#location: kamurocho

[rggcharacterarchive]

Kiwmai CH01CM13: To Dojima's Office

transcription:

[Camera opens on a Kamurocho street. It begins to rain. KIRYU runs into the street from an alley and stops, looking around to get his bearings, then turns and runs down the sidewalk.]

[Fade to black. Cinematic ends.]

previous cinematic // next cinematic

[eremin0109]

Okay but has anyone ever wondered why some of the popular locations that are present on the maps of both Kamurocho and Sotenbori like "Maharaja" disco and "Gandhara" video shop have Indian origin names??

Like Maharaja means "King" or "Emperor" in many Indian languages while Gandhara is an important kingdom in the main plotline of the ancient mythological epic Mahabharata, located near the northwest part of the Indian subcontinent.

So, I wonder what prompted the creators to name these places these very random things? And why these two in particular? Is there a real life connection here as well, as with everything else in Yakuza? Was there an active (and presumably wealthy) Indian community in Japan's nightlife scene in the 80s and 90s? Or is it just to seem worldly and exotic?

I need answers, SEGA. Belonging to perhaps one of the rarest nationalities to play Yakuza, I NEED ANSWERS.

[fabiansociety]

one of the singular pleasures of the like a dragon franchise is seeing kamurocho persist across time. there are so few games that are as devoted to one place as yakuza is—even games in the same series frequently radically change that location between installments: mass effect's citadel is never the same twice, gta's various cities seldom repeat and are built from the ground up with each new game. but kamurocho persists, and persists so comprehensively that it's possible to feel nostalgia for the restaurants and businesses you frequented in earlier decades. I still miss the takoyaki stand at the end of tenkaichi street that got replaced by a gelateria, and finding that shine had closed sometime between yakuza 6 and judgment and been replaced by a member's only hostess club gave me a weird moment. i haven't been to these places—i have no actual experiences to be nostalgic for—and even diagetically these are marginal spaces at best; I doubt kiryu would care that the hostess club he went to every time he was in town shut down, and definitely not the takoyaki stand. but somehow i feel the same dislocation i did driving down broadway after the extended covid isolation and seeing all the new buildings that went up in the meantime. it's a rare magic trick in any medium, but especially in video games.

[falltumn]

💗 Midge ███████, 22, Gold hostess 👑 💗 Main skills - Party, Talk 💗 Looks- Sexy ⭕, Beauty 🔺, Cute 🔺, Funny ⭕

A lover of the nightlife, she's frequently found at clubs and discos on her days off. Heaven's official dancing queen.

To request Midge for your next trip to Heaven, please call 777-███-████ or ask in person at our Kamurocho location.

[overdevelopedglasses]

Sunday Six!

Taking a brief break from finals to post today's writing! Hopefully I'll crack out some more stuff during these next two weeks (finals -> spring break!), but for now it's more Sugiura substory content!

Tagging @mike----wazowski, who got me first, as well as @four-white-trees @passthroughtime @skysquid22 @woundedheartwithin @fire-tempers-steel @danketsuround @jichanxo

“By the way, what kind of business are you planning to open?” Joryu finishes wiping his fists off, noting the various scratches along his knuckles.

Sugiura smiles, “A detective agency. I’m close with a similar agency in Kamurocho, but I want to be able to help the world in my own style.”

Joryu's ears perk up.

“Wait, you were based in Kamurocho?” 

He turns away as to not give away any emotions, as he busies himself with cleaning his glasses.

“Yeah. And it was a fine home. But, all I really did there for a long time… was run away. That’s part of the reason I’m changing locations. I wanted a fresh start, so I don’t fall into old habits.”

Joryu raises an eyebrow, putting on his glasses and turning back around.

“What’s the other?”

“Well, I don’t want to compete with my mentors, after all. They’re masters of their craft.”

“The craft of…?”

“Case hunting.” Sugiura looks wistfully into the distance as Joryu lets out a chuckle.

[littlevices]

The Cats (Minor Spoilers, I guess)

I love cats.

Truly I do. I own some. They are actually sweethearts (when they wanna be).

So when I found out I was going to be collecting cats for a cat cafe in Yakuza 6 I was over the moon.

All the kitties for my cat cafe.

Then I found out that after a certain early chapter I could not go back to Kamurocho for a while and I would have limited means for cat food.

Cue reloading my game and getting every cat in Kamurocho, stocking up on cat food, then heading to Onomichi.

I regret nothing, but also everything.

These cats are surpisingly realistic; as in they are stubborn, cute, picky, and never around when you actually want them.

Do not do what I did. Collect the cats as you go. Unless you really want them that bad like I did, lol. Please, use a guide for these cats, do not guess. It was hard enough with a guide telling me where they were and what cat food to feed them to keep my collection as efficient as possible (yes, I used a guide for this. No, I am not ashamed to admit it.). It was a pain in the ass to reload these cats in their locations so I could feed them. I have learned my lesson, please do not do what I did. You can get the Kamurocho cats later. Stock up on cat food for Onomichi, but do not kill yourself getting all cats in Kamurocho that early.

Why a guide for the cat food? Can't I just guess the food and keep using the one they like? Why, you may ask?

