SHIMANO Futoshi

Thanks to @bestellen1 on Twitter for pointing out that I never interpreted
Shimano's story in the upcoming Ryûga gotoku Zero!  D'oh!

Anyway, here it is:

Head of the Toujou Association's Secondary Organization, the Shimano Group
SHIMANO Futoshi

Voice Actor:  KUSUMI Naomi

Group head of the Shimano, a secondary organization within the Toujou
Association, he holds overwhelming, intimidating power with his immense,
towering physique.  His personality is bold and cruel as well.

As Majima's boss in the underworld, he is the one responsible for expelling
Majima from the Toujou Association and placing him under house arrest in the
Soutenbori.  No one knows the true intentions behind him "keeping" him,
without killing him or letting him live.

Info on "Money Island Kamuro" and "Night Club Island Soutenbori!"

Hey, Ryûga gotoku / Yakuza series fans!
Here's the info they recently posted to the official site regarding the whole
"money-making" side game features for Kiryû and Majima.
Enjoy!

- Money Island, Kamuro -
01. Overview
"Money Island Kamuro" is a simulation game set in Kamuro.  There are five areas
in Kamuro, each ruled by one of the "Five Billionaires of Kamuro."  Make each
area your own, at times by purchasing the restaurants and night life businesses
that crowd the area, and at times by investing in them and growing them to reach
sole proprietorship.  As you progress in acquiring the area, you will cause
heated battles with your rivals and a dense story to develop.

02. How to Make Money
A share of the profits from the businesses you have obtained will be transfer-
red to you periodically.  As you gain more properties and develop the ones you
already have to gain more profits, you can get more and more money to come
flowing in.  If you get all the proerties in the area and bring them to the
highest rank, you will gain vast sums of money without doing anything.  You can
enjoy the feeling of being a millionaire.

03. Acquiring and Managing Human Resources
In order to make the Kamuro District yours, it will take more than money.
There's another important thing: "human resources."  You will need three types
of employees:  "managers," "bouncers," and "advisors."
- Managers: These are employees that manage each area.  They can impact the
  area's economy by doing things like protecting properties from your rival's
  acquisition attempts.  If you place an able manager in your area, its economy
  will grow and the amount of money you can get will greatly increase.  On the
  other hand, if your manager has meager ability, the properties you've acquired
  will be stolen by your rival, to your frustration.
- Bouncers: These are employees that protect the safety of each area.  If you
  employ an excellent bouncer, you can make the safety of an area good, which
  will weaken the enemies in the area.  Also, you can make the management of
  your area progress smoothly by defending against the appearance of "troubles"
  that occasionally can occur to your properties.
- Advisors: These employees are necessary to grow and expand your properties.
  If you pay their advisory fee, they will make advice for your properties and
  grow them.  Note that the various advisors have their own specialty genres,
  and others they aren't very good at.

04. Purchasing Properties
To purchase and acquire properties, go directly to the shops around town.
Search every corner of the town and find shops that seem like you could buy
them.  There are various kinds, ranging from cheap to expensive.  There are some
shops you can get not by spending money, but by deepening your relationship with
the shop owners, too.

05. Battles With Rivals
Standing as rivals in the way of Kiryuu's success are five billionaires.  Take
Kamuro back from the hands of these billionaires, who cause the residents many
troubles by using the district as a tool to make money!
- The Recreation King: This billionaire makes his money by managing pachinko
  parlors.  He's the first of the five billionaires Kiryuu will fight against.
  Through the fight that rises against this man, Kiryuu first wets his feet in
  the world of the money game.
- The Gambling King: This billionare makes his money by the underground
  business, principally specializing in gambling dens.  A very violent man, he
  absolutely despises losing and will do whatever it takes to win.  He manages
  by making it through many, many fierce battlefields.
- The Other Billionaires: Besides these two, the "Sex Club King," "Computer
  King," and the "Entertainment King"--each with their own, individual
  abilities--await Kiryuu.  Will Kiryuu be able to win against them in the money
  game, in the end?


- Night Club Island, Soutenbori-
01. Overview
"Night Club Island, Soutenbori" is a new element in which you can make money
through earnings by administrating the cabaret club "Sunshine" as its manager.
Naturally, in order to expand the club, you will need to tend to it during
business hours, but in this realistic management simulation game, you will
also need to use various approaches such as scouting for cabaret club girls
outside of business hours and making tie-in deals with shops and businesses
to attract more clients.  As your grow your club's popularity, your great
management battle story against rival clubs will expand.

