YAKUZA: The Animated Comedy Series Told in 15 Seconds
A silent sensei, a flashy rival and a kid with one tooth. That is the whole cast of YAKUZA, a 3D animated comedy series where every episode lasts fifteen seconds and ends with a single word.
If you have seen one of our episodes on your phone and wondered what is going on in that forest clearing, this page is for you.
What is YAKUZA?
YAKUZA is an animated comedy series made for vertical screens. Each episode is a short, looping scene with one situation, one surprise and one punchline. The look is bright, cinematic 3D animation, set in a magical Japanese forest of round, sculpted trees, red pagodas and very patient mushrooms.
The comedy comes from three characters who could not be more different. One never moves and almost never speaks. One never stops talking about himself. And one is ten years old and absolutely sure he is going to be the strongest person in Japan.
How it all started
One morning a boy named Horichiro went into the forest to collect firewood. He walked further than ever before and heard voices. In a clearing, two strangers were arguing: a man in an expensive suit, dark sunglasses and very shiny yellow shoes, and an enormous man covered in tattoos, wearing wooden sandals and no expression at all.
The argument became a duel. The man in sunglasses tried spins, kicks and a flying leap. The big man stopped every move with one hand, then stepped aside and threw one punch. Duel over.
In the silence, the big man heard clapping. A small boy with one tooth was cheering from the bushes like it was the best day of his life. The big man looked at him, showed nothing at all, turned around and walked away. Horichiro ran after him. He had just found his sensei. The sensei has been trying to lose him ever since.
Meet the three
- Horiyoshi, the sensei: one word per episode, zero moves, and a small bird living in a nest on his head.
- Shige, the rival: nine pairs of sunglasses, Italian loafers and an electric scooter called Black Panther. Style 100, humility 0.
- Horichiro, the student: one tooth, big pink ears and a promise to his father that he will become the strongest in the country.
We wrote a full guide to each of them in Meet the Characters of YAKUZA.
Why fifteen seconds?
Because a good joke does not need more. Every episode follows the same rule: one idea, one surprise, and Horiyoshi gets the last word. Literally. If a joke needs two words, it is two jokes.
Fifteen seconds also means the episodes loop. The last frame leads back into the first, so you can watch an episode three times before you notice, and catch the small details on the second and third watch: what Horichiro does in the background, what Shige is pretending not to see, what the bird on Horiyoshi’s head thinks of it all.
Where to watch YAKUZA
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Shorts. You can also watch every episode of Season 1 in order on our episodes page, with links to each platform.
Watch them in order or start anywhere. Each episode works on its own, and together they tell the story of the clearing.
You write the next episode
YAKUZA is made with its fans. On our website you can send an episode idea to the sensei, and on social media we regularly ask you to vote on what happens next. The best ideas become real episodes.
Give the clearing a problem. Horiyoshi has an answer. It is usually “No.”
Send your idea and follow YAKUZA so you never miss an episode.
