From what I understand, the number four has a similar cultural connotation in Japan as the number 13 does here. Something to do with how their alternate, Chinese-derived pronunciation of “four” sounds the same as the word for “death,” or some such. In that light, Sega seems to be courting bad luck with the fourth entry in the Yakuza series by offering a total of four different playable characters for the adventure. Maybe it’s only fitting, though. After all, the Yakuza do have a reputation for gambling.
We’re told that the expanded cast of protagonists — Kazuma Kiryu and three of his underworld compatriots — will come into play throughout the course of the story by offering different perspectives on the plot. Whether that will simply entail shifting the focus from character to character with each new chapter, or a complex, Rashomon-like tale that interlocks to reveal the true events and motives of its shadowy cast.
