Like a Dragon Gaiden: Where The Name ‘Taichi Suzuki’ Comes From (and How Hamawara Knows It)

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS for Like a Dragon Gaiden ahead. Proceed at your own risk.Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name was released earlier this month, continuing the story of former protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. On the heels of the Yakuza franchise’s next major release, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the title explores Kiryu’s actions after Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. While Kiryu has since taken on a new alias, Joryu, Like a Dragon Gaiden sees a host of new and returning characters refer to the legendary Dragon of Dojima by a variety of former titles. During the game’s concluding scenes, Daidoji Faction manager and agent Kihei Hanawa assigns a new alias to Kiryu as he embarks on a trip to Hawaii – Taichi Suzuki. While the name may be just another alias to recent fans, veterans may recall its significance. The title of Taichi Suzuki comes from an earlier era in the Yakuza franchise, and Hanawa’s use of the title in Like a Dragon Gaiden holds a surprising reveal.