Ask any fan of Ryu Ga Gotoku games what their favorite aspect of the titles is, and chances are they’ll point to the Substories. Ranging from genuinely touching looks at the world and its characters to oddball tangents which delve into the strange and bizarre, these pieces of side content are a key reason to check out the games. Like a Dragon Ishin is no exception, and if you’re out to complete every single one the game offers, we’ve got you covered with this guide on all the Substory locations in Like a Dragon Ishin.
There are a total of 72 Substories to track down and experience in Like a Dragon Ishin.
Each is assigned to a specific part of the Kyo map, with the Substory starting in that area and potentially taking you to different parts of the map as they progress. If you ever get stuck in terms of what to do next or how to progress a Substory, you can view a hint for the next step by opening the main menu with the Options or Menu button and then selecting the Substories tab. You’ll then be able to view each of the Substories you’ve triggered, as well as info regarding the next step of the story.
We’ve listed each Substory down below, seperated out based on where they can be triggered. We’ve also included some information on where a given Substory can be triggered to speed up the process of tracking them down. It should be noted, however, that some won’t activate until you’ve progressed the main story, so you may be unable to complete them until reaching a certain point in the game.
| Substory | Location | How to Trigger |
| Death of the Author | Fushimi | Speak to the Author on the far right corner of Teradaya’s upper floor. |
| Precious Packages | Fushimi | During the day, run past the upper left corner of the Teradaya building in Kuramachi. If it doesn’t trigger, try running around in each area of the game and then return to Fushimi without using a Palanquin. |
| A Clean Streak | Fushimi | Walk past the Harima Bathhouse. |
| A Man and His Sack | Fushimi | Walk behind the General Goods store. |
| All in the Hips | Fushimi | Progress the Umai Udon shop owner’s Friendship to a certain point. |
| Invasion of the Black Ships | Fushimi | Approach the docks near Teradaya. |
| It’s a Long Story | Fushimi | Speak to the two women standing outside the house to the lower left of Hanako. |
| It’s a Long Story: The Final Chapter | Fushimi | Speak to Sakiko again. She’ll still be at the house to the lower left of Hanako. |
| It’s a Long Story: Epilogue | Fushimi | Speak to Sakiko again. She’ll still be at the house to the lower left of Hanako. |
| Scented Water | Fushimi | Speak to the woman near the boat that goes into Mukurogai. |
| Ee Ja Nai Ka | Fushimi | Walk toward the chanting group to the right of Ebisu Pawn Fushimi. |
| The Way of the Sammerai | Fushimi | Walk into the corner to the southwest of the Dojo. |
| Last Stand of the Panthers | Fushimi | Speak to the Black Panther member near the docks next to Teradaya. Note: This Substory will not trigger until you’ve completed every other Black Panther group Substory. |
| The Desperate Fisherman | Fushimi | Speak to the Fisherman wearing a hood at the docks near Teradaya. |
| The Junk Boy | Fushimi | Speak to the boy in the storage space found to the upper right of Teradaya. This Substory will be completed after you establish a friendship with the Junk Boy. |
| The Woodcutter | Fushimi | Speak to the old man cutting wood to the left of the Palanquin carriers in South Yashikimachi. This Substory will be completed after you establish a friendship with The Woodcutter. |
| The Frequently Lost Courier | Fushimi | Speak to the courier standing to the right of Teradaya and near the boat that goes to Mukurogai. This Substory will be completed after you establish a friendship with the Lost Courier. |
| The Patient Dog | Fushimi | Interact with the dog directly south of the Dojo. This Substory will be completed after you establish a friendship with the Patient Dog. |
| The Filthy Cat | Fushimi | Speak to the cat lying on a plank of wood to the right of the boat that goes to Ryoma’s Villa. This Substory will be completed after you establish a friendship with the Filthy Cat. |
| The Captain and the Curious | Fushimi | Go to the bar found to the right of/north of Umai Udon. |
| Diplomacy in Darkness | Fushimi | After giving Satow at least 90 percent of the Memoirs, walk past the bar next to Umai Udon. Typically triggers during the day, and is only available after completing The Captain and the Curious. |
| A Lasting Thirst for Peace | Fushimi | After giving Satow at least 96 percent of the Memoirs, head toward the bridge near the bar next to Umai Udon. Can only be triggered after completing Diplomacy in Darkness. |
| The Reclusive Son | Rakugai | Speak to the man and woman outside the house in East Umekojicho, to the west of the Scarecrow Chateau. |
| Palanquin Paladin | Rakugai | Speak to the old man next to the Palanquin to the southwest of the Chicken Racing Building. |
