In a recent interview, the director of Yakuza 3 Kiwami + Dark Ties has addressed the controversial decision by Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio to cast Teruyuki Kagawa as Goh Hamazaki, stating they sought an actor who would evoke a 'creepy' impression from audiences. The comments come from an interview with director Horii conducted by Japanese outlet GAME Watch and independently translated by IGN.
Horii was directly questioned about the recasting of certain characters in Kiwami from their original Japanese actors. He explained that while avoiding recasts might have been 'safer' to dodge online backlash, the studio chose not to be 'afraid' and instead focused on selecting performers they were most eager to see in the roles. Specifically regarding Kagawa's portrayal of Hamazaki, Horii emphasized the desire for a character who would make viewers think, 'This guy's a creep.'
Kagawa's casting has sparked outrage among Yakuza fans due to multiple sexual assault accusations against the actor, including one with apparent photographic evidence. In 2022, Kagawa admitted to and apologized for one incident, but another accuser claims she received no apology. Following the announcement, fans expressed anger on social media, trending #REMOVEKAGAWA and launching a Change.org petition that has garnered nearly 10,000 signatures. They have also accused RGG Studio of suppressing the hashtag and deleting related comments on its official Instagram page, while noting Sega's past recasting of Pierre Taki in Judgment in 2019 after a cocaine possession arrest.
Until now, neither RGG Studio nor Sega had officially commented on Kagawa's casting or the allegations, making Horii's statement the first on the matter. However, Sega did release a trailer on its official YouTube channel after the criticism emerged, featuring the Japanese voice cast and an extended clip of Hamazaki. IGN reached out to Sega for further comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
