Kenji Matsuda

The first installment in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise, which has shipped over 30 million copies worldwide, has been adapted into a live action work that remains almost faithful to the original. Produced by the cast and staff of the hugely popular franchise Unification of Japan, which depicts the Japanese underworld, the adaptation is fully supervised by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. The story follows the events leading up to the video game Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties.

At the succession ceremony of the 4th Hachio-kai boss, leaders from across Japan gather to celebrate new chairman Kurose. Rumors spread of Shindo-gumi’s plans to expand into eastern Japan, putting local syndicates on edge. Amid the unrest, Murata Kunio is attacked and left in a coma.

Sawamura and his crew visit Kyoto’s Arashiyama family to clean up a scandal tied to Build-Up president Horita, who is deeply connected to Toyokai. Suddenly, Gudokai ambushes them, leaving Murata injured again. Meanwhile, Yamaoka arrives in Yokohama, asking Toyokai to take care of Onda.

During a meeting of the Toranishi-kai, led by Onda, news breaks that Shindo-gumi boss Yamaoka has been shot. Inside Shindo-gumi, the hunt for the culprit begins. Growing suspicious of Onda, Hayasaka pressures Onda’s ally, the Hanaoka-gumi, to leak information about Toranishi-kai.

With the release of Uesugi Yoshitake approaching, the Toyokai receives an assassination threat against him. The leadership raises security, while Munakata Seizo restructures his group—naming Sakai Atsushi as underboss and Murata Kunio as his aide. Meanwhile, Sawamura Ryuichi and Soma Kunihito try to settle a dispute involving old comrades, but…

The Toyokai leadership fends off attackers, but the assailants’ identity and motives remain unclear. Suspecting the rival Teito Union, Uesugi grows wary. Assigned to Uesugi’s crew, Soma digs into their networks—uncovering traces of former Teito members like Sudo Reiji, who has fled overseas.

After killing Toishi, Sudo schemes to join the Hachio-kai, now led by his old acquaintance Kurose Akito. Meanwhile, Nawa-kai’s Sakurai pressures Finance Minister Kanzaki—an ally of Hachio-kai—for profit. As rival factions begin moving, Toyokai reels when Uesugi suddenly declares the group’s dissolution.

Having barely survived, Soma returns to the fold. Munakata and Sawamura raid Sudo’s hideout, but a hail of gunfire wipes out their leads. Meanwhile, a scandal involving Minister Kanzaki—engineered by Nawa-kai—hits the tabloids, only to be silenced under pressure from both Hachio-kai and Toyokai.

Seizo Munakata, taken in by Shigemasa Mukai, the boss of the Toyo-kai, runs a ramen shop while secretly handling the syndicate’s underground dealings. Former biker gang leader Ryuichi Sawamura and ex-finance bureaucrat Kunihito Soma decide to follow Munakata’s lead. But trouble strikes when Mukai’s wife, Harue, and granddaughter, Shizuka, are abducted by unknown assailants.

Munakata Seizo, who runs a ramen shop while secretly carrying out underworld work for Toyokai boss Mukai Shigemasa, gains a reputation for his efficiency—soon whispered about as the assassin group “Resshikai.” One day, Mukai’s wife Harue and granddaughter Shizuka are abducted.