Because even if you give them one they like it can still take around three or five (or more, it felt like more) visits before they can be collected for the cafe. Yes, that includes the Golden Cat Food which is supposed to be the best and the one every cat likes, but is the most expensive (10,000 yen, if I remember correctly). Some cats also like the same kinds of food as other cats, and you could run out very quickly if you don't know the alternative likes. Remember, Onomichi has limited options once you're there.

It's my own fault really, I can admit that, but don't be me.

I am happy that I have the cats, truly, they're cute, but please for the love of all that is holy do not be me.

(Please note, this does not reflect my feelings for Yakuza 6 as a whole. I have not beaten the game yet. I just had to vent and warn people about the cats, lol.)

[adachimoe]

Persona 5 IRL Stuff

Requested

The entry and exit to each floor of Mementos is based on the appearance of train stations, and the stamps you collect for Jose are seemingly the game's version of train stamps lol.

I'm not sure if this is still true, but train stamps were introduced to me as something that smaller kids will collect when they travel with their families, so it makes sense to me that the NPC associated with them is also a kid. As an adult tourist, I've never bothered with train stamps cause you really have to go out of your way to find some of them and when I'm at a train station my ass is trying to go somewhere lol. I suppose that even in real life, some of those stamp locations must feel like they're random spawns.

I have absolutely bothered with red shrine seals, though. Maybe Persona 6 will have the protagonist collecting those.

Ryuji takes you to a ramen restaurant in Ogikubo. Based on it being in Ogikubo and the appearance of the restaurant in-game, it's modeled after Marufuku Chinese Noodles near Ogikubo Station. The sign in-game just says "Chinese Noodles" without the store name. I'm not sure if this is a famous restaurant or maybe it's just one that Atlus employees like to eat at lol.

Ryuji also takes you to a monjayaki restaurant in Tsukishima during his Confidant. You go to Tsukishima specifically because Tsukishima has a line of restaurants called Monja Street that specializes in, you guessed it, monjayaki.

Akechi introduces you to a jazz bar in Kichijoji called Jazz Jin. The outside appearance seems to be based on Some Time which is also located in Kichijoji. Only the outside resembles what's in-game, though. The inside is different.

Yongenjaya isn't a real place in Tokyo, but it seems to be a renamed version of Sangenjaya - san means 3, yon means 4. I've not been to Sangenjaya, though I've heard that details like the laundromat, even down to the vending machine, looks nearly the same as it does in-game. (If you are interested in doing Persona 5 tourism around Tokyo, I've heard that the Sangenjaya locals do not appreciate Persona 5 tourism or related loitering in this area.)

Shibuya Station is pretty much accurate with how it is IRL. The green train car that you visit Tora at has been moved since the game came out, but the dog statue of Hachiko (or Buchiko as its known in game) is there, the 1000 stairs you climb to get to the Ginza Line, etc, is also all accurate.

When you touch base with Ohya, you unlock Shinjuku. The movie theater in-game is called Cult 9, which is based on an actual movie theater in Shinjuku called Wald 9. The other areas in Shinjuku seem to be a condensed version of Kabukicho (or Kamurocho, if you've played Like a Dragon).

Futaba wants to go shopping in Akihabara and Nakano. Akihabara you've probably already heard about as Nerd Haven. She also talks about visiting Nakano, likely to go shopping at Nakano Broadway which is home to a bunch of Mandarake 2nd hand anime/etc goods stores.

The "huge pancake" that Morgana was talking about is how Tokyo Dome looks from the outside. The pancakes he's comparing it to are the thicc souffle-style fluffy jiggly pancakes that you can get at various restaurants. (Also probably what Akechi thinks of when he hears delicious pancakes lol.)

The other areas and things, I'm really not sure there's much to say about them.

Ann takes you to Harajuku cause she wanted to eat sweets (this is really relatable btw)

Meiji jingu is also real and located near Harajuku

The buffet Ann takes the guys to is the Marble Lounge, but I believe it's since been remodeled

There's multiple museums in Ueno

There's a Catholic church in west Kanda but afaik the inside looks different than in-game

Inokashira Park is real and has swan boats and stuff

Ikebukuro's planetarium is in Sunshine City Mall

Chinatown is real but it's much further than the map makes you think (it's in Yokohama)

Odaiba Seaside Park is another real location

Miura Beach is also real, way down south past Yokohama

Jimbocho is indeed where you'd go to buy books

etc etc etc

[wakabahan]

this isn't news to kimi (hi kimi 👋🏻) but i've been detailing out kyrie's information network as she takes over purgatory. she still uses the homeless like the florist and akame, but there needs to be topside hubs where one, they and drop their information, and two; they can be paid, and three; these hubs can generate their own tips to pass on.

there's locations in all the cities you'll visit throughout the yakuza games; Kamurocho, Sotenbori, Downtown Ryukyu, Tsukimino, Nagasugai, Kineicho, Ijincho, and Waikiki. there's also hubs where my other ocs tend to congregate; NYC, LA, and Chicago.

for now i'm designing them in the sims. i don't really have any spoons or inspiration to draw (tbh im almost sick of it) but that's neither here nor there.

but i'll post them soon. i hope you like my naming theme.

