Explanation of the most important events in 5 periods

It turns out that Stranger than the skyanother action adventure crime game Ryu Ga Gotaku, will be a spiritual origin story for Yakuza franchise. The game likely won't feature too many familiar faces and will remain distinctly its own thing, as each of the five eras it's set in takes place long before the birth of many of the key Yakuza characters, but there's definitely a shared history. It seems Stranger than the sky will focus more on the social, economic, and political background of the franchise and connect Japanese history with the world of RGG crime.

One of the most important elements Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise is its uncompromising Japanese perspective: even when the series takes to new settings such as Hawaii, everything is shown through the eyes of Japanese culture. It can go deeper than ever before Stranger of Heavenwhich ranges between 1915, 1929, 1943, 1951 and 1965 – all transformative years for the country. Understanding what happened during these periods can shed light on what to expect Stranger than the skynarrative and tone, though the game will inevitably take some liberties.

Any claims about how real-world history might affect events in the Stranger than the sky are pure speculation – neither RGG nor SEGA have revealed a specific role for history in the game at the time of writing.

1915 – World War I and Japan's Twenty-One Demands

1915 was the second year of World War I, which Japan entered in August 1914 on the side of the Allies against Germany. Japan's condition for formally declaring war on Germany alongside the Allies was that it would be allowed to conquer German-held territories, but it also planned to use the opportunity to expand its influence in China – Japan was in a period of aggressive colonialism, generally considered to have begun in 1895.

This culminated in the 1915 Twenty-One Demands, which Japan presented to China in January without the knowledge of the Allies. The Twenty-One Demands proposed a radical and decisive increase in Japanese control over China, to the detriment of both Western and Chinese interests. Japan eventually abandoned its course with these demands, although the incident escalated tensions between Japan and China, the United States, and Europe, groups that found the demands distasteful and imperialistic.

In fact, 1915 marked a decline in Japan's global reputation, characterized by a boycott of Japanese products and significant political disputes. As for how it can affect Stranger than the sky's story and world, perhaps the game will offer a glimpse into how both ordinary citizens and members of the Yakuza may have viewed this growing conflict. It is certainly not difficult to imagine how organized crime could benefit from the weaknesses of its country.

1929 – Great Depression

Japan's global ambitions during World War I were reflected in its domestic industry: businesses increased production significantly over the decades, in what can be considered Japan's “Roaring Twenties”. The economic bubble eventually burst, and a nationwide surge in business investment triggered a massive financial panic in 1927. This preceded the outbreak of the Great Depression in 1929, which further reduced Japanese income as exports and agriculture declined.

Jumping from the early years of World War I to the onset of Japan's Great Depression (sometimes called the Showa Depression) could allow Stranger than the sky to offer more context about the economic conditions foreshadowing the growth of the Yakuza in the 20th century. As faith in institutions declines, space is often created for organized crime, for better or for worse.

By early 1943, Japan was at the height of its imperial power and had occupied several Asian states, including all of Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It also controlled large parts of China. However, it would appear that the empire began to crumble, as Japan failed in many key military operations throughout the year, withdrew from several territories, and suffered heavy losses in troops and resources.

Civilian life during this time was largely characterized by obedience and respect for the nation's war effort. With massive resources being poured into conquering and maintaining new territories, Japanese citizens found food and other commodities scarce, and many eligible young men were conscripted. It is reported that nearly 6 million Japanese men served during World War II, of which over 2 million were killed in battle. This intense, nationalistic and often bleak historical background can influence Stranger than the sky in several interesting ways.

Predictably, Yakuza activity during this period is not particularly well documented, which gives Stranger than the sky more freedom in building your fictional vision of criminal life. Perhaps the game could focus on the increasingly jingoistic and isolationist nationalism that was developing in the country at the time, or allow its idealized gangsters to help alleviate the economic and psychological woes of their community. But it's more likely to set Yakuza up for more growth in the coming years.

1951 – End of Allied occupation of Japan

After the devastating nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, Japan negotiated peace and reparations agreements through the Treaty of San Francisco, ending the horrors of the previous decades. With the treaty signed in 1951, the allied forces withdrew from the country and the country began to flourish.

This era of peace was earned by the Yakuza, which developed significant black market operations after the war. With changing power systems, the Yakuza clans were able to better consolidate their power in pre-existing industries such as street trading and construction, greatly increasing their income and influence. Public perception of the Yakuza also seems to have changed during this period, as stories emerged of the criminals' heroics during World War II, although the veracity of such stories is often debated.

The yakuza flourished in post-war society and penetrated the deepest layers of Japan, so that when the Allied forces withdrew from the country in 1951, the syndicates were in a better position than ever. The decade was one of rapid and decisive expansion of organized crime which Stranger of Heaven can be examined in many ways.

1965 – The height of the Yakuza and the first operational summit

The 1960s are generally considered the height of the Yakuza's size and power, with nearly 200,000 members reported nationwide in 1963. With organized crime embedded in the fabric of Japanese society, the Yakuza wielded considerable power and influence, even as their notoriety also grew. This led to the first Operation Summit, a series of police operations in 1964 and 1965 that saw the arrest of several powerful Yakuza figures across Japan.

The result was a decline in Yakuza membership and a retreat further into the shadows, trends that would continue for decades to come. Maybe Stranger than the sky The first Operations Summit could be described as something of a “war” between the Yakuza and the police, a period defined by legend, legacy and success, but also by strife and chaos. Since this is likely to be the era in which the game ends, RGG could use this social context for an explosive and impactful finale.