02. Preparing to Open Shop
In order to see profits from your management, you will need to pay careful
attention in preparation.  The cabaret club girls each have their own
personality.  Assess the physique and ability of each girl carefully.
In order to get the very talented cabaret club girls to work for you,
you'll need to pay a very large sum for their wages.  Note that offering a
lineup of expensive girls isn't everything when it comes to making money.

03. Special Practice
The system you've become familiar with playing the series where you converse
with cabaret club girls, the "playing in the cabaret clubs," has become the new
form "Special Practice" in this game.  In "Special Practice," Majima assumes
the role of a client and practices how the customer is treated.  Raise the
likeability gauge by spicing up the conversation, and as a result, the cabaret
club girl will develop.  In addition, during Special Practice, besides
conversation with a client, you can use "Escort Practice" and such and take the
girl with you to prepare her for things like the Karaoke mini-game for when she
goe on escort dates.  In this game, you can look forward to talking to a girl
dressed up in the way you like in this mode.

04. Management Display
Once you're fully prepared, it's finally time to open the club.  As a manager,
you should send girls who fit with the likings of the clients who visit in order
to satisfy them.  As clients become more and more satisfied, they will spend
more and more money.  On the other hand, guests whose satisfaction level are low
will do things like get angry and leave or cause trouble, so take care.  The
various clients range from big spenders to poor folk.  In order to raise your
profits, it is essential to assess the prosperity of these people and change the
way they are treated accordingly. Also, it's not just the clients you need to
pay attention too--you also need to keep an eye on the cabaret club girls.  If
you keep girls who are tired or not in good condition working, there may be
instances of them leaving and taking lengthy absences.  It is necessary not to
just focus on the present, but to also try and appraise what will happen in the
future.  Supporting a cabaret club girl attending to a guest will also lower her
burden and have a positive effect.  Bringing things like new napkins, glasses,
or changing ash trais will help the girls and raise your profits even more.

05. Recruiting Cabaret Club Girls
By scouting around town or clearing sub-stories, you can gain cabaret club
girls.  No matter how talented they are, if you have few employees, it'll be
hard for your club to prosper.  The quick path to a popular store is to quickly
snatch up talented people by thoroughly scouring the town.

06. Fighting Rivals
Battles against rivals take the form of a competition as to who can make the
most money in a set period of time.  If you win, you'll be able to recruit the
rival shop's number-one girl.  On the other hand, if you lose, your club's
reputation will fall dramatically and you will lose many customers.  This is a
battle where the fate of your club is at stake, so be sure to make the necessary
preparations and countermeasures before getting into it.

New information from Ryuugagotoku Official Website!

Hey, Ryûga gotoku / Yakuza series fans!
They updated the website with a lot of information.  Here's most of it!
I'll get to the video soon, too!


NEW CHARACTER ON MAJIMA'S SIDE
Member of the Fifth Generation of the Ômi Alliance
Kijin Group Head
NISHITANI Homare
(Voice Actor: FUJIWARA Keiji)

Money, women, violence--a man faithful only to himself, he is driven solely by
his own desires.

Even within the giant syndicate, the Ômi Alliance, his often-unheard-of actions
cause quite a nuisance.

When this man, who desires battles risking the lives of strong fighters above
all else, meets up with Majima, the two cannot help but come head-to-head.


GAME SYSTEM
Money, Women, Violence.
A human pattern painted by a vortex of desire.

• MONEY (Kiryû's face)

KAMURO DISTRICT
"MONEY ISLAND"

In order to overcome a certain issue, Kiryû is entrusted with the management of
the real estate company he topples, and has expectations put upon him to show
some skills.

At that time, five billionaires bankrupted residents of the area and destroyed
their lives, constantly playing their "money game" in which they bought and
sold land rights and properties to turn a profit.  In order to return the Kamuro
District to its original state of peace and to wrest it from the hands of these
five, Kiryû steps into these "money games."