[likeanatlas]

Map detailing the locations of phone card collectibles in Kamurocho circa 1988, one of the primary settings of Yakuza 0. NOTE: this is a big image, meant to be downloaded, zoomed into, and scrolled around.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ffl62ydu305gubwi8q756/kamurocho_card_1988_v1-0.png?rlkey=1rhqsbx796vuuxjxxtnegynef&dl=0

[parasiticjustice]

[RGG Online Translation] Character Story · Yuya

Summary: Ichiban finds Yuya working as a salaryman on the streets of Kamurocho. After the two get acquainted, they learn that Kazuki, Yuya’s old boss and close friend, has run into money problems. Featured Characters: Ichiban Kasuga (RGGO version), Yuya Spoilers?: This follows up on events from Yakuza 6. It doesn’t go into detail about what happened in the game, but you still might be confused about why Yuya is in the predicament that he is.

On this episode, Yuya’s in the dumps cause Kazuki won’t return his calls.

Yuya and Kazuki were launch characters, and most of the stories from back then are a “where are they now?” sort of deal where RGGO Ichiban will run into some of the old guard in modern day Kamurocho. This made me curious about these two, considering where Y6 left them. Having gone through both stories, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they’re tied into each other. Yuya’s story happens first, but they can be enjoyed in either order. You can find Kazuki’s story here!

Disclaimer: I'm coming at this with little more than crude Japanese knowledge, a machine translation cocktail, and an insatiable desire for more RGG content. This will by no means be a decent translation, but it should at least be serviceable.

Notes:

This is RGGO Ichiban, which means this story is set in 2018 when he’s fighting against the Omi in Kamurocho instead of getting hustled over to Yokohama like in Y7. Which isn’t to say that this can’t be canon to post-Y6 Yuya: later character stories would start phasing out Ichiban so they could more neatly fit into the mainline LAD canon.

------------------ CHAPTER #1 ------------------

Scene #1: Kamurocho · West Taihei Boulevard

Izakaya Owner: That’s enough!

Ichiban: [smoking] Hm?

???: [yell] We need to offload it, even if it’s just one bottle! We have a lot of confidence in this new shochu!

Izakaya Owner: Knock it off! No matter how much new drinks you bring, I’m not putting them in my bar.

Ichiban: (What is this, a liquor sale or something...?)

???: [smile] Well, we also have sake! In fact, I have one to recommend...

Izakaya Owner: I want sake even less! The youngsters don’t drink it much these days.

???: Ah, I have fruity sakes that are easier for younger folk to drink? Like this one...

Izakaya Owner: No, no, no! I won’t let you in either way, so hurry up and get out of here!

???: [frown] Kuh...

Ichiban: (Yeesh, it’s tough being a salesman. That guy looks like he wants to die...)

Ichiban: Hey man, you good?

???: Oh, sorry. I was making a scene.

Ichiban: You trying to make sales? Must be tough being a salaryman.

???: Haha, this is embarrassing...

------------------

Scene #2: Kamurocho · Public Park 3

Ichiban: Wow, so you used to be a host and a manager?

Yuya: Yeah, a place called Stardust on Tenkaichi Street. I worked there for a long time.

Ichiban: That’s a prime location, isn’t it? Why’d you quit?

Yuya: [frown] Well, a lot happened... the club itself is shut down. Until it reopens, I’m stuck doing unfamiliar work like this.

Ichiban: You’re going back to hosting when it reopens?

Yuya: [neutral] Yup. Right now, I know the owner is desperately trying to find a way to get it up and running again. That’s why I’m working hard, in my own way.

Ichiban: I see... It must be tough.

Yuya: Yeah, it’s hard work. It’s the sort of job you can’t do if you don’t understand the customer’s feelings. But that also applies to hosts, which is why I think of it as training all over again.

Ichiban: [smile] Man, that’s great. That Stardust owner had some good subordinates.

Yuya: [smile] Haha, I’m glad to hear you say that.

Thug: Oh shit! It’s him!

Ichiban: ...Hm?

Thug: You’re the idiot who tried to get alcohol into that izakaya. That place is our turf. It’s a problem for us if you try to muscle your way in, so we’re gonna have to make an example outta you. Get ready for a pounding!

Ichiban: I don’t give a damn about your turf, idiot.

Thug: Oh yeah? You a pal of his? Well now that you’ve talked shit, you’re both getting hit!

[Battle]

Thug: Dammit...!

[he runs off]

Yuya: Sorry, you got caught up in my mess...

Ichiban: Don’t worry about it. Well, I hope your club reopens soon.

Yuya: Agreed. I’d really like to find a way to help the owner out... For now, I’ll just have to trust him and wait. Now, if you’ll excuse me...

[he leaves]

Ichiban: (Pretty gutsy guy, wasn’t he? Stardust, huh... I'll have to show my face when it reopens.)

------------------ CHAPTER #2 ------------------

Scene #3: Kamurocho · West Taihei Boulevard

Yuya: Oh? Kasuga?

Ichiban: Huh?

Yuya: Thanks for the other day.

Ichiban: Oh, Yuya. Still working hard in sales after that?

Yuya: Yeah, even though every day is full of issues. I was just heading to that izakaya from the other day. [frown] To be honest, I’m still thinking about Stardust... I haven’t heard back from the owner yet, so I’m a little worried...  [neutral] Hm?

Rival Club Owner: Ohh! Look who it is... well, well, well, if it isn’t the manager of Stardust. Ah, my mistake, the former manager, hehe...

Yuya: [angry] Ugh...

Ichiban: Who the hell is he?

Yuya: He owned a rival club when Stardust was still open. He’s a nasty guy...

