With Yakuza: Like A Dragon there has been a complete refresh of the cast. While diehard fans of the series will surely miss series mainstays like Goro Majima and Kazuma Kiryu, they may just find that Ichiban and his compatriots have a lot to offer. Those who give Yakuza: Like A Dragon a chance will realize that the characters depicted in this adventure are just as rich as the protagonists from the previous games
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From party members to quest givers, Yakuza: Like A Dragon has a lot to offer in terms of colorful characters. We’re going to pick a couple of our absolute favorites. A quick note before we begin: we’re going to try to keep things light on spoilers, but there are a few minor ones spread throughout. So, be warned, if you have yet to complete the game, and you don’t want to know any details, you should turn back now.
Updated August 11, 2022 by James Kennedy: With Yakuza: Like A Dragon headed to the PlayStation Plus platform, there has never been a better time to take a look at this incredible cast of characters. We decided to add another entry or two, as we felt that some notable characters weren’t given the attention they deserve. Join us for another look at this loveable group of, occasionally murderous, scamps.
11 Hironaka
Hironaka has a very small role in Yakuza: Like A Dragon, primarily appearing in just two quests. Ichiban first meets up with him when he is trying to separate the explosive counterfeit Ono Michio statues from the genuine articles.
His passion for the Ono Michio mascot character sells Hironaka’s sincerity, but he gets even better in the second quest when he dons the mantle of Ono Michio himself. It may be his dedication, or his passion, or maybe it is his off-beat sense of humor, but Hironaka stuck with us long after we completed his quests. While he may only be a minor character in the game, he is a major player in our hearts.
10 Nick Ogata
Nick isn’t in the story much. He seems like a bit player at first and only pops up occasionally until the latter third of Like A Dragon. While Nick is a bit of a mystery, we get to see more than enough of his candor to show that he is, in fact, a high-caliber individual.
At first, Nick seems tethered to Like A Dragon’s Ichiban’s Confectionary side-game. However, as the game progresses, we do get to see a little more of Nick, and in a few big moments too. In fact, it is Nick who gets to put a little pressure (very publicly) on the game’s resident wolf in sheep’s clothing. His role may be small, but Nick’s impact is definitely large.
9 Bartender
The Bartender of the Survive Bar never gets a proper name, but that’s okay; his mysterious nature is exactly what should sell him to players. And, of course, stalwart fans of the series probably already have a good idea of exactly who this mysterious figure is.
Like A Dragon is an excellent game, but it marked a huge sea change for the franchise. Characters like our bartender friend act as the connective tissue which helps make the franchise feel more uniform. This choice quote from him says it all: “Bringing people together is what a bartender does.”
8 Zhao
Ah, Like A Dragon’s devil-may-care party member. Initially, Zhao seems pretty intimidating; the first time you meet him he is pretty quick to point a gun at your head. However, the more you get to know Zhao, the more you realize that he is another one of those classic heart-of-gold types of Yakuza.
Don’t let his listless demeanor fool you, Zhao has a lot going on under the surface. You don’t get to have as much time with Zhao as you do some of the other characters in the game, but we cherished the time we did have.
7 Ryuhei Hoshino
Masumi Arakawa is a great father figure for Ichiban and their exchanges together always have a lot of heart behind them. However, Arakawa is rarely seen in Yakuza: Like A Dragon. When Arakawa seemingly abandons Ichiban, it is Ryuhei Hoshino who ends up taking him under his wing.
The relationship between Ryuhei and Ichiban grows over the course of the game. This, of course, only makes the events that inevitably unfold all the more tragic. But tragedy is a common Yakuza theme, and Ryuhei plays his part brilliantly.
6 Eri Kamataki
Eri is inexorably linked to the Ichiban Confectionary side game. This, of course, isn’t just a brief distraction, there is a juicy story intertwined with Ichiban’s Confectionary. And who is at the center of that story? Well, Eri of course. You will see her grow throughout. You will see her gain confidence, become bolder, and start to develop as a leader. And don’t worry, you also get to see her goofier side as well. Eri may not be a primary cast member, but she has a fully formed personality.
Once you complete this side activity you are then given the greatest reward of all: Eri joins your party! That’s right, she is Like A Dragon’s sole hidden character. Eri is fantastic addition to the cast. It would be a mistake for her to not make this list.
5 Joon-gi Han
Joon-gi Han shares a lot of traits with everyone’s favorite Yakuza character. That’s right, much like the Dragon of Dojima himself, Joon-gi Han plays the role of the stoic badass. Han is easily the most traditionally “cool” of the cast of characters. However, that quality also makes him a bit of a fish out of water, as everyone around him is consistently pretty silly.
This is honestly what makes Joon-gi Han so great; he is a character who is often played pretty straitlaced and is seemingly unaware that he is in a ridiculous game. As a direct result, don’t be surprised when this silver-haired fox steals half of the scenes he’s in. And hey, he is also a direct connection to Yakuza 6, which you love to see.
4 Masumi Arakawa
While Like A Dragon is unquestionably Ichiban’s story, so much of the narrative is directly tethered to Masumi Arakawa. In fact, the first cutscene of the game is focused directly on ol’ Masumi. His motivations throughout the course of Like A Dragon are completely opaque. He is clearly sympathetic from the onset, so it is as shocking to us as it is Ichiban when he turns treacherous.
Masumi’s story is a tragic one, and he certainly isn’t without his faults, but while he acts as one of the core antagonists, we would hesitate to call him a villain. Uncovering Arakawa’s motivations is a huge part of Like A Dragon’s appeal. We would be remiss to not give him his due.
3 Saeko Mukoda
A businesswoman with a fun personality, Saeko is a great counterpart to the otherwise all-male party (outside of Eri, who is a secret character). She provides a different point of view from the rest of the cast and manages to avoid most of the obvious tropes.
Saeko knows exactly what she wants, and she knows exactly how to get it. She is extremely strong-willed and is generally the most level-headed member of the party. Saeko isn’t afraid to let the other characters know what she thinks and frequently acts as a voice of reason. That bluntness is a huge part of her charm.
2 Koichi Adachi
As Nanba says in one of those street conversations, Adachi has no filter. He will say whatever comes to mind. And that quality alone is what leads to some of the best exchanges among your party members in the game. On the surface, Adachi and Ichiban come from different worlds, but as the game progresses you see that they share a lot of the same values. In some ways, this relationship reminds us of Kiryu and Date.
Adachi can get pretty silly, but he’s also a competent detective too. Even if he was dishonorably discharged from the force. Thankfully, his revenge story is a big part of the plot. It is pretty hard to not root for this lovable doofus. At the end of the day, his ending had us pumping our fists.
1 Ichiban Kasuga
Yakuza: Like A Dragon would be nothing without its star. And make no mistake, Ichiban Kasuga is a goddamn star. Many fans may lament the loss of Kazuma Kiryu as the headliner, but Ichiban does an admirable job of filling in those massive shoes. Ichiban is occasionally a little slow on the uptake, but he has a strong punch and an even stronger heart.
There is a great juxtaposition between Ichiban and Kazuma. While Kazuma had a calm demeanor and was frequently level-headed, Ichiban is awash with emotion and tends to not think things through. However, both of them share one quality: their sense of honor. Whatever Ichiban may lack in coolheadedness, he makes up for in candor and sincerity. He always does what he thinks is right, and he always puts others before himself. Kazuma is a tough act to follow, but Ichiban is never afraid to go against the odds.
NEXT: 10 Things That Make No Sense In Yakuza: Like A Dragon
