How a 1980s real estate bubble fueled a digital criminal underworld
In short: Before he was a legend, Kazuma Kiryu was a hot-headed junior yakuza caught in a violent power struggle. Set during Japan's hyper-inflated bubble era, Yakuza 0 explores how a single, disputed patch of land could trigger a war between rival crime syndicates.
The narrative unfolds between December 1988 and January 1989, a period defined by the extreme economic inflation of Japan's bubble era. The central conflict revolves around the 'Empty Lot,' a specific piece of land in Kamurochō that the Tojo Clan desperately seeks for urban redevelopment. The dispute is complicated by the lot's owner, Makoto Makimura, a woman who suffers from psychogenically-induced blindness following a traumatic past involving human trafficking.
The game features two protagonists navigating different criminal landscapes. In Tokyo's Kamurochō, Kazuma Kiryu is framed for murder, forcing him to flee the Dojima Family and seek help from real estate agent Tetsu Tachibana. Meanwhile, in Osaka's Sotenbori, Goro Majima is working as a cabaret club manager under heavy surveillance, attempting to earn his way back into the Shimano Family after his involvement in a 1985 assassination.
Mechanically, the game introduced significant innovations to the franchise, such as switchable fighting styles. Kiryu can transition between the balanced Brawler style, the heavy-hitting Beast style, and the agile, boxing-based Rush style. Majima utilizes the Thug, Slugger, and breakdance-inspired Breaker styles. This era of the story serves as a prequel, showing the maturation of Kiryu from a 'loose-cannon hot-head' into the character seen in later installments.
The struggle for the Empty Lot eventually leads to a cascade of casualties, including the death of Tachibana at the hands of Dojima Family members. By the end of the timeline, the power structure of the Tojo Clan shifts significantly as Masaru Sera ascends to a leadership position, leaving the fates of the two protagonists fundamentally altered as they prepare for their future encounters.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Yakuza 0
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