American Yakuza

American Yakuza

The mob has a new enemy.

199396 min5.8 / 10

A crime-action thriller about an FBI undercover agent torn between his duty and loyalty to the yakuza family that has adopted him, driven by martial-arts combat and organized-crime intrigue.

When Nick Davis leaves prison after one year in solitairy, he is hired to operate a forklift in a warehouse in the harbor owned by the Japanese Yakuza patriarch Isshin Tendo. The place is assaulted by the Italian Mafia lead by Dino Campanela and Nick rescues and saves the life of Shuji Sawamoto, who is the representative of Yakuza interests in America. Shuji hires Nick to work for Yakuza and becomes his godfather in the family after his oath to join Yakuza. However, Nick is a lonely FBI undercover agent assigned to penetrate the criminal organization. When the FBI discovers that Campanela is organizing a massive attack to destroy the Yakuza, Nick's boss Littman calls off the operation to leave the dirty work to the Italian Mafia. But the connection of Nick with Shuji and his goddaughter Yuko forces him to help his Japanese family.

Essence

Ensemble

Closest match

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Same mood

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Go darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Something gentler

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Hidden gem

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.