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Yakuza games kanji info 23
Morning Glory children
The heart of the Dragon.
(This will be a little bit different from the other ones as it contains multiple characters. Saki is included because why not. Please forgive the poorly edited family photo)
- About the morning glory itself (あさがお, ‘asagao’): This plant was very popular during the Edo period. It was initially introduced into Japan as a medicinal plant, but it was later sought for its ephemeral, colorful beauty. Its popularity grew after the plant developed new colors and shapes through natural mutations. The orphanage named after the plant certainly has a healing factor on Kiryu. A peaceful life surrounded by nature and his beloved children is what he deserves after all the pain he's suffered. Unfortunately, later games would show that this happiness, like the morning glory's flower, is only temporary.
Now, let’s see the kids:
Ayako (綾子)
綾 aya = design, figured cloth, twill
子 ko = child
- Twill is a durable and versatile type of fabric used to make a great variety of high quality clothes. This is quite fitting for the ever dependable second eldest child, the one who works with Haruka and Kiryu to help everyone else with various tasks. We could say that Ayako, who acts like a mother to the others, is like a protective and warm 'cloth' that wraps itself around the other children.
Taichi (太一)
太 ta = plump, thick, big around
一 ichi = one
- The kanji 太 in his name could be related to his heavy build, which should come in handy to achieve his dream of becoming a professional wrestler to provide for his family. The kanji 一 could be related to his status as the oldest boy in the orphanage.
Koji (宏次, Kōji)
宏 ko (kou, kō) = wide, large
次 ji = next, order, sequence
- His name could be related to how he tries to share the sport he loves with others. Koji's event shows him welcoming and encouraging a lonely boy to play baseball with the rest of the kids. Subsequent games show that Mitsuo, who learnt how to play the sport from Koji, ends up being the more skilled player out of the two.
Mitsuo (三雄)
三 mitsu = three
雄 o = masculine, male, hero, leader, superiority, excellence
- The kanji 三 could be related to his status as the third oldest boy. The kanji 雄 and its meaning of 'hero' definitely appear when Mitsuo confronts the children that were cruel to Riona and later comforts her.
Riona (理緒奈)
理 ri = logic, arrangement, reason, justice, truth
緒 o = thong, beginning, inception, end, cord, strap, mental or emotional state
奈 na = Nara, what?
- Here we have many meanings that could relate to Riona, her family history and her event. Riona feels very insecure about herself because of the burn marks she has on her arms. She refuses to let anyone see them, as she believes people will consider the scars, and thus Riona herself, disgusting. It is most likely that Mitsuo's heroic rescue and kindness helped her realize that the people who really matter are the ones who accept her and love her for who she is, regardless of how she looks like.
Eri (エリ, 絵里)
絵 e = picture, drawing, painting, sketch
里 ri = village, parent's home, league
- The kanji 里 gives us the meanings 'village' and 'parent's home,' which convey the idea of a small community and a place where you feel welcome. During her personal event, Eri explains that she stole Ayako's money to hang out with her friends, who never invite her to join them because they know her allowance is small and she can't afford to ask for more. She is so happy to be invited for the first time that she resorts to stealing just to be able to finally hang out with them.
Note: Eri's name is originally written in katakana, but it appears written in kanji in the orphanage's chores board (source: Yakuza Wiki). Katakana and hiragana are forms of syllabic writing, composed of sounds that make up words or expressions and indicate how to read kanji. Characters from both systems, besides kanji, are accepted forms to write names. Hiragana includes all the sounds/syllables used in Japanese words. Katakana has many uses, but it appears mostly in foreign words that are made up of sounds that are different from the ones heard in Japanese. Other uses include animal names (like マメ 'Mame'), onomatopoeias or word emphasis, among others.
On a similar note, the other important Eri, Eri Kamataki from Yakuza: Like a Dragon, has her name written in hiragana (鎌滝 えり, Kamataki Eri). This Eri, however, is based on an actual person, so here we have a real life example of a name written in syllables.
Shiro (志郎, Shirō)
志 shi = intention, plan, resolve, aspire, motive, hopes, shilling
郎 ro (rou, rō) = son
- The kanji 志 could be related to his determination to endure the bullying in order to protect the orphanage and to his resolve to stand up for himself and face the bully that threatened his family's home once Kiryu assures him that Morning Glory won't be targeted if Shiro fights back.
Izumi (泉)
泉 izumi = spring, fountain
- She is the only Morning Glory child with a nature-related name and also the one who is interested in dogs. A 'spring' is a natural source of water that may form streams or lakes and support the animals and plants living around it. Our Izumi may not be a source of water, but she is the reason why the beloved pet Mame joined the family.
Saki (咲)
咲 saki = blossom, bloom
- Poor Saki is a gentle and shy flower who endured a horrible and traumatic childhood that left her mute and seemingly unreachable. Her bond of mutual love with her adoptive father and the friends she finds in Morning Glory finally allow her to break out of her shell, recover her voice and bloom.
