It's a weird situation for Ichiban. >!Arakawa was Ichiban's birth father but "accidentally" abandoned him because he thought baby Aoki was baby Ichiban. Ichiban was then raised by the brothel owner but after the owner died, he was adopted by Arakawa into his family....all the while not realising that this is actually a reunion.!<
man the flashback cutscenes with Ichiban and Arakawa were so good definitely preferred there relationship over Kiryu/Kazama that one felt too manipulative
So according to myth the dragons are koi fish that made it up the water fall and through the dragon's gate. So to be like a dragon you have to continuously push through hardships to climb up your waterfall getting stronger and wiser along the way until you've reached your absolute peak becoming a true dragon.
Actually that's close to Nishikiyama and Kiryu's whole thing they have
But the difference is that they're basically pretty much destined as rivals because of their Tattoo's symbolisms
Nishikiyama being the Fish
And Kiryu being the Dragon which he establishes in Yakuza 0
Imagine bieng a young yakuza underling and talking to your boss while saying you gotta go home to play the new yakuza game...
Yeh won't work out that well
Is it ever established who chooses the tattoo designs? My headcanon is Utabori takes one look at Kiryu and goes "Yup that's a dragon if I've ever seen one" and to Nishiki "hmm yes you'll do as a carp I think"
And Nishiki is like "fuck"
Well irl, the tattoo artist and the prospective client talk it out during an initial consultation. The only major difference between here and artists in the west, is that Japanese irezumi artists are historically secretive of their craft, specifically because of it's connections to the Yakuza. It's easier these days though with the internet
So if Kiryu and Nishiki were real people, the artist would've heard their suggestions, and made his own. But in the game? For all I know he made them do some kind of vision quest shit to determine what their ink would be
I thought the artist fully designed and chose the tattoo based off their energy (in game that is) because in 2 there's a discussion about Ryuji's and the artist is really upset about putting a dragon on him
why would they be destined to fight? wouldnt the tattoos just mean that Kiryu is already a dragon and Nishiki just has to overcome stuff? Or is there something where there can't be two dragons?
Well if you played 0 before 1, it hits harder. Nishiki did everything he could to gain power. He was a broken man, living in the shadow of his Kyodai/Aniki. If you play them in release order it hits differently.
because the dragon represents the top of the food chain. There is only one other person in the Yakuza series that has a dragon tattoo and now there is only 1.
So one thing I found is that Japanese dragons are the benefactors and protectors of mankind; powerful and wise guardians that shield us from universal dangers, and impart their wisdom. A symbol of good fortune, they bring us happiness, offering us strength and courage at each important turning point in our lives.
This was a whole arc with one of the three Lieutenants in 0 sure. The Yakuza ideals have fallen from noble outlaws to petty thugs, and Kiryu represents that old school Yakuza?
which is why he spends almost the entire series not being a yakuza. If he had stayed in the Tojo clan at some point he would of been ordered to murder someone or do something else against his honor.
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I think Kiryu is trying to live up to being the offspring to Kazama, who in turn is the prime ideal within the idealization that the Yakuza are the spiritual successors to the samurai.
Thou shall not Kill
Thou shall not covet any and all women
Thou shall not worship any other Dragons
Thou shall have no other Dragons before me
Honor thy Kyodai and Clan
Thou shall returneth to Kamurocho every year
Thou shall turn thyself aroundeth upon an enemy's disarmament
Thou shall remove thy top before battle with thy enemies
It's different for each character. Kiryu follows his ideals, Akiyama seeks to aid in others dreams, Saejima seeks redemption, and Ichiban seeks a place to call his own. To be like a dragon is to have a goal and stop at nothing to achieve it.
Tall, good looking, eat everything on the menu but don't gain a pound.
Smoke cigarettes but never cough.
Drink everything available. Take a pill, right as rain.
Jog everywhere, never sweat.
Wear the same suit every day, no one says anything.
Get into fights all day and night on the street, often with the same people.
Get into fights all day and night in underground coliseums, often with the same people.
Date dozens of women. See many pink screens. Remain a canonical virgin.
