Fans of Yakuza enjoyed the "insider's view" of life from the perspective of Japan's infamous gangsters. In turn, the series takes a rather slightly-exaggerated take on the yakuza story, inspired heavily by yakuza films and crime drama. However, aside from over-the-top action, Yakuza perhaps shines with its compelling story. After all, a game series that explores the life of a reformed gangster isn't exactly a common find.
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Interestingly, a lot of Yakuza fans might clamor for this game series to get an action/slice-of-life anime. After all, what better way to watch Kazuma Kiryu's story than with the action and wackiness of modern anime? However, fans might be surprised to learn that anime similar to Yakuza already exist. Moreover, some of these anime might even be up their alley.
10 K Project (2012)
In K Project's alternate timeline, Japan has a secret leadership in the form of the Seven Clans of Color, each comprised of powerful psychics. These factions, essentially resembling various clans and gangs, settle disputes in silent cold wars and subtle displays of power. However, K Project's story begins when the seemingly-innocent Yashiro Isana becomes the prime target of the other clans. - all of which accusing him of killing a prominent Red Clan member.
However, things come to a halt when Yashiro rediscovers his true identity as the First and Silver King, Adolf Weismann. Interestingly, K Project doesn't have the complex interpersonal narratives as expected from a gang-oriented story. However, it does have interesting power scaling and action scenes.
9 Gungrave (2003)
In this tale of revenge, the 2003 Gungrave anime retells the story of the Gungrave video game. As with most revenge stories, Gungrave tells the story of two best friends broken by ambition and deceit. Moreover, protagonist Brandon Heat ends up "resurrecting" courtesy of necrolyzation. Now known as Beyond The Grave, Brandon seeks to annihilate the Millennion crime syndicate, now headed by his best friend Harry MacDowell.
As with the video game, Gungrave is equal parts action-packed and hilarious. The anime takes cues from the stylish gunslinger trope, and has a futuristic Wild West feel to it.
8 Baccano! (2007)
Like wine, Baccano! aged quite finely despite its 2007 release. The anime, based on the presently-running light novel series, follows a unique take on immortality and the many elements at stake in maintaining it. Essentially, the anime follows the lives of various individuals throughout different timeframes, mostly in the Prohibition Era. Moreover, it explores the fates of alchemists who discovered a way to become immortal, and how they've spent their lives with it.
Interestingly, a lot of the immortals in Baccano! used their immortality to pursue a life of crime. Miria Harvent and Isaac Dian conduct good-intentioned but silly heists. Meanwhile, some immortals became involved with mafia families, such as Manhattan-based Gandors and the Chicago-based Russos. Unfortunately, their crimes and their past won't exactly mix together, as time would soon tell.
7 Jormungand (2012)
People in organized crime often turn to the black market to get weapons and various commodities, all away from prying eyes. Interestingly, the anime Jormungand (2012) follows the adventures of Koko Hekmatyar, a young arms dealer working for HCLI. Koko, alongside her team of bodyguards, travel around the world to sell weapons to various interested parties - from mafia bosses to assassins. Moreover, they also have to deal with the authorities, other agencies, and rival arms dealers.
In the anime - based on a 2006-2012 monthly manga - Koko's adventures lead her to recruit Jonah, a young child soldier. Unfortunately, Jonah's skill and inexpression bring Koko and her friends to a wild, action-packed ride that gives a crazy slice-of-life take on the "everyday" lives of arms dealers.
6 Wild Adapter (2002, 2014)
Unlike other titles in the list, Wild Adapter has two sets of original video animations (OVA) and not anime. Based on the presently-running manga of the same name, Wild Adapter follows the lives of two high schoolers who end up in the middle of a yakuza war surrounding a drug, known as WA or "Wild Adapter." In the story, consuming WA brings users to an animalistic state, growing fur and possessing superhuman strength. Unfortunately, they die soon after their rage.
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The story centers around Kubota, a 17-year-old who ends up leading the Izumokai yakuza youth group. He ends up meeting Tokitoh, a stranger with amnesia, who possesses a furry hand the same as the WA victims - but he's still alive. When they discover that the Izumokai and their rival, the Toujougumi, want the WA, the two teens end up inadvertently joining the bloody war.
5 91 Days (2016)
Like Yakuza, 91 Days brings a more personal take on the lives of members of organized crime. In the 2016 anime, Angelo Lagusa infiltrates the Vanetti mafia family in the hopes of getting revenge for his murdered family. As the title implies, Angelo's tale of revenge spans 91 days. Moreover, he officially begins his quest by befriending Nero Vanetti, the son of Vanetti don Vincent. Unfortunately, their tale demonstrates just how awful the idea of revenge can be.
Despite its 12-episode run, 91 Days rose to popularity at the time due to its interesting take on the story, coupled with a wonderful soundtrack. Moreover, Angelo's various interactions with other mafia families details just how complicated the life of a mafioso could become.
4 Gangsta (2015)
The 12-episode run of Gangsta doesn't even begin to unravel how interesting its worldbuilding has become. Essentially, Gangsta takes place in the town of Ergastulum, which has become a haven for mafia and other criminal elements. Moreover, protagonists Nicolas Brown and Worick Arcangelo work as "Handymen," or mercenaries that take on jobs from both the police and the mob to "take care" of threats no one wants to handle.
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Their story officially begins when they take the amnesiac Alex under their wing after an "unfortunate" encounter with a gang. However, their involvement with Alex soon spirals out of control.
3 Phantom: Requiem For The Phantom (2009)
Outside criminal organizations, paramilitary corporations and intelligence agencies often employ assassins to accomplish nefarious goals. The visual novel Phantom of Inferno explores this concept, which soon got adapted into Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom. Essentially, the story takes place within the confines of Inferno, an assassin syndicate. Its tale follows the life of Ein, an amnesiac assassin. During the course of the anime, she gets a partner called Zwei, a witness to one of Inferno's assassinations that got brainwashed into becoming an assassin himself.
Given the rather complex narrative points of the original visual novel, fans can expect quite a twist within the anime. Moreover, this interesting take on assassinations and espionage do give a unique twist to the gangster/crime anime genre.
2 Great Teacher Onizuka (1998)
Big things come in small packages - and the 12-episode run of Great Teacher Onizuka back in 1998 still made an indelible mark on the hearts of many. The anime, spawning from a manga series, details the life of Eikichi Onizuka, a 22-year-old who decided to turn to a life of teaching after leaving a gang. At first, he earned his teaching degree to become a teacher and be popular with girls. However, he soon realizes that he has a sense of morality and conscience.
In turn, GTO explores Onizuka's adventures with his pupils. He demonstrates how he teaches his lessons both with the chalkboard, and sometimes with his bare fists. Soon, he strives to become the best teacher himself. Unfortunately for him, he becomes in charge of a class of delinquents who got to drove their previous teacher to leave them behind.
1 Gokusen (2004)
Previously the granddaughter of a Yakuza boss, Kumiko becomes heir-apparent to the "family business." Unfortunately for the business and her subordinates, Kumiko really wants to be the teacher. Disobeying their wishes, Kumiko pursues her dream and ends up being the homeroom teacher of Class 4-2, a class of delinquents. And while Kumiko needs to keep her yakuza identity a secret, her upbringing did allow her to roughen up her students to become better individuals.
Unlike GTO, Gokusen actually features a yakuza member. Moreover, Gokusen continuously challenges Kumiko as her teaching almost always ends up being embroiled with yakuza matters. In turn, Kumiko's double life provides entertainment of its own to fans.