Extra: There almost exists a number theme with the boys and their ages. Taichi and Mitsuo have kanji for numbers in their names, and these may reflect that they are the first and third oldest boys, respectively. Koji (second oldest) and Shiro (fourth and youngest) do not follow this pattern. However, the pronunciation of some of the kanji they do have is similar to the pronunciation of the kanji for numbers 2 and 4. The kanji 二 means 'two' and can be read as 'ji,' and the kanji 四 means 'four' and can be read as 'shi.' As examples, we have Joji Kazama (風間 譲二, Kazama Jōji) and Seishiro Munakata (宗像 征四郎, Munakata Seishirō). We could say that Koji and Shiro sort of continue the pattern, at least when it comes to pronunciation.
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Yakuza games kanji info 22
Saeko Mukoda (向田 紗栄子, Mukōda Saeko)
The quick-witted beauty who really packs a punch.
向 muko (mukou, mukō) = yonder, facing, beyond, confront, defy, tend toward, approach
田 da = rice field, rice paddy
紗 sa = gauze, gossamer
栄 e = flourish, prosperity, honor, glory, splendor
子 ko = child
- About her family name: The kanji 向 has many meanings that apply to Saeko's circumstances or personality quite well. 'Yonder, facing, beyond' could be related to her relationship with her estranged family. She longs to be with them again, but she is fully aware that they haven't forgiven her, so she does her best to protect them afar. 'Confront, defy' certainly relate to her fiery, blunt and intimidating demeanor when she's dealing with her enemies (and sometimes her friends). 'Tend toward, approach' relate to her wish to return to her family, but also to her need for companionship. There is a massive change in her attitude once she feels the rest of the party genuinely welcomes and values her.
- About her given name: The kanji 紗 refers to 'silk gauze,' which is a delicate-looking fabric that is actually quite strong. We can say this certainly applies to a beautiful woman who can use her charms to fool the enemy into thinking she is weak and harmless and then deliver a vicious beat down like any of the male fighters she encounters.
Saeko's overbearing personality is what caused her father and twin sister to distance themselves from her. She felt the need to protect them both in place of her late mother. All she really wanted was for her family to 'prosper,' but they both felt she was trying to control all aspects of their lives. After she left home, Saeko successfully adapted to the hostess and bar management work, learning skills and meeting people that would eventually prove to be huge assets to her. Forming bonds with her new friends and finding a new place where she belongs will definitely bring Saeko herself the chance to 'flourish' and be happy.
Saeko is prone to use dirty tactics during battle, but she displays the 'honor' aspects of her name in two particular instances. First, when she decides to join the party to discover who killed Nonomiya. Moments before that, she considered him just her sleazy boss. Once she realizes that he really cared about Nanoha and was worried about their father, she decides to repay him by bringing his killer to justice. The other instance is when she convinces the rest of the party to accept Seong-hui's request to buy time for the Geomijul to destroy the evidence of the counterfeiting scheme. Saeko, who was initially suspicious and wary of Seong-hui, acknowledges that the other proud woman would only bow her head for help in a genuine and desperate situation.
Extra - Here are some character names that have the same kanji with the same pronunciation:
(田 da) 品田 辰雄, Shinada Tatsuo
(田 da) 石尾田 礼二, Ishioda Reiji
(子 ko) 冴島 靖子, Saejima Yasuko
(子 ko) 鳥山 美恵子, Toriyama Mieko
Extra 2 - Here are some character names that have the same kanji but with a different pronunciation:
(田 ta) 荻田 冠, Ogita Kan
(田 ta) 田中 シンジ, Tanaka Shinji
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Yakuza games kanji info 21
Masato Aizawa (相沢 聖人, Aizawa Masato)
The black koi fast-tracking his way to the Dragon’s Gate.
相 ai = inter-, mutual, together, each other, minister of state, councillor, aspect, phase, physiognomy
沢 zawa = swamp, marsh, brilliance, grace
聖 masa = holy, saint, sage, master, priest
人 to = person
- About his family name: The kanji 相 has many meanings. As a prefix, it means 'mutual,' 'together' or any similar expression used to refer to a relationship with a second party. Aizawa is first introduced as a Tojo bodyguard, but it turns out he is actually working with his father Kurosawa and his many accomplices to take over both the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance. This large scheme requires the cooperation of many people, but in the end the one who will benefit the most is Aizawa himself. As a noun, 相 can mean 'aspect' or 'physiognomy.' Aizawa initially looks and acts like a humble and respectful bodyguard concerned about the people he is supposed to be protecting. He eventually reveals he is actually an ambitious, power-hungry and proud man.
Like his father, his family name also has a kanji that means 'swamp' or 'marsh,' but in this case, it can also mean 'brilliance' or 'grace.' Aizawa is an important part of Kurosawa's secret plan, but he would rather take care of business directly, with his own hands. He is the one who will inherit Kurosawa's "grace" when he dies.
- About his given name: It's an indication of the role his father chose for him: Aizawa is to become the leader of the two largest criminal organizations in Japan. He is the "holy saint" who has received this gift from his father. Unlike a sage, a master or a priest, he has not achieved this position through his own efforts, but he challenges Kiryu to prove he deserves to be at the top.
