Yakuza Live-Action Drops Karaoke

The live-action adaptation of Yakuza, titled Like a Dragon, will surprisingly omit the fan-favorite karaoke feature. Discover why producer Erik Barmack made this decision and how the community responded.

Karaoke Absent from Like a Dragon: Yakuza Adaptation

Possibility of Future Karaoke Integration

Executive producer Erik Barmack confirmed in a recent interview that the live-action series will not include the iconic karaoke minigame, despite its popularity in the game series.

Karaoke has been a beloved staple since its debut in Yakuza 3, gaining such cultural significance that its signature song 'Baka Mitai' became an internet phenomenon. The feature was later incorporated into Yakuza Kiwami’s 2016 remake.

"We might introduce singing later," Barmack told TheGamer, explaining that condensing the expansive game world into six episodes required careful content selection. Lead actor Ryoma Takeuchi, who plays Kazuma Kiryu, is reportedly an avid karaoke singer, keeping hope alive for its potential inclusion in future seasons.

With only six episodes to adapt a 20+ hour game, prioritizing the main narrative was essential to director Masaharu Take’s vision. While the omission may disappoint some, the door remains open for karaoke and other fan-favorite elements if the series garners sufficient success.

Fan Reactions Echo 'Baka Mitai' Sentiments

While optimistic about the adaptation, fans expressed concerns that excluding karaoke might tilt the show toward excessive seriousness, missing the franchise’s signature humor and eccentric side stories.

Faithfulness to source material often dictates adaptation success. For example, Prime Video’s Fallout adaptation drew 65 million viewers by meticulously recreating the games’ tone, whereas Netflix’s Resident Evil faced backlash for straying too far into teen drama territory.

During a San Diego Comic-Con interview, RGG Studio’s Masayoshi Yokoyama described the series as a "reimagining" rather than a direct copy. "I wanted viewers to experience Like a Dragon as something fresh," he explained, hinting at unexpected surprises that would keep fans entertained throughout.

Yokoyama teased that audiences will find elements to enjoy, suggesting the adaptation retains some of the franchise’s quirky charm. For more details, check our coverage of the SDCC panel and the series’ first teaser below.