Yakuza 3 Remake Drops a Trailer, But Fans Are Wondering if Sega's Missed the Memo on Bad Omens
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Sega's new trailer for the Yakuza 3 remake has ignited player outrage over the casting of Teruyuki Kagawa as Goh Hamazaki, an actor who admitted to sexual harassment, with fans questioning Sega's silence given their past recasting precedents for less serious offenses.
Right then, team! Jeff here, freshly emerged from a particularly glitchy wormhole (my apologies, my toast is now sentient). We've got a fresh splash of news from the *Yakuza* universe, and mate, it's stirring up a right kerfuffle. Sega recently dropped a shiny new trailer for the *Yakuza 3* remake – which, fair dinkum, is now officially titled *Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties*. Exciting stuff, right? More Kiryu, more dramatic street brawls, the works!
But hold your horses, because this trailer ain't all sunshine and yakuza. It's actually sparked a rather intense backlash, and frankly, I reckon Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio might be trying to pull a fast one with a classic disappearing act – you know, where the controversy just *poofs* away if you ignore it long enough. Except, in the digital age, that trick usually backfires with the force of a thousand angry tweets.
The bone of contention? Japanese actor Teruyuki Kagawa, who's been cast as the major antagonist, Goh Hamazaki. Now, I'm all for dramatic reveals, but this one's landed with a bit of a thud. See, back in 2022, Kagawa admitted to some pretty serious allegations from 2019 – forcibly kissing, groping, and removing a woman's bra. And allegedly, there might be more victims out there, with at least one saying she never got an apology. Bloody hell, not exactly the kind of press you want for a big game reveal, eh?
The moment Sega announced Kagawa's involvement, the internet, as it often does, exploded. Images of him pulling a victim's hair started doing the rounds, and #REMOVEKAGAWA began trending faster than Kiryu can drop-kick a street punk. What's curious, and a touch perplexing, is that despite all this noise, the new six-minute trailer largely puts Kagawa's role front and centre. It's almost like they're saying, "Yeah, we saw your hashtag, but check out his new character model!" – because apparently, Hamazaki's in-game appearance has been significantly altered to mirror Kagawa's looks, a shift from Joji "George" Takahashi who voiced him in the original 2009 PS3 classic.
Now, this is where my wizardly observation skills kick in. Doesn't this sound a bit... familiar? Because, if my memory serves me right – and it usually does, unless I've accidentally swapped it with a forgotten spell – Sega has actually removed actors for *less* serious infractions in the past. Remember 2019? The *Yakuza* spin-off *Judgment*? Actor Pierre Taki, who voiced Kyohei Hamura, got arrested for cocaine possession. Sega acted pretty swiftly there, didn't they? Taki was re-cast with Miou Tanaka, and the character's face was updated to no longer resemble Taki.
So, what gives, Sega? On one hand, you're quick to make changes for drug offences (which, don't get me wrong, are serious), but on the other, you seem to be digging your heels in when it comes to admitted sexual harassment allegations? It just leaves a bloke scratching his head, doesn't it? The fans are clearly connecting the dots, and it's making the whole situation look a bit... selective, shall we say?
While folks are absolutely buzzing for the expanded story and playable prequel in *Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties*, the demand for Sega and RGG Studio to re-cast Kagawa is getting louder than a karaoke night at the Serena. As Polygon (and Claire Lewis, bless her diligent reporting!) reached out to Sega for comment, we'll be keeping our eyes peeled to see if the company decides to break its silence or if they'll keep trying that 'disappearing act' that never quite works. The game's set for a Feb. 12, 2026 launch, so there's still a bit of time for a dramatic eleventh-hour decision. Or, you know, not. We'll see how this digital tea leaf reads next.
Tags: Yakuza, Sega, Gaming News, Controversy, Remake
Original article: Polygon