Kazuma Kiryu/Synopsis

The story of the legendary Dragon of Dojima Kazuma Kiryu from the Like a Dragon (Ryū ga Gotoku) franchise.
==Past==
Kazuma Kiryu was born on June 17, 1968 and adopted by Shintaro Kazama, Captain of the Dojima Family, at a very young age after the death of his parents. Raised at Sunflower Orphanage, Kiryu gained childhood friends in the form of Akira Nishikiyama and Yumi Sawamura, whose biological parents were also killed by Kazama.
Growing up raised well by Kazama, both he and his brother deeply admired and considered him to be a role model, so much so that they even tried to join the yakuza, prompting Kazama to beat them on a rainy night, but Kiryu cried out that he "idolized him" and that "orphans deserve to dream too", eventually causing Kazama to give in and allow it.
One of Kiryu's earliest criminal misadventures occured on Christmas Eve, 1980, when Kiryu - out of concern for Kazama - follows him to a raid on the Korean Jingweon Mafia. While there, Kiryu interrupts Kazama's negotiations with two Jingweon members. In the confusion caused by Kiryu's sudden appearance, Kazama is forced to protect Kiryu by killing one of the operatives.
== The Yakuza Saga ==
=== Yakuza 0 ===
In 1988, Kiryu is a low-ranking member of the Dojima Family working as muscle for a debt collector. While on a collection run, Kiryu roughs up a man in the Empty Lot to take the owed funds, only to learn that the man had been murdered later on, causing him to be summoned to the Dojima Family office by Keiji Shibusawa, Daisaku Kuze, and Hiroki Awano (the three Lieutenants of the Dojima Family, and Kiryu's superiors) who accuse him of the murder. With the fact that the man had died from a gunshot wound, and not as a result of the injuries inflicted upon him, Kiryu decides to prove his innocence and find the true killer, rather than simply taking the blame and turning himself in, as was demanded by his superiors.
When Sohei Dojima blames the murder on Kazama - who at the time is the Captain of the Dojima Family - is in prison for an unrelated incident, Kiryu refuses to sit by and allow Kazama to take the fall for him, and travels to the Dojima Family office to request to be expelled from the family, wishing to continue his investigation into the murder as a civilian without having to worry about the politics of the yakuza. Easily defeating Kuze - who wants Kiryu executed for what he views as rebellion- Dojima agrees to expel Kiryu.
At a loss about where to begin with his investigation, Kiryu decides to accept an invitation to meet with Tetsu Tachibana at the latter's office, learning that Tachibana Real Estate and the Dojima Family are having an all-out war over the acquisition of the Empty Lot. The lot happens to be standing in the way of a major redevelopment project planned in Kamurocho - the building that would become the Millennium Tower. Reluctantly, with Tachibana equally as ruthless as the Dojima family, Kiryu agrees to side with Tachibana in this war, and begins a new life as an employee of Tachibana Real Estate, and works alongside Jun Oda - Tachibana's right-hand man and a senior employee of the company - to attempt to locate the owner of the Empty Lot. This quickly leads to the Dojima Family antagonizing Kiryu due to the fact that Kiryu has begun to work with the enemy. The threat becomes so great that Nishiki attempts to kill Kiryu as an act of mercy in order to spare him from torture and an inevitably painful death, but is unable to do so and Kiryu leaves and distances himself from Nishiki, saying that they can no longer be brothers now that Kiryu has been expelled.
Upon returning to Kamurocho, he finds his apartment burned down and Dojima's men flooding the city searching for him. Kiryu is eventually cornered by Kuze and forced into another battle before being rescued by Tachibana and escaping to a wharf on the outskirts of the city. With Tachibana's appeal to the Tojo Clan with the promise of handing over the deed to the Empty Lot along with an extra ¥1,000,000,000 (¥500,000,000 in advance, with the other half promised afterwards) in exchange for Kiryu's safety, Kiryu travels to Sotenbori with Oda to meet with the owner of the deed at Camellia Grove, meeting with Masaru Sera who has Makoto Makimura under his protection. However, Shibusawa has discovered their whereabouts and he and his men attempt to kill Kiryu and Makoto while they are on their way back to Kamurocho. After throwing them off their trail and hiding in a warehouse, Makoto tells Kiryu that Oda is not to be trusted, which leads to him holding Makoto at gunpoint. Makoto stabs him in the leg with a blade concealed in her cane, leaving Oda vulnerable to an attack by Kiryu. After coming clean about the truth of the situation, Oda allows Kiryu and Makoto to escape while he stays back to hold off Shibusawa and his men.