- Get the shops and businesses of Kamuro in your hands and make them succeed -
As Kamuro, the largest red light district in the East, grows and grows in the
vortex of money and desires, it has become a new game element:  "Kamuro: Money
Island."  To show his prowess, Kirû has been entrusted with the management of a
real estate company.  Take Kamuro for yourself by acquiring land rights in the
district, crowded with shops and businesses, and developing them with money,
networking, and--at times--your brains!  You can develop your properties by
making use of the people you encounter in side stories and changing the economy
and security of the area.  Your "money battle story" against your rivals, the
five billionaires who scheme to take Kamuro for themselves by the power of
money, will get bigger as you gain success in your management.


SÔTENBORI
"ENTERTAINMENT ISLAND"

After meeting with a certain person, Majima, who had made a name for himself
as the manager of "Cabaret Grand," has been entrusted with the management of a
new type of customer service business that had finally begun to appear on the
scene:  the "cabaret club (hostess club)."

However, this was just the start of a fierce management battle against a group
aiming to get ahold of the money and beautiful women fluttering about Sôtenbori
at night, the "Five Stars of Sôtenbori."

- Enter into a heated hostess club management battle and test your skills -
In this new element, "Sôtenbori: Entertainment Island," expanding in this game
with Sôtenbori as the backdrop, you can have fun with the hot-blooded management
battle story, managing a hostess club to compete with the 5 wicked rival clubs,
the "Five Stars of Sôtenbori."  You'll be able to experience the thrill of
customizing the shop and girls--of which there are 30!--to your liking.  Gather
a talented cast, use support of various agencies and companies to expand your
club, and win against your rivals in a business war.  If you skillfully get the
hang of management, to amass huge sums of money in the billions is not just a
daydream.


• WOMEN (some girl's face)

CAT FIGHTS

The largest Red Light District in the East, Kamuro, has an outlet for every kind
of lusty desire.  There is an extreme sort of gambling your average person
riding on this wave of excitement in the times would not know about, but is only
known to a select "different kind of person," the "Cat Fights."

Women of the finest beauty anyone calling themselves a man has dreamed of at
least once in their life come together, displaying their perfect skin to the
assembled, lusty men, and let out their not-so-gentle sides in all-out, hot-
blooded battles seemingly unimaginable from such beautiful faces.  It's really
a different kind of atmosphere.  With their faces warped in pain, giving stares
of animalistic anger, and with strange expressions of basking in pleasure, the
women are bathed in humiliating fashion to entertain the men staring at their
punching hands, at their legs as they throw each other.  These men, who cannot
satisfy their lusty urges through normal stimulation, spend a great deal of
money on them.

Each and every one of these young women, scantily clad to show off almost all of
their naked bodies, are going for the title of champion!

- Bet on sexy women! -
As a spectator, the player can bet on the fights--but there are two distinct
ways of betting:  to predict the winner of the tournament, and to predict the
winners and losers of each match.  When you predict the winner of the tourna-
ment, your payout depends on how much you bet.  However, if during the tour-
nament you feel the next match will be too hard, you can drop out.  You will
lose some money, but you can collect winnings up to that point.  If you choose
to bet on each and every match's outcome, you cannot drop out during a match.
However, when by chance you perfectly call the tournament, the huge payoff from
carry-over winnings will be split 50/50 with the tournament winner.
You can check information such as each player's physical condition, battle
records, and match-ups, so use both analysis of their results and your own gut
instinct, and aim for your chance to strike it rich!

- Cheer on the super-sexy girls of the matches with all your heart! -
Once you bet on a fighter, it's time to watch!  You can then cheer for the girl
you've selected.  Cheering involves things like a "rock-paper-scissors" game or
a "tap the button!" game--but how good a cheer you give all depends on you.
You can wait to see the super-sexy ultimate attacks of your favorite fighter,
or you can cheer your fighter on to victory with your controller in one hand,
if you wish [gross!!!!! wth, RgG Studio?!].
This peculiar new mini-game will bring you a new kind of experience, and a
particular flavor you can't find anywhere else.


PHONE CHAT LINES

For the first time in this series, we present the new mini-game:  a hot and
sexy mini-game in which women seduce men, the Phone Chat Lines men used to meet
women that were very popular in the '80s.

When you win a struggle of getting a phone call from a girl, you can start a
conversation with her.  Your conversation progresses as you blast through the
dialogue displayed on your screen as blocks in a shooting game.

Be careful!  If you make mistakes and hit the wrong blocks, the girl might
become angry and hang up.

If you manage to liven up the conversation and lighten the mood of the girl,
you can ask her out on a date--anticipate sexy scenes!  Doing things like play-
ing mini-games while on a date, you can get a girl's side story to open up.