Rival Club Owner: How is the owner? From what I’ve heard, he’s been having a lot of trouble raising money.

Yuya: [surprised] He’s raising money...?

Rival Club Owner: Oh, you didn’t know? It seems like he needed a lot. Something around 30 million yen?

Yuya: 30 million?!

Rival Club Owner: From the looks of things, it’s very unlikely he’ll get it all... hehe.

Yuya: [angry] Kazuki... what’s going on...?

Rival Club Owner: Well, our rival clubs have all disappeared and we’re now the sole victor. So sorry about that.

Ichiban: ...Omi’s not coming to your place to collect?

Rival Club Owner: To fleece us? Hehe, that’s a rude assumption. We get on very well with the Omi.

Ichiban: [surprised] You’re doing well, huh...?

Rival Club Owner: Yes, we are. We pay them and they do their job... They shut down other shops that are an eyesore, or collect sales from them. Yes, the Omi are very good. There’s nothing they can’t get their hands on.

Ichiban: [neutral] ...The blame for that falls on you, too. You know what kind of collections they’re doing.

Rival Club Owner: I don’t give a shit. As long as I get my money, that’s all that matters to me.

Ichiban: You think you can take advantage of them? Well congratulations, you’re a bastard.

Yuya: Kasuga, don’t bother with this guy.

Rival Club Owner: Kasuga...? You’re not Ichiban Kasuga, by any chance?

Ichiban: What’s it to you?

Rival Club Owner: I see. You know, the Omi told me to catch you if I happened to find you.

Yuya: Kasuga, why do they...?

Ichiban: It’s kind of a long story.

Rival Club Owner: Hehe, now the Omi will owe us a favor... Hey! Beat him to an inch of his life!

[Battle]

Rival Club Owner: Dammit... Shit...!

[he runs off, or collapses, one or the other]

Yuya: [angry] ...Kasuga. I’m so frustrated...

Ichiban: You shouldn’t worry about that guy.

Yuya: No, what’s annoying me is... the owner didn’t rely on me.

Ichiban: [eyebrow raise] ...He didn’t want you to worry, did he?

Yuya: ...That sounds like what he’d think. Dammit, at a time like this... I shouldn’t have left him alone! I need to do something too. Sorry, Kasuga, I have to run!

Ichiban: [neutral] No problem.

[Yuya leaves]

Ichiban: From the look on his face, he had some sort of plan. Well, I’ll help him if he needs it.

------------------ CHAPTER #3 ------------------

Scene #4: Kamurocho · Nakamichi Street

Host-looking Man: Yuya, I’m pretty sure he’s not at the club anymore.

Yuya: [frown] I see... Do you have his contact details?

Ichiban: Is that... Yuya?

Host-looking Man: I have his mobile, if that’ll help.

Yuya: [neutral] Please, tell me.

Ichiban: (Is he looking for someone...? I wonder who.)

Yuya: [smile] This is a big help! Sorry for the bother.

Host-looking Man: If it’s what you want, it’s fine. Bye then!

Ichiban: Hey, what’s up?

Yuya: [neutral] Ah, Kasuga. The owner’s having trouble financing Stardust’s reopening, so I thought I’d do some money-raising on my end. Hunt down our old employees and ask for contributions.

Ichiban: That’s a good idea. So, how’s it going?

Yuya: [frown] Not well... We had about 200 employees, so it’s difficult getting in touch with all of them... For the time being, I’ve asked for help from everyone I’ve gotten hold of. [angry] Dammit, I can’t help Kazuki like this...!

Rival Club Owner: It’s been a while! Ex-manager and Kasuga!

Ichiban: Oh, what’s this? It’s the underlings from before.

Rival Club Owner: Hehe... you’ll be paying me back handsomely for humiliating me.

Omi Member: Oh-ho, Kasuga’s really here. Ya did a good job, boss man.

Rival Club Owner: Heheh, thank you. Please get rid of the idiotic-looking one next to him, too.

Yuya: Dammit... Come at us yourself, you little shit!

Ichiban: [smile] Nah, it’s fine, Yuya... He’ll get his turn. [neutral] You just hang on a sec, Mr. Club Owner. After I beat the crap out of these guys, I’m gonna beat the crap out of you.

Rival Club Owner: Wh-What...

Omi Member: Think ya can underestimate me, eh? Then don’t go lettin’ me down!

[Battle]

Omi Member: Ugh... Shit! I’m outta here!

[he runs off]

Rival Club Owner: What?! W-Wait...!

Ichiban: [smile] Well, sorry to keep you waiting.

Yuya: [neutral] Those sort of guys always reveal their true colors when they’re in a pinch. Didn’t you know that?

Ichiban: [raises fists] Now, best grit your teeth...!

Rival Club Owner: Ah, ahh, ahhhhhhh!

------------------

Scene #5: Kamurocho · Nakamichi Street

Yuya: [frown] Everyone I contacted ain’t coming...

Ichiban: ...

Yuya: I want Stardust to come back... not just to follow my own dream again, but to bring back the Kamurocho I used to know. But I guess it didn’t work... I was useless to the very end...

Ichiban: Idiot. Don’t put yourself down like that. The owner is trying his best to bring back the club so you can all be together again. Are you saying that guy, who trusts you, is a bad judge of character? Don’t be so arrogant.

Yuya: Kasuga...

Ichiban: [smile] Besides, your efforts weren’t in vain. Look over there.