Laying low back in Kamurocho, Kiryu meets up with Tachibana, who explains that Kazama, knowing Kiryu, had anticipated these very actions, and he and Tachibana had been working together to find the Empty Lot owner, with Kazama attempting to seize the Empty Lot to stop Dojima from obtaining more power, and Tachibana simply wishing to reunite with his sister, Makoto. During their meeting they are discovered by the assassin Lao Gui - who Tachibana suspects is the true killer that Kiryu has been searching for - who shoots Kiryu non-fatally, and leaves the two with no other options, forcing Tachibana to surrender.
Kiryu wakes up in Little Asia, nursed back to health by Chen and quickly goes to save Tachibana, running into Nishiki, who had been promised a promotion if he killed Kiryu, and managing to get his cooperation. It's too late by the time they reach the building where Tachibana is being held captive, and find him half-conscious, struck in the head with a sledgehammer. Kiryu and Nishiki defeat Kuze and his men, and Kiryu rushes to Tachibana's side, who in his dying words reveals that Dojima had been the true mastermind all along, framing Kiryu in an attempt to push Kazama into action. Kiryu tearfully tells Kuze that he'll destroy every last one of Dojima's men if Makoto comes to harm. He picks up Tachibana's lifeless body and carries him outside to where his sister waits.
Not long after, he is contacted again by Sera, who relays to him that Shibusawa has found Makoto, and Dojima has awarded him with Kazama's former position of captain. Shibusawa has begun to purge any of Kazama's loyalists from the family; most notably Kiryu and Nishiki. Kiryu faces Kuze one last time, who after being defeated, reveals that Shibusawa intends to raid the Nikkyo Consortium's HQ, intending to kill Makoto - who is being held there - and cement his authority. Upon arriving at the Consortium's headquarters, Kiryu and Nishiki are met by Kashiwagi, who brings with him the rest of the family members still loyal to Kazama. Kiryu faces off with Shibusawa, who intends to make his mark by killing Kiryu. In a blind rage, Kiryu savagely beats up Shibusawa, infuriated at the pain and suffering he has caused, and nearly strikes a killing blow, but is stopped at the last moment by Nishiki.
Kiryu is finally cleared of all charges, and makes the decision to return to the Dojima Family under renewed oaths, much to Nishiki's surprise. He did this because he wanted to find his own path as a yakuza, "different from Kazama's".
=== Yakuza ===
???
=== Yakuza 2 ===
The intro of the game starts in the early 1980s, a detective is chasing after somebody and witnesses a murder of a Korean mob boss who says in Korean. And the murderer happens to be Kazuma Kiryu's foster father, Shintaro Kazama (Fuma). After Shintaro Kazama runs off, the mysterious detective checks on the man who tells him in Japanese that his child is in danger just ahead before he dies. The detective heads in that direction and notices a fire and finds the room where a Korean woman is alone with a baby. The woman kills herself, leaving the baby to the detective. Time then moves to a year after Yakuza. Since then, the Tojo Clan has been falling apart and they are on the brink of war against the Osaka based gang, the Omi Family, the gang backing Akira Nishikiyama in the first game. As a last resort, the Tojo Clan requests their former leader, Kazuma Kiryu (4th Chairman) for their help. Kazuma Kiryu and Haruka Sawamura are living a peaceful life and they visit the graves of Yumi Sawamura, Akira Nishikiyama, and Shintaro Kazama. There, the appointed Chairman, Yukio Terada, a former member of the Omi Family, asks for Kazuma Kiryu's aide. However, the Omi Family quickly act and assassinate their former family member Terada and Kiryu heads out for Osaka to find a peaceful solution and prevent an all out Japan gang war from happening.
In order to protect the Tojo, Kiryu recruits his former comrade Daigo Dojima to replace Terada. However, Daigo decides to accompany Kiryu to Osaka during the clan's meeting to settle a score with the Omi. While in Osaka, Kiryu meets his Kansai equivalent and new rival, Ryuji Goda, the son of the head of the Omi Family, Jin Goda. Though enemies, Ryuji seems to hold a genuine respect for Kiryu and holds him in regard as his equal, hence necessary to vanquish Kiryu for there's only room for one Dragon in Japan. In the aftermath of the meeting, Jin Goda and Daigo are kidnapped while Kiryu is arrested by the detective Kaoru Sayama who is actually trying to keep him safe so that his death will not trigger a war. While working with Kaoru and his old friend Makoto Date, Kiryu learns of a Korean mafia group which is responsible for kidnapping Daigo and Jin. With help of his allies, Kiryu rescues Daigo and learns more about the Korean mafia, Jingweon.
