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Ryū ga Gotoku
| Video game fandom | |
|---|---|
| Name | Yakuza (龍が如く Ryū ga Gotoku, lit. "Like a Dragon") |
| Abbreviation(s) | RGG |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Release date | December 8, 2005 |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| External link(s) | Yakuza (franchise) on Wikipedia |
| Related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article is a stub. Please help us out by adding more content. |
Ryū ga Gotoku (龍が如く, lit. "Like a Dragon"), known outside Japan as Yakuza, or as of the seventh installment, Like a Dragon, is a Japanese video game series following members and ex-members of the yakuza. It is known for its action-filled over-the-top combat, complex storylines, and silly side content.
Canon
Games
The Like a Dragon series was originally known as Yakuza for international releases outside of Japan. There are several mainline games in the series, which include:
- Yakuza (2005)
- Yakuza 2 (2006)
- Yakuza 3 (2009)
- Yakuza 4 (2010)
- Yakuza 5 (2012)
- Yakuza 0 (2015)
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)
In addition to the mainline games, the series includes Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2, remakes of Yakuza 1 and 2 respectively. The gameplay for these two games was heavily inspired by Yakuza 0, a prequel game set before the activities of the first Yakuza game; some new gameplay innovations added in Yakuza 0 included multiple fighting styles for the characters and a different form of the experience tree. In addition, Yakuza 0 was well-received in the international community and is credited for bringing the series to the mainstream.
Characters
- Kiryu Kazuma - main series protagonist
- Kasuga Ichiban - main series protagonist (post-Yakuza 6)
- Majima Goro - protagonist/main deuteragonist/antagonist
- Sawamura Haruka - Kiryu’s adopted daughter
- Nishikiyama Akira - Kiryu’s blood brother and antagonist (Y1)
- Saejima Taiga - protagonist
- Akiyama Shun - protagonist
- Goda Ryuji - antagonist/protagonist
- Tanimura Masayoshi - protagonist
- Shinada Tatsuo - protagonist
Fandom
Yakuza 0 was well-received by international audiences and is credited for bringing many international fans into the fandom.. Many newer fans are told to begin their gameplay with this game.
Yakuza Kiwami was a remake of the original Yakuza game, and included new features such as improved graphics, full voice recording, and new story elements that were not previously mentioned. Among these story elements included a focus on Akira Nishikiyama, the game's primary antagonist, to explain more in-depth what lead him down the dark path he ended up choosing. This was also done to accommodate the previous information about Nishikiyama that was introduced in Yakuza 0, which had been released a year prior. Most fans received the additional cutscenes positively, appreciating the depth they brought to the character and the contrast his story provided to the often humorous side quests in the game. It also elaborated on the relationship between Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, particularly with a gameplay system called Majima Everywhere. This system allowed random fights between Kiryu and Majima throughout the entire game, and also allowed for more elaboration on Majima's character (due to similar reasons as Nishikiyama).
Yakuza Kiwami 2 was a remake of Yakuza 2, and also included additional cutscenes to elaborate on originally confusing plotlines. It brought back the Cabaret Club, a minigame that was originally in Yakuza 0, upon positive fan reception. The Majima Everywhere is now the the Majima Saga, allowing for the character to have more experiences followed by his positive reception from 0 and Kiwami.
Shipping
Prior to the release of Yakuza 0, there were few fanfictions on AO3 that were in English, owing to the series lack of international presence.
One of the most popular ships in the fandom is Kazuma Kiryu/Goro Majima, which was especially due to their many interactions in Yakuza Kiwami. Due to Majima's higher rank in the Tojo clan, the yakuza clan that they both were in, Kiryu often refers to him with the Japanese honorifics -san or -no-niisan. On the other hand, Majima always refers to Kiryu casually as "Kiryu-chan". In the first Yakuza game, as well as Yakuza Kiwami, Kiryu sepnds a part of the plot in jail, and upon his release, Majima says that he will be keeping an eye on Kiryu and will challenge him in order for Kiryu to re-learn his original fighting style. Majima also mentions how, without Kiryu around, he was often bored and was considering committing some crimes just so he could be with Kiryu. Many fanfictions revolve around scenarios with the Majima Everywhere system in Yakuza Kiwami, often showing how the characters care for each other in their own unique ways.
Due to Kiryu and Majima's interactions decreasing severely following Yakuza Kiwami, fans also often shipped Majima with his oath brother, Taiga Saejima, the protagonist of Yakuza 4 and 5. Saejima was tasked with an assassination, but when the targets for the assassination arrive at the location before Majima does, Saejima commits the act alone and is arrested for his deeds. Eventually, after being told that Majima is still alive and is the patriarch of his own family, he escapes from prison. In Yakuza 5, he voluntarily gets himself arrested again but spends his last day before prison with Majima to reassure him that he would be okay. In Yakuza Kiwami, Majima mentions, when at the batting cages, that Kiryu fights with a similar strength to Saejima. Saejima and Majima's closeness has often been used in fandom as either a brotherly relationship or a romantic relationship.
Kazuma Kiryu is also often shipped with his sworn brother, Nishikiyama, which is strongly due to their closeness in Yakuza 0. They often have sung karaoke together, and in Yakuza Kiwami, there is a cutscene showing how Kiryu reminisces on their past relationship during karaoke. Kiryu and Nishiki were raised together in an orphanage, and often fanfiction will use the 'Childhood friends to lovers' trope. When Nishiki kills the patriarch, Kiryu is the one to take the fall for him, demonstrating his loyalty. Kiryu often calls Nishikiyama by the nickname "Nishiki", even in their final fight against each other. Due to the turn in their relationship during the events of Yakuza Kiwami, their relationship can also be written as enemies to lovers. In Yakuza 0, Kiryu can do many minigames with Nishikiyama, including karaoke, batting cages, and shopping, and they may also fight together with special team up moves.
Example Fanworks
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Meta
Mods
Fanart
Majima
let's fight by poreyneel
Cosplay
Majima
[self] my Majima cosplay by u/Everybery
Fanfiction
True Colors by ShahHira