Extra - Here are some characters that have the same kanji with the same pronunciation in their names:
(沢 sawa) 大沢 あずさ, Ōsawa Azusa
(沢 sawa) 沢城 丈, Sawashiro Jō
(人 to) 荒瀬 和人, Arase Kazuto
(人 to) 田頭 直人, Tagashira Naoto
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Yakuza games kanji info 20
Tsubasa Kurosawa (黒澤 翼, Kurosawa Tsubasa)
The lurking schemer about to make his ultimate move.
黒 kuro = black
澤 sawa = swamp
翼 tsubasa = wing, plane, flank
- About his family name: The kanji 澤 (sawa, 'swamp') is used in the family names of other characters in the series, always preceded or followed by another kanji that may, or may not, have a significant meaning for the character in question. What is interesting in this case is the kanji 黒 (kuro, 'black') that comes before 澤 and how it relates to the character in particular. The image of a black swamp is quite powerful: it's a dark, difficult and potentially dangerous area to navigate. You'll most likely be unable to see the well-placed trap you're about to fall into. You may even mistake a friend for a foe (or vice versa). Kurosawa operates from the shadows and uses pragmatism, treacherous schemes and violence to achieve his goals. He is a ruthless man who seeks to destroy the old-school, charismatic yakuza of both the Tojo and the Omi because he deems them unworthy and unqualified for leadership.
- About his given name: Kurosawa always sought to spread his wings and gain power and authority within the yakuza since his awful beginning in the Kuroha Family. He achieves this by becoming the 7th Chairman of the Omi Alliance after using underhanded and clever means. Now that he found out he doesn't have much time left to live, he forms a plan to ensure that his bastard son, who still has not spread his own wings, inherits the leadership of both criminal groups.
Extra - He and his son, Masato Aizawa, ended up having similar-sounding family names that are written with two different kanji that have the same meaning (’swamp’). Kurosawa’s fake name also has a kanji with the same meaning.
黒澤 (Kurosawa) - 相沢 (Aizawa) - 芹沢 (Serizawa)
澤 sawa = swamp
沢 zawa = swamp, marsh, brilliance, grace
Extra 2 - Here are some characters that also have the kanji 澤 in their names with the same pronunciation:
澤村 遥, Sawamura Haruka
渋澤 啓司, Shibusawa Keiji
澤田 有希, Sawada Yūki
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Yakuza games kanji info 19
Yumi Sawamura (澤村 由美, Sawamura Yumi)
The lovely flower made of steel.
...also known as:
Mizuki Sawamura (澤村 美月, Sawamura Mizuki)
澤 sawa = swamp
村 mura = village, town
由 yu = wherefore, a reason
美 mi = beauty, beautiful
- About her given name: Yumi is the one who kickstarts more than one significant series of events, whether willingly or unwillingly.
Nishiki kills Dojima to save her. Kiryu takes the fall to protect Nishiki. The lonely and underestimated Nishikiyama becomes a ruthless man while Kiryu is in jail for 10 years.
She works with Kazama and Sera to steal Jingu’s money. Nishiki found out and revealed it to the Tojo Clan, prompting a massive hunt for the money and the girl who is the key to get to it.
Her disappearance brings Kiryu and Haruka together to look for her, eventually forming a deep bond of mutual love and trust between them.
She dies taking a bullet to protect both her beloved daughter and the man she had always loved, ensuring their survival and giving Kiryu a powerful reason to retire from the criminal underworld.
Of course the protagonist’s love interest has a kanji in her name that means ‘beauty.‘ In fact, if you find a woman in the series who has the syllable ‘mi‘ in her name, then her name is most likely written with this same kanji.
美 mi = beauty, beautiful
月 zuki = month, moon
She kept the kanji 美 for her other name/her sister’s name. It’s not uncommon to see siblings with similar names that have the same kanji. Now the ‘moon’ part is interesting: the japanese name of her symbolic tattoo, the Queen of the Night, is 月下美人, read as ‘gekkabijin’ - literally “moonlight beauty.” As you can see, the plant’s name has the same kanji as Mizuki.
What about the meaning of the moon itself? From greenshinto.com: “For Buddhism, the full moon is a symbol of enlightenment, and the phases of the moon indicative of the ever-changing nature of life. Nothing is constant except change itself. For Shinto the moon is a symbol of the wonder, beauty and awe of natural phenomenon, compelling realisation of mankind’s place within Daishizen (Greater Nature), a true creature of the environment.“ We can see Yumi changing ‘phases‘ like the moon as the story develops: the innocent childhood friend and first love, the amnesiac new mother fighting for survival and the determined, courageous woman who works against her enemies and makes sacrifices for the sake of the ones she loves.
Extra - Here are some characters with the same kanji in their names:
(澤 sawa) 澤田 有希, Sawada Yūki
(村 mura) 谷村 正義, Tanimura Masayoshi
(美 mi) 宇佐美 勇太, Usami Yūta
Extra 2 - Here are other ladies who also have the kanji 美 (mi) in their names, as mentioned above:
笠原 清美, Kasahara Kiyomi
鳥山 美恵子, Toriyama Mieko
朴 美麗, Paku Mirei
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Yakuza games kanji info 18
Masato Arakawa (荒川 真斗, Arakawa Masato)
The brother who seeks to overcome his own limitations.
