Interview with Ryoma Takeuchi and Kento Kaku from Amazon Prime Video’s “Like a Dragon: Yakuza”

Being so close to the fans, there was an amazing sense of connection. This was my third Comic-Con, but I had previously served as a goodwill ambassador at Tokyo Comic-Con twice. The main difference between Tokyo Comic-Con and San Diego Comic-Con is the scale. The San Diego Comic-Con is so large that it causes traffic jams, and all the stores are full. Even as you approach the venue, you can see people waiting outside in long lineups. The number of actors is also completely different. I was overwhelmed by the closeness and enthusiasm of the fans.

Kiryu’s appeal lies in his masculinity, kindness, strength, and consideration for others. Because he wasn’t loved by his parents as a child, he has a yearning to be loved. What I focused on most in my portrayal was how he struggles to gain the familial love he was denied as a child.

Nishikiyama is a close friend of Kazuma Kiryu. They grew up together in an institution and joined the yakuza together. He admires Kiryu in some ways, but that admiration eventually leads him down the wrong path. Being the kind of character I can relate to, I wanted to play him and also found him to be a very human character. There are moments in the story where things drastically shift because of him, so I constantly thought about how to portray him in those situations.

As an actor, I’m thrilled that this series, created jointly by our Japanese and American production teams, will be seen around the world, and I’m even more excited that Japanese people—not just in Japan, but around the world—will be able to watch it in real time. I’m confident that everyone will love it, so I strongly encourage everyone to catch it when it streams.

We are truly living in amazing times. To be able to watch something like this immediately after its release is something that would have been unthinkable before. After it’s released, maybe I’ll visit America to see if anyone recognizes me (laughs).