Yakuza Actors Admit to Never Playing Game

The actors of *Like a Dragon: Yakuza* made headlines at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) last July when lead actors Ryoma Takeuchi and Kento Kaku admitted they had never played the game they were adapting for the screen. This choice was deliberate, aimed at bringing a fresh perspective to their characters. Takeuchi, through a translator, shared with GamesRadar+ that despite his awareness of the games' global popularity, he was encouraged not to play them to maintain a raw approach to his role. "I know these games—everybody in the world knows these games. But I haven’t played them," he said. "I’d like to try them, but they had to stop me because they wanted to—for the character in the script—explore from scratch. That’s why I decided not to play."

Kaku reinforced this decision, explaining the intent to create a unique interpretation of the characters. "We decided we would make sure we would do our own version, relive the characters, take their spiritual elements and embody them on our own. There was a clear line we wanted to draw but everything on the bottom was respect."

‘We Would Do Our Own Version,’ Actor Says

This revelation has elicited a range of reactions from fans. Some express concern that the show might stray too far from the beloved source material, while others believe that the actors' lack of familiarity with the game is not crucial to the adaptation's success. The absence of the iconic karaoke minigame, announced last week, has already stirred worries about the show's adherence to the games. With this latest news, fans are increasingly questioning whether the series will truly embody the spirit of the *Like a Dragon: Yakuza* franchise.

While playing the game isn't a necessity for a successful adaptation, lead actress Ella Purnell from Prime Video's *Fallout* series argues that immersing oneself in the game world can be advantageous. Her involvement in the game led to a highly successful show that attracted 65 million viewers within two weeks. In an interview with Jake's Takes, Purnell underscored the importance of understanding the world being portrayed, though she also recognized that the final creative decisions lie with the show's creators.

Despite the actors' decision not to play the game, RGG Studio Director Masayoshi Yokoyama expressed confidence in the vision of the show's directors, Masaharu Take and Kengo Takimoto. Yokoyama, in a Sega interview at SDCC, felt reassured by Take's deep understanding of the story. "When I talked with Director Take, he was speaking to me as if he was the author of the original story," Yokoyama said. "I realized then that we’re going get something fun if we fully entrust him with the project."

Regarding the actors' performances, Yokoyama praised their unique take on the characters. "To tell you the truth, their portrayal… are totally different from the original story, but that’s what’s great about it," he stated. Yokoyama's goal for the adaptation is to move beyond mere imitation, welcoming the fresh interpretation of iconic characters like Kiryu, given the games have already set a high standard.

For more insights into Yokoyama's thoughts on *Like a Dragon: Yakuza* and its first teaser, be sure to check out the article below!