Yakuza's Protagonist: Aging Warriors in a Modern City

The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, while expanding its appeal to younger and female gamers, remains firmly committed to its core identity: middle-aged men engaging in relatable middle-aged activities. This commitment, reiterated by director Ryosuke Horii in an interview with AUTOMATON, emphasizes the series' unique charm. Despite a significant increase in female fans, the developers intend to avoid altering the narrative to cater to this broader audience, prioritizing the authentic portrayal of everyday middle-aged male experiences.

Horii and lead planner Hirotaka Chiba believe the series' originality stems from the "humanity" inherent in depicting the struggles and quirks of middle-aged men, drawing parallels to the players' own lives. This relatable portrayal, exemplified by protagonist Ichiban Kasuga's fondness for Dragon Quest and frequent complaints about back pain, fosters a strong connection between the characters and the audience. The developers see this as a key element of the game's engaging nature.

This focus on a male perspective isn't a recent decision. In a 2016 Famitsu interview, series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi acknowledged the increase in female players (approximately 20% at the time) but reaffirmed the series' core design for a primarily male audience. He stressed the importance of maintaining the creative vision without overly compromising it to accommodate broader demographics.

However, this commitment to a specific demographic has sparked criticism. Concerns have been raised regarding the series' representation of women, with some fans pointing to the prevalence of sexist tropes and the frequent objectification of female characters. The limited number of significant female roles and the persistent use of suggestive or sexual remarks directed at female characters by male protagonists have fueled this criticism. While acknowledging progress, many feel the series still falls short in its portrayal of women, often relegating them to stereotypical damsel-in-distress roles. Even the recent Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, while praised for its overall quality (Game8 awarded it a 92), hasn't fully escaped this criticism. While the developers acknowledge some playful instances of male characters interrupting female conversations, this highlights the ongoing debate about female representation within the franchise's narrative. The series, while progressing, still struggles to fully reconcile its core identity with a more inclusive representation of all genders.