=== Yakuza 3 ===
The following story takes place on Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, where Kazuma runs the Sunshine Orphanage (Morning Glory(アサガオ Asagao?) in Japanese) with his adoptive daughter Haruka Sawamura (she calles him "Uncle Kaz") who accompanied him in the previous episodes and the Movie Version.
Sunshine Orphanage is on a land that is owned by Shigeru Nakahara, the boss of a local yakuza clan or bōryokudan, known as the Ryudo Family 琉道一家 (Ryūdō Ikka?). Nakahara is under pressure from the country's government to sell the land, which is planned to become a seaside resort. When his friend Daigo Dojima, Chairman of the Tojo Clan, is shot, Kiryu must deal with the three gang bosses who arranged the attempted murder.
The game ends with Kiryu succeeding in his mission, and he and Haruka meet to explore the town. Kazuma is confronted by a mysterious man, who is revealed to be Goh Hamazaki, having survived the offscreen attempt on his life. In anger, Hamazaki stabs Kiryu in the stomach, and is subdued afterwards, leaving a critically wounded Kazuma to give dying words to his adopted daughter.
In an after credits scene, the orphanage's children gather to play. As Haruka stands near a man, who the camera turns to reveal a bandaged Kiryu, having survived the stabbing, and he goes to continue running Sunshine Orphanage with Hakura helping him.
=== Yakuza 4 ===
Kazuma continues to run the Sunshine Orphanage, but Hamazaki has finally arrived wounded trying to tell him. Kiryu tends to his injuries, asking why Hamazaki has come. Hamazaki says he wants to turn over, having been inspired by Saejima's trust in him. He also reveals what he stole from the prison: a ledger revealing that the 10 billion yen that set off the events of the first game was meant to be used for the prison. The ledger also reveals that the Ueno Seiwa and the police have been planning to get rid of the Tojo clan in order to get Kamurocho Hills and build a new police HQ. Hamazaki goes to the police department to turn himself in, but shockingly Yasuko is already there asking about her brother. Realizing her connection to Saejima, Kiryu and Hamazaki decide to talk to her. They reveal everything they know about Saejima, but are interrupted by Saito. Kiryu beats Saito and his guards and goes to Kamurocho with Yasuko. Hamazaki stays behind and collapses from a gunshot wound.
At Homeland Akiyama meets with Tanimura, revealing his office is under investigation by the district attorney for coercion due to his tests. He then says he has an idea to present to Tanimura. Yasuko stays at New Serena under the eye of Date while Kiryu goes to Millennium Tower to meet with Goro Majima only to find him being placed under arrest. He says the one who got him arrested was Daigo and warns Kiryu that the Ueno Hit, the 10 billion yen from five years ago, and Yasuko are connected. At the Tojo headquarters, Daigo is meaning with Munakata who presents Daigo an offer: promote Arai to a lieutenant as a liaison within the Tojo and he’ll eliminate the Ueno Seiwa Clan, Arai being revealed as an undercover police officer. At Purgatory Katsuragi has captured Saejima and reveals that Kido is working under him, having taken Akiyama’s 100 billion yen fortune from his secret vault.
At New Serena, Kiryu finds Date on the floor, having been drugged by Yasuko. Kiryu tracks her to Purgatory, but is stopped by Akiyama and Tanimura who he defeats. By the time he gets to Purgatory, Yasuko and Saejima have already been taken. Back as New Serena, the men convene and come up with a plan: Kiryu will meet Katsuragi with the ledger revealing the police department’s involvement in the secret prison in exchange for Yasuko, Saejima, and Akiyama’s money. However Katsuragi demands Kiryu come alone and must fight his way through the entire Ueno Seiwa clan. Kazuma makes it to the top of the construction site and hands over the file with Katsuragi giving Yasuko. Kido looks as if he’s about to shoot Kiryu and Yasuko, but instead shoots Katsuragi. He then gives the file to Arai who shoots Kido. Yasuko and Kiryu free Saejima who reveals Katsuragi had been wearing Kevlar vest like back during the Ueno hit. While Saejima decides killing Katsuragi isn’t worth it, Katsuragi shoots Yasuko in the back in turn kills Katsuragi before dying in Saejima’s arms. At Munakata's office, Arai gives him the ledger though Munakata is angry that Arai didn't get the 100 billion yen. He then orders Arai to kidnap the children under Kiryu's care, but Arai refuses and shoots Munakata with the untraceable gun he had been given.