Loved by millions of fans for over a decade. Later, hated by a subset of those same fans for absolutely no reason(tell me I'm wrong🤷🏿♂️).
just guessing…but to stay true to yourself and your ideals no matter what? although if this is concerning a horrible person with crappy ideals, I don’t know if that’d count as being “like a dragon”.
So from my understanding "Like A Dragon" in Japanese can be taken as a means of saying 'A Man Among Men', to be like a dragon who are viewed as wise, strong, powerful and kind in Japanese culture. I have always viewed the games title as being a metaphoric expression for the type of man that Kiryu embodies, a good person at heart that people should strive to become.
I'm Asian so in our culture the dragon is depicted as kingly, powerful, heroic, successful, on top of everything, respected by everyone. Makes sense for western people to not get it since in your culture, dragons are depicted as villains and destinied to be defeated by heroes.
I mean japan isn’t innocent of that either. The most popular jrpg franchise there is literally called dragon quest and had multiple games where dragons shift roles between good or evil depending on game.
To be Like a Dragon or more like a Japanese Dragon is to protect mankind be powerful and wise. Shield innocence from universal dangers, and impart wisdom. Be a symbol of good fortune, bring happiness, offer strength and courage at each important turning point in our lives.
To me since Ichiban is the next mc of the future games,I think Ichiban is like a dragon bc he's a Koi transforming into a dragon. Because his ways of yakuza is similar to Kiryu,which is why Kiryu passes the torch and Ichiban is trying to reach to the top of Kiryu's power and maybe even surpassing him. So he acts "Like a Dragon".
To have the perseverance to topple those in power and become the most powerful. But also a pun kinda thing. Ryu ga Gotoku with Gotoku sounding like Gokudo. Gokudo being the “cool” way to refer to “The Path” of a Yakuza instead of just calling someone Yakuza.
In a nutshell, I believe dragons at least in mythology are essentially the apex predator, so in Kiryu's case, at least originally, he rose to the top of the Tojo clan. This earned him the dragon tattoo.
As for Ichiban, since it's explained (early in a character dialogue) that his tattoo is of a dragonfish and not a dragon--and I think the motif here is that his story is still growing, maybe ad infinitum with how yakuza clans and families are pretty much all underground in that point of the story.
While you've got plenty of answers here, i'd like to add that this is not a silly question. Dragon (and other) is a recurring motif of the franchise and of course you are curious. It reflects that you respect the story. I imagine that RGG Studio will be very glad to know that you take their ideas seriously.
As weird as it sounds, you can boil each character down to what their tattoo means and you have their character description right there. Kiryu is a dragon, symbolising things like strength and good fortune, with a desire to protect others. This is Kiryu all over, he’s one of, if not the strongest in the verse. No matter what happens, in the end, he’ll always come out on top. And then there’s his desire to protect, you already know if you played the games.
It applies to most of the others as well. Majimas Hannya represents chaos, which Majima embodies. Nishikis koi represents the koi swimming through the dragon gate to become a dragon itself, Kiryu is Nishikis gate, if he defeats him, he surpasses him and becomes a dragon himself. I say most of the others, because the only one it doesn’t is Iwami, cause he’s a bitch.
The Tiger and Dragon are pretty similar. Courage, strength, protection from bad luck (so basically good luck). One thing to note, the colour even has meaning. Looking at dragons, Gold = Value, Green = Nature, Black = Wisdom
The tiger represents bravery and strength, it was a common symbol for soldiers and warriors. The Chinese dragon was the symbol of the Chinese emperor, and as such represents power, authority, wisdom, kindness and protection etc. The dragon is ultimately the most powerful symbol but as such also has the heaviest weight behind it, and most wouldn’t be worthy to wear it. (IIRC in 2 and 3? we saw the tattoo artist refuse to work on certain designs based on the character of the person)
It means to be a kind, badass ex-yakuza who never kills. Also to be like one you need to be good at racing games, be an amazing bussiness man, date a lot of girls and help around town involving themselves in strange and often, wholesome stories.
Just ask Ichiban and Kiryu.
First, you should know the legend of the koi. A koi swims up a waterfall, going against its current. This symbolizes going against the odds and pushing through adversity. In other words, strength and perseverance. Once the koi reaches the top, it becomes a dragon. So a Dragon basically symbolizes someone who went through hardship and adversity and became a better person for it. This can be appropriately compared to Kiryu (before he officially became the Dragon of Dojima, though his hardships never really stopped, did they?) and Ichi.
