Controversy Erupts Over Kiryu's New English Voice Actor in Like a Dragon

The upcoming spin-off Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name has announced that there will be a new English dub voice actor for Kazuma Kiryu, the long-time protagonist. This spin-off aims to provide more context for the recent entries in the series, taking place between Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The story will revolve around a retired Kiryu, who has become a secret agent for the Daidoji Faction, using the codename Joryu.

In June, RGG Studio, the game developers, revealed the actors and characters who will be part of Like a Dragon Gaiden, aside from Kiryu. Joining Kiryu on his Sotenbori escapade are Shishido Kosei and Tsuruno Yuki, members of the Omi Alliance family. Additionally, there is a mysterious woman named Akame whom Kiryu must protect, as well as Homare Nishitani, the third member of the family to adopt the name of the eccentric Yakuza 0 villain. While the complete English dub cast has not been unveiled, the voice actor for Kiryu has been confirmed, sparking a mixed reception among fans.

Kazuma Kiryu will now be voiced by Yong Yea, who is not only a popular gaming news coverage YouTuber, but also an experienced voice actor. He will be taking over the role from Darryl Kurylo, who originally portrayed Kiryu in the first Yakuza game, as well as Gaiden and Infinite Wealth. The announcement received a mixed response from fans, with some expressing excitement to see Yea in such a significant role, while others voiced concerns and criticism.

The main point of contention centered around the perception that a YouTuber was chosen primarily for their online fame, rather than their acting abilities. Yea was quick to address this criticism by highlighting his extensive experience as a voice actor, which actually preceded his YouTube career. This backlash is not unique to Yea, as fellow voice actor Gianni Matragrano also faced similar backlash due to his online fame. SungWon Cho, also known as ProZD, shared his own experiences with the stigma surrounding YouTubers and their perceived lack of acting skills.

Yong Yea has an extensive background in anime and video game roles, including notable appearances in Sword Art Online, Cookie Run, and The Prince of Tennis. Among his notable performances, fans of anime may recognize him as Father Enrico Pucci from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, a role that many consider to be his breakthrough. Despite facing criticism from a vocal minority, Yea's portrayal of Kiryu was well-received by many fans, for which he expressed his gratitude.

The game Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is set to release on November 9 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.