as , is a 2006 Japanese crime drama Original Video directed by Takeshi Miyasaka with Takashi Miike as executive director...
) gone deadly enemy.
Video
Amuse Soft Entertainment released the regular DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
edition on September 28, 2007 in Japan, with a limited edition "Deluxe Box" featuring three Kubrick figures (Majima, Kiryu and Haruka).
American distributor Tokyo Shock released a licensed DVD titled Yakuza: Like a Dragon on February 23, 2010 to coincide with the North American localization of Yakuza 3
Yakuza 3
Yakuza 3 is a PlayStation 3 video game, originally released in Japan as , the sequel to Yakuza 2 and the fourth installment in the Yakuza series. It is developed by Sega Japan's CS1 Team and published by Sega...
. The release date was originally planned to March, probably in order to coincide with the North American localization of the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
video game Yakuza 3
Yakuza 3
Yakuza 3 is a PlayStation 3 video game, originally released in Japan as , the sequel to Yakuza 2 and the fourth installment in the Yakuza series. It is developed by Sega Japan's CS1 Team and published by Sega...
.
Prior to this official release, the English subtitled DVD was distributed in North America by Bonzai RCS, the case featured a Korean cover for some reason (it was likely an unlicensed product), it was similar to the Korean market edition by CJ Entertainment
CJ Entertainment
CJ Entertainment is a South Korean entertainment company which is involved in film production, investment, distribution and exhibition. It is the largest entertainment company in South Korea...
.
Soundtrack
The motion picture soundtrack features three songs by Crazy Ken BandCrazy Ken Band
, also referred to as CKB, is a Japanese musical group formed in 1997 by its lead vocalist, writer and composer Ken Yokoyama. The band first came together in 1991 under the name "CK's", with a four-member lineup: Ken Yokoyama, Keiichi Hiroishi, Masao Onose and Shinya Horaguchi. This incarnation of...
from his 2006 album Galaxy released on the Almond Eyes label (XNAE-10010), these are Hama no Ambassador (ハマのアンバサダー, hama no anbasada, lit. "ambassador of Yokohama") featuring Fire Ball and Papa B., Kuroi Kizuato no Blues (黒い傷跡のブルース, kuroi kizuato no burusu, lit. "black scar blues") and the ending theme 12 gatsu 17 nichi (12月17日, lit. "December 17th"). The latter two are also included in the Yakuza 2 game's soundtrack.
Cast
- Kazuki KitamuraKazuki Kitamurais a Japanese film and television actor. He won the award for best supporting actor at the 14th Yokohama Film Festival for Minazuki, Kyohansha and Kanzen-naru shiiku.-Movies:...
as Kazuma Kiryu (桐生一馬) - Natsuo as Haruka Sawamura (澤村遥)
- Goro Kishitani as Goro Majima (真島吾朗)
- Shun Shioya as Satoru (悟)
- SaekoSaekoSaeko is a media talent who has acted in a number of films and television dramas.Though she has been credited under the stagename Saeko Dōkyū, her real name remains a secret....
as Yui (唯) - Haruhiko Kato as KazukiCharacters of the Yakuza seriesThis is a main characters guide to Sega's video games and movies franchise Yakuza also known as Ryū ga Gotoku . Characters are sorted by organizations or groups according to the original works...
(一輝) - Saki TakaokaSaki Takaokais a Japanese actress. Yōsuke Yamashita, a jazz pianist is her uncle. She won the award for best actress at the 19th Hochi Film Award for Crest of Betrayal.- Filmography :* cf girl * Swimming Upstream...
as Yumi Sawamura (澤村由美) / Mizuki Sawamura (美月) - Show Aikawa as detective Noguchi (野口刑事)
- Gong YooGong YooGong Yoo is a South Korean actor.-Profile:Gong Yoo graduated with B.A. degree and is still working on his M.A. degree in performing arts at Kyung Hee University. He started his career in showbiz with small parts in dramas and films. He first lead role was in Hello My Teacher in 2005...
as Park the Korean hitman (朴) - Yutaka MatsushigeYutaka Matsushigeis a Japanese actor. He won the award for best supporting actor at the 31st Yokohama Film Festival for Dear Doctor.-Selected filmography:-External links:...
as Makoto Date (伊達真) - Claude MakiClaude Makiis a Japanese surfing champion, actor and hip hop singer, under the stage name A.K.T.I.O.N., from Tokyo Akasaka. He is the eldest son of actor and singer Mike Maki. His mother is , an American-Japanese actress.-Biography:...
as Akira Nishikiyama (錦山彰) - Yoshiyoshi Arakawa as the Korean-Japanese weapon smuggler (武器屋)
- Kenichi EndouKenichi Endouis a Japanese actor.-Filmography:*Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger The Movie: Full Blast Action*Nobody Knows*Ninja Sentai Kakuranger*Visitor Q*Origin: Spirits of the Past*Lion-Maru G*Kikoku*Big Bang Love, Juvenile A*Kōshōnin...
as Imanishi the bank robber (今井) - Sansei Shiomi as Shintaro Kazama (風間新太郎)
- Tomorowo TaguchiTomorowo Taguchiis a Japanese actor.After leaving Dokkyo University without graduating, he started to earn his living as an illustrator, writer and pornographic cartoonist. He joined a theatre called Hakken no Kai in 1978 and he made a screen debut in Zokubutsu Zukan in 1982...
as the Korean-Japanese barbershop owner - Toshihiro NagoshiToshihiro Nagoshiis a Japanese video game producer and designer for Sega. Nagoshi headed Sega AM4/Amusement Vision. He is best known as the producer and director of the Super Monkey Ball series, excluding Super Monkey Ball Adventure. His credits also include Virtua Striker, Daytona USA, and Spikeout...
as Mister N (ミスターN)