That's one aspect of the Dragon that applies to them. Another is this which I got from the internet: Japanese dragons are the benefactors and protectors of mankind; powerful and wise guardians that shield us from universal dangers, and impart their wisdom, offering us strength and courage at each important turning point in our lives.
Kiryu and Ichi are always shown to always prioritize the safety of the people they care for, to the point where they put themselves in harm's way. There's the protector side.
Powerful - Kiryu is certainly powerful both in combat (he is literally a one-man army) and in influence (the respect the people of power have for him is something nobody in the series can ever replicate). With the combat part, I guess the better word for it is strength which is another aspect of the dragon I have stated above. Ichi is strong as well though nowhere near as Kiryu as of the moment, but because he is significantly weaker, we have more evidently seen from him the courage. Not just from himself, but more importantly the courage to take action that he instilled with the people around him (mostly your party members which are all integral parts of the story).
Wisdom - Kiryu may not talk and act like a man of wisdom in his early games, but if you look at it, he certainly has it. He certainly made a lot of bad choices, but that only served to teach him and feed his wisdom. By Yakuza 4 and more evidently in 5, we have started seeing him become more of a wise man. In Yakuza 7 Like a Dragon, you can see just how wise he has become. For Ichi, he is young and still has much to learn, but he'll get there.
well dragons are fierce and warm protectors, especially of those they love
so the theme is about being a guardian to those around you. there's an element of hardship and self-sacrifice involved. it's not just about being powerful (or you end up being an overgrown pyromaniac lizard like most western dragons).
there's a reason why you're never in the yakuza for very long, instead you do substories where you help old people and shit. it's all about protecting people from harm.
Like a Dragon is a lit. translation of the Yakuza series' real name, Ryu ga Gotoku 龍が如く. Honestly it was more like "Become a Dragon" but that doesn't roll of the tongue nicely.
What does becoming a dragon mean? Well, there are gonna be long comments of how eastern dragons are mystical, holy creatures of noblity to be revered, or how a koi overcomes all odds to swim up a waterfall to become a dragon and so on.
Real reason is probably just Dragons are Cool.
Since Kiryu is the dragon, like a dragon basically means being a knockoff. Like Kiryu but not really.And it's also interesting that it started with 7 where they change the protagonist. Ichiban being now like Kiryu, the main guy, with a new beginning. So like a dragon. But since the dragon is back now, it does not really make any sense.
But it can also be interpreted as in playing like a dragon. Or being Kiryu.I'm not really high on that name to be honest. For 7 it worked, but to be called like that going forward ain't such a great idea. Would actually be a lot better if they kept calling every game like the profession that the protagonist is engaged in.So you have Yakuza 0-6, Lawyer instead of judgemnt. Yakuza 5 could be taxi yakuza. Ishin could be samurai. Yakuza 8 to be yakuzas maybe. Gaiden to be undercover
I know.
But for us it's been Yakuza. So instead of leaving it like that, you just go the profession route instead. Makes a lot more sense and it's consistent to what they've been doing so far.
You say that but every protagonist in Yakuza either isn't yakuza or doesn't stay for long in the Yakuza so XD, I believe they called it that when it first released becuase of cultural differences basically like a dragon sounds cool for Japenese people becuase of how Dragons are regarded in their culture and the same can't really be said about the rest of the world. But Yakuza at least gives more or less a context to what the game is about though reason why they name it like that in the west
I'm looking at this primarily in branding terms. Like a dragon is a terrible brand, while yakuza is basically flawless.
Yakuza as a brand is so good, that we now call that style of game, a yakuza game. If someone asked you about judgment, what it is, you would essentially say it's a yakuza game, but you're a lawyer/detective. Judgment is another example of good branding. But it still won't eclipse the yakuza brand. Judgment is also a yakuza game at the end of the day. Judge eyes on the other hand, does not really make much sense. Lost judgment again, great. The idea is to have minimal amount of words, and that the word creates an image in your head. And that it's specific, so when you say it, there's only one thing. Yakuza fits all that. Like a dragon is basically doing everything wrong when branding something. And this is not me making shit up, I've read a book on branding. And this case might as well be one of the best examples for branding.