After each character's stories end, they all meet together to confront each of their antagonists at the Millennium Tower, where Akiyama has put all of his remaining money on top of to lure them there. At the helipad of the tower, each member separates to fight their own enemy, with Akiyama taking Arai, Saejima taking Kido, Kiryu fighting Daigo, and Tanimura fighting the police chief and a large squad of their specialized SWAT members. After they are all defeated, the chief, who has been presented a newspaper already released to the public that reveals his crimes, takes out a gun and shoots Akiyama, seemingly killing him. After the remaining three restrain him, they go to Akiyama's body, which stirs, and it is revealed that the bullet was stopped by his last stack of money in his coat pocket, saving his life. The chief then takes the gun, which was left lying nearby, and puts it against his head. The camera pulls away as he shoots. It is later shown in a newspaper that Munakata committed suicide.
The epilogue, which takes place a few months after the final battle, shows the character's situations after. Akiyama, still working in his loan office, is greeted by an unknown woman, which he recognizes soon after to be Hana, who has lost a large amount of weight following the game's events. Saejima is living through life as a free man and now a yakuza member again, and has gotten over Lily's death, and will go back to prison for 3 more years instead of continuing his life sentence. Tanimura and Date are shown outside of the loan office, and it is revealed Date has rejoined the force, with Tanimura working with him, and that the chief did not shoot any of them, but instead committed suicide to avoid justice. Kiryu is reunited with Haruka, with it being implied he will find a new orphanage owner and live with Haruka, ending the game.
=== Yakuza 5: Fulfiller of Dreams ===
???
=== Yakuza 6: The Song of Life ===
After the events of December 2012, Kiryu is brought to the hospital after being severely injured and found by Haruka. Faced with the prospect of going to prison for property damage, he decides to accept his fate rather than hiring a lawyer to avoid going to prison in order to clean his slate and try to wipe away his connection to the Tojo Clan so he can live peacefully with the children of Morning Glory. Half a year later, Kiryu is visited by Haruka to talk about the situation at the orphanage and tells him she will try to endure things as best she can. Due to good behavior, he is released early in December 2016 and returns to Morning Glory, where he learns that Haruka suddenly disappeared three years ago in order to keep the orphans safe from the paparazzi who were spying on her. Seeing the news article about her and lamenting that he did not notice Haruka's worries the last time they talked, Kiryu tells the orphans he is to blame for her disappearance. Kiryu leaves the next day for Kamurocho after bidding farewell to the orphans.
Reuniting with Date, Kiryu is soon confronted by the Saio Triad regularly and easily defeating them and saving a fellow Tojo Clan member, eventually learns that Akiyama is hiding in the sewers in order to avoid the Saio Triad and helps him defeat them. Kiryu gets a call from Date who tells him that the police had found Haruka, who is being hospitalized after an accident. Rushing to the hospital, he is shocked and outraged to learn that Haruka has given birth to a son named Haruto who she was protecting, especially when he learns that the identity of the father is unknown and they have no leads.
Kiryu, however, knows that something was fishy with Haruka's incident and decides to investigate the situation. He briefly visits the Tojo Clan HQ, where he meets Takumi Someya and the acting chairman Katsumi Sugai. At the hospital, he is furious to learn Nojiri from Child Protective Services intends to have Haruto sent to an orphanage as he has no other legal relatives and decides to take Haruto away with him, much to Akiyama's disagreement. Making short work of Akiyama, he takes Haruto to New Serena, where Date reveals to Kiryu that the police managed to recover Haruka's smartphone, and found a photograph that reveals she was in Hiroshima for the last three years.
