This year marks the 20th anniversary of the iconic Yakuza / Like a Dragon series, and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is celebrating in a uniquely fan-centric way. They're inviting fans to vote on what should become the next official merchandise. The options are as diverse as the series itself, ranging from conventional items like a 20th anniversary celebration hoodie and a Yakuza-themed pencil case to the more eccentric, such as cult clothes, a traffic cone, and even golden underwear.
As reported by Automaton, the studio has put forward an impressive 100 items for fans to choose from, with a commitment to produce the top two vote-getters within the next two years. While the voting is only listed in Japanese, international fans can still participate by submitting their votes on the official website.
The merchandise list dives deep into the series' history, featuring some truly bizarre items. Fans can vote for the cult outfit of Munan Suzuki from Yakuza 0, the traffic cone used by Majima in Yakuza Kiwami, and the quirky "Puffy Gold Pants." Other notable items include the sake Majima sips in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Akiyama's gold watch, Kiryu's fountain pen from Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Kashiwagi's tambourine from Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Kiryu's wrestling mask from Yakuza 3, and Saejima's prisoner uniform from Yakuza 4, among others.
Looking ahead, the franchise will continue to expand with the release of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii on February 21, 2025. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio previously celebrated the 10th anniversary with the beloved prequel Yakuza 0, though no similar project has been announced for this year's milestone. However, given the studio's track record of rapid development, fans might be in for more surprises. Over the past five years, RGG Studio has released an astonishing nine games, including Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Judgment Remastered, Lost Judgment, Like a Dragon: Ishin, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, and two Super Monkey Ball games, along with an enhanced remaster of Virtua Fighter 5.
