15 Amazing Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About The Yakuza Series

Sega has made its share of mistakes but one franchise it’s consistently done well with is Yakuza. This tale of honour, treachery and violence set among organized crime syndicates in Japan has given us some great games but what are a few things you probably didn’t know about the series? Let’s take a look at its illustrious history to find out.

Characters Modeled After Real Actors

Getting the likenesses right for a group of bad-asses like the Yakuza cast isn’t easy. However, it’s interesting to note how many of the characters are modeled after and voiced by well-known Japanese actors. Takeshi Kitano, for instance, serves as the template and voice for Toru in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. Meanwhile, Riki Takeuchi lends his face and voice to Daiki Awano in Yakuza 0.