Like A Dragon: Ishin - Complete Guide To Fushimi Substories (2023)

Like A Dragon: Ishin is home to a number of notable substories. These side quests can consist of off-kilter conversations, they can involve a series of battles, or they can be a combination of the two. Some of them are short and able to be completed in a minute or two, while some of them are quite long and consist of multiple parts. You get what we are saying here: there is a ton of variety.

Related: Like A Dragon: Ishin - FAQ Guide

This guide is going to take you through every substory that is present in the Fushimi region. Fushimi acts as Ryoma's home base for a large swath of the story. It is also an area densely packed with substories. Not all of them will be available from the onset. In fact, you will likely be completing substories here during the final chapters of the game. It can be a real pain trying to locate every last one. Hopefully this guide alleviates most of that pain.

Death of the Author (37)

The Death of the Author substory is located on the second floor of the Teradaya Inn. When facing your room, with the stairs to your back, simply take a right and follow the hallway. All that is required is that you interact with the resident struggling author three times. All the potential answers are listed below. If you choose to go off this suggest path, you will still complete the quest, but you will be rewarded with the "Charming" Doll instead of the European Fabric.

Conversation 1

"A cat might be funny." - Broken Compass

"How about a literal underdog?"

"What's lowlier than a pig?"

Conversation 2

"The Great Gallivanting Disaster?"

"Botch-Chan!" - Fine Silk Fabric

"He should be an animal too."

Conversation 3

"Heart"

"Cleavage"

"Animal Barn"

After this, talk to your author friend, and he will give you a reward. The reward will change depending on how you answered his questions.

Precious Packages (38)

This substory is located in the alley directly north of the Teradaya. You will not be able to begin this substory until you have finished the Diplomacy in Darkness substory. Once you have finished Diplomacy in Darkness, head over here. You will collide with two citizens, and they will mistakenly swap packages. In order to set things right, you will need to head to Mukurogai. Just head straight for the dock on the south side, where you typically play the cannonball cutting minigame.

(Video) Like a Dragon: Ishin! - Substory 5: Talkin' Tosa

Once you arrive, you will see the man you bumped into talking to a group of bandits. You will now intervene and smack the three brigands around. After that, you will swap the packages around again. You can choose to eat the man's snack if you wish (though this may impact the reward you receive). Now, just head back to the alley, and hand the whimsical man his delicious meal.

A Clean Streak (39)

This substory will unlock after you have already interacted with the information broker. Enter the bathhouse, and upon leaving someone will swipe your clothing. You will then have to chase down the thief. However, after you do, you will be confronted by people, who think you are a pervert streaking through town. So, you will need to run straight back to the bathhouse (it is your first right, follow by a left, then straight). You will be rewarded with a Crystal.

A Man And His Sack (40)

On the street to the west of the bathhouse, you will see a bunch of people lining up for some sushi. Wait in line. Unfortunately, they will run out of stock. Come back again, get in line, and you will find that they will run out once again. Fortunately for you, the third time will be the charm. You will successfully acquire your sushi, but it will be immediately stolen. Chase the thief down, tackle them, and you will conclude this quest.

All In The Hips (41)

All you need to do is to order food from the Umai udon shop owner twice. The first time you will obtain a bond with the owner, the second time, you will start this side-quest. In it, you will play the udon serving minigame. After serving customers some udon, you will earn ten percent of your sales. Which, in all honesty, isn't a ton of money. You will also be able to play the minigame whenever you want from here on out.

Invasion Of The Black Ships (42)

Go to the main strip of Fushimi, and travel to the south, near the water. You will see a group of people discussing the foreign trading ships. Suddenly, one will arrive. However, the sole member of the crew will be horribly sea sick. Talk to the people in the crowd. One will suggest you give him some sake. Talk to Pony, the foreign trader, and choose to give him some sake. That won't help. Talk to another citizen, and they will recommend physical exercise. Talk to Pony, and offer to beat him up.

After you take him to a dojo, and slap him around, he will still be feeling ill. The last person you talk to will recommend you give him some umeboshi. You can buy one in one of the nearby Ichikura pawn shop. Once you give it to him, he will be fully cured, but some thugs are going to want to teach him a lesson. After you beat the thugs up, you will be rewarded with the precise machinery.

It's A Long Story (43)

You will run into Sakiko in the southwest section of the map (just a little north of the woodcutter). Hear her out. She's going to tell you a long, meandering story. Not only that, but she will quiz you on it. Bamboo shoots is the first answer, the second is "Outside The Tea Shop", and the final answer is, of course, Sakiko. She will reward you with a Golden Seal for talking to her.

