Kiryu and Kasuga get into a lively conversation! Report on "RGG SUMMIT SUMMER 2023: Presentation of New Works by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio" featuring the latest information on the latest "7 Gaiden" and "8" titles and the cast of "Ryu Ga Gotoku".

RGG SUMMIT SUMMER 2023 Yakuza Studio's new release presentation, "RGG SUMMER 2023 Yakuza Studio New Release Presentation," was held on June 16, 2023, by Yakuza Studio, developer of the popular game "Yakuza.

With many members of the press and related parties in attendance, the event was attended by Masayoshi Yokoyama (representative and executive producer of Yakuza Studio) and performers Yasufu Motomiya, Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi, and First Summer Uika, as well as the main character from previous works, Yakuza's own Yakuza Studio director, Masayoshi Yokoyama. Also on stage were Takaya Kuroda (playing Kazuma Kiryu) and Kazuhiro Nakatani (playing Ichiban Kasuga), who played the main characters in past productions.

Mr. Masayoshi Yokoyama

Mr. Yokoyama took the stage first. When the MC mentioned that there were many things to be announced this time, he said, "I want to give out as much information as I can" and "I've prepared for (users) to be surprised. （Development (of "7 Gaiden" and "8") is progressing smoothly," Yokoyama commented. Yokoyama also spoke on behalf of the 100 or so young members of Yakuza Studio who attended the presentation, saying, "The creators are excited to show (the images) as soon as possible.

■"Yakuza7 Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name," which also featured a star-studded cast

The first thing announced was new information about "Yakuza7 Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

The visual of Kazuma Kiryu, the main character of the game, is more austere than in previous games in the series. At the end of "6," Kazuma made a decision to protect his beloved family instead of becoming a man who should not be alive. Therefore, he is not living as Kazuma Kiryu. This film is the story of a man who once lived as Kazuma Kiryu. He lives as an agent of an organization, so he wears a plain suit and sunglasses. He lives as a member of the organization while making his existence disappear," Yokoyama explained.

In addition, this work "has actions common to the series, such as punching and kicking, but it also has spy action elements," he said, adding that "Oryu" is a blow action that is typical of the traditional Kazuma Kiryu. There are two types of actions: "Oryu," which is a traditional Kiryu Kazuma-like blow action, and "Agent," a new action in which the player fights using various gadgets such as wires and drones, just like in spy movies. 7 Gaiden" is an action adventure in which Kazuma Kiryu is the sole protagonist. It will be developed by making full use of these battles".

This time, the back side of "7" will be depicted from the end of "6". The main location is Sotenbori in Osaka. Yokoyama also introduced a visual of the golden Osaka Castle, which is thought to have appeared in "2," and commented, "It's a town where all kinds of fun and games are played out. It seems that a wide variety of storylines await, centered on the Kansai region.

Next, the main cast members of "7 Gaiden," Takaya Kuroda (Kazuma Kiryu), Yasukaze Motomiya (Yasuo Shishido), Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi (Hiroki Tsuruno), and First Summer Uika (Akame), took the stage.

Mr. Takaya Kuroda

First, Mr. Kuroda, who played Kazuma Kiryu as the main character for the first time in seven years, smiled and said, "I've always felt as if this was the last time I would play this role, so I am happy to be able to play Kazuma's new life again.

According to Mr. Yokoyama, the production of "8" was triggered by the realization that the story of Kazuma Kiryu between "6" and "8" also needed to be told. Therefore, the voice recording itself was done after "8.

Yasukaze Motomiya

Mr. Motomiya, who plays the new character Yasuo Shishido, says, "I was grateful to be able to work on "Yakuza," which is a big game, but I thought too many things over and took some time before coming to a conclusion. She then added, "I was really prepared to accept the role. Recently, I've been playing roles that don't have much movement, so it was the first time in a while that I played a rambunctious character," he recalls. Incidentally, he had not played a game since "Spartan X." He was surprised to see the development of the game in the studio, saying, "This is how games are made now! He was surprised to see the development scene in the studio.

Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi

Mr. Yamaguchi, who plays another new character, Hiroki Tsuruno, took the stage with the same visual as Tsuruno. However, when asked for a comment, he overheard Mr. Motomiya, who responded in turn at .......

Mr. Tsuruno, played by Mr. Yamaguchi, said, "To be honest, I have more lines than Kiryu. I do more action in my job, so I wondered if I was called in for motion capture, but I am glad I was called in for the role," he recalled.

Incidentally, the character played by Mr. Motomiya and Mr. Yamaguchi is a Kansai dialect character, and he says that acting in that dialect was difficult this time.

