Yakuza: Like a Dragon Spotlights the Richness of Midlife

Like a Dragon Studio Resists Catering to New Fans and Focuses on ‘Middle-Aged Dudes’
‘Middle-Aged Guys’ Doing ‘Middle-Aged Guy Things’

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

"We have had a large increase 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 changing conversation topics in order to cater to new fans. That would make us unable to keep talking about things like uric acid levels."

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

"The characters are flesh-and-blood human beings much like our players are, so their problems are relatable," Horri added. "That’s why it’s easy to really get into the game and feel like you’re listening to conversations between ordinary people."

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

While Nagoshi acknowledged that this was a positive development, he also clarified that Yakuza was primarily designed for gentlemen audiences. "Yakuza is something that is made for gentlemen players," he continued. "So we will be careful not to be too conscious of the lady users and derail from what we want to make."

Players Question the Series’ Female Representation in Yakuza Series

Despite the game’s marketing towards male audiences, many have expressed dissatisfaction with its portrayal of female characters. Some fans argue that the series often falls into sexist tropes, with female characters frequently relegated to supporting roles or objectified by male characters.

One user on ResetEra noted that while the series has made progress, "female representation is still poor and many of the tropes and scenarios in the games are sexist." Another pointed out that "even in Yakuza 7, Saeko is the only female party member in the game (other than Eri, who is optional). Besides, every time a female character shows up on-screen, it’s like the male characters can’t help but make suggestive/sexual remarks, like that’s the only way they know how to talk… around women."

Many female characters in the series adhere to the damsel-in-distress trope, evident in characters like Makoto in Yakuza 0, Yuri in Kiwami, and Lilly in Yakuza 4. Women in the series seem to always be put aside, and unfortunately, this may persist in the future.

Chiba comments in the aforementioned interview, though jokingly, that "There’s a Party Chat (in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth) where Seonhee and Saeko’s girl talk gets hijacked by Nanba and ends up turning into guy talk. I think situations like this will keep on happening."

While the series has made strides in embracing more progressive ideals, it occasionally falters into outdated sexist tropes. Despite these setbacks, the newer games represent a positive step forward.

Game8 recognized this progress, awarding Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth a score of 92. The review praised the game as a "love letter to fans of the franchise while brilliantly setting the course for Like a Dragon’s future." For a more in-depth analysis of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, check out our review below!