Yakuza

Why Is There a Tattoo Stigma in Japan?

Public pools. Gyms. Resorts. It’s common to see “no tattoos allowed” signs at establishments like this. In Japan, there is certainly a stigma towards tattoos. But why? The easiest explanation, of course, is that Japanese gangsters (the yakuza) traditionally mark their bodies with tattoos. But not everyone who has tattoos in Japan is in organized…

Be Two Historical Figures For the Price of One in the New Yakuza Game

The latest chapter of the Yakuza series, Yakuza: Ishin!, is a trip back in time. Much like in Yakuza: Kenzan!, the game will feature series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu as a famous historical character. However, this time, Kiryu will be two historical figures instead of one. Featured in this week’s Weekly Famitsu, Yakuza: Ishin! will have…

The New Yakuza Game Takes You Back in Time

Sega unveiled a new Yakuza game. It’s called Ryu Ga Gotoku: Ishin. Here’s a first look. “Ryu Ga Gotoku,” of course, is the original Japanese title for the Yakuza games. “Ishin” (維新) means “restoration” as in the Meiji Restoration. This led into the Meiji Period, an era of rapid modernization and industrialization in Japan. It…

Why I’m Avoiding One of the Main Features of Valhalla Knights 3

After over ninety hours, I’m still uncomfortable with Valhalla Knights 3. “What is Valhalla Knights 3?“you ask. Valhalla Knights 3 is an RPG for the PS Vita. The basic gameplay is very much similar to an MMORPG, except without the Massively Multiplayer Online part. You have a central base of operations in a large map…

This Yakuza Ad Is Awesome Even if You Don’t Speak Japanese

Everybody from Kotaku East is asleep right now. So I don’t have the benefit of their multilingual skills when it comes to translating this advert for the HD re-master of Sega’s first two Yakuza games. The language barrier is no real obstacle here, however. I can tell that things start off sweet and then get…

These Games Were Missing From E3

Now that we’ve had a weekend to recoup from the bright lights and pulsing music of the world’s most elaborate video game marketing circus, it’s time to take a quiet moment to reflect on the games we didn’t get to play at E3 2013. Jade, Samus, Drake — where were you guys? Now this isn’t…

Yakuza Series Developer Offers His Opinion On the New Consoles

As seen from thephotograph, the well-tanned Yakuza series developer, Toshihiro Nagoshi was walking among the crowds at E3 this year. Hopefully basking in the saturated spectacle of upcoming consoles and games. Nagoshi wrote on his blog about the Sony conference and the announcements from Microsoft and Sony (Unfortunately, due to flight delays, he was unable…

Video Game PR Issues Beautiful “No Comment” In Haiku

The Yakuza games are some of the very best on the PS3, so Sega’s silence on a possible localisation of Yakuza 5 is killing me The publisher has since broken that silence, however, responding to a Yakuza fansite. In haiku. Like every single Japan-related PR communication should be. The poem, sent to Yakuza Fan, reads:…

Yakuza on the Wii U Is an “Experiment” and Not Happening for the 3DS

Yakuza 1 & 2 HD is coming to the Wii U. But what about future Yakuza games? Are they headed to the Wii U? And how about the 3DS? So many questions! In a recent interview, Yakuza producer Toshihiro Nagoshi described the Wii U release as “an experiment” to see how many Wii U owners…

Hey. Sega. Yeah, you. We’re still waiting for our Yakuza 5 localisation.

This Wii U Game Doesn’t Seem as Polished as Its PS3 Version

The first Yakuza game debuted on the PlayStation 2. Last fall, an HD version of the game hit the PlayStation 3. This summer, it’s coming to the Wii U. How does it stack up? Today, the first screenshots for Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Edition for Wii U hit the internet. Via 4Gamer, there were…

Yakuza 1 & 2 Coming to Wii U in HD for Japan

Sega and Nintendo just announced that PlayStation 2 crime saga Yakuza 1 and its sequel Yakuza 2 are headed to the Wii U in Japan. The games are getting HD makeovers, and will take advantage of the Wii U GamePad via in-game maps and GamePad only play. This is the first time the series has…

Former Yakuza Injured in Shooting at an Osaka Game Center

In the afternoon of March 31, a shooting broke out at game center in Osaka. According to Jiji Press (via The Tokyo Reporter), a former high-level yakuza was grazed in the left part of his chest. He was taken to a local hospital, and he is expected to recover. The wounded man was apparently a…

The Most Comfortable Inns, Bars And Taverns In Video Games

Earlier this month we visited taverns and bars that are noisy and dangerous Now it is time to look for their exact opposite: The coziest, most calm, most peaceful places to hang out. Places that focus more on the relaxed atmosphere, the music, and advancing the game’s story, rather than getting our characters in trouble.…

The Coolest Video Games Set in Feudal Japan

It is always nice to see a video game set in the feudal, pre-industrial era of Japan. The Japanese countryside in general has a special, comforting atmosphere, and combining it with badass samurai warriors and political drama always has spectacular results. We have selected games for today’s Show Us gallery that both have these attributes,…

Sega, Where The Hell Is Yakuza 5?

I know it has flaws. Some of them completely alienating for most people. But damn it, I don’t care. The Yakuza series is just about my favourite thing on the PS3. They just do so many things that other games aren’t doing. They are (sorry Sleeping Dogs) the single best way to indulge in virtual…

The Craziest Testosterone-Filled Japanese Video Game Characters

When it comes to Japanese developers, creating crazy, nice games isn’t the only thing they’re good at; they also design characters with pumped-to-the-max muscles, half of which don’t even exist in real life and have the size of a truck. And they are all really serious about beating the hell out of everyone around them.…

The Yakuza TV Show is Action Packed From Beginning to End

The Yakuza franchise has definitely been one of the most popular video game properties in Japan for the last few years. Not only has there been at least one main series game every other year, but there have been several spin-off titles as well (not to mention a live-action movie). One of these titles is…

I Think I Need to Join Trophy Whores Anonymous

My name is Richard and I have a problem. When it comes to games, I am a completionist. If there is a nook left unexplored or some random item that needs to be collected, I feel compelled to spend hours getting the job done. What’s odd is I don’t find it fun to do these…

Five Reasons Yakuza 5 is Not For Me

Until I sat down and played Yakuza 5, my knowledge of the Yakuza series was limited, to say the least. I knew the characters and some of the story (from wikis, friends, and the movie), but when it came down to playing the series, the most time I had spent with it was in playing…