Yuya: [surprised] What...?

Host-looking Man A: Yuya! I saw your email. They all agreed and came with me!

Host-looking Man B: We heard the owner’s in a pinch? Why didn’t you call us sooner?

Yuya: [smile] E-Everyone...

Host-looking Man A: We feel the same way as you, Yuya. We all want to work for the owner again.

Ichiban: [neutral] You did it, Yuya.

Yuya: Yes, but... the most amazing part is still the owner. [neutral] Gathering this many people wouldn’t be possible if he wasn’t so well-liked... [smile] I can’t wait to become a man like him!!

Ichiban: [smile] Heh. You’re already doing well with that.

Yuya: Alright!! I’m gonna go one step further. I’ll use this momentum and collect all the money! Thanks so much, Kasuga. Consider yourself a benefactor to Stardust.

Ichiban: Hey, do your best to collect that cash.

Yuya: Got it! Well then!

[he hurries off]

Ichiban: Heh. Now this is what the real Kamurocho is about.

------END------ ------------------

[ama-ships]

Top 10 things you enjoy doing with your man Majima! Go! ....I mean if you wanna, no pressure! Love yer face! /Super gay lol

Oh, man... A chance to unleash the things I enjoy doing with my beloved mad dog!? I am on it! Also LONG POST! Thank you for sending this ask bb! Love yer face too! Hehehe @cosmic-kaden

10 - Pillow fights! While this may have just started, there's something about pillows and feathers flying with Majima's laughter that makes it super fun!

9 - Cooking together! This is something that I feel always brings us closer together~ Fast food and convenient options used to always be our go-to in the beginning but we learned together that cooking and eating at home is just so much better~

8 - Late night walks wherever we are~ Doesn't matter if we're in Kamurocho, Sotenbori, or Ijincho~ Each location is beautifully lit up BUT shoutouts to the Ferris Wheel in Ijincho cause PERFECT date spot... >////>

7 - Golf - BUT HEAR ME OUT! There's a golf center in Sotenbori and it's honestly so fun! Why is it something I enjoy? Because Majima helped teach me! I personally love the BINGO challenge~ and it always makes me happy when Majima and I try to conquer with ALL the Bingos ~

6 - Arcade Dates! - Arcades are pretty big, so naturally we can go to the arcade for hours of entertainment~ I have a preference for the claw games even tho I'm terrible at them~ So Majima usually is the one who wins the prizes for me~

5 - Going to the Colliseum~ A lot of the time Majima is a competitor and is undefeated~ It's great being in the crowd getting loud when he takes the stage because damn his stage presence is so intense and full of energy, it's wild! And I love to see him win~ BUT when we just go to spectate, we get really into it~ I'm just happy that we're spending time together, even if it's just watching opponents beat the snot out of each other~

4 - Movie nights~ Because sometimes cuddles and popcorn is the best way to spend an evening together~

3 - Silly little shopping trips~ As mundane as it is, being out together getting what we need for the upcoming week to take care of ourselves is a fun venture together~

2 - Working together at Club Sunshine~ Where our romance began~ It's fun to make sure our customers and employees are being taken care of~ Silly? Perhaps~ But we value everything that makes the club successful~ I enjoy it because I really get to play an important role and because Majima felt that I would be good in this setting~

1 - KARAOKE! If you didn't think this was my favourite thing I enjoy doing with Majima, well, this is the time you know! I love Majima being so over the top! He goes all in when he sings, he doesn't try to be perfect or create an illusionary image of himself like he used to. He belts it out off-key and is smiling the whole time, whereas I.. Well, I try my best to give my best performance, even when it's just the two of us 99% of the time~

[rggcharacterarchive]

Kiwami CH01CM01: October 1, 1995

transcription:

[opens on rainy, crowded tenkaichi street]

[camera pans north through crowd, pausing on a barker speaking to an uninterested man and a couple of drunk salarymen harassing a couple of highschool girls]

[camera turns into alleyway, where a man is being kicked around by a loan shark. a homeless man on the side looks at the sky, anguished]

[camera cuts to a puddle reflecting the neon lights of kamurocho]

[cinematic ends]

next cinematic

[bersergner-blog]

Practice 1_3.2 - Gathering Inspiration

Inspiration for this project was a strange one as I was generally chasing more of a feeling, rather than a visual idea. So a lot of my inspiration might not necessarily work visually.

Personal Childhood Media that had the 'Feel':

Yakuza King of Fighters Urban Reign Street Fighter The Warriors Dead Rising Canis Canem Edit Rival Schools Garouden Breakblow - Fist or Twist Crows Zero

Recent Games that have the 'Feel':

Lost Judgement Super Double Dragon - Gaiden River City Ransom - Rival Showdown Dodgeball Academia

UI

User Interface was something I knew I had to dive into for this as it is something that is integral in immersing the player in this feeling. You'll be spending a lot of time in menus over the course of a summer so they should convey the feel of the game. When studying the things you will be interacting with the most are the contents of your bag and planner. So I wanted to integrate this into the game. You scroll through your planner for your quests, scribble on a map of the town for your objectives and leaf through the yearbook to keep up with the status and your knowledge of the individual students. A game that does this exceptionally well is 2021 Sports RPG Dodgeball Academia.