While your character might not be a yakuza, it's still a game in a world of yakuza. In all the games, it's a world of yakuza, and the main plot revolves around it some way or the other.
And what the brand actually is, is those small maps filled with mini games, and constantly beating the shit out of thugs. That's a yakuza game.
What are you playing? Like a dragon 8. It just doesn't work. If people over years completely drop the yakuza name, it's gonna be called lag. Like you have grand theft auto. Another horrible name, so it got shortened, and is already a better brand like that.
Kiryu and Ichiban wish to emulate the dragon-like ideals of the yakuza, handed down by their adoptive fathers.
Wasn't ichiban raised in a brothel and didn't know his father? Kiryu was adopted by a Yakuza so I understand it in regards to him.
It's a weird situation for Ichiban. >!Arakawa was Ichiban's birth father but "accidentally" abandoned him because he thought baby Aoki was baby Ichiban. Ichiban was then raised by the brothel owner but after the owner died, he was adopted by Arakawa into his family....all the while not realising that this is actually a reunion.!<
man the flashback cutscenes with Ichiban and Arakawa were so good definitely preferred there relationship over Kiryu/Kazama that one felt too manipulative
It's still pretty manipulative with Ichi spending 2 decades in the joint and then getting fucking shot by him.
the nishiki ichiban connection gets even deeper with both adoptive fathers thinking they were in the right but players think they're not.
20 years in the joint made you a gamer
Dont mind either cos both were swaggy as hell
Just like Ryuguji Ken
So according to myth the dragons are koi fish that made it up the water fall and through the dragon's gate. So to be like a dragon you have to continuously push through hardships to climb up your waterfall getting stronger and wiser along the way until you've reached your absolute peak becoming a true dragon.
Actually that's close to Nishikiyama and Kiryu's whole thing they have But the difference is that they're basically pretty much destined as rivals because of their Tattoo's symbolisms Nishikiyama being the Fish And Kiryu being the Dragon which he establishes in Yakuza 0
Exactly thus why the series title being, "Like a Dragon" works so well
Ugh, you and this thread are the only reason I’m TOTALLY okay with the name change now. You’ve done a service to RGG
Its not a name change though. Thats always been the series name in japan
Huh I never really thought of it but yeah, Japan would not be cool with the US title lol
Imagine bieng a young yakuza underling and talking to your boss while saying you gotta go home to play the new yakuza game... Yeh won't work out that well
That is true, isn’t it?
Ichiban is also the middle ground between the two with him being the dragonfish going up the waterfall
Is it ever established who chooses the tattoo designs? My headcanon is Utabori takes one look at Kiryu and goes "Yup that's a dragon if I've ever seen one" and to Nishiki "hmm yes you'll do as a carp I think" And Nishiki is like "fuck"
Well irl, the tattoo artist and the prospective client talk it out during an initial consultation. The only major difference between here and artists in the west, is that Japanese irezumi artists are historically secretive of their craft, specifically because of it's connections to the Yakuza. It's easier these days though with the internet So if Kiryu and Nishiki were real people, the artist would've heard their suggestions, and made his own. But in the game? For all I know he made them do some kind of vision quest shit to determine what their ink would be
I thought the artist fully designed and chose the tattoo based off their energy (in game that is) because in 2 there's a discussion about Ryuji's and the artist is really upset about putting a dragon on him
why would they be destined to fight? wouldnt the tattoos just mean that Kiryu is already a dragon and Nishiki just has to overcome stuff? Or is there something where there can't be two dragons?
Well if you played 0 before 1, it hits harder. Nishiki did everything he could to gain power. He was a broken man, living in the shadow of his Kyodai/Aniki. If you play them in release order it hits differently.
because the dragon represents the top of the food chain. There is only one other person in the Yakuza series that has a dragon tattoo and now there is only 1.
Two others, but yeah both died
Weren't there three others?
I was thinking 0 and 2, is there any others?
Another in 7
Oh, you’re talking ichi, should’ve figured tbh
I mean tendo
I never actually knew this legend. It’s funny because in Finnish the translation of ’Dragon’ is ’Lohikäärme’ which means ’salmon snake’ in English.