Kiryu then heads out Onomichi with Haruto in hand to find his biological father. Quickly befriending Kiyomi Kasahara, he is allowed access to her local snack bar only to instantly get on the wrong foot with Tsuyoshi Nagumo, the captain of the Hirose Family. Not impressed with Nagumo's brute personality and willingness to challenge a civilian, he effortlessly defeats him and makes it back to the bar, where he is granted a room to stay in town for a while. He talks with Ino and is warned about the Yomei Alliance. Despite difficulties due to Haruto's incessant crying, he eventually is able to rest for the night. The next morning, Kiryu solves several public disturbances by easily defeating thugs and arrives at Kiyomi's bar after shrugging off Nagumo; she asks him to play baseball for Ino. Nagumo's aggression eventually leads to Kiryu deciding to finally let loose and Matsunaga and Yuta team up with him to try defeating Kiryu but he easily defeats them to where they pass out and is applauded by Ino for it. He eventually earns Nagumo's respect by utterly defeating members of the Masuzoe family for Nagumo and brought to the Hirose Family office, where he is introduced to the patriarch and Naoto Tagashira. He earns the respect of the others by helping save Matsunaga. The next day, he goes to the Hirose family office to ask about Haruka. Kiryu notices them react strangely when he shows them her picture and realizes they are keeping a secret from him. Kiryu heads to Ryunan Shrine with Kiyomi, where he tells her he will wait until they are ready to talk about Haruka, as he has taken a liking to them. He leaves Haruto with her and defeats Kanji Koshimizu to stop Matsunaga from getting into trouble. He then returns to his apartment, where Nagumo meets him and he learns that everyone knew of Haruka and her past but chose to keep the secret to themselves, but they don't know who Haruto's father is and directs him to Kiyomi, whom she worked for before she disappeared again. On the way to meet Kiyomi, he reminisces about Haruka. Before they can discuss Haruto's father, they are interrupted by Someya. When he leaves, Kiryu decides to end their conversation as Kiyomi had been shaken up by the reunion.
When Kiyomi is kidnapped, the Hirose Family and Kiryu raid the Tojo Clan's place of residence, where Kiryu clashes with Someya, disapproving of Someya having no tattoo on his back, as it is a hindrance in this day and age, as a tattoo should represent the person and be a symbol for others to follow, and quickly defeats him. He enters the room Kiyomi is in and meets Heizo Iwami and Tsuneo Iwami, and is taken on a boat to bear witness to an alliance between Someya and Koshimizu. Kiryu refuses, as doing so would be betraying the currently-arrested sixth chairman.
Kiryu and the Hirose members return to the office, where they discuss the failed plan and Kiyomi states her suspicion of Shu Tatsukawa being Haruto's father, as she overheard a phone call where he was talking about an abortion. Yuta and Nagumo choose to follow him to Kamurocho. The three arrive in Kamurocho and meet Yuya who them that Stardust was bought out by the Jingweon Mafia, and he has no info on Tatsukawa. Joon-gi Han enters and invites them to Stardust. Han asks to fight in the new ring exchange for information on Tatsukawa. Kiryu steps in to defeat Han after Yuta fought in his stead and was effortlessly beaten. Han shows respect after being defeated and gives his info on Tatsukawa: that he is in Senryo Avenue. When they arrive, they find Tatsukawa's rotting corpse. Kiryu, Yuta, and Nagumo meet Akiyama, who gives them masks and they sneak inside, eventually fighting the Saio Triad before Kiryu reaches and defeats Ed. Masuzoe arrives after Ed's defeat and reveals his loyalty to the Saio before being joined by the triad's leader, Big Lo. Lo orders his men to let them go and Kiryu is told to meet Lo alone in Shangri-La.
Back at Serena, Date reveals they have little information surrounding Tatsukawa and Yuta tells them he learned there is a secret in Onomichi that must be protected. Someya arrives, wanting to meet Lo, and they head to Shangri-La together. At the top, they meet Lo. Learning that Someya is responsible for Daigo's arrest, Kiryu furiously refuses to cooperate with him and no longer holding back, soundly defeats Someya, forcing him to escape. Lo states he has information on Tatsukawa, which is unneeded as he is not Haruto's father. Kiryu receives a call from Yuta who tells him Hirose has kidnapped Haruto.
They immediately return to Hiroshima, where Kiyomi fills them in on what happened. They do some searching and Kiryu learns that Hirose is at Ryunan Shrine. Kiryu, with the other Hirose Family members, head to the shrine, where Hirose reveals his involvement with Haruka's second disappearance as well as Haruto's father: Yuta Usami. Masuzoe walks in and reveals Yuta's heritage and the reasons for wanting Haruto aborted or dead. The Jingweon Mafia and Joon-gi Han arrive for Haruto. Kiryu defeats Han once more while the Hirose Family try to keep Haruto away from them. At the Hirose Family office, Nagumo arrives, informing them of Haruto's abduction by the Jingweon, but Yuta is reluctant to go. Nagumo's attempt at disciplining him is stopped by Kiryu, who punches Yuta through the door of the office and chews him out for his unwillingness to save his son.
