Summary
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Nameis an interesting spin on the series’ main character, Kazuma Kiryu. After “dying” inYakuza 6: The Song of Life, he returns to this game as a spy for a secret organization known as Daidoji. Fans who playedYakuza: Like a Dragonalready knew Joryu was alive, but this just fills in the gaps as the two games take place simultaneously.
There’sa lot that happens to KazumainLike a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name,besides his brief name change to Joryu. Let’s go over some of those wild things while looking at some good quotes too. There will be spoilers.
8“Then You Know What Happens When People Hurt My Family?”
Chapter 1: Hidden Dragon - Joryu
This quote from Joryu happens in a hospital when he is talking toan unnamed politician. This politician helps Joryu get a new identity, but Joryu has conditions that the politician is not keen on. In turn, the politician threatens Joryu’s family, but that is a mistake, as Joryu clearly points out.
Past this flashback, multiple people inLike a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Nametry to threaten the orphanage as well, such as Joryu’s handler, Hanawa, and a local Yakuza captain, Tsuruno. Will no one ever learn to leave Joryu’s kids alone?
7“That’s Joryu-san, The Secret Pervert For Ya.”
Chapter 2: Castle On The Water - Akame
Akame is a great character once she gets introduced. She is constantly messing with Joryu even though he is doing her tremendous favors time and time again. One early mission will have Joryu investigate a club,but Akame doesn’t tell him it is a hostess club.
Upon his return, she asks how it went and Joryu talks about it quite a bit, which is unusual for his normal stoic demeanor. That’s when she fires back with this joke. The assessment is not unfair to his character, as Joryu is a ladies' man throughout most of these games.
6“Gyaaa!”
Chapter 2: Castle On The Water - Littering Yakuza
This may seem like an unusual quote to highlight, but it’s set around a fun scene in general. After acquiring the Hornet gadget from Mizorogi, which lets Joryu summon a bunch of drones, Mizorogi sends Joryu to check in with a local shopkeeper. She has no name other than Smoke Shop Lady, and she willgive players their third gadget, the Firefly.
She demonstrates how this exploding cigarette works on an unsuspecting litter bug known as Littering Yakuza. His response of “Gyaaa!” after getting blown up like Daffy Duck in aLooney Tunescartoon is just too funny.
5“This Is Precisely Why I Hate Yakuza.”
Chapter 2: Castle On The Water - Kihei Hanawa
One of the most dramatic parts of chapter two is when Tsuruno kidnaps Hanawa to force Joryu’s hand. The Yakuza need his help and the only way they think they can get it is by either threatening Hanawa and the Daidoji, or Joryu’s kids.
After a boss fight, Tsuruno remarks to Hanawa that he didn’t beat him up. That was Shishido, and all he did was let it happen. This loophole nonsense is why Hanawa hates the Yakuza, and it’s easy to see why he is so frustrated.
4“Finally Caught You!”
Chapter 3: The Man Who Knew Too Much - Homare Nishitani 3rd
Nishitani is likeLike a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name’sversion of Goro Majimawhich is to say he is a wild man. Toward the end of chapter three, he goes to great lengths to try and meet Joryu. He sends hundreds of goons on him and even performs an Akira-like bike slide at the exit to bar Joryu’s escape.
He also makes some lewd suggestions about how fighting makes him “passionate,” which makes Nishitani even stranger. He’s the type of villain that is fun to be creeped out by though as every good hero needs an arch nemesis.
3“I’m Sure As Hell Gonna Step Out With A Fight For The Ages, Alongside The Legends Of The Yakuza World.”
Chapter 5: The Man Who Erased His Name - Ichiban Kasuga
This is kind of a cheat because the fifth chapter of the game largely replaysa portion ofYakuza: Like a Dragon. This is a quote from Ichiban, the protagonist of that game, who is jazzed beyond belief to work alongside legends in the Yakuza community.
Little does Ichiban know that Joryu, the legendary Dragon of Dojima, is there as well. Even though the scene is reused from the last game, it’s still a banger quote and a killer moment in the series. It was sort of like the culmination of the series up to that point, with the torch being passed to Ichiban shortly after.
2“Livin’ The Rest Of Your Lives With The Pride Of A Soggy Napkin.”
Chapter 5: The Man Who Erased His Name - Kosei Shishido
One of the bigger twists inLike a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Nameis when Shishidobetrays the group.He does not want to dissolve the Omi Alliance and instead wants to become the one in charge. He tries to inspire his co-conspirators at the moment, saying this awkward line about the napkin.
It may sound weird, but it is coming from an honest place. Shishido, and a large majority of Yakuza grunts, don’t want to wallow away like ordinary citizens. Their Yakuza life is all they know, and they will fight for their right to keep it.
1“Guess I Needed Them More Than They Ever Needed Me.”
Chapter 5: The Man Who Erased His Name - Joryu
Joryu is rewarded for his loyalty to the Daidoji in this final scene when Hanawa gives him a tablet. On the tablet is his family on video, who start speaking directly to him, or what they think is Joryu. For, as badass of an action hero as Joryu is, he has a soft spot for the orphan kids he helped raise.
At this moment, Joryu has one of the ugliest cries seen by any character in the franchise, and it is beyond touching. It just goes to show that, beyond his stoic demeanor, Joryu has a heart of gold.
