Stranger Than Heaven Reveals Tojo Clan Origins and Full Cast

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Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the creators of the popular Yakuza and Like a Dragon games, have a very dedicated fanbase. On May 6th, they revealed their newest project, Stranger Than Heaven, during a special Xbox presentation, giving fans a lot to be excited about.

The game was initially shown as ‘Project Century’ at The Game Awards in 2024, and later revealed its official title this past summer. Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama announced it will be released this winter for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one. While the release window is winter, it’s possible the game could launch as late as March 2027.

Fans of the Yakuza games have long been curious about the origins of the Tojo Clan, the powerful criminal organization featured throughout the series. Now, a new story, Stranger Than Heaven, reveals how it all began.

The game tells the story of how the Tojo Clan began, focusing on its founder, Makoto Daito, and his close friend, Yu Shinjo, over a 50-year period in five different Japanese cities. Makoto strives to create a haven for those who have been cast aside, a core theme of the series. The actions of Makoto directly lead to the rise of the clan’s most well-known members, including Kazuma Kiryu, Goro Majima, and Ichiban Kasuga, establishing the roots of their criminal histories.

The story begins in San Francisco in 1915. Makoto, a character brought to life through the voice and appearance of actor Yu Shirota, is the son of an American father and a Japanese mother. Following his father’s death, prejudice made life in America challenging for Makoto and his mother. Sadly, she later passed away from illness, leaving Makoto orphaned.

Having no ties to the United States, he secretly boards a ship heading to Japan in San Francisco, believing his mother’s homeland might offer him what he couldn’t find in America.

There’s also this new character, Yu Shinjo, voiced by Dean Fujioka, and he’s a huge deal. The creator, Yokoyama, says Yu becomes Makoto’s oldest friend and biggest rival as the story goes on. Apparently, Dean Fujioka sees Yu as really smart and strategic, someone who fits into Japanese life way better than I do as Makoto – I’m more of a reckless, go-with-the-flow type of guy.

The two friends drifted apart, but years later, they unexpectedly met again in Osaka and became business partners. Makoto provided the physical strength, while Yu was the strategic thinker. According to the author, Fujioka, the story is ultimately about finding oneself, a sense of community, and understanding the past, rather than just crime or achieving success.

The ship’s captain quickly finds the hidden passengers, leading to a surprising twist in the story. The captain is revealed to be Orpheus, a smuggler known around the world, and is convincingly portrayed by Snoop Dogg, complete with a braided beard.

RGG Studios has been including well-known actors in their recent games – for example, Danny Trejo and Samoa Joe appeared in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. The addition of Snoop Dogg to the Kiryu series continues this trend of featuring recognizable personalities.

After the ship arrives in Japan, Orpheus hires Makoto as his trusted assistant, appreciating his ability to speak Japanese and navigate the local culture. Cordell Broadus, son of Snoop Dogg, also appears in the story, playing a character with ties to Makoto, Yu, and Orpheus, though his specific role isn’t revealed.

While working with Orpheus, Makoto unexpectedly finds he has a gift for singing, sparking a passion for entertainment that continues alongside his criminal activities. This love of music becomes a central part of the game, representing a connection between different cultures and people throughout all the time periods Makoto experiences.

The game is divided into five cities, which the creator, Yokoyama, refers to as stages, each acting like a separate chapter.

The story starts in 1915 in Kokura, a busy port city in Fukuoka, Japan, known for its factories and attracting people looking for work. As Yokoyama explained, entertainment at the time largely consisted of drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels. A scene from the game shows Makoto haggling over the price of a woman’s company for the night, immediately establishing the gritty and unglamorous nature of the world before he begins his ascent.

The story moves to Kure, Hiroshima in 1929, a city known for its shipyards, hidden waterways, and buildings on the hills, which is run by the Iwaki yakuza family. Makoto joins the Iwaki and befriends Takashi (voiced by Satoshi Fujihara), a younger man who admires him and works as a pianist and singer. This friendship introduces Makoto to the vibrant world of music and nightlife, ultimately leading to his future as a performer.

By 1943, Makoto and Yu were partners running a business in Minami, Osaka—a famous entertainment area that would later become the basis for the Sotenbori district in the Yakuza series. Wartime Osaka was becoming increasingly international, attracting new residents, including members of the Italian Mafia who were appearing in a Yakuza game for the first time. It was here that Makoto truly embraced his talent for showmanship.

In 1951, the story moves to Atami, a popular coastal resort town south of Tokyo known for its cherry blossoms. This is where Makoto meets Suzy, a singer who dreams of international stardom, portrayed by Tori Kelly, a former American Idol contestant. Kelly also created an original song for the game.

The game concludes in Kamurocho, Tokyo, in 1965 – the iconic red-light district that’s been central to the Yakuza series. This version of Kamurocho has a stylish, retro look reminiscent of the mid-20th century. The game’s creator, Yokoyama, has been secretive about the story’s ending, only hinting that “a tremendous secret will be revealed” and promising more details about gameplay soon.

In addition to the five main characters, the game includes a supporting cast with roles that haven’t been revealed yet. Moeka Hoshi and Tokuma Nishioka, both of whom starred in the 2024 series Shōgun, will play a performer and a character, respectively. Akio Otsuka, known for his work on Yakuza: Like a Dragon, will voice a member of the yakuza. Popular singer Ado will voice a singer character, and actor Takashi Ukaji will voice a yakuza character modeled after the late actor Bunta Sugawara.

In Stranger Than Heaven, music plays a central role beyond simply setting the scene. The protagonist, Makoto, can capture sounds from his surroundings – everything from animal calls and trains to city noises and even the sounds of battle. These available sounds change based on the time period, location, and time of day. He then collaborates with musicians to turn these recordings into unique songs for the in-game characters to perform. The game’s diverse soundtrack blends genres like jazz, blues, bebop, and modern hip-hop to reflect the story’s expansive timeline.

Makoto’s work as a showman is now a complete gameplay system where you hire singers and musicians, create exciting performances by pairing artists, and advertise shows around town. Successful shows earn more money, helping Makoto go from an unknown figure to a major star in the Japanese entertainment industry.

Each of the five cities features unique minigames like arm wrestling, gambling, and darts, all designed to fit the city’s specific time period and setting.

Like a Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s combat system is unlike anything RGG Studio has created before. According to producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto, players can now control the protagonist’s left and right sides separately. Using a controller, the right triggers (RT and RB) control Makoto’s right arm and leg, while the left triggers (LT and LB) manage his left side.

Players can unleash strong attacks with one arm or leg while quickly attacking with another. They can also block with one arm and counterattack with the other. The game’s environments react realistically – for example, if you knock an enemy off a staircase, they’ll tumble all the way down.

As a fan, I’m really excited about the weapon variety! You can find, buy, or even make things like knives, katanas, and hammers. And it’s cool that weapons get better as you progress and unlock new tech. We even saw a glimpse of guns – Makoto was practicing her aim in the gameplay footage! – though we don’t know exactly how much they’ll be used in fights yet.

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2026-05-08 18:48