Susumu Terajima

Kawatani (Hitoshi Ozawa) leaves Kyowakai, naming Himuro (Yasukaze Motomiya) as the 4th Chairman. But with Himuro hospitalized and Tamura (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi) stuck in Kobe, the leadership seat remains empty. Unease spreads among the executives, and tensions rise between Baba and Hirakawa. The Special Investigation Unit intensifies its crackdown on Kyowakai and Marugami-kai, arresting Kawakami for the hospital attack. Learning the police still can’t reach Shinjo and Komiya, Nakajima heads to the Fujishiro-gumi, but struggles with his failing physical condition. Meanwhile, a new scheme emerges, and drugs once again flood Yokohama. Amid growing chaos, Nakajima makes a critical decision—

Himuro (Yasukaze Motomiya) and Tamura (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi) return to Kobe, where the Kyowakai executives—still without a clear successor—expect Himuro to become the fourth chairman. Himuro refuses, causing unrest. After meeting Ueki, Himuro decides to respect Kawatani’s wishes and announces only his retirement. At the same time, the Marugami-kai appoints Sakota as chairman following Mita’s death. Meanwhile, Sunaga of the Keihin Alliance approaches Shinjo and Komiya again. Although the information reaches Himuro through Kuroiwa, Himuro rejects it, saying he does not want the Marugami-kai to split. Himuro admits he wanted to make Kawatani the number-one boss in Japan and to unite the yakuza world, but Tamura encourages him to be honest with his own feelings. Elsewhere, the Yamazaki Ichimon learns of Shinjo and Komiya and tries to handle things themselves. During this, retired Kyowakai member Nakajima appears, and his new business becomes the spark for a new conflict.

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.

With Baba (Akihiko Kuwata) acting as Kyowakai chairman and Sakota (Hideo Nakano) leading the Marugami-kai, both groups begin a new chapter. Kyowakai finalizes long-delayed executive appointments: Hayashida (Ehara Shu) replaces the retired Nakajima as Shikoku block leader, while Hirakawa (Hitomi Matsuda) becomes Tohoku block leader by Baba’s nomination, easing concerns from Himuro (Yasukaze Motomiya), Tamura (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi), and Ueki (Daisuke Nagakura). While drinking in Kobe, Baba drunkenly orders Himuro and others to “crush Marugami,” and the remark quickly spreads to Marugami and investigators. Baba then orders a manhunt, but Hirakawa objects and questions why the “Adachi-kai,” a group of delinquent gangs that fled Kyowakai’s control and formed in Tohoku, had been ignored. After being calmed by Himuro, Hirakawa heads to Tohoku to handle the group himself—setting the stage for new tensions involving Baba, Hirakawa, and the Adachi-kai.

Ikuto and Ryoma grow close after meeting in juvenile detention. Motivated by Mikuru Asakura's words, they set their sights on the martial arts event Breaking Down, but looming rivalries threaten to derail their dream.

The land redevelopment near Kyoto Station drew Himuro (Yasukaze Motomiya) and Tamura (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi) to the scene. Amidst the chaos, Kenjiro (Kenta Satoi), the local residents' association head and Reiko’s (Reira Arai) father, was shot dead. A distraught Reiko accused the Kyowakai, leading to Himuro and Tamura being separately questioned by the police. Meanwhile, Minami (Rin Asuka), who was like a sister to Reiko, struggled with mixed emotions. In Kanto, Okada (Yuki Matsumura), the newly released Okada Union president, saw this as a chance to crush the Kyowakai, sending shockwaves through the Marugami-kai. However, Mita intervened. Within the Kyowakai, Kawatani also ordered restraint against the Marugami-kai, but tensions continued to rise…

Himuro (Yasukaze Motomiya) and Tamura (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi) returned to Tokyo to confront Okada (Yuki Matsumura). However, waiting for them was a notice of succession from the Hasekai, which was supposed to be under the Kyowakai's control. Upon learning that Okada’s faction had ties to the Hasekai's new successor, Himuro immediately severed ties, bringing the direct showdown between the Kyowakai and Marugami-kai closer. Meanwhile, Reiko (Reira Arai), who had been hiding with Genji (Kuroishi Takahiro), continued living in hiding, harboring distrust towards Genji and others. Despite this, she remained focused on her vengeance against the Kyowakai. While Himuro and the others tried to clear up Reiko's misunderstanding for Minami (Rin Asuka), Reiko refused to listen. Gradually, she became more involved with Okada’s faction, who were willing to use anything for the war against the Kyowakai.

A sudden notice of succession from the Hasekai arrived from the Marugami-kai. Himuro (Yasukaze Motomiya) and Tamura (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi) were furious and stormed into the ceremony. Mita (Shun Sugata) saw this as a declaration of war and vowed decisive action. The police, led by Matsumiya (Gento Hongo), ramped up surveillance on the rising tension between the Kyowakai and Marugami-kai, leading to the arrest of Teru (Yutaka Kyan) and Saito (Katsuya), escalating the crisis. Amid rising tension in the Kyowakai, Nakajima (Yoshimi Tachi) sought revenge for Shoji’s death. Concerned about Minami (Rin Asuka) due to Reiko’s (Reira Arai) involvement, Himuro and the others were encouraged by Kawata (Hitoshi Ozawa) to proceed. Himuro’s plan set up a clash between Kuramoto Kogyo and the Keihin Rengo-kai. Though it initially went smoothly, Jun (Goro Washida) and Chosaku (Keishi Kawaguchi) interfered, creating new complications.

This mystery TV movie depicts hope and rebirth through the lives of inmates with different circumstances and the prison guards who strive to rehabilitate them.

The death of Minami infuriates not only Himuro (Yasukaze Motomiya) and Tamura (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi), but the entire Kyowakai organization. As Kyowakai prepares for an all-out retaliation, Chairman Kawatani (Hitoshi Ozawa) orders all executives to stand down and forbids any act of revenge. Meanwhile, in Marugami-kai, Chairman Mita (Shun Sugata), feeling responsible for dragging a civilian like Minami into the conflict, decides to expel Genji (Kuroishi Takahiro) and his men from the group as atonement. Even Senior Advisor Sakota (Hideo Nakano) can’t hide his fury at Genji’s despicable actions. However, Chairman Okada (Yuki Matsumura) of the Okada Union opposes Mita’s decision. While Mita fully understands the risk of triggering a deadly clash with Kyowakai, Okada and others, dissatisfied with Marugami-kai’s stance, launch a surprise attack on the Fujishiro-gumi, a group operating within Kyowakai's territory—igniting an explosive confrontation.