Like a Dragon: Prologue 2006

Crime

Drama

Runtime

43 mins

Language

Japanese

Directed by

Takashi Miike

Made by

SEGA

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Like a Dragon: Prologue Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Like a Dragon: Prologue (2006). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

In 1970s-era Japan, three children, Kazuma Kiryu Masakatsu Funaki, Akira Nishikiyama Mikio Osawa, and his younger sister Yuko Nishikiyama, are raised together in Sunflower Orphanage run by Shintaro Kazama Hirotaro Honda (a.k.a. Fuma). In the summer of 1980, Yumi Sawamura Ayaka Maeda, a young girl whose parents were accidentally shot and killed during a gang’s shootout, joins them in the orphanage. Following a yakuza tradition, the honorable Kazama secretly raises orphans whose parents he has directly or indirectly killed. In return, the children love him as a father and he eventually inducts Kiryu and Nishikiyama into the Dojima Family, a Tojo Clan affiliate of which he is a senior officer.

Years later, the promising Kiryu quickly rises through the yakuza hierarchy and earns the nickname the Dragon of Dojima for the dragon irezumi tattoo on his back (hence the original title Like a Dragon). His childhood friend Nishikiyama is torn between loyalty for his kyodai (yakuza “brother”) and jealousy against the one who has always been Kazama’s protégé. Another subject of rivalry between the two friends is their secret love for Yumi, who looks up to them as her older brothers. In order to remain close to both of them, Yumi leaves the orphanage in 1990 and moves to Tokyo’s red-light district Kamurocho, where she gets a job as a hostess at Reina’s high-class bar Serena.

On October 1, 1995, Kiryu announces to his friends that he is ready to create his own yakuza family, which only lacks the go ahead from the Chairman of the Dojima Family, Sohei Dojima Harumi Sone. Later that night, Dojima kidnaps Yumi from Serena, with Nishikiyama attempting to interfere only to be restrained by Dojima’s bodyguards. When Nishikiyama eventually reaches the Chairman’s office, he finds his boss raping Yumi and shoots him dead. Kiryu, who was at a meeting with Kazama before getting a worried call from Reina, arrives to find Dojima’s dead body on the ground, Nishikiyama in shock, and Yumi curled up in fear. Kiryu decides that he will take responsibility for Dojima’s murder in order to protect Yuko, who needs her brother Nishikiyama as she is about to get a desperately needed operation for her heart. Kiryu orders the pair to leave before the police arrives and holds Nishikiyama’s gun, ready to surrender. The police conclude that the shooting is none of their concern, and Kiryu is sentenced to prison.

While en route to the hospital, Yumi has a flashback to her parents’ murders and tries to jump out of the car. Nishikiyama calms her down, but she then escapes from the hospital and goes back to the only place she feels safe: Sunflower Orphanage, which is now closed and in ruins. The film ends with Kiryu nearing the end of his ten-year sentence and awaiting release.

Like a Dragon: Prologue Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Like a Dragon: Prologue (2006) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Sunflower Orphanage upbringing

In the 1970s-1980s, Kazuma Kazama secretly raises orphans whose parents he indirectly killed, creating a makeshift family. Kazama's Sunflower Orphanage becomes a training ground and sanctuary for Kazama's protégés, including Kiryu, Nishikiyama, and Yuko. The arrival of Yumi Sawamura in the summer of 1980 adds a new bond to the fragile household.

Summer 1980 Sunflower Orphanage

Induction into the Dojima Family

Kazama formally inducts teenage Kiryu and Nishikiyama into the Dojima Family, cementing their path into the yakuza. The brothers-in-arms grow up under Kazama's protection while tightening their bonds with the organization. The ceremony marks a turning point in their loyalty and ambitions.

Early 1990s Dojima Family HQ

Kiryu's rise and nickname Dragon of Dojima

Kiryu ascends quickly through the Dojima ranks and earns the nickname Dragon of Dojima for the dragon tattoo across his back. His rise earns respect, but also intensifies the expectations placed on him and Nishikiyama. The brothers become emblematic figures within the clan.

1990s Dojima Family HQ

Nishikiyama's dilemma and feelings for Yumi

Nishikiyama wrestles with loyalty to Kiryu while feeling sidelined by Kiryu's rapid ascent and Kazama's favoritism. His jealousy is compounded by Yumi's growing closeness with both men. The rivalry between friends deepens as their affections become entangled.