• VIOLENCE

NEW BATTLE SYSTEM
In this entry to the series, there is no experience points meter; in order to
become stronger, "money is everything."  The "Powering Up" screen has been
remade so that you spend money to progress.

Doing things such as defeating opponents or knocking them down will give you
more money.  You can get a lot of money by hitting enemies with as strong an
attack as you can.

Of course, you don't just get money from fighting--you can also power up by
using your money acquired through Kamuro: Money Island, Sôtenbori: Entertain-
ment Island, gambling, and such.  Get new skills by using money from whichever
way mode of gameplay you're best at!


NEW BATTLE STYLE
Fight with three styles.
Both Kiryû and Majima, the protagonists in this game, have 3 styles apiece to
use.  Both of the protagonists' three styles, called "Base," "Speed," and
"Power Style," have their own special abilities--and, what's more, they have
the special flavors you'd expect for Kiryû and Majima.  There will be a follow-
up report on the acquisition of each style later.

Kiryû's Battle Styles:
Base Style:  STREET PUNK STYLE
  This style comes from Kiryû's experience with many street fights at his youth-
  ful age.  It's effective in fights from all aspects:  punching, kicking,
  grappling, and throwing.  What's more, he possesses the ability to reverse
  attacks when he's about to be hit by an enemy attack with a technique called
  "Tough-Guy Counter-Attack."  This is a powerful style that can be used to
  topple even powerful enemies on the battlefield in a manly slugfest.
Power Style:  DESTROYER STYLE
  This is a style focused on grabbing and swinging around the various items and
  enemies littering the battlefield.  It's focused not only on powerful bare-
  handed strikes and grapples, but also uses valuable shop signs and such lying
  about the battlefield as weapons.  Mainly, the powerful aspect of this style
  is swinging around the various weapons wielded fiercely, automatically picked
  up and equipped in sort-of an "automatic armed attack."  This style can be
  used to smash up weapons and enemies even when surrounded by an overwhelming
  number of opponents.
Speed Style:  RUSH STYLE
  This style is focused on super-fast combination punches and fancy footwork
  such as swaying and weaving.  Look for your opening and unleash a fury of
  attacks, and as the opponent responds, use fancy movements to evade them.
  Your basic battle plan should be to land enough quick strikes to get your
  opponent dizzy, then unleash a charge attack upon them.  By floating like a
  butterfly and stinging like a bee, you can defeat opponents without getting
  grazed by their attacks.

Majima's Battle Styles:
Base Style:  BRAWLING ARTIST STYLE
  This is young Majima's basic style.  Although one would notice right away his
  elegant attacks such as his kicking techniques and attacks that hit in all
  directions, his style is also focused on dirty fighting, using attacks to
  extremities such as eye pokes without hesitation.  Since it also has many
  grapples, just like Kiryû's "Brewling Style" [whoops--they used the wrong
  name?], it has a response to any type of fight.  This style has a sort of
  sharpness, where it's like slashing and stabbing enemies--even though he is
  unarmed.
Power Style:  SLUGGER STYLE
  This fighting style focuses on offense and defense with a baseball bat.  It
  possesses strong defense against enemy attacks--even those wielding blades--
  and heavy attacks that break opponents' guards.  Expect attacks that use a
  bat in creative ways, such as attacks that make it seem like a sword or
  nunchakus at times--not just a regular old baseball bat swing.  This powerful
  style can overcome a vast number of opponents with its two sides of "iron
  armor" and "iron hammer."
Speed Style:  DANCER STYLE
  This fighting style uses movements from breakdancing.  With it, Majima can
  pelt his opponents with super-fast flurries of spinning attacks.  There's also
  a powerful, secret ability that damages opponents greatly--an attack in which
  he pauses during spin attacks to strike a pose called "freezing."  Besides
  attacks, this style also showcases a lot of tricky action to confuse enemies.

ESCORT BATTLE
Show your machismo with this new battle system!

This title will a new battle system, "Escort Battle"--in which you save The
Blind Girl, the new heroine, from the clutches of the wicked.

Race through the streets as Majima, grasping the hand of the girl and guiding
her to safety.  When it looks like you're going to be met with the assassins
ordered to kill her along the way, hide in the crowd or buildings, and make it
through the ordeal.

