What is it about Kiryu Kazuma that makes me not want to hate his character? Although he is/was a Yakuza member, I can't find things about him that I don't like. Even though he's in the streets beating up people, brutally slamming their faces into walls, I want to be him.In games like Grand Theft Auto we find characters who are admired for their complexity. People who are forced into tough decisions where they may not always have the happy ending. A trend in Western developed games is the ability to pick either the good or the bad. The choice between the two has become a staple. I have never been able to take interest in that choice. When you give it to me, I always want to play the good character. Those themes which are such a big part of games like Knight of the Old Republic and Fable never had much appeal to me. It was like the decision was already made for me.
As much as the evil stereotype for a Yakuza member exists. Kiryu Kasuma finds a way to turn it back on itself. He took the blame for a murder he didn't commit and went to jail protecting two people he loved. He was disowned by the Yakuza. He gets out ten years later and begins searching everywhere for his one true love. He finds her. And as she is dying in his arms he promises to raise her daughter, from another man, as his own. He gives up his position in the Yakuza to go clean and start a "family." It's all sorts of craziness. Do men like this actually exist?
Does this kind of story even make sense here. I love it to death. I can't find reason not to like this character. Beneath all the grime and filth world, there is this shine that I can want to identify with. Is this a case of East vs West? The way two cultures look at organized crime. I've never understood people's fascination with organized crime. Is anyone out there that may shed some light? Why are they so different? Are they different? Is this just a special case?
I want Yakuza 3. So can this story exist here and be appreciated?
David
BLES Foundation
6 comments:
Well I would guess that the main reason is because of the fact that we have a perceived image of a "gang" or "mafia" type group. The west coast has always looked down upon gangs and organized crime just because thats what we were always taught by the police and by what we are taught in school. I'm guessing that organized crime isn't too bad of a situation on the east coast so I would imagine that people don't really care as much about it as we do. But personally seeing the difference between Yakuza and lets say the mob or the mafia or something like the sopranos is really astonishing. On the west coast i think its more of a drug reason for organized crime, selling of illegal products obviously.But I don't know if the east coast has a drug problem as well.
When you look at organized crime around the world there are a few things that stand out. Primarily it is the loyalty, respect and often times fear that keeps the group going. I have not studied the Yakuza so I don't know anything with certainty but the Japanese mafia has always been painted to be a fiercely loyal group that becomes even stronger than family (this can be seen in other areas of Japanese culture too).
In America we don't see that anywhere anymore. Nobody really stands strong together for anything anymore (even when people do there is often dissension). There was a time in places like Chicago and New York where the mob was stronger and more "pure". First and second generation immigrants who still had honor and respect. They may have been doing things outside of the law but they were together. The downfall of all organized crime comes about as the new generations stop having that loyalty and reach for the quick buck. It had never been about money, it was about control. When they lose sight of that the organization devolves into an every man for himself free for all and chaos reigns supreme.
A game like Yakuza gives us a glimpse of a world in which crime is part of everyday life but that there is still some civility to be found. These are people trying to do what is best for their "family". We even see the younger generation trying to break apart from tradition and gather wealth and power for themselves. Houses that were once enemies recognize the corruption and come together to purify the bloodline.
Kiryu Kazuma is no petty thug or theif. He has morals and values the same as any man, maybe even beyond those of many men. He isn't interested in random violence or flaunting his power. He merely wants to protect those close to him. Perhaps I am glorifying a gangster but to me he is no villain, he is something of a hero in my eyes.
As weird of a parallel as it may seem I can associate him with many of our action heros (for instance, Bruce Willis as John McClane who may have been a cop but was rather outside the law). Slap a wife beater on Kazuma, give him some cheesy one liners and pepper in some explosions. . . Die Hard 5: Yakuza Stories. Except, Kiryu is too refined for that, besides he wouldn't want to get his suit dirty.
I hope that Yakuza 3 finds its way into my hands some day with some sort of english localization. Sure I could fumble my way through it in Japanese but to miss out on the character interactions and story would be to miss out on the reason to play the game in the first place.
I think the differences between US mafia/gang groups and the Japanese Yakuza is a matter of culture, goals, and history.
In Japan the Yakuza has always existed in some form or another in the cities. When westerners "discovered" Japan it was left to the Yakuza to trade and deal with them. Granting them a large amount of power. I believe that Yakuza now a days are not as bad and the traditional mafia/gangs of the west. The government knows that they exist but as long as the Yakuza stick to their territory, gambling/prostitution and the like the government leaves them alone.
This however is widely different the the mafia in the US. The US didn't have much organized crime until South Western European immigrants came into the major cities like Chicago and New York. In the beginning these groups were based off of the gang social structure of the Roman Empire. In which in exchange for "protection" money the gangs would protect the lower class's. This then led to machine politics, which led to the election of Tweed and other machine political boss's.
This however was new to the United States which started cracking down on organized crime, which led to an escalation of hostilities between the government and the crime boss's. The focus of the mafia then slowly shifted from just protection money to other forms of illegal activity such as drugs in order to get more money to fight their increasing war with the US government. This led to the inclusion of South American crime kings to get into US action, these drug lords were only interested in profit at any means necessary.
Thus as organized was slowly wiped out in the US it switched it focus from being a "family" to making a quick buck at any costs.
These are all really great comments. The Mafia isn't exactly all bad, but there's definitely evil in it. Once you get in you can't get out.
So basically the key terms here are honor, loyalty, and brotherhood.
I can't say much about Yakuza, but I do know that their type of organization is very similar to the Triad. The Triads aren't "evil" in a sense. Are they immoral? Of course. But what many people don't know is that the Triad started out in Ancient China as a brotherhood of outlaws helping the repressed.
Growing up in Hong Kong, I was well aware of Triad influence in almost every part of Hong Kong, not exaggerating. However, most of the time, the Triads just stuck to themselves and occasionally even helped out the community, kind of like what Al Capone did for Chicago.
You took the words right out of my mouth. I by randomness bought and started playing this game pretty much the day your started and i had the same thoughts.
I belive Kirya is a good person but he just has to do bad things to get by in the life he leads. Its not like he is evil for the sake of been evil, like you can be in KOTOR or Fallout ect, and he never does bad things to innocent people, he just does bad things when needs be to be loyal to the people that have been there for him. In the end it would of been simple to just keep out of the tojo clans buinsess and say so what to the goings on, but i think he just cant let go of the past and that sence of loyalty to them no matter what the cost to his own life...........and plus we wouldnt of got yakuza 2 if he just did what most of us would do and moved on, so i guess it worked out ok haha.
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