The Yakuza series is one of the most successful franchises under Sega's belt right now. It's also one of the most beloved in Japan and in the West. It' well-written and engaging plotlines, coupled with its highly entertaining action scenes and gameplay, have led the series to be the massive hit it is today.

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With a series so vast, bombastic, and dramatic, it's no wonder it has characters with varying personalities. These characters are fun to watch, charismatic, and vital to the Yakuza series as a whole. We'll be bringing you ten of the most iconic Yakuza characters from all games in the series.

Updated by Michael Llewellyn on May 17, 2021: The Yakuza saga is a huge series with so many memorable characters. Each character is distinct in their jobs, occupation, and motivations in Tokyo’s underbelly. Thanks to these memorable characters, the Yakuza series has the ability to draw the player into its dark and wonderfully weird world of storylines. Some characters are recurring, while others have left a lasting mark on the protagonists in a brief time. All are iconic in their own way.

15 Jo Amon

Jo Amon is an iconic rival of Kiryu's
  • Member of the Amon Clan

Even though he is considered something of a minor character in the overarching narrative of the Yakuza series, Jo Amon is still one of its most recognizable. He serves as a recurring antagonist of Kiryu’s after he defeated Amon in battle in the first Yakuza.

Thanks to his trademark shades, black attire, and cold-bloodedness, Amon is an excellent rival for Kiryu and is out to prove he’s a better fighter than the protagonist. He has appeared in every Yakuza game starring Kiryu, from the prequel up to Yakuza 6.

14 Masayoshi Tanimura

Tanimura is a police officer with a sense of justice
  • Police Officer in the Community Safety Division

One of the main playable protagonists in Yakuza 4, Masayoshi Tanimura is a police officer in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. He’s the youngest protagonist in the series and can have a naive sense of justice.

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Nevertheless, he’s a refreshing change from the anti-heroes in the Yakuza series and has a great fighting style. He followed in his father’s footsteps as a police officer after his father was killed during an investigation.

13 Keiji Shibusawa

Keiji Shibusawa is a dangerous adversary in Yakuza 0
  • Lieutenant of the Dojima Family
  • Patriarch of the Shibusawa Family
  • Affiliated with the Tojo Clan

Keiji Shibusawa is one of the three lieutenants of the Dojima Family in Yakuza 0. He only appeared in one game, but his impact on Kiryu lasted throughout the series. Keiji is the son of a disgraced politician and is the brains behind the brawn in Dojima Clan.

His business savvy is only matched by his ruthlessness and complete lack of empathy for others. Keiji is a formidable opponent for Kiryu, and serves as the final boss in Yakuza 0.

12 Daigo Dojima

Daigo Dojima
  • Former Member of the Dojima Family
  • Sixth Chairman of the Tojo Clan

Daigo Dojima is the son of the infamous Sohei Dojima and a reluctant Chairman for the Tojo Clan. As chairman, he was quite inexperienced and showed it many times; for example, in his negotiations with the Ueno Seiwa clan. Nevertheless, he is a capable man and leader, as well as a good friend to Kiryu.

He's also capable in combat, which players see when he singlehandedly dispatches Richardson's men while injured to save Kiryu and Mine. He even shows his physical prowess as a boss fight against Kiryu in Yakuza Kiwami 2. As a child, his days spent with Kiryu taught him a valuable lesson on how money and a powerful name aren't absolute. This has turned him into the respectable leader and man he is today.

11 Kazama Shintarou

Kazama Shintarou
  • Captain of the Dojima Family
  • Patriarch of the Kazama Family
  • Proprietor of the Sunflower Orphanage

Kazama Shintarou is quite an important character to the Yakuza series as a whole. In many ways, he started Kiryu's Journey in the Yakuza life. He is Kiryu's father figure, taking him into his orphanage, which eventually leads to Kiryu and Nishikyama becoming Yakuza members.

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He's not a saint, that's for sure. Killing Kiryu's parents is one such example of his misdeeds. Yet, he's also done a lot of good, and was a good role model to Kiryu and others in his orphanage.

10 Akira Nishikiyama

Akira Nishikiyama
  • Former member of the Kazama Family
  • Former member of the Dojima Family
  • Patriarch of the Nishikiyama Family

Nishiki was Kiryu's right-hand man and brother in the Yakuza. After joining at the same time, they've experienced a lot together. Nishikiyama is a passionate person and cares about the people he loves; players see this in the events of Yakuza 0. Sadly, past experiences and harsh things he's gone through eventually leads him down a path of antagonism towards Kiryu. His past changes him into a colder person and outright villain.

Because of this, he committed a lot of misdeeds, even gunning down Kazama, his father figure in Yakuza Kiwami. However, in his final moments, Nishikiyama regretted his actions. He redeemed himself by sacrificing his life to help Kiryu.

9 Makoto Date

Makato Date is one of Kiryu's closest friends
  • Detective in the Tokyo police force
  • Investigative Journalist
  • Information Dealer for The Florist of Sai

With the exception of the prequel Yakuza 0, Makato Date has appeared in every episode of the Kiryu Saga in the Yakuza series. Makato Date is a detective in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and an investigative journalist.

He is a loyal ally of Kiryu’s and has been an integral part of the story development in every episode. They became friends after Date proved that Kiryu was not guilty of killing Sohei Dojima, and have remained best friends throughout the game’s main story.

8 Yoshitaka Mine

Yoshitaka Mine
  • Former member of the Nishikiyama Family
  • Member of the Hakuho Clan
  • Member of the Tojo Clan
  • Member of the Black Monday

Mine is Daigo Dojima's right hand man, and has shown adoration and respect for him on countless occasions. Despite his success in life, he has gone through many betrayals, prompting him to join the Yakuza ranks to seek genuine bonds. To get closer to Daigo, he helped the Nishikiyama family rise through the ranks and proved to be quite the capable businessman.

