Tokyo Game Show 2025: Yakuza Series Stage Report
―― Celebrating 20 Years with “Kiwami III” and the Bold New Spin-off “Dark Ties”
I had the chance to attend the Yakuza series stage event at Sega/Atlus’s booth during Tokyo Game Show 2025—and honestly, I’m still buzzing from the excitement. I’ve been to plenty of events over the years, but the sheer energy in the hall that day was on another level. With the franchise hitting its 20th anniversary, the stage was packed with huge announcements, special guests, and a crowd that never stopped cheering. It felt less like a press event and more like a giant fan celebration—and I loved every second of it.
When Masayoshi Yokoyama and Akio Ōtsuka Took the Stage
The stage lit up with the entrance of Masayoshi Yokoyama, head of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, and none other than Akio Ōtsuka, whose iconic voice has given life to countless characters. The moment Ōtsuka spoke into the mic, his deep voice rolled through the hall and the audience erupted. The fan next to me whispered, “Hearing him live is unreal,” and I couldn’t agree more.
Yokoyama set the tone right away: “Let’s revisit yesterday’s RPG Summit together and have fun.” He even encouraged us to react freely—“Don’t hold back your cheers!” That broke the ice immediately. The room shifted into the atmosphere of a fan party rather than a stiff conference.
The Big Reveal: Yakuza Kiwami III and Yakuza 3 Gaiden: Dark Ties
The highlight of the event was, of course, the announcement of two new titles.
- Yakuza Kiwami III, a full remake of the 2009 classic Yakuza 3, rebuilt with modern technology.
- Yakuza 3 Gaiden: Dark Ties, a completely new story that sheds light on untold events.
Kiwami III isn’t just about prettier visuals—it adds new scenes and freshly recorded dialogue, making it “the best version imaginable,” according to Yokoyama. Meanwhile, Dark Ties focuses on Mine Yoshitaka, exploring why a once-ordinary man chose to walk the path of the yakuza and how he rose through the ranks.
When Yokoyama revealed that both games will be bundled together and playable in any order, the crowd roared. I felt the same—already wondering whether to dive into Kiryu’s story first or discover Mine’s hidden past. It’s the kind of “good problem” that fans dream about.
Akio Ōtsuka on Returning as Ryūzō Tamiya
One of the most powerful moments came when Akio Ōtsuka spoke about reprising his role as Ryūzō Tamiya, the Minister of Defense. Tamiya has always stood out as a unique, weighty presence in the series.
Ōtsuka explained, “Tamiya carries within him a prayer for what a man should truly be.” Hearing those words from the man himself gave me chills. The hall responded with thunderous applause, and everywhere I looked, fans were nodding with respect.
Yokoyama added that “playing the game now, at an older age, changes how those lines resonate.” Sixteen years have passed since the original release—time enough for both the actors and the fans to bring new meaning to old dialogue.
A Star-Studded Cast and Fascinating Behind-the-Scenes Stories
We were also treated to clips of the cast. Takaya Kuroda, the legendary voice of Kazuma Kiryu, appeared in a custom Yohji Yamamoto jacket, looking impossibly stylish. The audience gasped and laughed when Yokoyama revealed the jacket was a one-of-a-kind piece made for the show.
The announcement of Ryo Ishibashi’s involvement was another huge surprise. Yokoyama shared that the studio had approached Ishibashi in the past but it hadn’t worked out back then. Hearing this story for the first time, the crowd reacted with genuine amazement. Personally, I was thrilled—having Ishibashi finally step into the world of Yakuza feels like a perfect fit.
And then came Teruyuki Kagawa as Hamazaki. Using facial capture, his kabuki-honed expressions are directly reflected in the character model. Yokoyama confidently stated, “No one else could play this role.” The audience erupted in applause, completely agreeing.
Dark Ties: The Untold Story of Mine Yoshitaka
Yakuza 3 Gaiden: Dark Ties gives the spotlight to Mine Yoshitaka, portrayed by Shidō Nakamura. In the original Yakuza 3, Mine suddenly appears as a formidable figure who had risen from being an ordinary man to a major player in the underworld. But how did that happen? Dark Ties finally answers that question.
Yokoyama encouraged us to play both titles in parallel: “You’ll see one story unfold, while another is happening in the background.” Just imagining that—switching between Kiryu’s journey and Mine’s descent into darkness—gave me goosebumps.
The Live-Action Surprise: Yakuza Becomes a Drama
As if the announcements weren’t enough, Yokoyama dropped another bomb: a live-action drama project created with the team behind the long-running Nihon Tōitsu series. The drama will adapt the story of Yakuza 1–3, staying faithful to the games while introducing newcomers to the saga.
The biggest shocker? Kazuhiro Nakaya, who has voiced Nishikiyama for two decades, will actually play him in live-action. Seeing a voice actor embody his own role on screen—it’s the kind of news that makes your jaw drop. Yokoyama summed it up perfectly: “Yakuza has expanded not just in games, but in the lives of the actors themselves.”
Yokoyama on the Theme of “Dark Ties”
Yokoyama ended the talk by addressing the theme of Dark Ties.
“In this story, no one is a saint. Every character falls into darkness, bound by their own black ties. There may be no lesson, no redemption—but that’s precisely what makes it real, and human.”
Hearing this, I realized: even after 20 years, the Yakuza series is still fearless. It’s not afraid to push boundaries, to dive into uncomfortable truths, and to deliver stories that linger long after the credits roll.
Mark Your Calendars: February 12, 2026
The session closed with the official release date: February 12, 2026. As soon as the date was revealed, the crowd exploded—cheering, clapping, even shouting “I can’t wait!” around me.
Ōtsuka smiled, saying, “I hope to be involved even more in the future,” while Yokoyama promised, “Even after 20 years, we’re confident we can still deliver new experiences.” The applause didn’t stop until the lights dimmed.
Final Thoughts: A 20th Anniversary Worth Celebrating
This wasn’t just a stage event—it was a love letter to fans, a celebration of everything the series has achieved, and a promise of more to come. Kiwami III resurrects a classic, Dark Ties ventures into uncharted territory, and the live-action drama pushes the series beyond gaming entirely.
Walking out of the booth, I couldn’t stop replaying the announcements in my head. If the energy of that crowd was any indication, Yakuza isn’t just surviving after 20 years—it’s thriving, and it’s about to reach even greater heights.
February 2026 can’t come soon enough.