1990s Dojima Family HQ

Yumi moves to Kamurocho

In 1990, Yumi leaves Sunflower Orphanage and relocates to Tokyo's red-light district Kamurocho, where she begins working as a hostess at Reina's Serena. She seeks independence and a way to support herself, while staying connected to her former brothers. The change marks a new chapter in the trio's intertwined fates.

1990 Kamurocho

Kiryu proclaims his own yakuza family

On October 1, 1995, Kiryu publicly declares that he is ready to form his own yakuza family, seeking the Chairman Sohei Dojima's blessing. His declaration tests the fragile order within the Dojima Family and the wider Tojo Clan. The announcement sets in motion a brutal series of events.

October 1, 1995 Kamurocho

Dojima abducts Yumi; Nishikiyama intervenes

That night, Dojima kidnaps Yumi from Serena, triggering a confrontation with Nishikiyama who tries to intervene but is restrained by Dojima's bodyguards. The act shatters the fragile peace between the men and sets the tragedy in motion. The ruthlessness of Dojima is laid bare and loyalty is tested to the limit.

October 1, 1995 Serena, Kamurocho

Nishikiyama confronts the Chairman

Nishikiyama reaches the Chairman's office and discovers Dojima raping Yumi, a brutal violation that shocks him to the core. In a moment of rage, he shoots Dojima dead. The act seals the fate of the trio and escalates the conflict within the clan.

October 1, 1995 Dojima Family HQ

Kiryu arrives; takes responsibility

Kiryu arrives at the scene to find Dojima dead, Nishikiyama in shock, and Yumi terrified. He resolves to take responsibility for Dojima's murder to protect Yuko and spare her from the consequences that would tear the family apart. He orders Nishikiyama and Yumi to leave and prepares to surrender.

October 1, 1995 Dojima Family HQ

Surrender and imprisonment

The police deem the matter a private affair, and Kiryu is sentenced to ten years in prison. His sacrifice secures a fragile peace for Yuko's heart operation and gives Nishikiyama a chance to process the night’s horrors. The unlikely hero begins a long, quiet stretch behind bars.

Late 1995 Kamurocho Prison

Yumi's car-journey flashback

En route to hospital care, Yumi experiences a traumatic flashback of her parents' murder and tries to jump from the car. Nishikiyama struggles to calm her, masking his own turmoil with resolve. The scene underscores the lasting scars of her past.

October 1995 Car to hospital

Yumi returns to Sunflower Orphanage

After the hospital stay, Yumi escapes from care and returns to Sunflower Orphanage, which has since closed and fallen into ruins. The pilgrimage back to the sanctuary of their childhood highlights how deeply she longs for safety and family. The orphanage's ruin mirrors the shattered paths of the trio.

Post-hospital, 1995-1996 Sunflower Orphanage (ruins)

Kiryu's release looms

Years pass as Kiryu remains imprisoned, and the film closes with him nearing the end of his ten-year sentence, awaiting release. The final image hints at a possible reunion and a future beyond the walls that separated him from his family. The story ends with a quiet, unresolved sense of what comes next.

2005 Prison

Like a Dragon: Prologue Characters

Explore all characters from Like a Dragon: Prologue (2006). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Kazuma Kiryu (Masakatsu Funaki)

A rising yakuza known as the Dragon of Dojima, Kiryu embodies loyalty, restraint, and a willingness to shoulder consequences to protect loved ones. His path from hopeful protégé to a man shouldering blame for a murder defines his moral code and inner conflict.

🗡️ Loyal 🏛️ Dutiful 💎 Honest

Akira Nishikiyama (Mikio Osawa)

Nishikiyama is torn between his loyalty to Kiryu and his growing envy, as rivalries and romantic feelings for Yumi complicate their bond. His passion for advancement in the yakuza world drives him to make difficult, sometimes reckless, choices.

🔥 Ambitious ⚖️ Jealous 🧭 Torn

Yumi Sawamura (Ayaka Maeda)

Yumi becomes a central emotional anchor for Kiryu and Nishikiyama. She seeks safety and belonging after her parents' deaths, and her relationship with the two boys drives much of the emotional tension and the trio's fragile balance.

❤️ Love 💔 Heartbreak 🧭 Torn

Sohei Dojima (Harumi Sone)

Dojima is a ruthless yakuza boss whose murder triggers Kiryu's decision to take the fall. His authority and brutal methods illustrate the violence and power struggles at the heart of the Tojo Clan's world.

