Is Baka Mitai in Like a Dragon: Ishin?

If you have even a passing knowledge of the Yakuza series, you’ve probably heard Baka Mitai. This heartfelt ballad first appeared in the karaoke minigame in Yakuza 5, and has remained a series mainstay ever since thanks to both its meme potential and the fact that it’s a genuinely great song. If you want to hear it again, you’re probably wondering: is Baka Mitai in Like a Dragon: Ishin?

Is Baka Mitai in Like a Dragon: Ishin?

The answer is an emphatic yes! Not only does Like a Dragon: Ishin feature its own karaoke mini-game (a good century before the concept of karaoke even came to be, amusingly), but Baka Mitai is in the included setlist.

Related: All Confirmed Mini-Games in Like a Dragon: Ishin

Interestingly, though, it’s not exactly the same Baka Mitai you know. As the modern-day rendition of Baka Mitai has instruments that can’t be found in the Bakamatsu period of Japan, the Ishin version substitutes them for some era-appropriate instruments like hand drums and flutes. This creates a remix of Baka Mitai that plays more like a traditional enka ballad, though we can assure you, it still absolutely slaps.

Karaoke Minigame

Despite the lack of automated scoring systems, the karaoke mini-game in Like a Dragon: Ishin works exactly the same as it does in the other Yakuza games. The lyrics to the song appear on a bar, with button prompts punctuating each word. You just have to press the buttons shown in time with the song, and the listening audience will rank your performance at the end.

Also, if you were wondering, yes, there is still a little bit where we cut away from the karaoke parlor to some mysterious fantasy scene. In this case, rather than getting sloshed at a bar, Ryoma imagines himself playing the flute with a band on a stage.

If you enjoy Baka Mitai, and really, who doesn’t, be sure to visit the karaoke parlor in Like a Dragon: Ishin to hear this interesting new take.

For more passionate action in Like a Dragon: Ishin, check out our guide on the biggest differences between the original game and the remake and our overview of the game’s fighting styles. Visit our Facebook page as well for more news and guides.