No Karaoke in 'Like a Dragon' Live-Action Series

The Yakuza series' highly anticipated live-action adaptation will exclude the beloved karaoke minigame. Read on to learn more about producer Erik Barmack’s comments and how fans reacted to the news.

Like a Dragon: Yakuza Forgoes KaraokeKaraoke May Come Eventually

Like a Dragon: Yakuza’s executive producer, Erik Barmack, disclosed in a recent roundtable discussion that the live-action series will omit one of the game’s cherished features: the karaoke minigame.

The karaoke minigame is undeniably a fan favorite in the Yakuza series. Introduced in Yakuza 3 in 2009, it has become a mainstay of the franchise, even appearing in the 2016 remake of the first game, Yakuza Kiwami. The minigame’s popularity is such that its signature song, ‘Baka Mitai’, has transcended the game and become a widely recognized meme.

"Singing might appear eventually," Erik Barmack stated, according to TheGamer. "When you begin to determine how to condense this world into six episodes… there’s abundant source material to draw from." Despite this, the team remains receptive to incorporating karaoke later, especially considering Ryoma Takeuchi, the actor portraying Kazuma Kiryu, confessed to singing karaoke often.

With only six episodes to adapt a game that extends over 20 hours, including side activities like karaoke could potentially weaken the main narrative and obstruct director Masaharu Take’s vision for the series. While the absence of karaoke may disappoint some fans, the possibility of future seasons featuring these beloved elements persists. If the live-action adaptation proves successful, it could open the door for expanded narratives and perhaps even to Kiryu singing ‘Baka Mitai’ enthusiastically.

Fans Lament ‘Dame Da Ne, Dame Yo, Dame Nano Yo!’

While fans retain optimism for the show, the omission of the karaoke minigame has sparked concerns that the series might skew heavily towards a serious tone, potentially neglecting the comedic elements and whimsical side stories that are hallmarks of the Yakuza franchise.

Adaptations often contend with the pressure from fans to remain true to the original source material. As long as it is faithful, fans would watch it. For instance, Prime Video’s Fallout series garnered 65 million viewers in just two weeks due to its faithful depiction of the game’s tone and world-building. In contrast, Netflix’s 2022 Resident Evil series was met with criticism for its departure from the source material, with many viewers calling it a teen drama rather than a gripping zombie show.

In a Sega interview at SDCC last July 26, RGG Studio Director Masayoshi Yokoyama described the upcoming live-action series as "a bold adaptation" of the original game. He emphasized his desire for it to avoid being a mere replication, stating, "I wanted people to experience Like a Dragon as if it was their first encounter with it."

When asked about his impressions of the series, Yokoyama assured that fans will discover aspects of the show that will keep them "grinning the whole time." While the specifics remain a mystery, this might suggest that the live-action adaptation didn’t entirely remove the series’ signature whimsical charm.

Check out our article below to learn more about Yokoyama’s interview at SDCC and Like a Dragon: Yakuza’s first teaser!