There will be times when, no matter how hard you try, you will be spotted by
the assassins.  When that happens, use your body to protect the girl at all
costs and bash the assassins!

Battle to prove your manliness!

They've also announced that the theme song will be provided by the group Shônan
no Kaze.

TGS Show Info

Hey, Ryûga gotoku / Yakuza video game series nuts!

Got a Nikovideo account?  Then you can watch the following presentations for
the next few days:


9/18 @ 1:00 - 1:45pm (Japan time)
  Here are the sexy, popular actresses scheduled to appear in the game!
  (Hosts)
  NAGOSHI Toshihiro (Overall Director), YOKOYAMA Masayoshi (Producer)

  (Guests)
  ASAKURA Kotomi, ARIMURA Chika, UEHARA Ai, ÔTSUKI Hibiki, SAKURA Mana,
  SATÔ Haruki, SHIRAISHI Marina, TOMODA Ayaka, HATSUMI Saki [hostesses?]
  http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv192684314

9/19 @ 2:00 - 2:45pm (Japan time)
  Will actor Ozawa Hitoshi reveal an untold story?!
  (Hosts)
  NAGOSHI Toshihiro (Overall Director), YOKOYAMA Masayoshi (Producer)

  (Guest)
  OZAWA Hitoshi (actor) [KUSE Daisaku's VA]
  http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv192684355

9/20 @ 1:00 - 1:45pm (Japan time)
  Here are the two actors who made it through the "Zetsurinkun" audition!
  (Hosts)
  NAGOSHI Toshihiro (Overall Director), YOKOYAMA Masayoshi (Producer)

  (Guests)
  AKIMOTO Tomohito (comedian), HABU (comedian)
  ["Zetsurinkun" is a weird name for the audition meaning something like
  "'Absolute'-Ethic Guys" or some nonsense]
  http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv192684372

9/21 @ 2:00-3:00pm (Japan time)
  Confessions of the heart from the two leading roles?!
  (Hosts)
  NAGOSHI Toshihiro (Overall Director), YOKOYAMA Masayoshi (Producer)

  (Guests)
  KURODA Takaya (KIRYÛ Kazuma's VA), UGAKI Hidenari (MAJIMA Gorô's VA)
  http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv192684390

Probably, nothing much will be said beyond PR babble, but still....
I'm hoping more actual game videos are posted for the upcoming title!

Hi all!

They uploaded more info on the upcoming Ryûga gotoku 0 title on its official
page, so I figured I would post quick translations of the added characters.

Sorry the translations are weird but I didn't have time to rewrite them!
--Patrick

--CHARACTERS ON KIRYÛ'S SIDE OF THE STORY--

Junior Lieutenant of the Tôjô Association's Dôjima Group
Chairman of the Kuse Ken'ô Association
KUSE Daisaku
(Voice Actor:  OZAWA Hitoshi)

With his personal history as an ex-professional-boxer, he is a natural-born
gangster, exceptional in his skill at "violence" even among the Dôjima, which
is known as a faction of fighters for the Tôjô.

Now that the group's lieutenant, Kazama, is out of the picture, he essentially
tends to the affairs of the Dôjima Group.  As the most senior of the three
junior lieutenants, he is the closest to becoming the next lieutenant.


Junior Lieutenant of the Tôjô Association's Dôjima Group
Head of the Taihei House
AWANO Daiki
(Voice Actor:  TAKEUCHI Riki)

He's a hedonistic sort who goes with the flow and acts opportunistically with
the times.  However, beneath this exterior lies a cunning man who is
responsible for the Dôjima Group's ability to "intimidate," since he excels in
gathering a wide range of reliable information.

To his "elder brother" in the syndicate, Kuse, he puts up the front of the
obediant person who knows his place, but behind his back, he eagerly looks for
an opportunity to become the next Dôjima lieutenant and schemes plots to sur-
pass him.


Junior Lieutenant of the Tôjô Association's Dôjima Group
Head of the Shibusawa Group
SHIBUSAWA Keiji
(Voice Actor:  NAKANO Hideo)

Displaying both great talent and great accomplishment as a gangster, he is a
shrewd junior lieutenant.  As director of the "administrative affairs" of the
Dôjima Group, he excels in matters of finance.

As to the succession to the next lieutenant of the group, he currently trails
behind Kuse and Awano, but his true ability is inestimable.


President of Tachibana Realty
TACHIBANA Tetsu
(Voice Actor:  IURA Arata)

President of Tachibana Realty, a real estate company in the Kamuro District.

