Yakuza's Middle-Aged Mischief Continues in Like a Dragon

While the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series has evolved to attract a broader audience, including younger and female gamers, the developers intend to keep the game centered on ‘middle-aged men’ doing ‘middle-aged men's activities.’

Like a Dragon Studio Resist Catering to New Fans and to Focus on ‘Middle-Aged Men’‘Middle-Aged Men’ Doing ‘Middle-Aged Men's Activities’

The Yakuza (now Like a Dragon) series continues to enthrall audiences worldwide. Led by the endearingly goofy ex-yakuza turned hero Ichiban Kasuga, the series has attracted a diverse fanbase, including many young and female gamers. Despite this burgeoning popularity, the developers confirmed in a recent interview that the franchise will retain its core identity.

"We have seen a significant rise in new fans, including women, which we’re truly happy and grateful for," series director Ryosuke Horii said in an interview with AUTOMATON. "However, we don’t plan to do anything like deliberately altering conversation topics in order to appeal to new fans. That would make us unable to keep discussing things like uric acid levels."

Horii and lead planner Hirotaka Chiba underscored their belief that the series’ unique appeal lies in its focus on "middle-aged man things," as they themselves are "middle-aged men." From Ichiban’s fondness for Dragon Quest to the constant complaining about back pain, the duo believes that "this ‘humanity’ you perceive from their age is what gives the game its originality."

"The characters are relatable human beings much like our players are, so their problems resonate," Horri added. "That’s why it’s easy to truly immerse oneself in the game and feel like you’re listening to conversations between ordinary people."

In a 2016 interview with Famitsu, series creator and director Toshihiro Nagoshi expressed surprise at the rising number of female players in the Yakuza series. "What was unexpected was the number of female gamers has increased. Currently, about 20% are female players," he stated, according to Siliconera.

While Nagoshi acknowledged this was positive, he also clarified that Yakuza was primarily designed for male audiences. "Yakuza is something made for male gamers," he continued. "So we will be cautious not to overemphasize female users and stray from our vision."

Players Question the Series’ Female Representation in Yakuza Games

Despite the game’s marketing towards male audiences, many have voiced dissatisfaction with its depiction of female characters. Some fans contend that the series often relies on sexist clichés, with female characters frequently relegated to supporting roles or sexualized by male characters.

One user on ResetEra remarked that while the series has improved, "female representation remains inadequate and many of the tropes and scenarios in the games are sexist." Another observed that "even in Yakuza 7, Saeko is the sole female party member in the game (other than Eri, who is optional). Moreover, whenever a female character appears on-screen, the male characters frequently make suggestive/sexual comments, as if that's their only mode of interaction with women."

Many female characters in the series conform to the damsel-in-distress archetype, exemplified by characters like Makoto in Yakuza 0, Yuri in Kiwami, and Lilly in Yakuza 4. Women in the series appear consistently marginalized, and unfortunately, this pattern may continue.

Chiba remarks in the aforementioned interview, albeit humorously, that "There’s a Party Chat (in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth) where Seonhee and Saeko’s conversation is interrupted by Nanba and becomes a male-dominated discussion. I believe such scenarios will recur."

While the series has made progress in adopting more forward-thinking ideals, it sometimes falls back on antiquated sexist clichés. Despite these shortcomings, the recent installments signify a positive advancement.

Game8 acknowledged this improvement, giving Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth a score of 92. The review lauded the game as a "love letter to franchise fans while masterfully charting the course for Like a Dragon’s future." For a more thorough examination of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, see our review below!