AMAZON. [Online] Available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Humble-Games-Dodgeball-Academia-Nintendo/dp/B09PGDQ8NL?th=1 GAMEUIDATABASE. [Online] Available at: https://www.gameuidatabase.com/gameData.php?id=1123

However I wanted to convey the tough-as-nails overly serious nature of macho delinquents and wanted to steer away from something quite so whimsical and charming, so I opted for a lot more scribbled notes and clutter. A generally more "punk" feel. Again there was a game that did something very similar incredibly well. The 2016 School RPG Persona 5.

MEDIUM (2017) [Online] Available at: https://ridwankhan.com/the-ui-and-ux-of-persona-5-183180eb7cce

The fidelity and sense of momentum this provides is staggering and a lot more work than I had time for. I also didn't want to just emulate other games wholesale.

Environments & Map

The school is on it's own island, connected to chains of smaller islands, not only would this break up the overworld of the game nicely but also allow us to thread a lot of visual variety and cultures onto the island. I wanted the game to have a feeling of universal nostalgia. Eastern, Western, Tropical, etc. A little of everything, creating this unique world that makes the game more unique and locations memorable. Rockstar's 2006 PS2 hit Bully/Canis Canem Edit has a similar map design (as well as an iconically whimsical soundtrack by Shawn Lee that screams childhood mischief).

FANDOM. [Online] Available at: https://bully.fandom.com/wiki/Map?file=Bully_Big_Map.jpg

It also features some iconic and memorable locations on each island that helps the player associate the islands with their locations, making navigation easier.

GIANTBOMB. [Online] Available at: https://www.giantbomb.com/bully-scholarship-edition/3030-5092/locations/

Another major inspiration for me was King of Fighters. I still remember playing it on a Neo Geo console at a family friend's house and fighting in this stage that featured this burning tree and being absolutely floored by the design of the hand drawn characters, the smoothness of the animation and the beauty of the environments. I wanted the locations on the island to all feel like unique and interesting places to fight so people can feel what I felt back then.

REDDIT. [Online] Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/Fighters/comments/omf7d5/kof_94_stages_the_king_of_fighters_has_some_of/

In SEGA's hit-series Yakuza you spend almost every game in the same location. Kamurocho, a small part of a much larger city. It's not a large open world, but it is full of life and packed with memorable locations. Over the course of the many games you see time pass, businesses open or close, things change. It makes the place feel real and living. Additionally River City Ransom - Rival Showdown also does a lot with a small map, that changes with it's day and night cycle. Both are iconic locations to me that squeeze a lot out of small locations. I endeavoured to use the school and surrounding islands as ever-changing and interactively dense hubs that support the nostalgic feel of the project.

FANDOM. [Online] Available at: https://yakuza.fandom.com/wiki/Kamurocho HARDCOREGAMER (2017). [Online] Available at: https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-river-city-rival-showdown/283813/

Characters

I knew the cast had to be vibrant, unique, diverse and creative. It was tough to try to come up with so many characters, until I started to think of them less as individual characters and more in the context of their social groups. One of the main things that inspired me for the designs was the nostalgia for old Fighting Game casts. Particularly King of Fighters and Street Fighter had a big impact on me in childhood. Their personalities shining through in their visual design as well as their movesets. Also a big inspiration visually were Shonen Anime, in particular Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and the live-action film Crows Zero.

REDDIT (2021). [Online] Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/kof/comments/psk9v6/character_select_screen_in_neogeo_resolution_with/ AKIZUKIFANTASYCRITIC (2015). [Online] Available at: https://akizukifantasycritic.blogspot.com/2015/04/street-fighter-alpha-3-huge-mix-of.html JOJO-NEWS (2022). [Online] Available at: https://jojo-news.com/2022/04/04/jojos-bizarre-adventure-the-animations-10th-anniversary-project-website-launched/ ASIANMOVIEPULSE (2020). [Online] Available at: https://asianmoviepulse.com/2020/01/film-review-crows-zero-ii-2009-by-takashi-miike/

[fabiansociety]

i started playing yakuza 0 in August last year, and I've been playing my way through the entire series ever since. it's been a wild ride — a lot of nonsense plot has flowed through and out of my brain, a lot of janky combat, a massive amount of characters i've come to love, and hundreds of warmly empathetic substories that have pressed themselves into my brain. it feels like i've crammed an entire found family into my life, speedrunning through decades of character growth, major triumphs and minor failures. what it all means, in retrospect, i couldn't quite say. the series hasn't had a consistent point of view, except for an increasing melancholy of how life's narrative opportunities narrow with age and poor decisions, of the ways that childhood trauma lives with us forever, the ways that young men are brutalized into something useful for the powerful men at the top—but that's all a shadow passing over the true landscapes of the games, the long period hanging out in arcades or pool halls or drinking in a favorite bar, or singing karaoke alone or with someone. of watching kamurocho and sotenbori shift with the years, of the new cities we've visited and the food we've eaten. i remember the takoyaki place on the corner that got replaced with a gelateria much more than i remember any of the yakuza heavies that have driven the plots of these games, and that may actually be the point?

it's so weird to not have another yakuza game to immediately start playing. i've gotten so used to opening the next game as soon as i finish the previous one that it feels wrong to just be… done, for now? like, what am i to do with myself now? these games have been such a major part of my leisure time this last year. i've still got Ishin, but that's not really the same thing. the faces will be familiar, but the people will be strangers.