In the district of Kamuro--already crowded with countless restaurants, sex
clubs, and the like--he is king of shady realty, known to be able to secure
any new property.  To that end, he will not hesitate to use any means
necessary.

Although he displays the mild-mannered disposition and refinement of a natural
gentleman, in the Kamuro District in which only the Tôjô Association gets the
gravy, he also has ambitions to be one of this ruling class, himself.

He approaches Kiryû because of a certain incident and tries to gain his trust
as an ally.  His real intentions, however, are shrouded in mystery.


Employee of the real estate agency Tachibana Realty
ODA Jun
(Voice Actor:  KONISHI Katsuyuki)

An employee of Tachibana Reality known as a specialist in real estate takeovers.

He may look wimpy at first glance, but he's a very brave man who shows no fear
even in the face of the yakuza.  Making full use of his vast financial power and
dense information network, he continually takes over land with an assertiveness
that puts the yakuza to shame.

As the person in Tachibana Realty who decides what to do with the various sites,
he is President Tachibana's right-hand man.


Head of the Tôjô Association's Dôjima Group
DÔJIMA Sôhei
(Voice Actor:  EGAWA Hisao)
[NOTE:  New voice actor--in the first two games was reportedly played by
MIZUKI Ryûji--same as SERA Masaru?]

Full of ruthless ferocity and a greedy desire for success, he does not choose
his actions based on whether something is legal or not.  As a hard worker who
has built the Tôjô Association to this vast size, he proudly boasts having
strongest and greatest power among the many group heads in the syndicate.

At present, he has his eyes on succeeding the second chairman of the Tôjô
Association, which continues in an "acting agent" system, and sets his sights on
the acquisition of the vast land rights needed for the Kamuro District renewal
project.

Knowing the "empty space of about a square meter" is the key to the project, he
sets his three junior lieutenants to work.


Junior Member of the Tôjô Association's Dôjima Group
NISHIKIYAMA Akira
(Voice Actor:  NAKAYA Kazuhiro)

Growing up alongside Kiryû in the "Sunflower" Orphanage, he follows his
benefactor and joins the Dôjima Group.  Seeing Kiryû as family from a young age,
he now regards him as "elder brother" in the syndicate.

In contrast to Kiryû, he only possesses the knack for skillful politcking as a
gangster, and has the will to rise up inside the syndicate's ranks.  Because of
this, he has come to view Kiryû as lacking in that he does not seem interested
in pushing himself forward in the world of the yakuza.

However, at the same time, he has another side to him--he's always looking after
his sickly younger sister.


Lieutenant of the Kazama Group of the Tôjô Association's Dôjima Group
KASHIWAGI Osamu
(Voice Actor:  SAKUYA Shunsuke)

As Kazama's right-hand man, he is a yakuza of remarkable ability whose name is
well known in the Kamuro District.  Strict in etiquette and sentiment for duty,
he does not go lightly on those who do not pull their weight in the syndicate.

Because Kiryû directly belongs to the Dôjima Group, and by official title,
Kashiwagi is a member of the tertiary group beneath the Dôjima, the Kazama
Group, Kashiwagi is technically lower in station.  However, Kiryû, Nishikiyama,
and the like view him as a much-older brother who is more fearsome than anything
in the world.

Since he has been trusted with the management of a substantial group by Kazama,
he also commands a great deal of respect from those outside his organization.


Lieutenant of the Tôjô Association's Dôjima Group
Head of the Kazama Group
KAZAMA Shintarô
(Voice Actor:  WATARI Tetsuya)

An exceptional yakuza who possesses both talent and character, he is been 
such a driving force in support of the Dôjima Group that he could be called the
most powerful.

Besides that, he set up the "Sunflower" orphanage as a personal matter, which
looks after young children with no families.  Kiryû and Nishikiyama, who grew up
at the orphanage, adore him the same as they would their true father.

Ever since a raid on a gambling event hosted by the Kazama group a half a year
ago, he has been incarcerated.  In the absence of his power, his post as
lieutenant of the Dôjima Group is currently being pursued by his three junior
lieutenants.


--CHARACTERS ON MAJIMA'S SIDE OF THE STORY--

Member of the 5th Generation Ômi Alliance
Head of the Sagawa Group
SAGAWA Tsukasa
(Voice Actor:  TSURUMI Shingo)

As "warden" to Majima, who is under sort-of a house arrest in the Sôtenbori,
he holds the power of life and death over him.

