This year marks the 20th anniversary of the beloved Yakuza / Like a Dragon series, and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is inviting fans to participate in a unique celebration. In an exciting move, the studio is letting fans decide the next official merchandise by voting on an array of over 100 items, ranging from the conventional to the downright bizarre. The top two voted items will hit the market within the next two years, making this an unprecedented opportunity for fans to influence the franchise's merchandise direction.
While the voting page is in Japanese, fans worldwide can cast their votes on the official website. Some of the more traditional options include a 20th anniversary hoodie and a Yakuza-themed pencil case. However, the real excitement comes from the wild and quirky items drawn directly from the series' rich and eccentric history. Highlights include the cult outfit donned by Munan Suzuki of The Order of Munan Chohept Onast in Yakuza 0, the iconic traffic cone used by Majima in Yakuza Kiwami, and the eye-catching "Puffy Gold Pants."
Other notable items up for vote include the sake Majima savors in a shack in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Akiyama's gold watch, Kiryu's fountain pen from Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, the tambourine Kashiwagi uses during karaoke in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Kiryu's wrestling mask from Yakuza 3, and Saejima's prisoner uniform from Yakuza 4. These selections encapsulate the series' unique blend of drama, humor, and cultural touchstones.
As part of the 20th anniversary festivities, fans can look forward to the release of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, scheduled for February 21, 2025. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio previously celebrated the 10th anniversary with the much-loved prequel, Yakuza 0, but has yet to announce any similar projects for this milestone year. Despite the possibility of multiple releases in a single year seeming ambitious, RGG Studio's track record speaks for itself. Over the past five years, the studio has impressively released nine titles, including Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Judgment Remastered, Lost Judgment, Like a Dragon: Ishin, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, and two Super Monkey Ball games, along with an enhanced remaster of Virtua Fighter 5.