At the docks, Yuta arrives, having changed his mind and begging to join them, and Kiryu accepts his apology. On the way, Hirose reveals how heihaizi were being smuggled into Onomichi and Matsunaga suspects Minoru Daidoji is involved with the secret of Onomichi. Kiryu and the other Hirose Family members fight through the Jingweon members. Kiryu defeats Han one last time who is killed by a hidden assassin after almost revealing the secret of Onomichi. Kiryu returns Haruto to Yuta and they all return to Onomichi.
Kiryu returns to his apartment, inviting Yuta along as he should be with his son. He states he wants to go to Kamurocho to settle things with Lo to put Haruto out of danger, and Kiryu tells him he was planning the same thing. The next day, they head to Kamurocho and meet with Date at Serena. Yuta sneaks out during their discussion. Learning of his intentions, Kiryu furiously rushes to Little Asia, where he swiftly dispatches all the Saio Triad members and confronts Yuta at the top, telling him he will not allow him to let Haruto grow without a father. With Kiryu being far more than a match for Yuta even while dramatically holding back, he quickly beats him and takes him with Big Lo to safety, who tells them Tsuneo had ordered Tatsukawa to take the child even though he recalled the order, and Hirose is pulling the strings behind the secret of Onomichi. Kiryu joins Lo on the roof and is handed a memory drive with the information on the secret on Onomichi before Lo leaves. Back downstairs, Yuta asks to join Kiryu's investigation at Onomichi, but Kiryu tells him he needs to be with Haruka. When Yuta insists, Date handcuffs him and takes him to the hospital.
Kiryu returns and convinces the Hirose members to help him investigate Hirose. They are led to a shipyard and split off to fight Yomei members, Kiryu and Tagashira arriving at an open space when Hirose confronts them. Tagashira heads deeper while Kiryu beats Hirose to incapacitation, eventually revealing the secret of Onomichi: the Yamato Mark II. Heizo arrives and explains that, while not operational, it is evidence of Daidoji's crimes and was used as leverage against him. While Kiryu is ready to defeat Hirose once more, Nagumo stops them from fighting again and Hirose is unable to kill his foster children and Heizo shoots him before departing. Kiryu watches coldly as Heizo leaves, realizing that his death is inevitable with the Yamato Mark II exposed and defeating him now would only make it easier for him, before he then watches sadly as Hirose reveals he took them in after killing their parents and states he hoped they would be the ones to kill him, shaken by Hirose's similarity to his own foster father Shintaro Kazama.
Hirose's death is being mourned when Kiryu learns from Someya that as he had expected, Heizo Iwami was doomed, but was surprised to learn that Iwami Tsuneo was responsible and that he and Sugai will now target him and Haruka. Realizing he absolutely must defeat Tsuneo and Sugai, Kiryu saves the Hirose Family and return to Kamurocho, reuniting with Haruka for the first time in years. He tells Haruka he thought he would lecture her for disappearing, but he is far too relieved to see her alive and well, and Haruka apologizes for her actions. He calls Someya afterward, having come to the firm decision to kill Sugai and Iwami, and learns that he should head to the Millennium Tower to face Tsuneo and Sugai. Kiryu tells Haruka he is taking Yuta, promising to bring him back safe, then expressing his pride in her and departing.
Kiryu heads to the Millennium Tower along with Akiyama and the Hirose Family. He reaches the top alone, facing Someya who has seemingly betrayed him and finding that Sugai and Tsuneo are communicating by TV screen as they had already fled. Even with a sword and Someya clearly motivated, he is still able to soundly outmatch and beat Someya to submission, only to learn that he turned because they had Kiyomi hostage. Tsuneo says he will spare her if Kiryu kills Someya. Unwilling to kill Someya, Someya stabs himself. Nagumo arrives in time to witness Someya's sacrifice being pointless, as Tsuneo has Koshimizu shoot Kiyomi. Someya bleeds out, entrusting his daughter to Kiryu and Nagumo, leaving Kiryu saddened to see Someya's sacrifice in vain.
They return to Serena and mourn Kiyomi before splitting. Kiryu joins Nagumo on the roof and they decide to head to where Tsuneo and Sugai are, alone. They return to Onomichi and reach the warehouse where their enemies are waiting. Kiryu defeats Koshimizu but is helpless as they reveal they had Haruka and Haruto taken hostage, but the remaining Hirose Family arrive in time to rescue them. Kiryu stands up and tells "Little baby Iwami" he is about to understand the fight he picked. Very swiftly, he pins down a badly beaten Iwami and prepares to crush his neck, but he orders Sugai to shoot the hostages. Kiryu punches him out cold and runs in front of Haruto, Haruka, and Yuta to take the bullets, protecting the three of them. Before Kiryu can kill Sugai, Sugai is defeated by Tagashira and he lays in Yuta's arms and tells him to protect his new family. Haruka begs him to not die, but he tells her with a smile to bring Yuta and Haruto happiness. Then, he passes out.