| Can I Quote You on That? | Rakugai | Head up the road northwest of the Scarecrow Chateau. |
| Sonno Joui | Rakugai | Head through the alley north of the Shady Bar. |
| Ee Ja Not Ka | Rakugai | Head toward the chanting crowd on the left side of the Scarecrow Chateau. Only available after completing Ee Ja Nai Ka. |
| Bluffin’ Up the Wrong Alley | Rakugai | Interact with the crowd in front of the Gambling Den. |
| The Panther’s Playmaker | Rakugai | Speak to the Black Panther courier near the lower bridge. Note: This Substory won’t trigger unless you complete the two preceding Black Panther courier Substories. |
| The Sword Nut | Rakugai | Speak to the man in the lower left corner of Sannocho. This Substory will be completed after you establish a friendship with the Sword Nut. |
| The Battered Defender | Rakugai | Interact with the samurai waiting along the main path from Fushimi to Rakugai. This Substory will be completed after you establish a friendship with the Battered Defender. |
| The Mysterious Merchant | Rakugai | Speak to the wooden shed to the northwest of the well located at the entrance to Rakugai. This Substory will be completed after you establish a friendship with the Mysterious Merchant. |
| The Hungry Cat | Rakugai | Interact with the black cat resting in-between the buildings to the west of the Scarecrow Chateau. This Substory will be completed after you establish a friendship with the Hungry Cat. |
| The Spitfire Town Protector | Rakugai | Head along the main road toward Kurogane Smithing. |
| Nichibuza’s Newest Fan | Rakunai | Interact with the old woman in front of Nichibuza, south of Ikedaya. |
| Deceitful Deity | Rakunai | Speak to the police officer on the right side of the Ginryu Dojo. |
| Who’s Entertaining Who? | Rakunai | Speak to the woman outside of the Shikokuya. |
| I’ll Miss You, Miho | Rakunai | Walk along the road to the northwest of Nichibuza. |
| Global Fraud | Rakunai | Speak to the old man outside of the buildings to the southeast of Don Quixote. |
| Talkin’ Tosa | Rakunai | Speak to the man outside the buildings to the northeast of Nichibuza. |
| The Mochi Mystery | Rakunai | Speak to the group of men to the west of the Shogi Parlor. |
| Ee Ja Nai for Justice | Rakunai | Walk around the sides of Tengen Temple. Only available after completing the other the Ee Ja Nai Ka and Ee Ja Not Ka Substories. |
| The Unwilling Courier | Rakunai | Walk along the northern bridge leading to Gion. |
| Enter the Black Panther Couriers | Rakunai | Speak to the courier on the bridge leading to Gion. |
| The Panthers’ Leading Man | Rakunai | Speak to the Black Panther courier near the bridge leading to Gion. Only available after completing the first two Black Panther Substories. |
| The Hungry Sumo Wrestler | Rakunai | Speak to the Sumo Wrestler who is passed out to the east of the Shogi parlor. This Substory will be completed after you give the Hungry Sumo Wrestler one food item. |
| The Love-Starved Husband | Rakunai | Speak to the man looking out at the water along the shore south of the southern bridge. This Substory will be completed after you give the Love-Starved Husband at least one meal and establish a friendship. |
| The Oblivious Woman | Rakunai | Speak to the woman standing to the right of the Karasuma Street Palanquin carriers. |
| The Injured Grandma | Rakunai | From Kurogane Smithing, head north into Rakunai. |
| The Barking Dog | Rakunai | Interact with the dog on the left side of the Ebisu Pawn Rakunai. |
| The Lucky Cat | Rakunai | Interact with the cat in the corner to the right of the Rakunai Shrine where the priest and Akane are found. |
| The Spitfire Debt Collector | Rakunai | Speak to Yae in front of Kurogane Smithing. Only available after completing The Spitfire Town Protector. |
| The Spitfire Lie Detector | Rakunai | Speak to Yae in front of Kurogane Smithing. Only available after completing The Spitfire Debt Collector. |
| Finders Weepers | Gion | Examine the red journal found in front of the temple at the area’s entrance. |
| Soft and Supple | Gion | Speak to the man in front of the brothel in the northwest corner of the area. |
| The Revolutionary Chef | Gion | Speak to the man standing in front of the Asahi. The Substory will be considered complete after you start his Friendship storyline. |
| The Sexy Madam | Gion | Speak to the woman standing in front of the tree north of Kitchen Aoba. Her Substory will be marked off once you give her the first item she requests. |
| The Bad Side of Town | Mukurogai | Head south from the main entrance guarded by the man who wants Sake. |
| Brawler for Hire | Mukurogai | Speak to the man covered in tattoos near the path leading to the shoreline. Only available after completing Ee Ja Nai for Justice. |
| Brawler Incarnate | Mukurogai | Speak to the man covered in tattoos near the path leading to the shoreline. Only available after completing Brawler for Hire. |
| Brawler Enlightened | Mukurogai | Speak to the man covered in tattoos near the path leading to the shoreline. Only available after completing Brawler Incarnate. |