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However, he uses aggressive methods that many disprove of. As the main antagonist in Yakuza 3, he shows distaste towards Kiryu due to his close relationship with Daigo. At the end though, similar to Nishiki, he redeems himself by throwing Richardson off a roof to protect Daigo.

7 Haruka Sawamura

Haruka Sawamura
  • Kiryu’s adopted daughter
  • Former pop idol
  • Manager of the Morning Glory Orphanage

Haruka remains an important character right from the first Yakuza game and subsequent remasters. She has appeared throughout all the mainline Yakuza games (besides Yakuza 0). As the child of Yumi Samamura, Kiryu's first love, he made it his obligation to take care of her.

Haruka even helps Kiryu start an orphanage in Okinawa. Since appearing in the first game as a child, she's blossomed into a full-grown woman, chasing her dreams in Yakuza 5 and even having a child in Yakuza 6. As a character, she has shown the most development throughout the series.

6 Ryuji Goda

Ryuji Goda from Yakuza Kiwami 2
  • The Dragon of Kansai
  • Member of the Jingweon Mafia
  • Second Patriarch of the Go-Ryu Clan

Goda Ryuji is an infamous rival to Kiryu Kazuma in the second Yakuza game and in Yakuza Kiwami 2. He is one of the most important characters in the series, as his introduction sets the tone for future installments. Goda is the son of the Osaka rival Yakuza gang, the Omi Alliance. Due to his family affiliations, he has an abrasive personality and thinks highly of himself. Nicknamed the Kansai Dragon, he believes he can be the only dragon and tries to prove it by eliminating Kiryu.

As a character, he is everything Kiryu isn't, and is almost the polar opposite of the main character. His personality and motives leave a strong impression on players, making him worthy of his position on this list.

5 Taiga Saejima

Taiga Saejima
  • Member of the Sasai Family
  • Patriarch of the Saejima Family
  • Member of the Tojo Clan

Saejima Taiga has a long history in the series. Though he was only being introduced in the fourth game as a playable character, his story actually begins twenty years before the first game. As mentioned in Yakuza 0, he is a sworn brother to Goro Majima. After an assassination incident that killed 18 people, he is sentenced to death row in prison.

Yet, he has surprisingly not been killed 25 years later. He eventually escapes and returns to Kamarucho to set things right. He appears in multiple games from then on, as a playable character in Yakuza 5. Akiyama has a strong personality, and seeks to protect his sister and other loved ones whenever he can. As a character, Saejima Taiga is one of the best in the series.

4 Shun Akiyama

Shun Akiyama
  • Owner of Sky Finance
  • Owner of Elise
  • Former Investment Banker

The first character gamers get to play after Kiryu, Akiyama leaves quite an impression on fans. As Kamarucho's most generous moneylender, he doesn't care who you are or what you do when asking for a loan, as long as you can prove your worth by accomplishing one of his tests.

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Though it might not be the right way to run a business, it shows what kind of person he is, as it reflects his past. It also helps that he’s charismatic and enjoyable to play as. Akiyama is also a playable character in Yakuza 5 and even appears in Yakuza 6.

3 Goro Majima

Goro Majima
  • Former Captain of the Shimano Family
  • Former Vice-Chairman of the Tojo Clan
  • Chief Advisor of Sixth Chairman of Tojo Clan
  • Patriarch of the Majima Family

The mad dog of Shimano himself, Majima is by far the fan-favorite character of the series, mostly due to how ridiculous he is compared to other gritty and serious characters in games. Similar to Saejima, he's had a long history in the Yakuza. After the assassination incident, he is banished from the Shimano family.

Majima is tasked to manage a cabaret club to provide funds to let him back into the gang. While doing so, players get to see the story of how he became the Mad Dog of Shimano. As the name suggests, he can be erratic at times, beating up anyone for any reason he chooses. Despite this, he is still a capable person with a good heart and a good friend to Kiryu. He also possesses the intelligence to lead businesses, including his own.

2 Ichiban Kasuga

Ichiban is the new face of the Yakuza series
  • Former member of the Arakawa Family
  • Formerly affiliated with the Tojo Clan
  • President of Ichiban Confectioneries
  • Leader of the Kasuga Party

As the brand new protagonist for the Yakuza series starting with the seventh entry Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Ichiban has already become a fan favorite. He’s a more light-hearted protagonist than Kiryu, determined to fight for justice and become the hero since leaving prison.

Ichiban is an inspirational and charismatic lead that draws people to him, building up a lot of loyal allies as a result. However, his loyalty to others can be his fatal flaw, since it put him in prison after he took the blame for a murder he did not commit. Ichiban has a big future ahead of him, with a brand new saga being built around his story.

1 Kiryu Kazuma

Kiryu Kazuma
  • The Dragon of Dojima
  • Former Chairman of the Kiryu Clan
  • Former Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan
  • Former Lieutenant Advisor of the Dojima Clan
  • Former Manager of Four Shine
  • Chairman of the Sunshine Orphanage

Who wouldn't expect him to be number one on this list? The face of the franchise, The Big Daddy himself, The Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, The Dragon of Dojima, Kiryu Kazuma. It would be useless explaining his past since the games have been through it so many times. He is the most iconic character not only because he's the protagonist, but also the coolest guy ever.

Even as a Yakuza, he has a strict moral code. He seeks to protect his loved ones and help anyone he can, and he can do this all thanks to his superior physical prowess.  Kiryu is not a person to cross, unless his enemies want to come across an unstoppable force and an immovable object at the same time.

NEXT: Yakuza 0: 10 Funniest Substories, Ranked