Yakuza: Every Major Character’s Age, Height, And Birthday

The Yakuza series has eight mainline titles under its belt now, as well as a variety of spinoff titles — though regrettably, the west has yet to receive most of the latter. The games have introduced fans to an array of fun and interesting characters over the years. Most of the games center on Kazuma Kiryu as the lead protagonist, but later titles added in additional leads for us to fall in love with.

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As of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the old guard of characters has largely been replaced, though some still feature in cameo roles, and a new cast of characters has taken the helm. If you've ever wondered how old your favorite character is from the Yakuza series, how tall they are, or when their birthday is — we've got it all covered right here.

These heights are based on the character models scaling data.

Some character information is based on Yakuza Fandom content.

Updated March 16, 2025, by Andrew Scariati: Following the release of the mainline entry, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and spinoff title, Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii, we have a new character to add to the list. Plus, longtime series regulars Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima have additional appearances to account for.

Some spoilers lie ahead.

22 Kazuma Kiryu

• Birthday: June 17, 1968
• Height: 184 cm (6′ 0″)
• Age: 20 (Yakuza 0)/ 27–37 (Yakuza Kiwami)/ 38 (Yakuza Kiwami 2) 38-40 (Yakuza 3)/ 41 (Yakuza 4)/ 44 (Yakuza 5)/ 44-45/48 (Yakuza 6)/ 50 (Yakuza: Like a Dragon)/ 51 (Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name) / 55 (Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth)

Kiryu has appeared in every main title in the Yakuza series, taking on the role of the lead protagonist in all games apart from Like a Dragon, where he appeared as a cameo. Kiryu is known as the Dragon of Dojima due to his fighting prowess and as a reference to his large back tattoo.

He joined the Dojima Family at a young age and even became the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan at one point, however, Kiryu found a replacement chairman and instead decided to focus on living a civilian life, raising Haruka and the other orphans at Morning Glory Orphanage. Of course, that never stops him from getting caught up in the affairs of the Tojo Clan.

21 Goro Majima

• Birthday: May 14, 1964
• Height: 186 cm (6′ 1″)
• Age: 24 (Yakuza 0)/ 31/41 (Yakuza Kiwami)/ 42 (Yakuza Kiwami 2)/ 44 (Yakuza 3)/ 45 (Yakuza 4)/ 48 (Yakuza 5)/ 52 (Yakuza 6)/ 54 (Yakuza: Like a Dragon)/ 59 (Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth) / 60 (Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii)

Majima is a self-proclaimed rival and friend to Kiryu. His flamboyant and charismatic character is a stark contrast to Kiryu's more reserved personality, and, unsurprisingly, Majima went on to become a firm fan favorite. He has appeared in every main title in the Yakuza series.

While in the Shimano Family, he earned himself the nickname "the Mad Dog of Shimano" for his brutal ferocity in battle and the insane persona that he projects to others. Eventually, Majima went on to have a family of his own and became the chief advisor to the Chairman, as well as the Vice-Chairman alongside Saejima. He also founded the Majima Construction company.

20 Akira Nishikiyama

• Birthday: October 8, 1968
• Height: 180cm (5′ 11″)
• Age: 20 (Yakuza 0)/ 26-27/37 (Yakuza Kiwami)

Nishiki and Kiryu grew up together in Sunflower Orphanage, alongside Nishiki's sister Yuko and their childhood friend Yumi. Nishiki joined the Dojima family with Kiryu and the yakuza helped him to pay the medical bills for his sister when she fell ill.

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Kiryu and Nishiki were very close and Kiryu even took the fall for the murder that Nishiki committed. However, once Yuko passed away due to her illness, and with Yuko and Kiryu absent from his life, Nishiki's personality hardened.

19 Shintaro Kazama

• Birthday: Unknown date in 1945
• Height: 177 cm (5′ 10″)
• Age: 43 (Yakuza 0)/ 50/60 (Yakuza Kiwami)/ 35 (Yakuza Kiwami 2 flashback scenes)

Kazama was the captain of the Dojima family but went on to eventually become a patriarch of his own family. He is known for being a highly-skilled hitman, but this profession didn't come without remorse.

Kazama founded the Sunflower Orphanage so that all the children of his victims had a home, which he would visit often to spend time with the children and to support them. He built a relationship with the children in the orphanage and became a father figure to them, especially Kiryu and Nishiki.

