Ryoma Takeuchi on Becoming Kazuma in Yakuza: The Sopranos

This article appears in Tokyo Weekend, Vol. 3.
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Playing an iconic character from a gaming series can be a daunting task. Fans have high expectations and are very specific about the type of characters they want to see. When Ryoma Takeuchi was approached to play Kazuma Kiryu in the upcoming Prime Video series, he realized this. Like a Dragon: Yakuzaa game loosely based on Sega’s legendary game series Japanese gangsters （Wu Delong (Japanese: がそばる)

Since the first game in the series was released 19 years ago, Japanese gangsters The series has become a cult classic; it is known for its realistic depiction of Japanese urban life and gangster lore. Most games in the series revolve around Ichiro Kiryu, an incredibly violent yet surprisingly likable gangster who navigates the underworld of Tokyo and other cities in Japan. Like a Dragon: Yakuza Set in two different time periods, 1995 and 2005, the show delves into the characters’ complex lives and childhoods.

Naoko Takeuchi was initially surprised by the offer. While he was no stranger to playing pop culture icons, he had played a Kamen Rider DriveWhen he was in the studio, he questioned why he was chosen to play the role of Kazuma Kiryu; he also knew that taking on this project would bring a huge responsibility. “You’re talking about a character that is loved by the whole world,” he told TW.

The World of Kiryu Kazuma

Ichiro Kiryu, known as the “Dragon of Dojima” for the giant tattoo on his back, was recently ranked as the 18th most iconic video game character of all time in a poll. British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)A powerful anti-hero, he gained immediate popularity with fans and critics who saw him as an approachable and deeply honorable character despite his violent tendencies.

“When you play a popular character like Kazuma, you know your performance will be praised and criticized,” Takeuchi said. “There was pressure with the role, but what was most important at the beginning was my determination to play him my way. That meant giving it my all and turning the energy meter up to the max. I needed to be Ichiro Kiryu. Not just from a physical perspective, which was a challenge in itself, but from an emotional perspective as well. I told myself that I was the only person in Japan who could play this role.”

Challenging role

“I knew I had to commit myself to Kiryu Kazuma’s world,” Takeuchi continued. “I couldn’t do it halfway. I had to put my life and soul into it, and that’s what I did.”

The actor had only a short time to prepare for this always demanding role. Kiryu is known for his muscular build and street fighting skills. Therefore, Takeuchi had to work very hard on his strength while learning how to fight properly. He called in mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura for help and did some training with members of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy Tri-Force.

Although he couldn’t even land a one-two punch at first, Takeuchi hit the gym day after day and soon developed a fighting style that he says was “best suited for Kazuma.” It was through this fighting style that he truly connected with the character. “The first time I felt like I was Kazuma was during a fight scene. I was so absorbed in it that I didn’t even realize I was on the set.”

Different periods

Another challenge for the Tokyo-born actor was having to prepare to play Kiryu Ichiro at different times, as the show covers a 10-year time span. “In 1995, he was much more confident in expressing himself,” Takeuchi said. “However, his ten years away seemed to have taken away any feelings he had for others, and as a result, he had a hard time communicating. He felt like he had basically lost everything and was trying to get it all back.”

He continued, “He’s not an easy character to play from an emotional perspective. In fact, even though the action scenes are difficult to play, I think the role is more difficult emotionally than physically. As Japanese, we tend to communicate tacitly and are usually not too vocal when it comes to expressing our feelings. Kazuma is like that. He and his friends grew up without parents, so they didn’t get the love and sympathy they deserved.”

He said that to prepare for the role, he visited an orphanage in Tokyo to “get a feel for what it was like [Kiryu] growing up”.

Solena Ballesta

From the football field to the silver screen

Although Takeuchi Naoko was shocked to be cast in the role of Kiryu, the show’s director, Takeshi Shoji, thought he was perfect for the role. At a press conference announcing the project, the director said that when he began thinking about who could play the role, he immediately thought of Takeuchi Naoko – the 185cm-tall actor had the necessary “size and temperament”. The two had only worked together once before: in Takeshi Shoji’s action-comedy In Hero In 2014, Takeuchi Yoshimi appeared on a film set for the first time, although he only appeared on screen for a few seconds, as an extra who handed a letter to the film’s protagonist.

In the years before that, Takeuchi seemed destined for a different career path. He played for the academy of professional soccer club Tokyo Verdy and dreamed of one day playing in the J.L. But injuries and other setbacks took their toll.

“My team won two national championships, but I remember at 18 years old, some things just weren’t going my way and my heart wasn’t really on it,” Takeuchi recalls. “Soccer helped me get into college, but while in college I spent about a year figuring out what I really wanted to do. Then, out of the blue, the idea of ​​becoming an actor just popped up.”

Masked Rider

It turned out to be a wise career choice. When Takeuchi was just 21 years old and still a novice in the industry, he took over his Kamen Rider Drive TV and film series from 2014 to 2015.

“Masked Rider “This movie put me on the starting line as an actor,” he said. “Of course, luck played a big role. Overseas, you need to learn acting and build a reputation before you can get big roles, but things might be different in Japan. I was thrust into this leading role from the beginning without any real experience… But I was completely different back then, so I feel embarrassed looking back at this movie now.”

back Kamen Rider DriveNaoko Takeuchi is a hot actor. In 2017, he won the 41st Japan Academy Award for Best Newcomer of the Year for his role in Nagai Akira’s comedy film “Daikodan”. Emperor One: The Supreme WarIn the same year, he continued to enhance his reputation in TV series such as Overprotected Kahoko and Hiyok.

In 2019, he made his Hollywood debut in Detective PikachuHe also voiced the lead actor Tim Goodman in the Japanese version of the film, but his ultimate goal is to develop his career overseas as a superhero.

Solena Ballesta

Boyish at heart

“I’m still a kid at heart, so I’ve always wanted to be a hero,” he said with a laugh. “For the past 10 years, I’ve been telling anyone who would listen that a Marvel movie is the ultimate for me. So if a studio were to consider making a movie starring a Japanese, I’d definitely be in it.”

Of course, he is also willing to try some non-blockbuster work. “I would love to work with overseas actors on some artistic projects,” he said. “I just need to learn English well first.”

Naoko Takeuchi’s latest TV series will be released in more than 240 countries and regions around the world, and he has undoubtedly placed himself in a prominent position.

More information

Like a Dragon: Yakuza The first three episodes premiered on Prime Video on October 25. The final three episodes will be released on November 1.

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