...and here we have his other identity:
Ryo Aoki (青木 遼, Aoki Ryō)
The ambitious and ruthless Governor of Tokyo.
Both names have aspects of his character as a whole. Let’s start with his real name, Masato Arakawa:
荒 ara = laid waste, rough, rude, wild
川 kawa = stream, river
真 masa = true, reality
斗 to = Big Dipper, sake dipper
- About his family name: Similar to his father, he ends up living up to the meaning of his family name: As Aoki, he never hesitates to use the manpower of the Omi Alliance to destroy his enemies or anyone he considers an obstacle to his plans, including the innocent civilians that live in and depend on the ‘gray zones’ he intends to wipe out.
- About his given name: ‘Masato’ is a combination of the 真 (masa) in Masumi and the 斗 (to) in Toshio, his grandfather’s name. Like Arakawa himself, Masato subverts the meaning of his name: He fakes his death, takes a new name and pretends to be the friendly, kind and concerned politician that will change the future of Japan. Ichiban even mentions at one point that Masato got so used to this new Aoki persona that he forgot who he really was.
I found something interesting about the kanji 斗 that could be related to how Masato/Aoki sees his role as governor. It seems it can mean both Big Dipper and Little Dipper. I also found it’s called ‘Chinese Dipper’ and it refers in particular to the Little Dipper, where the famous North/Pole Star is located. In any case, the names overlap because of the ancient worship of these stars and their Buddhist deity Myōken, nowadays also known as his Shintō counterpart Ame no Minakanushi. From onmarkproductions.com: “Myōken was venerated under various guises as the central star controlling all other celestial bodies, one believed to control the life and fortunes of the people, one who protected not only the emperor and country, but also warded off diseases, prevented calamities of fire and other disasters, increased life spans, and healed eye diseases.”
Now, let’s see Ryo Aoki:
青 ao = blue, green
木 ki = tree, wood
遼 ryo (ryou, ryō) = distant
- About his family name: 青木 (aoki) is the Japanese laurel; spotted laurel; Aucuba japonica. These colorful, ornamental plants are very versatile and can thrive in very difficult enviroments. They are quite durable and prefer shady places. Masato himself, as Aoki, adapted quite quickly to the world of politics, even learning how to effectively manipulate people to gain the support he needed to achieve his goals. He uses his secret ties to the yakuza world to control his enviroment and thrive.
- About his given name: Masato is a man that didn’t see what he had until it was too late. He was so focused on gaining the power and recognition he felt he needed that he completely turned his back on the only three men that genuinely cared for him since day one. He used them and even tried to kill them when he considered they were either his enemies or no longer useful to him. We play as his caring brother figure Ichiban, who is desperately trying to get close to him and save him from himself.
Extra - Here are the kanji in the names of the other Arakawa men, who he is named after:
荒川 真斗, Arakawa Masato
荒川 斗司雄, Arakawa Toshio
Extra 2 - Here are some characters with the same kanji as Ryo Aoki in their names, with the same or different pronunciations:
(青 ao) 青山 稔, Aoyama Minoru
(木 gi) 柏木 修, Kashiwagi Osamu
(遼 ryo) 高島 遼, Takashima Ryō
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An odd request, but how about ukyo Tatsuya from the kurohyou spinoff?
I'm sorry! I haven't played Kurohyou yet and I forgot to mention this in the pinned post. I was waiting for the K1 English patch of the new group before playing their K2 patch. I can only tell you what the kanji in his name mean. The only information I have about Tatsuya is from the wiki, so I can't really add details like I do with the others. I'll make a proper post for him after I play the game.
Tatsuya Ukyo (右京 龍也, Ukyō Tatsuya)
右 u = right
京 kyo (kyou, kyō) = capital
龍 tatsu = dragon, imperial
也 ya = to be
From what I read in the Yakuza Wiki, it seems his given name is related to the title he eventually earns: "The Mad Dragon of Kamuro." Apparently, he was (is) quite violent and will mature as the story develops. It seems his personal growth will give him more dragon-like qualities.
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Yakuza games kanji info 17
Masumi Arakawa (荒川 真澄, Arakawa Masumi)
An unreadable man with strong paternal instincts.
荒 ara = laid waste, rough, rude, wild
川 kawa = stream, river
真 ma = true, reality
澄 sumi = lucidity, be clear, clear, clarify, settle, strain, look grave
- About his family name: This is quite the name for the man who would eventually become the first patriarch of a family of ‘assassins.‘ He is shown to go from calm to wild quite quickly without losing his composure (unless his family is involved). Like I mentioned in the post about Saejima’s name, rivers can be nurturing or destructive. In the case of Arakawa, we can see both aspects as the story develops: the caring father and the coldhearted traitor.
- About his given name: Arakawa both displays and subverts the meanings of the kanji in his name. His background as an actor allows him to play the traitor quite convincingly and confuse even Ichiban. We don’t find out he is, and had always been, a Tojo loyalist until we hear it from his own mouth later in the game. He shows his honest, actual feelings and thoughts when talking alone with Ichiban.
Extra - He has the same family name as his parents and his son. Masato’s name is a combination of the 真 (masa) in Masumi and the 斗 (to) in Toshio, his grandfather’s name.
