The Yakuza series is one of the most successful franchises under Sega's belt right now. It's also one of the most beloved in Japan and in the West. It' well-written and engaging plotlines, coupled with its highly entertaining action scenes and gameplay, has led the series to be the massive hit it is today.
With a series so vast, bombastic, and dramatic, it's no wonder it has characters with varying personalities. These characters are fun to watch, charismatic, and vital to the Yakuza series as a whole. We'll be bringing you ten of the most iconic Yakuza characters from all games in the series.
10 Daigo Dojima
Daigo Dojima is the son of the infamous Sohei Dojima and a reluctant Chairman for the Tojo Clan. As the chairman, he was quite inexperienced and showed it many times. Such as his negotiations with the Ueno Seiwa clan. Nevertheless, he is a capable man and leader, as well as a good friend to Kiryu. He's shown to be capable many times in combat as well.
This is shown when he singlehandedly dispatched Richardson's men while injured to save Kiryu and Mine, and even shows his physical prowess as a boss fight against Kiryu in Yakuza Kiwami 2. As a child, his days spent with Kiryu taught him a valuable lesson on how money and a powerful name aren't absolute, which turns him to the respectable leader and man he is today.
9 Kazama Shintarou
Kazama Shintarou is quite an important character to the Yakuza series as a whole, in many ways, he started Kiryu's Journey in the Yakuza life. He is Kiryu's father figure taking him into to his orphanage, which eventually leads to Kiryu and Nishikyama to becoming Yakuza members.
As such his actions are reflected throughout the series. He's not a saint that's for sure, killing Kiryu's parents is one of such examples as well as his other misdeeds. Yet he's also done a lot of good and was a good role model to Kiryu and others in his orphanage.
8 Akira Nishikiyama
Speaking of Nishiki, he was Kiryu's right-hand man and brother in the Yakuza, both joining at the same time, they've experienced a lot together. Nishikiyama is a passionate person and cares about the people he loves; this can mostly be seen in the events of Yakuza 0. Sadly, due to past experiences and a lot of harsh things he's gone through, it eventually leads him down a path of antagonism towards Kiryu as well as changing him to a colder person and outright villain.
Because of this, he committed a lot of misdeeds, even gunning down Kazama, his father figure in Yakuza Kiwami. Though in his final moments, Nishikiyama regretting his actions, thought to redeem himself by sacrificing his life to help Kiryu.
7 Yoshitaka Mine
Mine is the right and man of Daigo Dojima and has shown adoration and respect for him on countless occasions. Despite his success in life, he has gone through a lot of betrayals prompting him to eventually join the Yakuza ranks to seek genuine bonds. To get closer to Daigo, he helped the Nishikiyama family rise through the ranks, and proved to be quite the capable businessman.
Though he's known to use aggressive methods many disprove of. As the main antagonist in Yakuza 3, he shows distaste mainly towards Kiryu for his close relationship with Daigo. However, at the end, similar to Nishiki he reflects on his actions and redeems himself by throwing Richardson off a roof to protect Daigo.
6 Haruka Sawamura
Haruka is very much an important character right from the first Yakuza game and subsequent remasters. She's appeared throughout all the mainline Yakuza games (besides Yakuza 0) as the child of Yumi Samamura, Kiryu's first love; he made it an obligation to take care of her.
She even helps him start an orphanage in Okinawa. Right from the first game as a child, she's blossomed into a full-grown woman chasing her dreams in Yakuza 5 and even having a child in Yakuza 6. As a character, she’s one that has shown the most development throughout of the series.
5 Goda Ryuji
Reaching the top 5, we have Goda Ryuji, the infamous rival to Kiryu Kazuma from the second Yakuza game and in Yakuza Kiwami 2. As one of the earlier villains introduced, he is one of the most important characters in the series as his introduction sets the tone for future installments. Goda is the son of the Osaka rival Yakuza gang, the Omi Alliance. Due to this, he has an abrasive personality and thinks highly of himself. Nicknamed the Kansai Dragon, he believes he can be the only dragon and decides to prove it by eliminating Kiryu, to no avail.
As a character, he is everything Kiryu isn't and is almost a polar opposite of our main character. His personality and motives leave a strong impression on players making him worthy of his position.
4 Saejima Taiga
Saejima Taiga is a character with a long history in the series. Despite only introduced in the fourth game as a playable character, His story actually begins twenty years before the first game. As mentioned in Yakuza 0, he is a sworn brother to Goro Majima. After an assassination incident killing 18 people, he is sentenced to death row in prison.
Though surprisingly not killed after 25 years, he eventually escapes and returns to Kamarucho to set things right. He appears in multiple games from then on also as a playable character in Yakuza 5. Akiyama is also one of the strongest characters that can even give Kiryu a run for his money. He has a good personality and seeks to protect his sister and other loved ones whenever he can. As a character, Saejima Taiga is one of the best in the series.
3 Akiyama Shun
Being the first character we get to play in the series after Kiryu, Akiyama leaves quite an impression on fans. As Kamarucho's most generous money lender, he doesn't care who you are or what you do when asking for a loan, as long as you can prove your worth by accomplishing one of his tests.
Perhaps not the right way to run a business, it shows what kind of person he is as it reflects his past. It also helps that he’s charismatic and enjoyable to play as. He is also a playable character in Yakuza 5 and even appears in Yakuza 6 as well.
2 Majima Goro
As the runner up, we have the mad dog of Shimano himself, Majima. Majima is by far the fan-favorite character of the series, mostly due to how ridiculous he is compared to other gritty and serious characters in games. Similar to Saejima, he's had a long history in the Yakuza. After the assassination incident he was meant to take part in with Saejima, he is banished from the Shimano family.
He is tasked to manage a cabaret club to provide funds in order to let him back into the gang. While doing so, we get to see his story of how he became the Mad Dog of Shimano. As his name suggests, he can be quite crazy at times, beating up anyone for any reason he chooses. Despite this, he is still a capable person with a good heart and a good friend to Kiryu. With even the intelligence to lead businesses, including his own.
1 Kiryu Kazuma
Who wouldn't expect him to be number one on this list? The face of the franchise, The Big Daddy himself, The Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, The Dragon of Dojima, Kiryu Kazuma. It would be useless explaining his past as its been through so many times in the games already, but he is the most iconic character not only for being the main character, but also the coolest guy ever.
Even as a Yakuza, he has a strict moral code, he seeks to protect his loved ones and helps anyone he can, and he can do this all thanks to his superior physical prowess that cannot be beaten. Kiryu is not a person to be crossed unless you want to come across an unstoppable force and an immovable object at the same time.
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