In a hospital, he wakes up with an unnamed politician by his side and Date looking in from outside the room. The politician introduces himself as someone mentored by Daidoji and tells him of the uproar the Yamato Mark II's reveal has caused. He attempts to bribe Kiryu into silence, but Kiryu refuses. He leverages his position to make the politician accept his conditions: free Daigo from prison and forge his death certificate. Date barges in, attempting to dissuade him from this course of action as he will never see his loved ones again, but Kiryu, having realized solemnly that as much as a good life with his family is his wish, it is ultimately impossible as his reputation and power means he will keep attracting danger to them and it's better for him to just spend the rest of his life in hiding while helping people, affirms his decision. Near the end of 2016, Kiryu is officially declared dead.
In early 2017, Haruka has fully recovered and moved back to Okinawa with Yuta and Haruto, and Daigo is freed from prison, Kiryu having written him a letter to apologize for failing him as his father figure and telling him not to go to war with the Yomei Alliance. Daigo follows his wishes and approaches the Yomei with a pact of alliance. At Morning Glory Orphanage, Kiryu takes one last look at everything he built and quietly bids his loved ones a forever farewell before walking off to parts unknown.
== The Like a Dragon Saga ==
=== Yakuza: Like A Dragon ===
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=== Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name ===
Kiryu, after having faked his death, continues to live in secrecy, operating as an agent for the Daidoji faction under the codename “Joryu”. He undertakes various tasks for the Daidoji via orders from his handler Kihei Hanawa, in exchange for anonymous funding to the Morning Glory Orphanage. Outside of his job, he spends time meditating in a Buddhist Temple with the help of the priest, it being a Daidoji front.
In 2019, Kiryu is tasked with providing security for a smuggling operation in Yokohama. The operation turns out to be a trap, as an unidentified yakuza group ambushes the agents and attempts to kidnap Hanawa. Kiryu manages to drive the yakuza away, though one of them recognizes him. Kiryu then heads to Isezaki Ijincho to investigate the Seiryu clan, but soon discovers that it was the Omi Alliance’s Watase Family who ambushed the Daidoji agents. A group of Watase Family members, led by their captain Yuki Tsuruno, corners Kiryu and persuades him to help them. Tsuruno then kidnaps Hanawa while demanding Kiryu to meet him. Kiryu is then reprimanded by Daidoji manager Yoshimura, who suggests that they abandon Hanawa to maintain the Daidoji’s secrecy. He refuses, and with the help of the priest manages to escape after defeating Yoshimura and other agents.
Kiryu meets with Tsuruno in a bar in Ijincho, where the latter reveals that his patriarch, Masaru Watase, had requested his men to investigate Kiryu’s supposed death since 2016, believing it to be fabricated. Tsuruno asks Kiryu to cooperate with the Watase Family in exchange for freeing him from the Daidoji and allowing him to re-fake his death and reunite with his foster children in Okinawa. Kiryu rejects the offer, when Tsuruno reveals part of the deal includes killing Hanawa. Tsuruno relents, and tells Kiryu to head to Sotenbori, Osaka, and find Akame, a jack-of-all-trades fixer. After helping Akame with a few tasks, she takes Kiryu to the Castle, a secret adult entertainment hub located on a ship outside of Sotenbori governed by the Omi Alliance’s Kijin Clan. At the Castle, Kiryu signs up to fight in the Coliseum arena to prove his worth to Watase Family Lieutenant Kosei Shishido. Afterwards, Shishido reveals that Hanawa is kept at a building in Sotenbori, with Tsuruno waiting for him. Kiryu confronts Tsuruno and defeats him and other Watase Family members, then frees Hanawa.
Tsuruno then reveals Watase’s true intentions for requesting Kiryu’s help: to oversee the dissolution of the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan, alongside the Tojo’s Sixth Chairman Daigo Dojima. Regardless, Kiryu refuses to help them and leaves Tsuruno to the Daidoji. Kiryu later visits a Daidoji hideout in Sotenbori, where he is ordered by the Boss, a high-ranking Daidoji officer, to kill Tsuruno and the rest of the Watase Family to maintain his cover. Kiryu holds Hanawa at gunpoint, allowing Tsruno to escape. Hanawa threatens to harm the children at Okinawa, forcing Kiryu to surrender. Three days later, after a lengthy test to see if Kiryu and Hanawa have truly bonded beyond an agent-handler relationship, the Boss lets go of Kiryu, with Tsuruno revealing to have made a deal with the Daidoji to lend his services to the Watase Family.
