Yakuza Kiwami 2 in the Name of Art Sumo Wrestling
Observe the real-life places in Osaka and Tokyo that inspired Sega'south Yakuza video game series.
It is oftentimes said that life imitates art. However, if you're working for Sega, one of Japan's best-known gaming companies, then the contrary may apply. Sega's Yakuza serial, or Ryu Ga Gotoku in Japanese, takes some of Tokyo and Osaka'southward nearly infamous areas and recreates them in lovingly minute particular.
Beginning in 2005 with the original Yakuza on the PlayStation 2, there have been 8 entries in the mainline series to date, as well as numerous spin-offs. The series has spanned three console generations thus far and shows no signs of fading anytime before long.
Photo: Momotaro Ushido 
Our hero for most of the series is Kazuma Kiryu, a human being desperate to movement on from his past as a gang member but continually pulled dorsum into things whenever his onetime friends get into problem. His adventures over the first few games observe him mostly dividing his time between the Tokyo district of Kamurocho and the area of Osaka known as Soutenbori.
Kamurocho is modeled later Tokyo'south Kabukicho, the well-known entertainment commune of Shinjuku, whereas Soutenbori is based on the main entertainment commune of Osaka city chosen Dotonbori. These are not just mere homages, yet, the designers rebuilt these iconic locations edifice by edifice in the game engine.
The first time I played Yakuza Kiwami 2, I was really able to pick out hotels I had stayed at and restaurants where I had eaten in Osaka.
The offset time I played Yakuza Kiwami 2 (a recent remake of the 2nd game in the series), I was actually able to pick out hotels I had stayed at and restaurants where I had eaten in Osaka.
And so, if you're a fan of the series and you lot want to bank check out some of the real-life locations that inspired the games, where is a proficient place to start? Well, similar any good adventure in Tokyo, let's start in Kabukicho.
Kabukicho
Photo: AncientFlounder Kabukicho is perchance best known as a red-light district at nighttime, but there'due south and so much more than to information technology than that. Funnily plenty, the name Kabukicho actually comes from an aborted attempt to build a Kabuki theatre in the area back in the '40s.
The games feature many of the aforementioned iconic locations found in Kabukicho itself, such as the huge gates establish at the entrances to the surface area, the batting center, where a baseball-themed mini-game can be played in the game itself, and the neon-lined streets of Higashi Dori, Chuo Dori, and Ichiban Gai.
Shinjuku Don Quijote
One location that will be instantly recognizable to those who take played the games is the Kabukicho Don Quijote in Shinjuku. This pop chain store selling all way of mode, souvenirs, and other curious items, is perfectly recreated in the games.
Indeed, in the existent globe, also, the store frequently runs promotions and tie ins featuring the series' two most popular characters, Kazuma Kiryu and Majima Goro, to coincide with the release of new games.
Golden Gai
Photo: TheElecPlay92 Golden Gai is a series of alleyways and backstreets in Tokyo with intimate little bars and eateries. In the games, it's known by the alternate name "The Champion District." Information technology is a far cry from the nearby bright lights and about endless streams of nightclubs and bars just down the route.
From my own experience, I found the vibe in Golden Gai to be very similar to that of Kowloon in Hong Kong. That is, information technology'due south busy, a little intimidating at start, but also with plenty of character and lots to explore if yous're feeling audacious.
The food and drinkable are also quite a bit cheaper than you will find elsewhere in central Tokyo. Some bars volition be designated "regulars only" or "no tourists" so be aware of this before venturing out.
Shinjuku Toho Cinemas… sort of
Photo: AncientFlounder Ane noticeable absentee from the later games in the series is the giant Godzilla model who appears to exist attacking the building which houses the Toho Cinemas Shinjuku movie theater.
Unfortunately, Sega could not reach a licensing agreement with Toho, then the building is replaced with a generic "movie theater" in the game.
And so, with the Kamurocho spots in Tokyo covered, let's move on to Yakuza's other famous locale, Soutenbori aka Osaka.
Dotonbori Gate
Photo: Momotaro Ushido If anything, Soutenbori is an even more true-blue recreation of its genuine counterpart. Dotonbori is really the name of the canal that runs through this surface area and acts as a dividing line between the two popular shopping districts of Namba and Shinsaibashi.
In the games, you'll spot Kuidaore Ningyo—a famous statue of a man with Harry Potter-like spectacles—in a clown suit, playing drums. This statue has become something of a good luck amuse for visitors to the area ever since it was first built in the '50s
It has been a long-standing tradition for rikishi (up-and-coming immature sumo wrestlers) to have their flick taken with Kuidaore Ningyo before the annual Osaka Yard Sumo Tournament each spring.
Kani Doraku
Photo: Momotaro Ushido 
One iconic sight you may recognize from the games is Kani Doraku, a seafood restaurant with a behemothic mechanized crab in a higher place its entrance. Whether yous've taken a picture in forepart of the unmissable crustacean, or eaten at the famous (and expensive) restaurant, you definitely know this place if you've been to Osaka.
Dotonbori canal
The unabridged boardwalk which spans both sides of the Dotonbori canal hosting a number of cafes and bars is peradventure where you'll best notice only how accurate a recreation of real life the games are. Again, the waterfront Don Quijote store is recreated in living particular in the game, as are the boats that cruise upwardly and downwardly the culvert solar day and night offering tours.
The inside of the video game Don Quijote is virtually identical as the real thing too, correct up to the crowded aisles and catchy jingle!
Withal, different in the Yakuza games, stepping aboard one of the culvert boats won't magically send you to an underground cage-fighting tournament! Withal, information technology is a fun experience that I would recommend you try at least once, especially if you lot can discover one of the boats with a alive brass band.
While you may not find the aforementioned larger-than-life characters or face the extreme danger of armed gangs just walking around looking for a fight as they practice in the Yakuza games, in our real globe, both Kabukicho and Dotonbori are great places to visit next time you're in Tokyo or Osaka.
With bright lights, stunning scenery and plenty of places to run into and explore, these places, it could be said, are characters all of their ain.
Source: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/yakuza-series-locations-in-real-life/
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