Although in a different syndicate, he is like a "yakuza brother" to Shimano,
head of the Shimano Group and ex-boss of Majima.  It is because of this bond
that he is entrusted with Majima while he is expelled from Tokyo for the
time being.

He has a playful attitude and an informal way of speaking.  He swaggers
around the streets at night in a manner unlike a yakuza.  However, if any-
thing is even slightly not the way he would like it to be, he will show his
violent side.  He's an extremely dangerous man.

Sagawa gives Majima an order, and if Majima fulfills it, he will return him to
the life of the yakuza.  However, this order will wrap two people up into a
great destiny....


Employee of "Unravelled Pleasure Palace," a "Seitai" Physical Therapeutic Clinic
on the Outskirts of Sôtenbori
THE BLIND GIRL
(Voice Actor:  SAWASHIRO Miyuki)

Both of her eyes almost completely lack sight, but she makes a living with
her skills as a "seitai" (physical therapy similar to chiropractics or reiki).

Thinking that perhaps her little corner of the gorgeous Sôtenbori had been
left behind by the boom of the times, she was able to live a quiet life.
However, because of a certain incident, she is dragged into a bloody war among
the yakuza.


Master of "Unravelled Pleasure Palace," a "Seitai" Physical Therapeutic Clinic
on the Outskirts of Sôtenbori
A CERTAIN SEITAI MASTER
(Voice Actor:  ???) [NOTE:  What the heck?]

His rugged exterior doesn't match his compassionate inner self.  His skills as
a therapist are so great that he has earned himself the name "God Hand."

However, the sharp glare in his eyes from time to time would cause someone to
doubt him.  Perhaps even this person has some "secret side" he does not divulge
to others....

Hi all!  Thought I might throw up the character bios we got thus far as well.
Enjoy!
--Patrick

Ryûga gotoku 0 ZERO ~Chikai no basho~

"Money, women, and violence:
The destiny of young men
swept up in the maelstrom of desires."


The "Dragon" Awaiting Its Awakening
KIRYÛ KAZUMA, age 20
(Voice Actor: KURODA Takaya)

The Tôjô Association--the largest yakuza organization in Japan's Kantô Region.
He is a member of their immediate second-in-command entity, the Dôjima Group.

Losing his parents at an early age, he grew up at the "Sunflower"orphanage
established by the Dôjima Group's lieutenant, Kazama Shintarô.
[NOTE:  Kazama's name was changed to Fuma in the official English translation of 
the first two titles]

And so, when he grew up, as if to follow in Kazama's footsteps, he officially
entered the Dôjima Group. The Dôjima are known as the strongest group of
brawlers among the Tôjô, and Kiryû, as one of its members, is no exception,
slinking around in the Kamuro District at night.

But then, an impossible situation is thrust upon those within the Dôjima Group,
spearheaded by a certain murder in an area of "land sharks" scheming behind the
scenes to drive land prices up.  The brunt of the predicament reached even as
far as Kiryû's benefactor, Kazama.

In order to protect a person so dear to him, Kiryû decides to leave the Dôjima.
However, the 3 assistant lieutenants of the Dôjima stand in the way of his
intentions.

A tiny vacant lot known as "the empty square meter" alone holds the key to the
resolution of this crisis....


The "Dog" Locked in a Cage
MAJIMA GORÔ, age 24
(Voice Actor: UGAKI Hidenari)

Majima is the manager of "Grand," a hostess club exceptionally popular in the
Sôtenbori town in Osaka.  Because of his skillfulness in being able to raise
Grand's popularity in such a short amount of time, people called him "Emperor
of the Night."

However, he is, in actuality, an ex-yakuza in a position from which there is no
escape--and which is not pleasant at all--of a "domesticated animal," for his
betrayal of the Tôjô Association to which he used to belong.

Following his attempts to save his "older brother" yakuza, Saejima Taiga, from
harsh imprisonment for betraying the will of the Tôjô in an assault on a rival
syndicate, Majima has had his fangs pulled.

A single chance is presented to Majima, spending days as the manager of Grand,
from which there seems no escape, to return to the Tôjô.

This chance is that he eliminate a certain person by his own hand....

