Kiryu’s journey through the Yakuza games is undoubtedly eventful, but how does he change and grow as the games progress?
With the possibility of sounding exaggerated, We will say that Kiryu Kazuma of the Yakuza series is one of the most mysterious protagonists in gaming history. He’s reserved but thinks things through, is progressive and has a punch that can break down solid walls. He deserves the moniker “The Dragon of Dojima” since he is a formidable and courageous opponent.
He has been in the game since 2006, when the first Yakuza game for the PS2 was released. He’s gone through a lot by this point in the series, so it’s only inevitable that he’d change, but his transformation is more than skin profound. Nonetheless, that’s available here as well.
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He’s Become More Frugal
Japan was experiencing a massive economic bubble in Yakuza Kiwami, and the Yakuza were not immune to the trend. Because of his sudden wealth, Kiryu began using money as a weapon, throwing bills at his opponents or throwing them into the crowd to draw attention away from himself.
Later games, however, show Kiryu making much less money than before, seemingly losing several million yen between instalments. In a few games, he may have as little as two yen to his name. But he is a survivor and always finds a way to make it until he is drawn back into criminal activity.
His Increasing Business Acumen
Japan was experiencing a massive economic bubble in Yakuza Kiwami, and the Yakuza were not immune to the trend. Because of his sudden wealth, Kiryu began using money as a weapon, throwing bills at his opponents or throwing them into the crowd to draw attention away from himself.
Later games, however, show Kiryu making much less money than before, seemingly losing several million yen between instalments. In a few games, he may have as little as two yen to his name. But he is a survivor and always finds a way to make it until he is drawn back into criminal activity.
His Fashion Choices
Kiryu’s clothes aren’t really what you’d picture when you think of the Yakuza series. His boyhood friend Nishikiyama claims that despite his usually stern and quiet appearance, he has the most bizarre taste in suits or none at all.
Kiryu has always worn unconventional suits, from the stark white pinstripes of Yakuza 0 to the more subdued traditional grey and maroon of Yakuza 6. He wears a more subdued grey suit and blue tie for his Yakuza: Like A Dragon appearance.
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The Dragon Tattoo
Kiryu’s famous dragon tattoo in Yakuza 0 was left uncoloured, which new players of the remake Yakuza Kiwami might not see at first. It’s a beautiful visual illustration of Kiryu’s development from an eager young soldier learning from his adopted father to the little more jaded officer seen in later games.
Kiryu has substantially fewer Yakuza tattoos than many of his peers, which may or may not indicate that he is distancing himself from the Yakuza lifestyle.
First, Becoming A Leader
You are most likely familiar with the phrase ‘Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them’. If there were a video game protagonist who embodied the saying, it would be Kiryu. In earlier games, he was happy to serve under a boss he looked up to. But in the Yakuza world, calm is never permanent.
In the wake of tragedy, suffering, and unlucky backstabbing, Kiryu has stepped up to the post of Fourth Chairman of the Tojo clan to keep the remaining family members together. However, the next day Kiryu retires, demonstrating that he still chooses relaxation over leadership.
Then, Becoming A Father
It’s safe to assume that being born into a criminal family is not an easy start in life. In Kiryu’s case, his adoptive father killed his biological parents. Thus, he spent his childhood in an orphanage. What a shame, but that’s the reality of growing up on the streets.
Kiryu, realising how many children have been left without care due to crime, has found his way into child care; he even adopted a daughter from an orphanage like the one he helped build in Okinawa. Perhaps because of his own upbringing experiences, Kiryu can empathise with the plight of these children and the dire need for their protection in today’s world.
He “Sacrifices” Himself Again
The loved ones he has grown closest to are again the object of his adversaries’ vengeance. He had previously attempted to leave in Yakuza 5, but it was ultimately a wrong choice for everyone.
His adopted daughter, Haruka, was abducted while he was busy trying to shield the other children. In Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, though, when he tries to get himself and the kids out of harm’s way, he succeeds.