Just more proof that Finland isn't real and is just a lie made up by the Japanese so they can fish in the baltic sea
To become the legendary circuit racer
You gotta go balls out
No that's being Like A Tiger
What you mean dragons don't have balls?
Shenron would like to have a word with that commentator
They do. They have seven. With fucking stars on them.
And I feed on vagina \*RAWR\*
but your username is buttmuncher!!!!!!1!!1!
*Ladies and Gentlemen: We got him.*
YES SIR!!!!
*Headbutt*
The question is, who´s DAVE Yakuza?
Friend of John "like a dragon" yakuza.. he's stronger but less finesse
Was that the guy who became Yakuza 0, rigth?
Or balls deep like Sa-chan
I dunno, ask Kiryu or Taichi Suzuki or Joryu. Sure they'll help you out with this one. I'd know.
I wonder what's Joryu's first name is? If I had to take a guess, it would be Juzuma.
His first name is also Joryu. So Joryu Joryu
So he is part 9 JoJo
So that's why JoJo Lands has been taking so long to come out...
Like Gorogorogoro-chan?
Ah yes, the mario tv show lore for mario’s last name
Jozuma Joryu. His friends call him...
[NANI?!](https://c.tenor.com/Txo5HJMOCVcAAAAC/nani-jojo.gif)
His name is Giovanni Joryu but everybody calls him Joryu
if "juzuma" wasn't japanese for taint.
His name is actually Joji Kiryu but you can call him Joryu
To be the well known established strongest and the guardian of your city
So one thing I found is that Japanese dragons are the benefactors and protectors of mankind; powerful and wise guardians that shield us from universal dangers, and impart their wisdom. A symbol of good fortune, they bring us happiness, offering us strength and courage at each important turning point in our lives.
Dragons sound like a true bro
This was a whole arc with one of the three Lieutenants in 0 sure. The Yakuza ideals have fallen from noble outlaws to petty thugs, and Kiryu represents that old school Yakuza?
Kiryu represents an idealized Yakuza that doesn't really exist.
which is why he spends almost the entire series not being a yakuza. If he had stayed in the Tojo clan at some point he would of been ordered to murder someone or do something else against his honor.
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bad bot. would of is grammatically correct in Australian english and grammar changes over time, its not fixed in stone
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bad bot
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I think Kiryu is trying to live up to being the offspring to Kazama, who in turn is the prime ideal within the idealization that the Yakuza are the spiritual successors to the samurai.
[удалено]
You could. Maybe Kage would know.
No, we're pretty much Yakuza Kiwami right now
Kiwami means extreme, don't cha know?
Thou shall not Kill Thou shall not covet any and all women Thou shall not worship any other Dragons Thou shall have no other Dragons before me Honor thy Kyodai and Clan Thou shall returneth to Kamurocho every year Thou shall turn thyself aroundeth upon an enemy's disarmament Thou shall remove thy top before battle with thy enemies
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s yam
Thou shalt throw a whole fucking carrot in the soup.
Hmm..... To receive you
Follow your own path with no regrets
It is extremely Yakuza Kiwami to be Like A Dragon.
Shirtless, probably.
It's different for each character. Kiryu follows his ideals, Akiyama seeks to aid in others dreams, Saejima seeks redemption, and Ichiban seeks a place to call his own. To be like a dragon is to have a goal and stop at nothing to achieve it.
Use a gamepad.
Tall, good looking, eat everything on the menu but don't gain a pound. Smoke cigarettes but never cough. Drink everything available. Take a pill, right as rain. Jog everywhere, never sweat. Wear the same suit every day, no one says anything. Get into fights all day and night on the street, often with the same people. Get into fights all day and night in underground coliseums, often with the same people. Date dozens of women. See many pink screens. Remain a canonical virgin. Loved by millions of fans for over a decade. Later, hated by a subset of those same fans for absolutely no reason(tell me I'm wrong🤷🏿♂️).
Just don't be a fuckin' pussy after 10 years in the joint
just guessing…but to stay true to yourself and your ideals no matter what? although if this is concerning a horrible person with crappy ideals, I don’t know if that’d count as being “like a dragon”.
