Head Priest

The Head Priest (, Jūshoku) is a minor supporting character featured in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Despite his title, he is not a real monk; he and the Daidoji Temple which he presides over are a front for the Daidoji Faction, which he is a former treasurer to.
== Profile ==
=== Appearance ===
The head priest is an elderly bald man with grey eyebrows and a grey goatee. 
==== Attire ====
The head priest wears dark grey and white robes. 
=== Personality ===
The head priest is a clever, and occasionally bold man who resides in the Daidoji Temple. He remains calm and collected in all situations, and shows compassion towards the distressed. He remains loyal to his allies even when it could put him in danger. He expresses concern for Kihei Hanawa when he is kidnapped by the Watase Family, and urges Kiryu to save him. He remained loyal to them both when he begged Boss to spare their lives when Kiryu refused to kill Yuki Tsuruno, defying the faction's orders. After recruiting Hanawa, he considered him to be slightly lacking in personality but found his dependability and reliability very useful. 
He is detached from his earthly desires and is one of the few people Kiryu confides in. He sits near Kiryu while he meditates, playing Go by himself all day. He regularly listens in to the friendly bickering between Kiryu and Hanawa, occasional adding to the conversation with a lighthearted joke or chuckle. 
== Background ==
As a treasurer of the Daidoji Faction, he hired Kihei Hanawa as his subordinate. Eventually, he became the Daidoji Temple's head priest to maintain the temple as a front for the Daidoji Faction.
== Involvement ==
=== Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name: 2019-2020 ===
The head priest is present when Hanawa debriefs Kiryu on his upcoming mission to protect a shipment of gold bullion being transported through Yokohama. The priest is also present when Hanawa orders Kiryu to investigate the Seiryu Clan.
Later, When Hanawa is captured by the Omi Alliance, Kiryu is given a burner phone by Yuki Tsuruno which is almost immediately taken by Yoshimura, the head priest retrieves the phone and returns it to Kiryu who escapes the temple and later meets with Tsuruno in Survive Bar.
In Sotenbori, Kiryu is held in confinement by the Daidoji for 3 days before being put under execution by Yoshimura, who ordered Hanawa to do the job. This however is just part of a test of the two men's friendship organized by Boss. He carried out this test after The head priest begged him to spare their lives and Tsuruno offered the Daidoji 50 Billion yen. He then travels back to temple with Boss. 
In 2020, during a meditation session, Kiryu confesses to the head priest that he is unable to free himself from worldly desire. He responds by giving Kiryu a cigarette. He remains in the background while Kiryu receives a message from the children of Morning Glory Orphanage. He then comforts the crying Kiryu by pointing out that Taichi decided to save people in need because he was inspired by the heroics of his adoptive father. He continues by reminding Kiryu that he should take some time off, since the faction's superiors have already approved of a vacation for him. 
Boss and the head priest watch Kiryu leaving the temple. He remarks that Boss has come to trust Kiryu quite a bit, but the Daidoji officer explains its just business, securing Kiryu's gratitude will set a good example for the other agents. The priest reminds him it would be unwise to make an enemy out of the fearsome Dragon of Dojima. 
== Gallery ==
LADG - Character Render - Head Priest.png|Full-body render of the Head Priest in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
Category:Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Characters
Category:Unnamed Characters
Category:Daidoji Faction