Those of you who played Yakuza 0 may remember Hiroki Awano, a Dojima Family Captain with a love of money, ladies, and dancing. Awano was a very distinctive character, which is why it’s a shame he only appeared in that game. Luckily, Like a Dragon Ishin has revived his spirit, thanks to the same actor who originally portrayed him.
Like a Dragon Ishin Brings Back a Yakuza 0 Fan Favorite Actor
In Yakuza 0, Awano was portrayed by veteran actor Riki Takeuchi. Takeuchi has appeared in a variety of classic yakuza action films and lent both his face and smoky voice to Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio to bring Awano to life. The original version of Like a Dragon Ishin, released in 2014, came out before Yakuza 0, so while that game featured many mainstays of the series in similar roles, they couldn’t have Awano.
Related: When Will Like a Dragon: Ishin Be Released? Answered
The team wanted to rectify this for the remake, casting Takeuchi in the role of antagonist character Takeda Kanryusai. Kanryusai originally had a more generic face, but for the remake, he’s gotten a complete overhaul to better resemble Awano in both face and mannerisms.
Riki Takeuchi’s Return
In a brief interview with RGG Studio Director Masayoshi Yokoyama posted on Sega’s official YouTube channel, Takeuchi described what it was like to make a comeback as Awano (or at least a character extremely similar to Awano).
“Honestly, that’s the sort of role I’m used to, I would say,” he said about playing an Awano-ified version of the historical Takeda Kanryusai.
When asked if there was anything he didn’t like about the role, Takeuchi said “no, the opposite really. I like sinking my teeth into a villain that way. In real life, I’m a perfectly nice guy. But I can take a character like that and give my own unique take on him. That’s what I’m good at.”
In a message to the fans, Takeuchi said, “Awano rampages through the city in a topknot, so what’s not to love?”
Even if it’s technically not Awano himself, it will undoubtedly be a pleasure to see Takeuchi in this kind of role again, not to mention hear his excellent voice work.
While we’re waiting for Like a Dragon Ishin, why not take a step back and check out our list of Trophies for Yakuza: Like a Dragon, as well as our guide on finding Gold Keys in that game. Visit our Facebook page as well for more news and guides.
