The latest announcement by Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii has shaken up fans of the popular Japanese franchise, with players finally getting to see Goro Majima in another lead role in one of the craziest settings the IP has ever portrayed. On the surface, fans may be drawn to the weird and wonderful game mechanics like a pirate theme Boy the title will give, but this should not detract from the fascinating story elements that the upcoming project has in store.
Revealing trailer for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii was recently shown during the RGG Summit on September 20, where the game's protagonist gave a solid overview of what the game's plot will entail. It was confirmed during the trailer that Majima washes up on Hawaii's shores with amnesia, forgetting his own name and troubled past, and it seems that memories will slowly be revealed to him over the course of the game. The images of the trailer, combined with reliable leaks surrounding the project, suggest that Majima's tattoos will be an integral part of his restored memories, bringing one of the most iconic parts of the franchise to the fore. Pirate Yakuza's story.
Tattoos have always been at the center of the Like a Dragon franchise
Ever since the start of Yakuza franchise, now known as Like a dragonthe tattoos of its central figures have stood as one of its most important thematic elements. Of course, real-life Japanese yakuza are known to wear extensive ink, leading to a nationwide tattoo taboo that still hangs around quite prominently to this day. The authors behind Like a dragon has always made sure to give real meaning and narrative purpose to the tattoos of its main characters, with the majority of Boy boss battles that begin with both characters ripping off their shirts to reveal their metaphorical ink.
For example, long-running franchise protagonist Kazuma Kiryu has a dragon tattoo on his back, with Kiryu possessing the same unparalleled strength, endurance, and goodwill that dragons are associated with in Japanese mythology. This is even contrasted by the koi back tattoo of Kiryu's best friend and eventual enemy, Akira Nishikiyama, with the Japanese legend of koi fish becoming dragons foreshadowing Nishiki's ultimate desire to defeat Kiryu and claim the glory of his reputation.
Goro Majima has one of the most intricate and meaningful tattoos of all Like a dragon franchise, with an entire back cover primarily featuring the hannya mask of a mythological Japanese creature known as the onryo. An onryo is a female demon that exists solely to inflict pain and suffering in revenge for severe wrongs the onryo suffered during its lifetime, with Majima also having tattoos of two snakes coiling around his chest.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – Majima's tattoos are the key to his past
Majima's tragic backstory fits extremely well with the images of his tattoos, med Yakuza 0 showcase a much more stoic and collected Majima in his younger years. The game tells the story of how Majima was captured and tortured for a year at the behest of his own boss, with the character losing an eye during this imprisonment. This, combined with the forced labor Majima was forced to perform after his release, culminated in Majima adopting his iconic “Mad Dog” persona of unpredictability and eccentricity, reborn as a fear-inducing figure much like an onryo.
The tattooed twin snakes on Majima's chest further reinforces the concept of rebirth in his life, with snakes shedding their skin in the same way Majima did to escape the burdens of his past trauma. Although Majima got his tattoos before many of these events happened, they ended up serving as a perfect tapestry of his life, and it seems that this will be a key point for the upcoming Pirate Yakuza.
Majima's tattoos may link Pirate Yakuza to Past Like a Dragon titles
The trailer for Pirate Yakuza confirms that Majima has lost his memory, and while tattoos aren't strictly stated as the key to solving this, a high-profile leak around the project suggests that it will be. In May 2024, a full four months before the game's reveal, a 4chan post leaked the premise of Pirate Yakuza with great accuracy, with many initially ignoring the post due to the wild nature of the alleged details.
These leaks indicated that Majima's tattoos will be an important part of his memory return, and this could act much like the Memoirs of a Dragon system from the last Infinite wealth. This system was a way for players to relive the many memories of Kiryu from previous games by visiting iconic locations across the franchise, and Majima has a similar bank of past game appearances to motivate his own nostalgic trip down memory lane.
While the lack of memory will initially allow Majima to act even more carefree than usual, especially when he is potentially unaware of Kiryu's uncertain fate during the time Pirate Yakuza is set, the slow reveal of his past through his tattoos will allow for a more emotionally and narratively charged ending. Majima's tattoos have always stood as some of the most eye-catching and meaningful across the board Like a dragon franchise, and it seems clear that Ryu Ga Gotoku will lean into this in a way that will finally bring even more depth and backstory to one of the most beloved and layered characters in the series.