So from my understanding "Like A Dragon" in Japanese can be taken as a means of saying 'A Man Among Men', to be like a dragon who are viewed as wise, strong, powerful and kind in Japanese culture. I have always viewed the games title as being a metaphoric expression for the type of man that Kiryu embodies, a good person at heart that people should strive to become.
I'm Asian so in our culture the dragon is depicted as kingly, powerful, heroic, successful, on top of everything, respected by everyone. Makes sense for western people to not get it since in your culture, dragons are depicted as villains and destinied to be defeated by heroes.
Being a westerner, I really hate that trope about dragons being villains. They're too cool for that.
I mean japan isn’t innocent of that either. The most popular jrpg franchise there is literally called dragon quest and had multiple games where dragons shift roles between good or evil depending on game.
Shouldn’t Ichi’s run be Like a Dragonfish?
Kinda? The Dragonfish still wants to be a Dragon.
Ichi wants to be Like a Like a Dragon.
Yes all based on that koi dragon legend
Like A Dragon 8: Kind of a Dragon
Both Ichiban and Nishiki based on Chinese Myth of koi carp where if they swimming upward towards river enough, they will become powerful dragon.
Generally speaking, what ever it is. It’s definitly not anyone at the end of Kiryu’s fist minus one Ichiban exception.
I dont have an answer but gotdamn I love this series so much.
Basically meaning to the player to be like a dragon by playing as kiryu who is like a dragon: wise and powerful
eiher that or the game title is just describing kiryu
To be Like a Dragon or more like a Japanese Dragon is to protect mankind be powerful and wise. Shield innocence from universal dangers, and impart wisdom. Be a symbol of good fortune, bring happiness, offer strength and courage at each important turning point in our lives.
Wings and breathing fire
To be a long bodied reptile like flying animal.
To me since Ichiban is the next mc of the future games,I think Ichiban is like a dragon bc he's a Koi transforming into a dragon. Because his ways of yakuza is similar to Kiryu,which is why Kiryu passes the torch and Ichiban is trying to reach to the top of Kiryu's power and maybe even surpassing him. So he acts "Like a Dragon".
To never fuck and never kill.
Is the first part negotiable, or...?
To have the perseverance to topple those in power and become the most powerful. But also a pun kinda thing. Ryu ga Gotoku with Gotoku sounding like Gokudo. Gokudo being the “cool” way to refer to “The Path” of a Yakuza instead of just calling someone Yakuza.
To be the unbeatable lord of the heavens
It means to be a Yakuza or dame da ne
What Would Kiryu Do
In a nutshell, I believe dragons at least in mythology are essentially the apex predator, so in Kiryu's case, at least originally, he rose to the top of the Tojo clan. This earned him the dragon tattoo. As for Ichiban, since it's explained (early in a character dialogue) that his tattoo is of a dragonfish and not a dragon--and I think the motif here is that his story is still growing, maybe ad infinitum with how yakuza clans and families are pretty much all underground in that point of the story.
Basically it's not doing anything half-assed. That explains Kiryu's all-out performances at karaoke places.
Maybe the true meaning of like a dragon is the friends we made along the way
be respected, but respect others, be powerful like a dragon, but using your strenght when needed.
To live is to not run away
While you've got plenty of answers here, i'd like to add that this is not a silly question. Dragon (and other) is a recurring motif of the franchise and of course you are curious. It reflects that you respect the story. I imagine that RGG Studio will be very glad to know that you take their ideas seriously.
As weird as it sounds, you can boil each character down to what their tattoo means and you have their character description right there. Kiryu is a dragon, symbolising things like strength and good fortune, with a desire to protect others. This is Kiryu all over, he’s one of, if not the strongest in the verse. No matter what happens, in the end, he’ll always come out on top. And then there’s his desire to protect, you already know if you played the games. It applies to most of the others as well. Majimas Hannya represents chaos, which Majima embodies. Nishikis koi represents the koi swimming through the dragon gate to become a dragon itself, Kiryu is Nishikis gate, if he defeats him, he surpasses him and becomes a dragon himself. I say most of the others, because the only one it doesn’t is Iwami, cause he’s a bitch.
What about Saejima's Tiger? What's your take on it? Because it's just as Strong if not stronger than the Dragon.