PROLOGUE

December, 1988.  While the people of Japan shivered in a cold snap that was in
full swing, a small area of 400 square meters in Tokyo was so full of hot
excitement that it was almost like another world.

The Kamuro District--the greatest Red Light District in the East.  Suits,
handbags, watches--hundreds of thousands of people dressed themselves up for
the sensation of wearing silly, luxury brands.  It was a cheerful, optimistic
time.  Each and every one believed they could get their hands on whatever their
heart desired.

However, in this town where cash was king, the men knew there was one thing
money could not buy.

Namely, it was a vacant lot of land called "the empty square meter," born by
chance in an instant in the town full of concrete buildings.

At that time, a fierce battle began to emerge behind the scenes in the
underground societies of the Kamuro District concerning the rights of a certain
project: "The 21st Century Kamuro District Renovation Plan."  This was the name
given to the plan--a plan whose land rights were of utmost importance.

This redevelopment plan erupted suddenly in this major district, crowded with
myriad restaurants, strip clubs, hostess bars, and other such night life
places.  To those who had ruled the district thus far, this was basically a
"tear down the old, and build up from the ground-up" movement.

Who could provide the "final piece" of land needed for the construction of the
Milennium Tower, a huge complex of commercial facilities?  Thus, the curtain
was raised on the struggle to determine the next ruler of the Kamuro District.

The people of the region on the surface took pleasure in the money-driven age
of desire.  The men behind the scenes were people who squeezed every last drop
out of this desire, and people who aimed to take things even further....

The Kamuro District was a miraculous place where those on the surface and those
behind the scenes--the "white" and the "black"--intermingled with each other in
perfect balance.

There was a young man in a certain corner of this district who was still
halfway--neither one of said "white," nor "black."

He was Kiryû Kazuma, 20-year-old junior member of the Dôjima Group of the Tôjô
Association.  He was able at fighting, but not very amiable.  He possessed no
skill at deceiving others.

In these days, the youngsters of the underground who could not skillfully use
the two "powers" of violence and money were forced to take the odd job of
collecting money in back alleys, hidden from prying eyes.

He didn't know what he wanted.
He had no dreams for the future.
Just a young yakuza, mindlessly floating adrift in the age of desire--this was
the man called Kiryû Kazuma.

But then, one night, when Kiryû was sent to collect a debt, something major
happened....

In the vacant space of about one meter between the buildings in the very center
of the Kamuro District--the "empty square meter"--a murder took place.

Becoming one of the suspects in the case, Kiryû is suddenly dragged into the
vortex of desire of the men seeking power.

Of course, he had no idea about the the vast conspiracy behind the scenes,
involving the Tôjô Association--and the Dôjima Group....

As the shadows of unrest befell the Kamuro District, there was a corner of the
Kansai region as hot as Kamuro:  the great Red Light District of Osaka,
Sôtenbori.  This town was also decorated in colorful neon lights and full of
people crazed with the passion of the age.

Just as the Kamuro District had the Tôjô Association behind the scenes, the
Sôtenbori had the largest group of yakuza in Western Japan, the powerful Ômi
Alliance. 

There was a man in this town called "The Emperor of the Night."  As a club
manager, he took a hostess club on the verge of closing and catapulted it
suddenly to the most popular club in all of Sôtenbori.

This man was the 24-year-old manager of "Cabaret Grand," Majima Gorô.

Mastering sophisticated poise, he showed almost abnormal dedication, always
saying "The customer is God."  Seen moving about gallantly in the dazzling
lights, he was like a "darling of the age," able to get all the money and fame
he desired.

But to him, all this was just a front.

The real reason Majima was forced to live in center stage here was punishment
for his crime of betrayal in the past....

He was a discarded man, exiled from the world of the yakuza after harsh torture
when he went against the orders of the group to which he had pledged his life
and limb.  The punishment given to this man, who was not allowed back into the
life of the yakuza, was to continue living while making money for them--under
their watchful eye--in the giant "cage" of the Sôtenbori.  Waiting for his
friend to return from prison, Majima accepted this punishment, focused single-
mindedly on the chance to return to the life of the yakuza....

Then, one day, the golden opportunity to leave his "cage" came to Majima.
However, if he made this choice, there would never be any going back....

Two men, marginalized in the age.。

These men will be wrapped up in various desires and intentions, and become
swallowed up by the struggle over the "empty square meter."

Now, the story of one era ends, and two new legends begin.