Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (, Ryū Ga Gotoku 7 Gaiden: Na wo Keshita Otoko, lit. "Like a Dragon 7 Side Story: The Man Who Erased His Name") is an action-adventure spin-off of the Like a Dragon (formerly Yakuza) series for the , , , , and . 
It was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio as an interquel between Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, making it the eighteenth installment of the Like a Dragon series. It was released worldwide on November 8, 2023 for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S and on November 9, 2023 for all other platforms. The game initially launched with only Japanese voiceover audio, with English voiceover being added in a free update on December 14, 2023, at approximately 7:00 p.m. PST.
== Synopsis == 
=== Setting ===
Taking place mainly in late 2019 with additional scenes in 2020 and 2023, Like a Dragon Gaiden bridges the gaps between Yakuza 6, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth from the perspective of Kazuma Kiryu, the former protagonist of the Like a Dragon series. It primarily covers the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. 
The game features an open world focusing on entertainment district Sotenbori, Osaka, a fictionalized , port district Isezaki Ijincho, Yokohama, a fictionalized . The Castle, an offshore container ship and "adult amusement park" accessible from Sotenbori, serves as one of the central locations. 
Though the start of the game briefly features entertainment district Roppongi, Minato City, and the southern portion of Ijincho, the majority of the game takes place in Sotenbori and the Castle. 
=== Plot ===
==== Chapter 1: Hidden Dragon ====
Kazuma Kiryu has assumed the role of Daidoji Faction agent under the codename "Joryu." Resigned, Kiryu sets out to live the rest of his days with an empty heart, fulfilling mundane requests brought to him by his new manager Hanawa.
==== Chapter 2: Castle on the Water ====
The man who was searching for Kiryu is revealed to be Tsuruno, a Watase Family captain. He proposed to free Kiryu from the Daidoji's chains, provided Kiryu accepts his demands. If he does, Kiryu will be able to see the children of Morning Glory once again—but first, Tsuruno says that he needs Hanawa, Kiryu's manager, in a body bag.
==== Chapter 3: The Man Who Knew Too Much ====
Kiryu wins big in the ship's fighting arena, rescues Hanawa, and captures Tsuruno. However, in defiance of the Daidoji's orders to kill Tsuruno, Kiryu decides to let him go. The cost is enormous: when Hanawa threatens to take the children of Morning Glory hostage, Kiryu surrenders, and is taken prisoner in the Daidoji temple.
==== Chapter 4: The Laughing Man ====
The Watase Family's request of Kiryu is for him to be present at the joint dissolution of the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan—but first, he has to put a stop to Homare Nishitani III. Everything hinges on luring Nishitani out of the Castle...
==== Final Chapter: The Man Who Erased His Name ====
Once the dissolution is announced, Kiryu defeats Shishido and takes Watase and Daigo to the police, ensuring the yakuza become a thing of the past. All his missions complete, Kiryu decides to leave on a trip arranged by Hanawa. As they part ways, Hanawa reveals that he, too, was a man who erased his name...
== Characters ==
Like a Dragon Gaiden primarily centers on a conflict between Kiryu, the Daidoji Faction, and the Omi Alliance, with most major characters either belonging to or being connected to one of the two factions. The Tojo Clan, Seiryu Clan, and Ichiban Kasuga's party from Yakuza: Like a Dragon are also featured. The table below outlines brief introductions to the characters of Like a Dragon Gaiden, covering their roles, occupations, characteristics, and early involvement.
== Gameplay ==
In a return to the action-adventure genre, Like a Dragon: Gaiden features the beat-'em-up style of combat the Like a Dragon series became known for.
== Release and Marketing ==
Like a Dragon Gaiden was officially announced on September 14, 2022. It was streamed live on YouTube as part of the RGG Summit 2022 event alongside the official announcements of Like a Dragon: Ishin! and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. It was accompanied by a teaser trailer showing Kiryu meditating at Daidoji Temple, appearing uneasy. A monk concludes the session, telling Kiryu (whom he refers to as Joryu) that in spite of giving up his identity, he is still shackled by regrets regarding his family. He is then approached by a mysterious man, who offers him his next assignment as a bodyguard. 
Series representative and executive production manager Masayoshi Yokoyama explained Like a Dragon Gaiden would expand on the circumstances leading up to Kiryu's encounters with Ichiban Kasuga in Yakuza: Like a Dragon and their aftermath. In preparation for Like a Dragon 8, it was conceived as a game for both series veterans and newcomers. Old fans would get closure for Kiryu's story going into the new game, whereas the new fans introduced to the franchise by Yakuza: Like a Dragon would have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with Kiryu. 
Yokoyama stated the game would be about half the length of the average game in the main series, giving an estimation of roughly ten to twenty hours of playtime. He compared the game to Lost Judgment's downloadable expansion "The Kaito Files" in size and scope. In an interview on September 18, 2022, he said it would, unlike "The Kaito Files," feature a fully open world and substantial side content such as substories and mini-games, but that the length of the main story (which was still being adjusted) would remain in the same range. 
The game is to be released in digital and physical formats in Japan, with releases in other regions being decided on a case-by-case basis.
The game's World Premier Trailer was shown as part of 2023 Summer Game Fest, wherein its release date of November 9, 2023 was revealed. Snippets of cutscenes and gameplay were shown, revealing new fighting styles for Kiryu, and that Sotenbori would be a featured location.
The game's Overview Trailer and Developer Update were shown as part of a special livestream, wherein more details about the story, side content and fighting styles were revealed. A Special Trial version of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth was revealed to be included as well.
== Trophies and Achievements ==
Like a Dragon Gaiden has a total of 62 trophies.
== Production Credits ==
=== Voice Cast ===
=== Special Appearances ===
== Trivia ==
* The Man Who Erased His Name is the first modern-day title to not feature Kamurocho as an explorable city. However, holograms of parts of Kamurocho are used as arenas in The Castle's Coliseum, specifically the Yoshida Batting Center and the roof of the Millennium Tower.
== Gallery ==
=== Logos ===
LAD Gaiden TMWEHN Logo(ENG).png|Original English Logo
LAD Gaiden TMWEHN Logo(JP).png|Japanese Logo
LAD Gaiden TMWEHN Logo(CHT).png|Tradtional Chinese Logo
LAD Gaiden TMWEHN Logo(CN).png|Simpl. Chinese Logo
LAD Gaiden TMWEHN Logo(KR).png|Korean Logo
==Notes==
==References==
== External links ==
* Official website (English) - https://gaiden.sega.com/
* Official website (Asian English) - https://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/gaiden/asia_en/
* Official website (Japanese) - https://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/gaiden/
* Official website (Traditional Chinese) - https://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/gaiden/cht/
* Official website (Simplified Chinese) - https://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/gaiden/cn/
* Official website (Korean) - https://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/gaiden/kr/
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Category:Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name