荒川 斗司雄, Arakawa Toshio
荒川 よう子, Arakawa Yōko
荒川 真斗, Arakawa Masato
Extra 2 - Other characters with the same kanji in their names, with the same or different pronunciations, are:
(荒 ara) 荒瀬 和人, Arase Kazuto
(川 kawa) 達川 修, Tatsukawa Shū
(川 gawa) 佐川 司, Sagawa Tsukasa
(真 ma) 真島 吾朗, Majima Gorō
(真 makoto) 伊達 真, Date Makoto
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Yakuza games kanji info 16
Osamu Kashiwagi (柏木 修, Kashiwagi Osamu)
Stern man and sturdy pillar of the Tojo Clan.
柏 kashiwa = oak, cypress
木 gi = tree, wood
修 osamu = discipline, conduct oneself well, study, master
- About his family name: The 柏 (kashiwa) kanji in his name specifically refers to the daimyo oak/Japanese emperor oak (Quercus dentata). In general, oaks are symbols of strength, endurance, prosperity and longevity. The daimyo oak in particular is used in Japanese cuisine: the kashiwa mochi (柏餅), eaten on Children’s Day, is wrapped in a leaf of daimyo oak. This leaf is not edible but it’s used as a symbol for the parent’s wish for their children to grow strong like an oak. The daimyo oak’s old leaves don’t fall until new shoots sprout, so the leaves used in kashiwa mochi also represent the wish for parents to live long enough to see their children prosper (source: sudachirecipes.com/kashiwa-mochi). Our Kashiwagi certainly fits the oak’s description as a physically strong man and valuable ally that eventually founds an organization that helps former yakuza find a way to prosper as civilians. Y7 shows Kashiwagi’s oak aspects of endurance and longevity.
I can’t help making the connection between the latter use of the oak leaves for mochi and Kashiwagi’s sort of “guardian/older brother” relationship with Kiryu and Nishiki in Y0 and later with Daigo in Y2 and Y3.
I also found something interesting in Jisho.org: 柏木 (kashiwagi) is an archaism meaning “imperial palace guard.“ You’d want only the best to keep the palace safe, right? Our man Kashiwagi has a long and loyal career in the Tojo Clan, even working shoulder to shoulder with three generations of prominent yakuza: Kazama, Kiryu and Daigo.
- About his given name: Kashiwagi is a very stern man that offers valuable support and assistance to Kazama, Kiryu and the Tojo Clan itself. In Y3, we see him as the responsible and loyal supporter of a still fresh Chairman Daigo. Contrast the calm and collected Kashiwagi to Majima, the battle-ready enforcer.
Extra - Here are other characters with the same kanji in their names, with the same or different pronunciations:
(木 ki) 青木 遼, Aoki Ryō
(木 ki) 米木 染太郎, Komeki Sometarō
(修 shu) 達川 修, Tatsukawa Shū
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Yakuza games kanji info 15
Tetsu Tachibana (立華 鉄, Tachibana Tetsu)
Steadfast ally and priceless friend.
立 tachi = stand up, rise, set up
華 bana = splendor, flower, petal, shine, luster, ostentatious, showy, gay, gorgeous
鉄 tetsu = iron
- About his family name: the 立 (tachi) part appears in many forms. Tachibana Real Estate firmly stands against the Dojima Family in the fight for the Empty Lot. Tachibana himself came to Japan to try to start a new life away from the discrimination he suffered because of his heritage. He initally ended up as the leader of a ruthless criminal group, but with Kazama’s assistance, Tachibana ended up setting up the one organization that could protect his beloved sister from the greed of Sohei Dojima and his men.
The 華 (bana) part is most likely related to his sophisticated image and the displays of power and money he makes at different parts of the game. We could also say that the ‘flower/petal’ meanings might be related to his delicate health. This aspect would be a nice comparison to the meaning of his given name.
- About his given name: If you played the game then you know Tachibana is a lot stronger that he looks like, both in physical strength and willpower. Despite missing his right arm and suffering kidney failure, Tachibana fights right by Kiryu’s side. Oda even mentions that Tachibana was quite a beast back in his prime. Not to mention that the man is in constant pain and actively chooses not to show it simply because he got tired of it. He was also capable of enduring severe torture: the enemy needed to smash his head with a sledgehammer to take him out. The determination to protect Makoto and reuniting with her is what motivated him to fight in spite of his poor health.
Extra - Here are some characters with the same kanji in their names, with the same or different pronunciations:
(立 dachi) 足立 宏一, Adachi Kōichi
(鉄 tetsu) 玉城 鉄生, Tamashiro Tetsuo
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Yakuza games kanji info 14
Akira Nishikiyama (錦山 彰, Nishikiyama Akira)
The beloved brother lost to despair.
