Kazuma Kiryu
Although Kazuma Kiryu is the player character for "Yakuza", writer Toshihiro Nagoshi refrained from calling him the protagonist as the narrative was focused on the character Haruka Sawamura who has a character arc instead in the game. The same basis was used for "Yakuza 2" where the narrative focuses more on the new character Kaoru Sayama rather than Kiryu. Nagoshi said that Kiryu and Haruka trying to live a "more 'human' life" throughout "Yakuza 3".