🗡️ Power ⚖️ Ruthless 🕊️ Corruption

Shintaro Kazama (Hirotaro Honda)

Kazama is the paternal figure behind Sunflower Orphanage, guiding Kiryu and Nishikiyama with a code of honor. He secretly houses orphans harmed by others' actions, shaping the young men's sense of loyalty and duty.

🎖️ Mentor 🛡️ Protector 🕯️ Influence

Like a Dragon: Prologue Settings

Learn where and when Like a Dragon: Prologue (2006) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1980s–1995

The story unfolds from the early 1980s through the mid-1990s in Japan, tracing Kiryu and Nishikiyama's growth, Yumi's arrival at the orphanage, and the events leading to Kiryu's 1995 imprisonment. The era's yakuza code and urban underworld shape their loyalties and choices. The narrative culminates with Kiryu taking responsibility for Dojima's murder to protect his surrogate family, ending with the end of his ten-year sentence.

Location

Sunflower Orphanage, Kamurocho

Sunflower Orphanage is where Kiryu, Nishikiyama, and Yuko were raised under Shintaro Kazama's care. The orphanage serves as the makeshift family that binds them together through trust and loyalty. Kamurocho, Tokyo's red-light district, becomes a backdrop for Yumi's move and the boys' entry into the Dojima Family's world.

🏛️ Orphanage 🌆 Kamurocho 🏙️ Urban Yakuza World

Like a Dragon: Prologue Themes

Discover the main themes in Like a Dragon: Prologue (2006). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🐉

Loyalty

Loyalty to a chosen family and father figures drives much of the film’s action, from Kazama’s protective role to Kiryu and Nishikiyama’s devotion to Yumi. The orphanage creates a forged family whose bonds are tested by crime, betrayal, and the pursuit of safety. The story explores how loyalty can endure under great strain and demand costly sacrifices.

🛡️

Duty

Characters confront moral obligations that override personal freedom. Kiryu accepts responsibility for Dojima's murder to shield Yuko and preserve her heart condition; Kazama’s code guides his mentorship, shaping the protagonists’ identities. The theme emphasizes the costs of living by a strict code in a violent world.

⚔️

Rivalry

A close friendship is tested by jealousy and competing loyalties as Kiryu and Nishikiyama vie for status and love for Yumi. Their rivalry accelerates the moves within the yakuza hierarchy and triggers life-altering choices, including imprisonment. The power dynamics within the Dojima family add further pressure and stakes.

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Like a Dragon: Prologue Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Like a Dragon: Prologue (2006). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the gritty streets of 1970s Japan, an unlikely sanctuary rises amid the shadows of the underworld: Sunflower Orphanage. Run by the enigmatic Shintaro Kazama, the home shelters children whose lives were shattered by the very forces that now seek to claim them. The orphanage is more than a refuge; it is a place where quiet codes of honor mingle with the harsh realities of a city pulsing with ambition and danger, setting a tone that balances melancholy with a stubborn hope for belonging.

Within these walls grow three tightly‑knit figures. Kazuma Kiryu, a quiet yet determined boy, learns early the value of strength tempered by compassion. Beside him, Akira Nishikiyama carries a fierce loyalty to his new family, while his younger sister Yuko clings to the fragile promise of a brighter future. The arrival of Yumi Sawamura, a shy girl haunted by loss, deepens the bond among the children, intertwining their fates with a shared yearning to rise above the shadows that birthed them.

As adolescence gives way to adulthood, the orphanage’s hidden purpose begins to surface. Kazama—who has long concealed his own ties to the yakuza—quietly guides Kiryu and Nishikiyama into the Dojima Family, an affiliate of the formidable Tojo Clan. Kiryu’s quiet resolve soon earns him a reputation that whispers of dragons and destiny, while Nishikiyama wrestles with the weight of expectation, envy, and the unspoken rivalry that simmers beneath their brotherly facade. Meanwhile, Yumi seeks a place where she can protect the fragile ties that bind them, her presence a steadying force amidst the rising tide of ambition.

The film paints a world where loyalty is both a shield and a chain, and where the characters’ intertwined dreams hint at larger conflicts looming on the horizon. Amid neon‑lit backstreets and the echo of distant promises, the story invites the audience to wonder how far these forged bonds will carry them when the quiet of the orphanage gives way to the thunder of the yakuza’s relentless march.

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