錦 nishiki = brocade, fine dress, honors
山 yama = mountain
彰 akira = patent, clear
- About his family name: The first thing that comes to mind is his relationship with the koi/carp he has on his back. From the Yakuza Wiki: “The names Nishikiyama and Nishiki are most likely derived from the Nishiki carp (錦鯉, nishikigoi, lit. "brocaded carp"). Appropriately, the koi serves as Nishikiyama's animal motif and tattoo.“ We Yakuza fans are familiar with the koi as a symbol and how it relates to Nishiki, but what about the real animal? In the Edo period, farmers from the Niigata prefecture started breeding black carps (真鯉, ‘magoi’) as food source to survive harsh winters. Thanks to a natural mutation, the magoi started developing vibrant colors, markings and patterns in different varieties, eventually leading to the nishikigoi. It seems transformation is in the koi’s DNA. The kanji 錦 (nishiki) as ‘brocade/brocaded’ refers to the expensive, high quality woven silk, but it is also used to described beautiful and elegant things. This is why these colorful carps received such name: they are considered living jewels and owning them used to be a sign of wealth and success (Source: kodamakoifarm.com). Our Nishiki is indeed an elegant and stylish man that takes good care of his appearance. We see him mock Kiryu’s lack of fashion sense in Y0. He also seems to enjoy buying expensive, quality stuff.
What about the ‘honors‘ meaning? One of Ishin’s karaoke songs, the one performed by Nagakura/Saejima, is called 故郷に錦を飾るべし (Kokyō ni Nishiki wo Kazarubeshi, "Return Home in Glory" as translated in the Yakuza Wiki). The ‘nishiki’ part uses the same kanji as Nishiki’s family name, this time translated as ‘glory.’ Jisho.org also provides these varieties for the idiom: “to come home in triumph; to return home loaded with honors; to return as a hero; to put on fine clothes .” Y0 shows Nishiki joined the yakuza out of gratitude to Kazama for taking care of his sister Yuko and to follow a path in life of his own choosing. The new scenes in Kiwami show a very optimistic Nishiki vowing to work hard to make Kazama proud and to make the Nishikiyama Family a welcoming place for Kiryu to return to. Nishiki is more than capable of accomplishing feats on his own, but he is held back when he is reminded, by himself or by others, of the inferiority complex he feels when compared to Kiryu. Taking responsibility as the real murderer of Sohei Dojima could have given Nishiki the reputation he sought for so long, but it instead went to Kiryu and made Nishiki feel even worse. It is very unfortunate that the rest of his eventual feats are accomplished through bloody, merciless means that benefit only Nishiki himself while destroying others.
- About his given name: I interpret this as Nishiki’s straightforward declaration of intentions, both as an ally and as an enemy. He’s an intense and emotional man who will make it very clear that he’s either willing to follow you into hell no matter what or planning to kill you and anyone who dares stand in his way.
Side Note - I recommend reading the following source if you’re interested in nishikigoi: https://www.kodamakoifarm.com/what-is-nishikigoi-history-meaning/
Extra - He has the same family name as his dear sister:
錦山 優子, Nishikiyama Yūko
Extra 2 - Here are some character that also have 山 (yama) in their names:
狭山 薫, Sayama Kaoru
秋山 駿, Akiyama Shun
青山 稔, Aoyama Minoru
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Yakuza games kanji info 13
Yoshitaka Mine (峯 義孝, Mine Yoshitaka)
The Kirin that proves money can’t buy happiness.
峯 mine = peak, summit
義 yoshi = righteousness, justice, morality, honor, loyalty, meaning
孝 taka = filial piety, child's respect
- About his family name: If you’re climbing a mountain, your goal is to reach the peak, the summit, the highest point. This is quite the name for a man who started from the bottom of absolute poverty and has always worked to achieve the goals he sets up for himself. He keeps moving towards a new goal whenever he either gets what he wants or loses what he got. First it was money, then a true bond, then power, and finally redemption. Mine takes calculated steps and works tirelessly to reach his objectives.
- About his given name: When you see the meanings of 義 you don’t associate most of them with Mine. They are all, however, fit for a Kirin, the gentle guardian who will go up in flames to ferociously combat injustice. Now, Mine does show some of these traits, especially in the Y3 finale. His defining trait is his loyalty to Daigo, and he says at one point that Daigo himself is his reason to live and the one to give his life meaning. Mine goes full Kirin in the finale: he ferociously defends the two men he respects and admires and then sacrifices his own life to honorably atone for the harm he’s caused both of them.
Then we have the meanings of 孝. As Wikipedia states: “In more general terms, filial piety means to be good to one's parents; to take care of one's parents; to engage in good conduct, not just towards parents but also outside the home so as to bring a good name to one's parents and ancestors; to show love, respect, and support; to display courtesy; to ensure male heirs; to uphold fraternity among brothers; to wisely advise one's parents, including dissuading them from moral unrighteousness; to display sorrow for their sickness and death; and to bury them and carry out sacrifices after their death.”
We can see a lot of this in Mine’s interactions with his uncle during his childhood flashback: He has a good relationship with him, he’s a good student that works hard to make him proud, he hides his loneliness and sorrow from him so he doesn’t worry, and he is totally devasted when his beloved uncle succumbs to illness. As an adult, Mine is a very polite and respectful man. We have another aspect of filial piety/child’s respect if we consider the Tojo Clan as his ‘parent.‘ Mine is the dutiful son who provides money to this new family of his that also has money issues. And after Daigo is shot, Mine declares his intention of protecting the Clan out of respect for Daigo and his legacy.