| Fallen Warrior’s Ghost | Mukurogai | Go to the shoreline at night and speak to the glowing samurai. |
| The Servile Beggar | Mukurogai | Speak to the beggar sitting in the shade to the southeast of the Mukurogai entrance. Donating money to him once will mark the Substory as complete. |
| The Trash Dealer | Mukurogai | Speak to the bald man to the left of the Mukurogai entrance. Give him any one item to complete the Substory. |
| The Injured Dog | Mukurogai | Interact with the injured dog east of the Mukurogai entrance. Healing him once will complete the Substory and trigger his Friendship storyline. |
| It’s What’s on the Inside | Other (Mibu) | Head up the stairs on the far left side of the Mibu Base area. |
| Hope Blossoms Again | Other (Mibu) | Head toward the stairs on the far left of the Mibu area, and speak to the couple being harassed by a samurai. |
| A Warlord’s Ambition | Other (Ryoma’s Villa) | Cook six or more different dishes at Ryoma’s Villa, and then step outside. |
| The Boy Who Cried Bear | Other (Mibu) | Head to the open area in front of the Mibu shrine and speak to the father and his son. |
| Mama Ryoma | Other (Mibu) | Speak to the three children along the lower Mibu road. |
| The Amnesiac | Other (Temple Road) | Speak to the unconscious man on your way up to the temple. Give him medicine at least once to trigger the Substory’s completion. |
| The Boy Who Loves Veggies | Other (Mibu) | Speak to the boy crying outside of the house along the lower Mibu road. His Substory will be marked as complete after you give him at least one vegetable. |
It’s also worth noting that you can detect Substories and mark them on your map by wearing a specific piece of equipment in Like a Dragon Ishin.
Specifically, you’ll need to equip the Inviting Hat. This can be obtained by completing The Boy Who Cried Bear, and once it’s equipped, any Substory you can currently trigger or try to complete will be shown on your map.
Hopefully, this guide on all the Substory locations in Like a Dragon Ishin helped you achieve that 100 percent completion rating faster. For more on the game, check out any of the related articles down below.
FAQs
Can you miss Substories in Ishin? ›
— Answered. You're in luck because Like A Dragon: Ishin! has no missable content. Regardless of how far you push into the story, you'll still be able to handle all the game's substories and play the minigames to your heart's content.
How many Substories are there in Ishin? ›Substories List. There are 72 substories in Like a Dragon: Ishin!, which reward anything from Virtue and character bonds to equipment and crafting items.
How do you get all the Substories in Yakuza like a dragon? ›In order to unlock the substories in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, you must progress to Chapter 3 – The Town at Rock Bottom of the main story. Some substories will be unlocked automatically as the story progress while others need to be prompted by going to the substory's starting location.
How many Substories are in Yakuza like a dragon? ›There are 52 Substories in total, many unlockable in different chapters throughout the game. While they don't necessarily unlock in numerical order, we've organized them from Substory 01-52 to make it easier to find help. Read below for a full list of every Substory including chapter availability and rewards.
Are Kenzan and Ishin connected? ›Ishin! is set two centuries later than Kenzan!, hence the plots are not related to each other since both games focus on different characters, the historical figures of Sakamoto Ryōma (1836–1867) and Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645) respectively.
Do Substories expire Yakuza like a dragon? ›Remember though that they don't expire, so any Chapter 4 ones not yet complete will carry over.
Is Ishin connected to Yakuza? ›Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! is an action-adventure video game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. It is a spin-off of the Like a Dragon series, formerly and commonly known in English localization as Yakuza.
Is Ishin a sequel to Kenzan? ›Importantly, Kenzan is set over two centuries before the events of Ishin, and thus features a narrative and a cast of characters completely unrelated from the latter game.
Can you fail Substories in Yakuza? ›Substories can't really be failed, they can be “finished” or “completed”. finished means you got it done, completed means you did it all perfectly.
How is Lau Ka Long alive? ›Lau is revealed to have somehow survived being shot in the head and has since been working as an underground weapons dealer in Ijincho under the name Chau Ka Long. Lau can only appear once the gambling hall is unlocked.
Can you romance in Yakuza: Like a Dragon? ›
While it may seem surprising, Yakuza: Like a Dragon has six different romance options that you can pursue. Most of these romance options have a reward, but there's also a big bonus that you'll get from dating them all.
