News: Takashi Miike's Yakuza

August 17, 2006, 06:53 PM

by mathew, via Twitch Film -
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Despite unfortunately having to dub the English language version of Ryu Ga Gotoku to make Sony happy, and compounding the problem by wasting their money on celebrity voice talent, Sega have at least done the right thing by subtitling and releasing the Japanese promo movie for Ryu Ga Gotoku on the (European) Yakuza website.

Little to no fanfare about the movie is available on the site, but the film was originally available in two parts as Ryû ga gotoku - jissha-ban on Famitsu's website (we can't seem to find it now, though*), and listed Takashi Miike, the director of Ichi the Killer, Audition, and so on, as "Integration Director", with the director listed as Takeshi Miyasaka, the director of several V-Cinema Yakuza flicks.

Only the first part (of four) has been posted so far, it plays in a tiny little window, and is as resolutely uncommercial as anything Miike has ever put his name to. Which is strange, because it's a promo movie! It's got some cheap looking blood and violence in it, too, so ask your parents first!

*EDIT: Apparently the Ryu ga Gotoku promo was taken off of Famitsu's website on as Sega decided to sell it in on DVD in Japan for 4,935 yen. Thanks to Redlightning.