This year marks the 20th anniversary of Yakuza / Like a Dragon, and developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is celebrating by letting fans vote on potential official merchandise ideas. The options range from cult attire and a traffic cone to golden underwear and other quirky items.
According to Automaton, supporters can choose from an impressive list of 100 different products, with the top two items slated for release within the next two years. Although the contest is only available in Japanese, anyone can cast their vote on the official website.
While some products are more traditional, like a 20th anniversary hoodie or a Yakuza-themed pencil case, other items draw from the series’ famously wild history and would look even more unusual in real life.
Examples include the cult outfit worn by Munan Suzuki, leader of The Order of Munan Chohept Onast in Yakuza 0, the oversized traffic cone Majima uses to sneak up on Kiryu in Yakuza Kiwami, and the simply labeled “Puffy Gold Pants.”
Other fan-favorite choices are the sake Majima drinks in a shack in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the gold watch worn by beloved character Akiyama, the fountain pen Kiryu uses to write to Dojima in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, the tambourine Kashiwagi plays during a karaoke session in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the wrestling mask Kiryu dons in Yakuza 3, Saejima’s prison uniform from Yakuza 4, and many more unusual collectibles.
At least one new game is expected to launch during the franchise’s 20th anniversary year in 2025—Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, arriving on February 21. For the 10th anniversary, RGG Studio delivered the beloved prequel Yakuza 0, but there has been no official word yet on whether a similar celebratory project will be released later in the year.
Although two major releases in one year may seem unlikely, the studio is known for its fast development pace. Over the past five years, RGG Studio has released Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Judgment Remastered, Lost Judgment, Like a Dragon: Ishin, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, and Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, alongside two Super Monkey Ball games and an enhanced remaster of Virtua Fighter 5—totaling nine titles.