Can you miss Substories Yakuza 0? ›there are some substories available through each chapter. If you miss any don't worry. you will have access to all of them after you beat the story and through "Premium adventure".
Is it possible to miss Substories Yakuza 0? ›are substories missable? No. You can do them at *any* time, including in New Game+ and completed save files.
How long is 100% Yakuza: Like a Dragon? ›When focusing on the main objectives, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is about 45½ Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 102 Hours to obtain 100% completion.
Will Ichiban be in Ishin? ›It was previously confirmed that Ichiban would appear as a Trooper Card in a recent game overview trailer for Ishin, but we now know that he won't be appearing as a central character to the game's plot like some of the other stars of Like A Dragon.
Who is the final boss of Yakuza Ishin? ›Takechi Hanpeita (武市 半平太, Takechi Hanpeita) is the main antagonist and final boss of Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin!/Like a Dragon: Ishin!. He is based on the real-life historical figure Takechi Hanpeita WP . He is the adoptive brother of the game's protagonist, Sakamoto Ryoma, and the founder of the Tosa Loyalist Party.
Is Yakuza Ishin based on a true story? ›All of the major characters in Ishin are based on real historical figures. The Bakumatsu Period was one of the biggest eras of change in Japan's history, as it marked a shift away from the Tokugawa Shogunate's rule and restored power back to the Emperor.
Can you date Saeko in Yakuza like a dragon? ›Once you have a maxed out Bond with Saeko and a maxed out Style stat, you will be able to begin a romantic relationship with Saeko. This counts as an intimate relationship for Kasuga towards Playing With Fire.
Which Yakuza game has the best Substories? ›Yakuza Kiwami 2
Yakuza 2 undoubtedly features one of the very best stories in the entire franchise, really digging into the conflict Kiryu feels at wanting to leave his life of crime. Yakuza Kiwami 2 also fixes nearly every problem with the original game, making it easier to find substories and streamline combat.
You'll have to remember that Kiryu is around 60 years old at the time, but let us tell you this: he isn't afraid and is limber enough to kick some butt. As fortunate as you are to see Kiryu in Chapter 12, you won't be able to officially recruit him until the very end of Chapter 14.
Can Yakuza have wife? ›
Unlike Western mafia wives, Yakuza wives remain outside the sphere of criminal activity. Although the women play a vital role in running the clan – managing finances, resolving quarrels and providing emotional support – they are barred from being active participants or formal members.
What is Majima's name in Ishin? ›2 Goro Majima AKA Okita Soji
Goro Majima might just be the most beloved Yakuza character in the series.
yakuza, also called bōryokudan or gokudō, Japanese gangsters, members of what are formally called bōryokudan (“violence groups”), or Mafia-like criminal organizations.
Will Yakuza Ishin come to Xbox? ›Like a Dragon: Ishin!, the latest game from the creators of Yakuza, is now available worldwide on Xbox Series X|S.
Is Kiryu in Yakuza Ishin? ›He is based on the real-life historical figures Sakamoto Ryoma WP and Saito Hajime WP , and is portrayed by the former Yakuza/Like a Dragon series protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu.
Will Yakuza Ishin have dragon engine? ›Instead of the studio's in-house Dragon Engine, Like a Dragon: Ishin uses Unreal Engine 4, and Chief Director Hiroyuki Sakamoto recently explained why in a recent interview.
Can you romance in Yakuza 0? ›To have any chance of dating one of the women, you must complete the telephone club mini-game. So, first, you need to pass the one button QTE that occurs when they call. Then you progress onto the conversation, which is a shooting gallery.
What do you get for 100% Yakuza 0? ›Almost all topics are covered in this guide. First, you should note that Yakuza 0 has its own in-game completion checklist that lead to a 100% game completion score, which in turn unlocks a specific achievement linked to it - “Perfectionist”. It's the hardest achievement to get in this game.
How long does it take to 100 percent Yakuza 0? ›When focusing on the main objectives, Yakuza 0 is about 31 Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 141 Hours to obtain 100% completion.
Who killed Dojima? ›Yakuza/Yakuza Kiwami: 1995
In rage, Nishikiyama shoots and kills Dojima. Kiryu takes the blame for Nishikiyama and becomes known as a patriarch-killer in his stead. The room where Dojima was murdered becomes a hideout for Dojima loyalists.
Who is Kiryu's love interest? ›
Unlike his friends and colleagues, Kiryu has rarely pursued women; his only love interests, Yumi Sawamura and Kaoru Sayama, have passed away and disappeared respectively, and he has since repeatedly turned down other potential lovers like Mayumi Madarame, with no clear reason given as to why when asked by his boss, ...
