I’ve been a Yakuza fan for years—like, back when we called it Yakuza and not Like a Dragon—but this latest news about Yakuza Kiwami 3 has me feeling all kinds of weird.
If you haven’t heard the drama, the series director, Ryosuke Horii, just came out to defend the decision to cast Hiroyuki Miyasako. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he was involved in some pretty serious sexual assault allegations. And the internet? Yeah, it’s not taking it well.
The “Art vs. Artist” Argument (Again)
Basically, Horii did an interview where he talked about how Miyasako is “irreplaceable” for the role of Tsuyoshi Kanda. He essentially argued that the character belongs to the actor, and changing him would hurt the “integrity” of the game.
Look, I get that Kanda is a specific kind of character, but come on. The Yakuza series has literally swapped out actors before for way less. Remember when they scrubbed Pierre Taki from Judgment because of a drug scandal? Drug use gets you erased, but these kinds of allegations get you a “he’s essential to the art” pass? The math just isn’t mathing for me.
Why this feels so “ugh” for fans
The Like a Dragon series has always been about honor, protecting the weak, and being a “real man” (at least in Kiryu’s eyes). So, seeing the leadership go to bat for someone with this kind of baggage feels like a total slap in the face to the themes of the actual game.
It puts fans in a crappy position. You want to play the remake because, let’s be honest, Yakuza 3 really needed that Kiwami glow-up (the “block-fests” in the original were brutal), but now there’s this huge cloud hanging over it.
The Director’s Logic is… Questionable
Horii mentioned that they want to “cherish” the original cast. I’m all for nostalgia, but at what point does “cherishing” the past become just plain old being tone-deaf?
The game industry in Japan is notorious for being strict about these things—usually, one scandal and you’re out. So the fact that they’re doubling down here is actually pretty shocking. It’s like they’re trying to see how much the fanbase will tolerate before they actually push back.
My Final Take
I love this franchise. I really do. But this feels like a massive unforced error. Yakuza Kiwami 3 should be a celebration of one of the most underrated entries in the series, but instead, we’re stuck arguing about whether or not a director should be platforming guys with these kinds of allegations.
It’s messy, it’s disappointing, and honestly? It makes me want to wait for a deep, deep discount before I even think about picking this one up.
Bottom Line: The game looks great, but the PR move? Absolute garbage. You can’t talk about “honor” in your games and then pull a stunt like this.
What do you guys think? Is the actor “irreplaceable,” or is the director just being stubborn? I know where I stand.