Mr. First Summer Uika

Mr. First Summer Uika, who plays the red-hot Akame, says that he first came into contact with "Yakuza" at "7" in the Corona disaster, and was hooked on it. I want to be in the next one if there is one! So he applied for the "live cabaret audition" (an audition to determine the actress who will appear as a live-action cabaret girl in the "8" game) on his own, without going through an agency. She actually went to the audition site.

⇒ First Summer Uika, Unpai, Kson, and others challenged the " Yakuza" live cabaret audition to become a cabaret actress.

Yokoyama, however, thought that Akame might be a good fit for First Summer Uika at this point, and had already made an offer to the agency. However, perhaps because the audition was just during the busy New Year's holiday season, he was unable to reach them and Mr. First Summer Uika came to the audition site ...... and shared the backstory (Incidentally, the audition itself was unsuccessful and Mr. Akame was not selected to appear in "8 (Incidentally, the audition itself was unsuccessful, and it was also revealed on this occasion that he would not be appearing in "8.)

He is an ardent fan of "Yakuza," so he does not read the script except for his part in the game and shuts down the information coming from Yokoyama and others in order to play the game with the same amount of information as regular users as much as possible. He also said that he shuts down the information that comes from Yokoyama and others.

In addition, a video message from Kim Jae-wook, who plays the role of Honor Nishitani III, also arrived. I have never worked as a game character before, so this was a new experience for me. I've seen the scenes in which he plays the role, and they seem very powerful and realistic, so I'm personally excited about it," he said, expressing his expectations for the film.

Incidentally, a character named Nishitani Takashi also appears in "0," but according to Yokoyama, "Nishitani Takashi has been passed down through the generations as a stage name. He has the same name, but he is a different person from before.

The largest map ever! New information on "Yakuza8

Next, new information about "8" was revealed.

Mr. Kazuhiro Nakatani

Mr. Kuroda and Kazuhiro Nakatani, who played the role of Kasuga Ichiban, the main character of "7," took the stage from here. First, a comical video was shown of Ichiban ......, who, as the saying goes, wakes up naked on an exotic beach.

Mr. Yokoyama explained that this video was not edited in a PV-like way, but rather the uncut beginning of a chapter was shown as it is.

Mr. Kuroda commented, "It's great fun, even though it doesn't make you predict the whole storyline. They hide the crotch the best in that way," he said, referring to the crotch, which is hidden by various objects and staging.

Nakatani also noted that Ichiban's acting is comical with his subtle breathing and reactions, "I didn't take audio to match the video. Nakatani shared a behind-the-scenes story about the recording, saying, "We didn't take any sound to match the video, but used only the toots and lines to express that voice.

As for the foreign beaches shown in the video, Yokoyama said, "You can go to these places. We have prepared them as a stage for the film. Of course, since the story takes place after "7," there will continue to be alien towns in the game," he said.

The highlight of "8" is that Kiryu and Kasuga are the two main characters. The highlight of "8" is that Kiryu and Kasuga are the two main characters, and a part of a conversation between the two has been specially revealed. This is also a video of a scene from the game.

In the video, Kasuga talks about how he proposed to Saeko Mukoda and was severely rejected, and how he asked Kiryu for advice on love. Fans of the series will be shocked to hear these episodes.

Nakatani said, "I almost cried when I saw the dialogue between the two for the first time. We don't shoot the game together, so this is the place where we get to answer each other's questions," said Mr. Nakatani, who was deeply moved. Mr. Kuroda said, "I had this image in my mind as I was working on it, so it was roughly like this," while Mr. Yokoyama laughed, wondering if he would ask Kiryu about his love life, and saying, "Characters from previous series wouldn't ask.

According to Yokoyama, "That kind of relationship is created in '8. Kiryu knows Saeko, and Kasuga proposed to her and was rejected. But from here the whole story is completely unreadable. I thought it was going to be a love story, but it's not like that at all, but that you can see this kind of intertwining," he says. We can't help but wonder what kind of drama awaits us at ......!

Mr. Kuroda concluded his speech by saying, ""8" is a work that really goes beyond the imagination. Please look forward to it. 7 Gaiden" is also amazing. I am glad to have played this work. I thought I would enjoy the game afterwards as well." Yokoyama added, "I am here now because "7" was accepted by the past fans and new fans. My mission now is to create something that meets everyone's expectations," he said, renewing his enthusiasm for "Yakuza 8" and "Yakuza 7 Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

It was also announced towards the end of the event that the "RGG SUMMIT 2023 FAA" will be held around September 2023. Check out ...... to find out what new information will be released at the event!