Who is the real Dragon of Dojima? ›Kiryu is a famous member of the Tojo clan, who earned the nickname of "the Dragon of Dojima". Early in the first game he was planning on starting his own subsidiary group until he takes the blame for the murder of his boss, Sohei Dojima, to protect his best friend, Akira Nishikiyama, and is imprisoned for ten years.
Is Lau a villain? ›Lau is a supporting antagonist in the 2008 film The Dark Knight, the second installment of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy. He is the owner of Lau Security Investments in China, as well as a corrupt businessman who operates as an accountant for Gotham's organized crime.
Does Lau have a sister? ›Early life
He was the fourth child of the family; he has three elder sisters, one younger sister, and a younger brother named Lau Tak-sing.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon: 2009-2019
Kashiwagi survives the shooting, moving to Isezaki Ijincho an unspecified time after and opens Survive Bar. He chose that name as a reminder of having survived that experience.
Eri Kamataki
Eri is the woman who works alongside you at Ichiban Confections, as part of Substory 15: Ijincho's Safety Net, which becomes available in Chapter 5. However, she will not join the party automatically, but will instead wait until Ichiban Confections is Rank 100 or higher.
To claim your DLC items in Yakuza: Like A Dragon, open up your smartphone menu and select the bottom right icon which says DLC. This'll show a list of all the DLC items you can claim or switch on. The DLC items you can claim will have a number next to them.
Is anything missable in Yakuza kiwami? ›In particular, in Yakuza 2 there were missable heat actions, a missable locker key, and a substory that was possible to mess up for good. Fortunately, Sega took a look at this stuff when it went to work on Yakuza Kiwami 2, and there is no missable content in it.
Can you miss Substories Yakuza 4? ›If you miss any of a character's substories during the main game, you will be able to play as them again during the Finale and after finishing the game in "Premium Adventure", so don't worry.
How do you unlock Substory 36? ›Substory 36: Whispers of the Underworld
To begin this Substory, your Confidence needs to be at least Lv. 4. Approach the map marker to the west of Kinka Pharmacy. Afterwards, you'll need to head to the Survive Bar, where you'll hear rumors of a black market shop being held somewhere.
Can you 100% Yakuza 0 after the story? ›
As with most open-world games, you don't just complete Yakuza 0 by finishing the story. The game has an in-depth completion list, and you have to do all of it to complete the game.
What happens if you keep drinking in the mai yakuza kiwami? ›If the drinks are continuously refused, Kiryu will say that the drink is obviously drugged. This angers both Mai and the barman, who insists on Kiryu drinking. Eventually, this leads to a fight between Kiryu, the barman and his cohorts, among whom is the drunken man from before.
How long does Yakuza 0 take to beat? ›When focusing on the main objectives, Yakuza 0 is about 31 Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 141 Hours to obtain 100% completion.
Is Majima playable in kiwami? ›Goro Majima (Japanese: 真島 吾朗, Hepburn: Majima Gorō) is a major recurring character in Sega's Like a Dragon video game series, previously known as Yakuza outside of Japan. He is one of the main playable protagonists of Yakuza 0 and Yakuza: Dead Souls, as well as the Majima Saga of Yakuza Kiwami 2.
Should I play Yakuza Kiwami after 0? ›Start with Yakuza 0, then work your way through them (mostly) chronologically like so: Yakuza 0. Yakuza Kiwami. Yakuza Kiwami 2.
Is Yuki in Kiwami 2 the same in Yakuza 0? ›Yuki (ユキ, Yuki) is a recurring side character in the Yakuza series. Originally a hostess at Club Sunshine in Yakuza 0, she later returns as the owner of Club Four Shine in Yakuza Kiwami 2.
What is substory 54 Yakuza Kiwami? ›A Goodbye Promise is the 54th substory in Yakuza Kiwami. Yui at JeweL needs to have her affection raised to rank Rank A, and needs to be taken out at least once. After that, she will send Kiryu a call/mail to start the substory. Yui's affection does not rise if expensive items are bought or gifts are given.
Do Substories matter in Yakuza 0? ›Story of My Life trophy isn't missable no matter how you complete them, but the choices you make in some of the substories may affect the reward you get. This guide is intended to be used as you're playing through the game as it indicates which substories/friendships become available during certain parts of the story.
Are side quests missable in Yakuza like a dragon? ›None of them are missable and they can all be completed after the main story in Premium Adventure. Some have various prerequisites to being able to do them, such as Kasuga having his Personality stats at specific levels or from completing other minigames and objectives.