it feels right that the man who erased his name was the only one of these that i've actually 100% completed, from achievements to in-game trackers. they've lowered the bar for completion substantially with this latest game, and frankly it feels like an act of grace for people who have played through the entire series. i'm never going to get good at virtua fighter 2, no matter how many times it shows up, so it's nice to not have to get good at everything in order to round everything out. i've already taught myself mahjong for this series, is that not enough? LADG says, yes, it's okay, you've done enough, and i appreciate that tremendously, here at the end of this loooong road.

i spent *50 solid days* this last year doing nothing except playing yakuza games, that's ridiculous. i read every single nero wolfe book in significantly less time than that! this is the problem with doing this sort of run-the-board project for a video game series, it just takes so long to get even a basically thorough experience. running through the entire MCU, including all the D+, Netflix, Hulu, Freeform, and ABC shows, only takes 424 hours, by comparison. you could watch all of it in less time than in took me to get from Y0 to Y4. i read all the nero wolfe books a couple of years back, and i was ripping through those at a book a night. video games are massively more decompressed as a medium, which makes them much harder to approach. i've loved doing this, and really valued the experience, but how do i even begin to recommend someone approach this, when so much of the specific pleasure i get is from seeing these characters and locations grow and change over time? how do you even begin to read a work of that scope? what is even meaningful out of that time to convey to another person? and yet it is meaningful, having lived through it, in the way living in another city is meaningful. i can tell you what i did there, and the important things that happened to me, but the only way to really get it is to move there yourself, and that's a lot to ask of someone.

stats under the cut, if you're curious about just how much time i've spent on each individual game

yakuza 0: 115:45 started 8/10/22, completed 9/7/22

yakuza kiwami: 66:24 started 9/9/22, completed 10/10/22

yakuza kiwami 2: 73:20 started 10/10/22, completed 10/30/22

the majima saga: 2:49 started 10/18/22, completed 10/26/22

yakuza 3: 103:20 started 10/31/22, completed 2/20/23 (with a break from november to february)

yakuza 4: 124:14 started 2/20/23, completed 3/17/23

yakuza 5: 168:17 started 3/18/23, completed 4/27/23

yakuza 6: 76:05 started 4/30/23, completed 5/20/23

judgment: 114:29 started 5/22/23, completed 7/16/23

yakuza like a dragon: 131:31 started 7/16/23, completed 9/2/23

lost judgment: 131:10 (shocking how close this is to YLAD) started 9/17/23, completed 11/4/23

the kaito files: 12:59 started 11/5/23, completed 11/10/23

the man who erased his name: 75:17 started 11/11/23, completed 11/27/23

total time, across the entire series: 1195:40

i benchmarked these against the completionist starts on HowLongToBeat, and i was actually under par that way until about yakuza 4, when my times suddenly got much longer than estimated. what changed? mahjong. i learned how to play mahjong, and that was great (mahjong rules), but it's added dozens of hours to my games, easily, and even with that LADG is the only one of the games where i managed to complete the in-game mahjong objectives. y4 has four separate tournaments you can climb your way to the top of, one for each main character, and i never even got close, but i spent a lot of time trying!

[undrcvrstar]

On the streets, people were dressed up in large overcoats and lovely knitted scarves. It was cold out there, only proven so by the gentle snow that had begun drifting down through the streets of Kamurocho.

Within Café Alps, located on one of Kamurocho's main stretches, Ryoma sat patiently awaiting. On the coffee table in front of him, rested a coffee cup filled to the brim with his beloved Blue Mountain coffee. It was brewed perfectly. There was a space free opposite him, waiting for Asher to accompany him.

His guard was still high in relation to the man he was meeting, but he could feel himself slipping a little bit. Despite their odd and rough initial meeting- where he ripped his rifle right out of his hands, there was a trust forming within Ryoma. Proven only with the the nicely healed scar across his chest. It had been handled well, thanks only to the treatment he had received from Asher.

[ @kamurocho-dreams / Ryoma Nishikiyama ]

The door opened, allowing the cold air to come in but not just that, also Asher. He does his entrance, looks around for a moment, and then heads toward Ryoma. He's clearly equipped for the weather, his usual trench coat replaced with a light blue one with fur along its upper and lower edges, closed with buttons and a zipper. Big black boots with a platform that made him taller than he needed to be, and matching black pants.

Taking a seat on the other side of the table from Ryoma, he took off his mask and glasses, it seems the wound on the side of his face had healed, the one over his eye still looked a bit nasty nonetheless. He took a moment, stretching and opening his coat shortly after to take it off, letting it rest on the back of the chair. His shirt underneath was his usual blue tshirt, the one from his other outfits. He actually doesn't seem really cold

After he is done settling into the chair, he finally greets Ryoma "Hey" His voice soft, it sounded partly tired. "It's a nice day today, I don't get to see snow snowing too often back at the agency." He smiles. It's true, while he and the other agents get to see snow when its settled and when they fight, they very rarely get to see it fall.

Asher wonders what to order, simply settling on nothing for the time being, it's not urgent to get something to drink.

[overdevelopedglasses]

Tojoctober Day 18 - Drink

(Suddenly, a gleam of dawn)

Alt title is from “Shadow of the Lowlands”, a town theme in Xenoblade Chronicles 2

The dragon runs into the dragonfish once again, and tries his best to not give his identity away quite yet.

