Yakuza Fans Vote on Unique Official Merch: Cult Clothes, Traffic Cones, and More

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the beloved Yakuza / Like a Dragon series, and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is pulling out all the stops to celebrate. In a unique fan-driven initiative, RGG Studio is allowing fans to vote on what official merchandise they'd like to see produced. From cult outfits to traffic cones, the options are as diverse and quirky as the franchise itself.

As reported by Automaton, fans have the chance to choose from an impressive array of 100 different items. The top two vote-getters will be turned into official merchandise available for purchase within the next two years. While the voting page is in Japanese, international fans can still participate by submitting their votes on the official website.

Among the items up for vote are some typical fan favorites like a 20th anniversary celebration hoodie and a Yakuza-themed pencil case. However, the list also includes more eccentric choices drawn from the series' famously wild history. Standouts 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 ambush Kiryu in Yakuza Kiwami, and the intriguingly named "Puffy Gold Pants."

Other notable items include the sake Majima sips in a shack in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the gold watch sported by fan-favorite Akiyama, the fountain pen Kiryu uses to write to Dojima in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, the tambourine Kashiwagi shakes during karaoke in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Kiryu's wrestling mask from Yakuza 3, and Saejima's prisoner uniform from Yakuza 4, among many other unique pieces.

In addition to the merchandise campaign, fans can look forward to a new entry in the series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, set to launch on February 21, 2025. This release will kick off the 20th-anniversary celebrations. While RGG Studio made a significant impact with the 10th-anniversary release of the prequel Yakuza 0, no further announcements have been made regarding additional celebratory projects for later in the year.

Although the idea of two releases in one year might seem ambitious, RGG Studio has a history of rapid development. Over the last five years, they've successfully launched 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, along with two Super Monkey Ball games and an enhanced remaster of Virtua Fighter 5—totaling nine games. This track record showcases their capability to deliver multiple high-quality titles in a short span.