18 Osamu Kashiwagi

• Birthday: Unknown date in 1948
• Height: 185 cm (6′ 1″)*
• Age: 40 (Yakuza 0)/ 47/57 (Yakuza Kiwami)/ 57 (Yakuza Kiwami 2)/ 57-58 (Yakuza 3)/ 74 (Yakuza: Like a Dragon)

Kashiwagi is Kazama's second-in-command and as such, he is a captain of the Kazama Family. Kashiwagi is skilled in battle and highly respected within the Yakuza. At times, he fulfilled the roles of Kazama Family patriarch, Tojo Clan captain, and even became the temporary Chairman of the Tojo Clan at one point.

17 Makoto Date

• Birthday: Unknown date in 1964
• Height: 180 cm (5′ 11″) (Estimation based on in-game models)
• Age: 31/41 (Yakuza Kiwami)/ 42 (Yakuza Kiwami 2)/ 45 (Yakuza 3)/ 46 (Yakuza 4)/ 48 (Yakuza 5)/ 52 (Yakuza 6)/ 55 (Yakuza: Like a Dragon)/ 59 (Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth)

Despite being a police detective and a natural enemy of the Yakuza, Date and Kiryu develop mutual respect for one another and they become firm friends and allies. After retiring from the police force, Date became a reporter but still continued to help Kiryu whenever needed. He has appeared in every main title other than Yakuza 0.

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16 Haruka Sawamura

• Birthday: Unknown date in December 1996
• Height: 120 cm (3′ 11″) (Yakuza Kiwami)/ 165 cm (5′ 4″) (Yakuza 5)
• Age: 9 (Yakuza Kiwami)/ 10 (Yakuza Kiwami 2)/ 10-12 (Yakuza 3)/ 13 (Yakuza 4)/ 16 (Yakuza 5)/ 16/19-20 (Yakuza 6)/ 22–23 (Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name) / 26–27 (Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth)

Haruka is the daughter of Yumi Sawamura and Kyohei Jingu. She becomes the adoptive daughter of Kiryu after the events of the first game, and she affectionately refers to him as "Uncle Kaz".

Haruka lives in the Morning Glory Orphanage with the other orphans that Kiryu takes in, and once old enough, she helps Kiryu to run the orphanage. She becomes an idol in Yakuza 5, before having a child of her own, Haruto, in Yakuza 6.

15 Daigo Dojima

• Birthday: Unknown date in 1976.
• Height: 185 cm (6′ 1″) as an adult*
• Age: 12 (Yakuza 0)/ 30 (Yakuza Kiwami 2)/ 33 (Yakuza 3) 34 (Yakuza 4)/ 36 (Yakuza 5)/ 40 (Yakuza 6)/ 42 (Yakuza: Like a Dragon)/ 47 (Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth)

Daigo is the son of Sohei Dojima, the patriarch of the Dojima Family. Daigo is reluctant to take on the mantle of Chairman of the Tojo Clan as he doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps, as Sohei was infamous for being a cruel leader. However, with a lot of help and convincing from Kiryu, Daigo becomes the next Chairman in order to reunite the Tojo Clan once again.

14 Ryuji Goda

• Birthday: Unknown date in 1976
• Height: 191 cm (6′ 3″)
• Age: 4/12 (Yakuza 0)/ 30 (Yakuza Kiwami 2)

Ryuji is the son of Jin Goda (the Omi Alliance leader) and is also the patriarch of the Go-Ryu Clan. He earned his nickname "the Dragon of Kansai" from his back tattoo design and his prowess in battle, setting him up as a direct rival to Kiryu.

He is the main antagonist of Yakuza Kiwami 2 and appeared as a cameo in Yakuza 0. Ryuji also features as one of the protagonists of a couple of spin-off titles — Dead Souls and Ryu ga Gotoku Online.

13 Yoshitaka Mine

• Birthday: Unknown date in 1976
• Height: 185 cm (6′ 1″)
• Age: 33 (Yakuza 3)

Mine was a captain of the Nishikiyama family before becoming a chairman of the Hakuho Clan. He is also one of the lieutenants of the Tojo Clan and even takes on the role of temporary Chairman of the Tojo Clan at one point.

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Mine is a skilled fighter, shrewd businessman, and a cold and calculating leader. He is the main antagonist of Yakuza 3 and also features in the spin-off game Ryu ga Gotoku Online.