(Kiwami and LaD spoilers)

—--------------------------

Nighttime has fallen on the sparkling city of Ijincho, rainbow lights from the iconic Ferris wheel flickering in the ocean water. In Survive, a quiet establishment nestled in the corner of the bar district, the two civilian rock stars of the former Tojo Clan sit at two of the stools away from the bar, embroiled in conversation.

“So, what brings you back to Ijincho?”

Kiryu glances at the man sitting right next to him, his expression and appearance as wild as he remembered. What is new about Ichiban Kasuga is a hopeful glint in his eye, one that shines as bright as his future. Kiryu takes a sip of his drink, one that has a nostalgic aftertaste as he mulls over an answer.

“I… well I can’t really say. Remember when Seonhee said stuff about me being a dead man walking?”

“Well, you’re very alive to me.”

“I-yes. More so, the world can't exactly know I’m alive. It’s uh… very complicated. But let’s just say there’s a reason I still haven’t given you my name, Kasuga.”

Kiryu tries his best to glance away from Ichiban. He can’t really look at the bartender, as his face is all too familiar and he doesn’t want to deal with those ramifications on top of everything else. He settles for a long stare at the top shelf of alcohol.

“Well, come on, there has to be something that I can call you. Feels weird just saying ‘big dragon man’ or ‘that one guy who beat the killing instinct out of me’.” Ichiban replies,

“Fair enough,” Kiryu says with a slight chuckle, “I’ll think about it.”

Kiryu gives a once-over of his surroundings. Besides the bartender, who’s busing himself with the dishes, and his companion across from him, the bar was empty.

“Where are all of your friends anyway, Kasuga?”

Ichiban shrugs “If I remember correctly, Zhao and Joon-gi Han are somewhere in the Geomijul hideout, I think I heard Zhao say something about training? Nanba is assisting Saeko and Eri at Ichiban Holdings, and Adachi… where did Adachi go?” Ichiban ponders for a second, before snapping his fingers in realization, “Right! He said he was finally going to confront his old boss! Good on him.”

“Yes, I know that Horinouchi was giving the old one a hard time.”

“Speaking of, you were looking at Joon-gi Han that one time, like you knew him or something?” Ichiban pressed, seemingly desperate for any information about Kiryu. He sighs a bit, knowing that Ichiban’s curiosity will not be easily satiated with half answers.

“Yeah, but it’s like he said. We… seemed to have shared an acquaintance.”

“Huh. Interesting.”

Silence fills the bar, the two men enjoying their respective drinks, before Ichiban exclaims “A story!”

“What?” Kiryu faces the younger man once again, head cocked to one side.

“I’m sure a great dragon such as yourself would have some amazing stories to tell!” Ichiban continues, with wonder swirling in his eyes, his face full of excitement and joy.

Kiryu blinks, and the whole world shifts. He’s no longer in a small bar in a city he’s unfamiliar with. No, he’s in an all too familiar setting, located just out of harm’s way in Kamurocho. His oath brother is beaming at him, probably just from telling some shitty pun about dragons. He feels the presence of others in the room, he can’t tell who, but he formulates a response to his brother, his best friend since they ran into each other at the orphanage. But his brother speaks first.

“Uh, are you alright?”

The voice is familiar, but wait, no, it's not right, and Kiryu blinks again, which is when reality comes crashing in. Survive’s interior fills his peripherals, and Ichiban stares back at him with a very curious yet worried expression. Did he really get that lost in his own memories?

Or was he finally going to consciously admit the obvious? The real reason he went out of his way to help Ichiban out?

“I’m okay. Just a bit distracted, that’s all.”

“You sure? You were looking at me like I was about to disappear.”

Kiryu sighs again. He takes another sip of his drink, desperate to change the subject.

“You wanted a story, right? Here’s a good one.”

Kiryu regales Ichiban in the story of a man he recalls running into in the 80s, a merchant that dealt in mushrooms, and how he had to defend him from a disgruntled hooligan.

“The produce or the narcotic?” Ichiban asks the other man.

“Everyone thought they were narcotics, but as it turned out, it was simply just regular old mushrooms. I remember taking some home that day. Made a pretty decent meal with them, actually.”

“What happened next?” Ichiban was clearly enthralled in the story, and Kiryu smiled a bit, thankful he wasn’t trying to pry into his identity anymore.

“Well, after buying some more mushrooms, and defending him a lot, it turned out he got mixed up with the mafia. Had to knock some sense into those guys, but in the end their boss asked him to go overseas with him and start a restaurant business together.”

“Woah. That’s an unexpected ending.”

“Yeah. But, that’s Kamurocho for you. The serious and the weird, all mixed up in one small pocket of Japan.”

“Can’t you say that about everywhere in Japan?”

Kiryu chuckles again, “I guess you could say that. Ijincho having a similar effect for you? Any wild stories to tell?”

Ichiban's posture straightens with excitement, eyes gleaming. “Yeah! There was this inventor guy who…” Ichiban trails on and on about whatever the hell a Sojimaru is and why he had to fight it ala Dragon Quest style, as Kiryu realizes once again, just how similar Ichiban is to someone else who he still keeps close to his heart.

Would they have liked each other?

Kiryu can only sit, listen, and wonder, and as he’s prompted to tell another story, he decides that maybe, just maybe, Ichiban could keep a secret.

He didn’t want to live in the shadows forever, did he?