Tsurno later calls Kiryu to come to the Castle, where he reveals his intention to lure out the Kijin Clan patriarch, Homare Nishitani III, from the Castle and kill him in time before Watase is released from prison to ensure no high-ranking officers of the Omi Alliance rally the members to rebel against the dissolution. Kiryu, rejecting the proposal, strikes a deal to incapacitate him instead. Nishitani, having an interest in Kiryu, puts the entire area on lockdown, forcing him to punch Tsuruno to maintain the latter’s cover and escape, knocking down Nishitani in the process. Later, Nishitani sends the Kijin Clan to find Kiryu in Sotenbori. On his behest, Tsuruno obtains 30 million yen to be used to lure Nishitani out by throwing lavish parties and huge spending throughout Sontenbori. Under Hanawa’s advice, Kiryu and Tsurno mobilize the Watase Family to take over the Castle by force, then leak the existence of the Castle to the news. Having angered Nishitani enough, the two agreed to a showdown in Nishitani’s hideout on a shipyard. Kiryu and Shishido battle Nishitani and his goons while Tsuruno sets the hideout ablaze. Nishitani is incapacitated, but Shishdo, under orders from Tsuruno, stabs Nishitani to death before they escape the burning building.
The night before Watase’s release, as Kiryu mediates in preparation at the temple, Hanawa reminisces about the current events and how he wanted Kiryu to have a vacation after all he had done for the Daidoji. Kiryu, in turn, reveals one of his wishes, to visit a church in Hawaii and leave a ring, as a parting gift for his former lover, Yumi Sawamura, who died years ago. Meanwhile, Tsuruno apologizes to Kiryu for his deception to kill Nishitani. The next moring, Tsruno and Kiryu visit a construction site outside Sotenbori to meet the recently released Watase. Shishido betrays the crew, having planned all along to stop the dissolution and take over the Omi Alliance, taking over the Watase Family, and reveals he faked Nishitani’s stabbing. Kiryu, Watase, and Tsuruno fight against Shishido, Nishitani and the rebelling Omi Alliance members. They manage to fend off the attack, albeit with Tsuruno and Watase injured in the process. Hanawa, having been tipped off by Akame about Nishitani’s survival, runs over Nishitani with a limo, leaving him unconscious.
Hanawa escorts Kiryu, Tsuruno and Watase to the meeting, where the latter announces the joint dissolution of the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan. A riot breaks out in the process, and Tsuruno and Kiryu team up with Ichiban Kasuga and his team to protect Watase. As Watase is escorted outside, Shishido, having survived the earlier battle, arrives, rallying up the remaining Omi Alliance members. Goro Majima, Taiga Saejima, and Daigo Dojima team up to defeat the last of the Omi Alliance, while Kiryu fights his way to the Omi throne room and defeats Shishido. The latter is ultimately subdued by Yoshimura, who decides to keep him alive as a Daidoji agent, alongside Nishitani.
As a reward by the Daidoji, Hanawa shares a recording of a hidden camera overlooking Kiryu’s grave, where two of his adopted children, Taichi and Akayo, update Kiryu on everyone at the Morning Glory Orphanage, and a picture of a drawing by Haruka Sawamura’s son, Haruto, causing Kiryu to break down in tears. Kiryu is also allowed to go on a vacation, provided he still maintains his cover. Hanawa informs Kiryu of his new alias, Taichi Suzuki, revealing that the former had encountered him years ago in Fukuoka using said name. The two bid farewell as Kiryu sets off for Hawaii.
Kiryu, having arrived in Hawaii, enters a church, and leaves Yumi’s ring on the altar.
=== Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth ===
Kiryu is present in Honolulu in search of Akane per the Daidoji faction’s orders, and teams up with Kasuga to find and protect her from various local criminal organizations. In the process, he reveals that he has contracted cancer, and has an undetermined amount of time to live. He reunites with Kasuga after being arrested for public indecency. While investigating Akane’s house, they are confronted by Yutaka Yamai of the Yamai Syndicate, who are also searching for Akane. After convincing Eric Tomizawa to defect to Kasuga’s party after being coerced into working for Yamai after a wrongful conviction set up by the local Barracudas gang. Kasuga learns that Kiryu has contracted cancer, following an accident at a nuclear waste disposal plant in 2020, and he only has six months to live.
Category:Synopsis