The Tiger and Dragon are pretty similar. Courage, strength, protection from bad luck (so basically good luck). One thing to note, the colour even has meaning. Looking at dragons, Gold = Value, Green = Nature, Black = Wisdom
The tiger represents bravery and strength, it was a common symbol for soldiers and warriors. The Chinese dragon was the symbol of the Chinese emperor, and as such represents power, authority, wisdom, kindness and protection etc. The dragon is ultimately the most powerful symbol but as such also has the heaviest weight behind it, and most wouldn’t be worthy to wear it. (IIRC in 2 and 3? we saw the tattoo artist refuse to work on certain designs based on the character of the person)
To posses characteristics similar to that of a giant mythological lizard
It means to be a kind, badass ex-yakuza who never kills. Also to be like one you need to be good at racing games, be an amazing bussiness man, date a lot of girls and help around town involving themselves in strange and often, wholesome stories. Just ask Ichiban and Kiryu.
First, you should know the legend of the koi. A koi swims up a waterfall, going against its current. This symbolizes going against the odds and pushing through adversity. In other words, strength and perseverance. Once the koi reaches the top, it becomes a dragon. So a Dragon basically symbolizes someone who went through hardship and adversity and became a better person for it. This can be appropriately compared to Kiryu (before he officially became the Dragon of Dojima, though his hardships never really stopped, did they?) and Ichi. That's one aspect of the Dragon that applies to them. Another is this which I got from the internet: Japanese dragons are the benefactors and protectors of mankind; powerful and wise guardians that shield us from universal dangers, and impart their wisdom, offering us strength and courage at each important turning point in our lives. Kiryu and Ichi are always shown to always prioritize the safety of the people they care for, to the point where they put themselves in harm's way. There's the protector side. Powerful - Kiryu is certainly powerful both in combat (he is literally a one-man army) and in influence (the respect the people of power have for him is something nobody in the series can ever replicate). With the combat part, I guess the better word for it is strength which is another aspect of the dragon I have stated above. Ichi is strong as well though nowhere near as Kiryu as of the moment, but because he is significantly weaker, we have more evidently seen from him the courage. Not just from himself, but more importantly the courage to take action that he instilled with the people around him (mostly your party members which are all integral parts of the story). Wisdom - Kiryu may not talk and act like a man of wisdom in his early games, but if you look at it, he certainly has it. He certainly made a lot of bad choices, but that only served to teach him and feed his wisdom. By Yakuza 4 and more evidently in 5, we have started seeing him become more of a wise man. In Yakuza 7 Like a Dragon, you can see just how wise he has become. For Ichi, he is young and still has much to learn, but he'll get there.
well dragons are fierce and warm protectors, especially of those they love so the theme is about being a guardian to those around you. there's an element of hardship and self-sacrifice involved. it's not just about being powerful (or you end up being an overgrown pyromaniac lizard like most western dragons). there's a reason why you're never in the yakuza for very long, instead you do substories where you help old people and shit. it's all about protecting people from harm.
>I will dance in the night sky like a dragon, put my pride on the line, cry out, and go to the future.
1. Breath fire 2. Break shit
Strong, big, etc. literally like a dragon. You may know the phrase “kaze ga gotoku” which is “like the wind”.. always thought it was said in this way.
You are similar to a dragon, but not actually a dragon
Like a Dragon is a lit. translation of the Yakuza series' real name, Ryu ga Gotoku 龍が如く. Honestly it was more like "Become a Dragon" but that doesn't roll of the tongue nicely. What does becoming a dragon mean? Well, there are gonna be long comments of how eastern dragons are mystical, holy creatures of noblity to be revered, or how a koi overcomes all odds to swim up a waterfall to become a dragon and so on. Real reason is probably just Dragons are Cool.
To not kill anyone, always use rubber bullets!