Extra - These characters have the same kanji in their names, with the same pronunciation:
(義 yoshi) 谷村 正義, Tanimura Masayoshi
(孝 taka) 松永 孝明, Matsunaga Takaaki
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Yakuza games kanji info 12
Ryuji Goda (郷田 龍司, Gōda Ryūji)
The rebellious Dragon of Kansai
郷 go (gou, gō) = home town, village, native place, district
田 da = rice field, rice paddy
龍 ryu (ryuu, ryū) = dragon, imperial
司 ji = director, official, govt office, rule, administer
- About his given name: A man with a dragon tattoo and the dragon kanji in his name! Ryuji was, by release order, the second dragon character and the first dragon antagonist. He is not only a dragon in strength and power, but also in his code of honor when facing an enemy he respects. Even though he is willing to use ruthless methods to achieve his goals, there is a certain line he will not cross. This is what eventually earns him Kiryu’s respect and praise despite being an enemy.
The kanji 司 in his name can be associated with his ambition to crush the Tojo Clan, defeat Kiryu and become the only dragon. Ryuji has always been his own boss. He has defied his own father, the now 5th Chairman of the Omi Alliance, since he was young. He is a prideful, impulsive man that will take matters into his own hands. When he fails to dethrone his father, Ryuji splits up from the Omi and spearheads the war against the Tojo Clan.
Extra - He has the same family name as his father:
郷田 仁, Gōda Jin
Extra 2 - Some characters with the same kanji and same pronunciation include:
(田 da) 品田 辰雄, Shinada Tatsuo
(龍 ryu) 星野 龍平, Hoshino Ryūhei
(司 ji) 渋澤 啓司, Shibusawa Keiji
Extra 3 - Here are some characters with the same kanji but different pronunciations:
(田 ta) 柴田 和夫, Shibata Kazuo
(田 ta) 田頭 直人, Tagashira Naoto
(司 tsukasa) 佐川 司, Sagawa Tsukasa
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Yakuza games kanji info 11
Shigeru Nakahara (名嘉原 茂, Nakahara Shigeru)
A kind man and loving father with immense strength.
名 na = name, noted, distinguished, reputation
嘉 ka = applaud, praise, esteem, happy, auspicious
原 hara = meadow, original, primitive, field, plain, prairie, tundra, wilderness
茂 shigeru = overgrown, grow thick, be luxuriant
- About his family name: I’ll start by mentioning that Okinawa has original family names that aren’t usually found in other parts of Japan. Having one of those family names usually indicates that a person is from Okinawa or has okinawan ancestors (most of the okinawan characters in Y3 seem to have local names). Nakahara is one of those family names, and the man himself explains he was born and raised in Okinawa.
You can read a bit more about Okinawa’s family names here: https://japanese-names.info/column/most-common-okinawa-family-names/
The full list the article mentions is: https://myoji-yurai.net/columnOkinawa.htm
Nakahara is not on that list but you can see more about it here: https://myoji-yurai.net/searchResult.htm?myojiKanji=%E5%90%8D%E5%98%89%E5%8E%9F
Nakahara and the Ryudo family are very respected by the local community. They are treated like normal, friendly neighbors everyone knows rather than the intimidating, dangerous men you’d imagine a yakuza to be. Nakahara, as the landlord of Morning Glory, at first intended to sell the land for profit, but eventually decided not to do it and even put his own life in danger to protect the orphanage. He shows his softer side with the kids, especially with his adopted daughter Saki, who adores the kind man that’s been taking care of her.
- About his given name: I interpret ‘overgrown’ here in the sense of physical strength. Nakahara is a bulky man in his 60′s who’s capable of wrestling a bull (and tossing it aside) while he’s still recovering from a gunshot wound. Hearing Saki speak for the first time and calling him ‘dad‘ gave him a massive boost of energy and morale to fight all four bulls on his own until Kiryu joins him.
Extra - Here are some characters with the same kanji and the same pronunciation:
(原 hara) 釘原 広志, Kugihara Hiroshi
(原 hara) 笠原 清美, Kasahara Kiyomi
Extra 2 - And here are some characters with the same kanji and different pronunciations
(原 wara) 小笠原 肇, Ogasawara Hajime
(茂 shige) 馬場 茂樹, Baba Shigeki
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Yakuza games kanji info 10
Makoto Date (伊達 真, Date Makoto)
A great police officer and an even greater friend.
伊 da = that one
達 te = accomplished, reach, arrive, attain
真 makoto = true, reality
- About his family name: Date is always using his detective skills, instincts, experience and contacts to help the protagonists, Kiryu in particular. Even as a journalist, he has proved to be quite an asset to his allies by gathering information and helping them expose the enemy’s crimes. He is a veteran officer of the law who stops at nothing to achieve what he believes is justice, even if he has to oppose fellow police officers or superiors. Unfortunately, he focused so much on his job that he ended up neglecting his family, though later games show he reconciled with his daughter and even got married again, so it seems this time he's properly spending time with his loved ones and balancing work and family.
