TheYakuzaseriesis one of the most successful franchises under Sega’s belt right now. It’s also one of the most beloved in Japan and in the West. It' well-written and engaging plotlines, coupled with its highly entertaining action scenes and gameplay, have led the series to be the massive hit it is today.
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With a series so vast, bombastic, and dramatic, it’s no wonder it has characters with varying personalities. These characters are fun to watch, charismatic, and vital to theYakuzaseries as a whole. We’ll be bringing you ten of the most iconicYakuzacharacters from all games in the series.
Updated by Michael Llewellyn on July 04, 2025:The Yakuza saga is a huge series with so many memorable characters. Each character is distinct in their jobs, occupation,and motivations in Tokyo’s underbelly.Thanks to these memorable characters, the Yakuza series has the ability to draw the player into its dark and wonderfully weird world of storylines. Some characters are recurring, while others have left a lasting mark on the protagonists in a brief time. All are iconic in their own way.
15Jo Amon
Even though he is considered something of a minor character in the overarching narrative of theYakuzaseries, Jo Amon is still one of its most recognizable. He serves as a recurring antagonist of Kiryu’s after he defeated Amon in battle in the firstYakuza.
Thanks to his trademark shades, black attire, and cold-bloodedness, Amon is an excellent rival for Kiryu and is out to prove he’s a better fighter than the protagonist. He has appeared in everyYakuzagame starring Kiryu, from the prequel up toYakuza 6.
14Masayoshi Tanimura
One of the main playable protagonists inYakuza 4,Masayoshi Tanimura is a police officer in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. He’s the youngest protagonist in the series and can have a naive sense of justice.
Nevertheless, he’s a refreshing change from the anti-heroes in theYakuzaseries and has a great fighting style. He followed in his father’s footsteps as a police officer after his father was killed during an investigation.
13Keiji Shibusawa
Keiji Shibusawa is one of the three lieutenants of the Dojima Family inYakuza 0.He only appeared in one game, but his impact on Kiryu lasted throughout the series. Keiji is the son of a disgraced politician and is the brains behind the brawn in Dojima Clan.
His business savvy is only matched by his ruthlessness and complete lack of empathy for others. Keiji is a formidable opponent for Kiryu, and serves as the final boss inYakuza 0.
12Daigo Dojima
Daigo Dojima is the son of the infamous Sohei Dojima and a reluctant Chairman for the Tojo Clan. As chairman, he was quite inexperienced and showed it many times; for example, in his negotiations with the Ueno Seiwa clan. Nevertheless, he is a capable man and leader, as well as a good friend to Kiryu.
He’s also capable in combat, which players see when he singlehandedly dispatches Richardson’s men while injured to save Kiryu and Mine. He even shows his physical prowess as a boss fight against Kiryu inYakuza Kiwami 2. As a child, his days spent with Kiryu taught him a valuable lesson on how money and a powerful name aren’t absolute. This has turned him into the respectable leader and man he is today.
11Kazama Shintarou
Kazama Shintarou is quite an important character to theYakuzaseries as a whole. In many ways, he started Kiryu’s Journey in the Yakuza life. He is Kiryu’s father figure, taking him into his orphanage, which eventually leads to Kiryu and Nishikyama becoming Yakuza members.
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He’s not a saint, that’s for sure. Killing Kiryu’s parents is one such example of his misdeeds. Yet, he’s also done a lot of good, and was a good role model to Kiryu and others in his orphanage.
10Akira Nishikiyama
Nishiki was Kiryu’s right-hand man and brother in the Yakuza. After joining at the same time, they’ve experienced a lot together. Nishikiyama is a passionate person and cares about the people he loves; players see this in the events ofYakuza 0. Sadly, past experiences and harsh things he’s gone through eventually leads him down a path of antagonism towards Kiryu. His past changes him into a colder person and outright villain.
Because of this, he committed a lot of misdeeds, even gunning down Kazama, his father figure inYakuza Kiwami. However, in his final moments, Nishikiyama regretted his actions. He redeemed himself by sacrificing his life to help Kiryu.
9Makoto Date
With the exception of the prequelYakuza 0,Makato Date has appeared inevery episode of the Kiryu Sagain theYakuzaseries. Makato Date is a detective in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and an investigative journalist.
He is a loyal ally of Kiryu’s and has been an integral part of the story development in every episode. They became friends after Date proved that Kiryu was not guilty of killing Sohei Dojima, and have remained best friends throughout the game’s main story.
8Yoshitaka Mine
Mine is Daigo Dojima’s right hand man, and has shown adoration and respect for him on countless occasions. Despite his success in life, he has gone through many betrayals, prompting him to join the Yakuza ranks to seek genuine bonds. To get closer to Daigo, he helped the Nishikiyama family rise through the ranks and proved to be quite the capable businessman.
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However, he uses aggressive methods that many disprove of. As the main antagonist inYakuza 3, he shows distaste towards Kiryu due to his close relationship with Daigo. At the end though, similar to Nishiki, he redeems himself by throwing Richardson off a roof to protect Daigo.
7Haruka Sawamura
Haruka remains an important character right from the firstYakuzagame and subsequent remasters. She has appeared throughout all the mainlineYakuzagames(besidesYakuza 0). As the child of Yumi Samamura, Kiryu’s first love, he made it his obligation to take care of her.
Haruka even helps Kiryu start an orphanage in Okinawa. Since appearing in the first game as a child, she’s blossomed into a full-grown woman, chasing her dreams inYakuza 5and even having a child inYakuza 6. As a character, she has shown the most development throughout the series.
6Ryuji Goda
Goda Ryuji is an infamous rival to Kiryu Kazuma in the secondYakuzagame and inYakuza Kiwami 2. He is one of the most important characters in the series, as his introduction sets the tone for future installments. Goda is the son of the Osaka rival Yakuza gang, the Omi Alliance. Due to his family affiliations, he has an abrasive personality and thinks highly of himself. Nicknamed the Kansai Dragon, he believes he can be the only dragon and tries to prove it by eliminating Kiryu.
As a character, he is everything Kiryu isn’t, and is almost the polar opposite of the main character. His personality and motives leave a strong impression on players, making him worthy of his position on this list.