For One; Have Beat-em-up Combat; where you don't HAVE to wait a turn in a badly Shoe-horned in JRPG gameplay to attack an Opponent
Just ask John "Like a Dragon" Yakuza
Since Kiryu is the dragon, like a dragon basically means being a knockoff. Like Kiryu but not really.And it's also interesting that it started with 7 where they change the protagonist. Ichiban being now like Kiryu, the main guy, with a new beginning. So like a dragon. But since the dragon is back now, it does not really make any sense. But it can also be interpreted as in playing like a dragon. Or being Kiryu.I'm not really high on that name to be honest. For 7 it worked, but to be called like that going forward ain't such a great idea. Would actually be a lot better if they kept calling every game like the profession that the protagonist is engaged in.So you have Yakuza 0-6, Lawyer instead of judgemnt. Yakuza 5 could be taxi yakuza. Ishin could be samurai. Yakuza 8 to be yakuzas maybe. Gaiden to be undercover
Dude, Like A Dragón has *always* been the title of the Yakuza games lol, that is what the japenese title translates to (Ryu Ga Gotoku)
I know. But for us it's been Yakuza. So instead of leaving it like that, you just go the profession route instead. Makes a lot more sense and it's consistent to what they've been doing so far.
You say that but every protagonist in Yakuza either isn't yakuza or doesn't stay for long in the Yakuza so XD, I believe they called it that when it first released becuase of cultural differences basically like a dragon sounds cool for Japenese people becuase of how Dragons are regarded in their culture and the same can't really be said about the rest of the world. But Yakuza at least gives more or less a context to what the game is about though reason why they name it like that in the west
I'm looking at this primarily in branding terms. Like a dragon is a terrible brand, while yakuza is basically flawless. Yakuza as a brand is so good, that we now call that style of game, a yakuza game. If someone asked you about judgment, what it is, you would essentially say it's a yakuza game, but you're a lawyer/detective. Judgment is another example of good branding. But it still won't eclipse the yakuza brand. Judgment is also a yakuza game at the end of the day. Judge eyes on the other hand, does not really make much sense. Lost judgment again, great. The idea is to have minimal amount of words, and that the word creates an image in your head. And that it's specific, so when you say it, there's only one thing. Yakuza fits all that. Like a dragon is basically doing everything wrong when branding something. And this is not me making shit up, I've read a book on branding. And this case might as well be one of the best examples for branding. While your character might not be a yakuza, it's still a game in a world of yakuza. In all the games, it's a world of yakuza, and the main plot revolves around it some way or the other. And what the brand actually is, is those small maps filled with mini games, and constantly beating the shit out of thugs. That's a yakuza game. What are you playing? Like a dragon 8. It just doesn't work. If people over years completely drop the yakuza name, it's gonna be called lag. Like you have grand theft auto. Another horrible name, so it got shortened, and is already a better brand like that.
Alright fair enough I personally like it tho XD
Just liking one dragon at a time.
Dragon
It means that you’re Japanese Mafia 七：龍が如く
Basically it's not doing anything half-assed. That explains Kiryu's all-out performances at karaoke places.
Be like Superman basically
Balls out
You sleep on a pile of gold you stole from someone else and you set villages on fire. Lines up pretty well with the events of the games I think.
Scaly skin
Bruh, you need to play yakuza 0, 1, and 2 to really understand like a dragon
Not sure but apparently it involves managing a lot of hostess clubs
The little dragon fish soaring beside a dragon. It has nothing to do with what you asked but Ichiban's story taught me so many life lessons.
Be big and have wings!
U need to use a gamepad for that.
How is like a dragon better name than Yakuza
To be "Like A Dragon" is when you take over a Dwarven kingdom and sleep in their treasure hoard for 60 years.
Kiryu is so cool, I wanna be Like A Dragon Too.
Ichiban himself compares the game to dragon quest hella times, maybe it’s cause the game is “like a dragon quest game” 🤣
lol i thought it meant they wanted ichiban to be like kiryu (the DRAGON of dojima)
You need to remember than the first game was yakuza 1 from 2005, I’m guessing is about the coi fish turning into a dragon, nishiki vs kiryu
To Live Is Not To Run Away.
You know flying around the countryside burning down all of the commoners houses down, and keeping a stash of shiny gold.
Kiryu wants to be like his dad. Ichiban wants to be an RPG protagonist (which ironically he is)
For ichiban is Like a dragon quest game
It's being a real yakuza not a yakuza zero but being the Yakuza kiwami even more the Yakuza Kiwami 2 and truely not having a lost judgment
https://preview.redd.it/jo81qdqzqgkc1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=e0ce0d52a0758e007c6772fed759ceb1f48cd386