- About his given name: He is indeed a real friend. Date has formed a special bond with Kiryu throughout the games. They have absolute trust in each other and enjoy spending time together when they're not fighting a dangerous enemy. Date is the type of friend who will stand by your side no matter what, even if you're fighting against street thugs, mobsters, police officers or government officials. He will help you fake your death if that's what you need. Makoto Date is someone you certainly want to have on your team. Another aspect of ‘true‘ is of course his honest dedication to his work as a law enforcer. He is one of the few police officers in the series that’s not corrupt.
Extra - Some characters that also have the same kanji are:
(真 ma) 真島 吾朗, Majima Gorō
(真 ma) 荒川 真澄, Arakawa Masumi
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Yakuza games kanji info 9
Tatsuo Shinada (品田 辰雄, Shinada Tatsuo)
The disgraced baseball ace whose love for the sport has never wavered.
品 shina = goods, refinement, dignity, article
田 da = rice field, rice paddy
辰 tatsu = sign of the dragon, fifth sign of the Chinese zodiac
雄 o = masculine, male, hero, leader, superiority, excellence
- About his family name: The ‘goods‘ aspect can be related to his status as a huge asset to his former team, the Nagoya Wyverns. Coach Fujita recognized his skill and brought him to the Wyverns. The ‘refinement‘ aspect can be related to the intense training he underwent to hone his skills through the years, even long after his ban. Shinada himself mentions the training exercises that help him keep his body in top shape. As for the ‘dignity‘ aspect, his arc in Y5 involves learning the truth behind his ban and restoring his will and motivation to put effort into living his life to the fullest.
- About his given name: Based on the kanji 辰, I assumed his Chinese zodiac sign would be Dragon, but the Yakuza Wiki states his year of birth as 1975, making him a Rabbit/Hare, or a Tiger if he was born before Feb.11. The kanji 辰 is specifically related to the Dragon sign, so it seems very weird to have his actual sign be something different to the one he has in his name. I won’t claim the year of birth from the Wiki is wrong (because as far as I know, we unfortunately have no official birthdays for most of the characters) but based on what I said before, it would make sense for him to be a 1976′s Dragon if the sign angle is about Shinada’s date of birth. There is another angle: the game takes place in 2012, which is also the year of the Dragon, and for Shinada in particular it’s the year that his life will turn around again, this time for the good.
Let’s assume his actual zodiac sign is indeed Dragon. I searched for information about the Dragon’s personality to see if it matches Shinada’s. The descriptions on the pages I found ended up contradicting one another, so I’ll talk about the dragon as a motif. While Shinada is not directly associated with dragons and may not be as powerful as the characters with dragon tattoos, he is still quite strong. The other fighting playable protagonists have battle experience because they are yakuza, have ties with yakuza or have received formal combat training. Shinada is just a civilian and former baseball player. His raw unarmed battle style is proof of this. Even so, he’s more than capable of keeping up with experienced fighters. His unique armed fighting style surpasses most of the similar styles of his fellow protagonists.
Extra - Here’s a list of characters that also have 田 in their names, with the same pronunciation:
(田 da) 郷田 龍司, Gōda Ryūji
(田 da) 神田 強, Kanda Tsuyoshi
(田 da) 向田 紗栄子, Mukōda Saeko
Extra 2 - Shinji has the kanji 田 with a different pronunciation:
(田 ta) 田中 シンジ, Tanaka Shinji
Extra 3 - Tsuneo Iwami also has the kanji 雄 with the same pronunciation in his given name:
(雄 o) 巌 見 恒雄, Iwami Tsuneo
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Yakuza games kanji info 8
Masayoshi Tanimura (谷村 正義, Tanimura Masayoshi)
The Parasite of Kamurocho and guardian of Little Asia.
谷 tani = valley
村 mura = village, town
正 masa = correct, justice, righteous
義 yoshi = righteousness, justice, morality, honor, loyalty, meaning
- About his given name: His sense of justice is emphasized with a pair of kanji with very similar meanings. His arc in Y4 is investigating and learning the truth about his adoptive father’s murder and bringing the culprits to justice. He ends up joining forces with the other protagonists to expose the deep-rooted police corruption that has destroyed many lives. Tanimura’s ‘loyalty’ is specially shown in his relationship with the residents of Little Asia: He grew up among them after his adoptive father was murdered and now looks out for them as if they were his own family. He earned his infamous nickname after using illegal gambling and blackmailing to earn money to secretly support immigrant children and their families.
- Taigi Tanimura adopted the son of his fellow police officer Yusuke Kaga after he was murdered and gave him the name Masayoshi to reflect Kaga’s wish to have a son with a strong sense of justice.
Extra - Both Tanimuras have the same family name and also have the kanji 義 in their given names, but with different pronunciations:
(義 gi) 谷村 大義, Tanimura Taigi
The name Taigi is also formed by the kanji 大 (’big, large’) so his name would mean: “great cause; moral law; justice .“
Extra 2 - Someya also has the kanji 谷 with a different pronunciation in his family name:
(谷 ya) 染谷 巧, Someya Takumi
Extra 3 - Haruka and the other Sawamuras have the kanji 村 with the same pronunciation:
(村 mura) 澤村 遥, Sawamura Haruka
Extra 4 - Mine also has the kanji 義 with the same pronunciation:
(義 yoshi) 峯 義孝, Mine Yoshitaka
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