It's A Long Story: The Final Chapter (44)

Return to Sakiko and listen to her next story. It is the same deal as last time. Red, white, and green are the colors of the Dango. Amazake is the Uji Tea Parlor's specialty. And Sumire is the name of Sakiko's favorite server. After you answer all the questions correctly, you will receive the Tear of the Dragon.

It's A Long Story: Epilogue (45)

Return to Sakiko and listen to her final story (thank god). The answers are... A scarecrow, Pickled daikon, and she caught a Tuna. For listening to this last story you will receive the Golden Medicine Case.

Scented Water (46)

Talk to the woman near the boatman who takes you to Mukurogai (he is just below Komaki's dojo). She wants you to go buy her some perfume. Now, head to Mukurogai, go to the second level, and talk to the peddler. Due to a misunderstanding, you will have to fight him.

After you beat the peddler in a fight, he will give you the perfume. However, he will then become overwhelmed with emotion, and chase you all the way back to Fushimi. Head back to the woman who sent you on this journey in first place and hand over the perfume. Since you didn't have to pay for it, you get to keep the 3 ryo!

Ee Ja Nai Ka (47)

Just head to the Ebisu Pawn in the Northwest part of Fushimi and you will see a group of dancing people. From there, you just need to beat up two goons. And with that, you will have completed this substory. Completing this substory will begin the Ja Nai Ka substory quest chain.

The Way Of The Sammerai (48)

In northwest corner of Fushimi, save the American from the bandits to activate this substory. Agree to help teach Tom, and accompany him to a dojo. Now, beat Tom in a fight. Leave, come back, and agree to train Tom again. Now head out once again, then circle back, witness Tom getting bullied by children, and train him one last time. After you beat him the third time he will tell you that he is reconsidering the whole samurai enterprise.

Head to the southern section of market area in Fushimi and you will witness the children who bullied Tom earlier getting harassed by a Child-Hating Samurai. Confront the Child-Hating Samurai, Tom will then arrive. You will now have to fight off a bunch of swordsmen. Once you have finished, Tom will appear outside the Shinsengumi barracks. You can now recruit him and get his troop card.

The Last Stand Of The Panthers (49)

This is the fifth, and final, section of the panther racing substory questline. Before you gain access to this mission, you will need to complete The Unwilling Courier, Enter the Black Panther Couriers, The Panthers’ Leading Man, and The Panthers’ Playmaker substories. In this final race, you will have to deliver twelve letters in total. The best way to handle this task is to establish a route around the perimeter.

There isn't one correct route, but we shot straight up the right side of South Fushimi Ichibangai, delivered the first letter near the fishmonger, took a right at the first alley, then a left to deliver the next letter, followed that path to our next recipient, and from there carved a path along the outside. Remember, at any moment you can pause and pull up your map. We provided a picture of our route above as well. Once you finish delivering all your letters, you will be rewarded with a Great Serpent Skin.

The Desperate Fisherman (50)

This fisherman has an unfortunate issue: he can't catch fish. All you need to do in order to complete this quest is to hand him any fish. If you don't have one, worry not, there are fishing spots literally on either side of this useless fisherman. Just cast your line in front of any fish silhouette, and you will quickly catch one. For a more detailed breakdown on fishing, click this link.

Giving the fisherman a fish will complete this quest. It will also establish a bond with the fisherman.

The Junk Boy (51)

This boy just needs two things. He needs a little encouragement, and he needs something from your inventory. It doesn't matter what. So, don't be absurd and give him a golden plate, hand him a piece of paper or a worm. He'll be pleased as punch, and you will complete this substory. Giving Junk Boy anything will complete this quest. It will also establish a bond with Junk Boy.

The Wood Cutter (52)

This woodcutter is located in the southwest in the corner of Fushimi, he is right next to the palanquin carriers in Fushimi. All you need to do is to chop some wood for the old timer. After you have done so, he will pay you 100 mon for every log you have cut.

The Frequently Lost Courier (53)

(Video) Like a Dragon: Ishin! Part 23: Substory 53: The Frequently Lost Courier & Bond

In the southeast section of Fushimi, wedged between Komaki's dojo, and the dock where you can fish, you will find this lost courier. He will ask you for directions and head out. Come back later, and he will have, once again, lost his way. Leave and return to find for the third time that this hapless courier is impossibly lost. Now agree to make some deliveries for him. Worry not, he will pay you for each of your deliveries. Once you have delivered three items, you will conclude this substory.

The Patient Dog (54)

This is a very simple substory. There is a dog who hangs out in the Yashikimachi area, which is in the northwest corner of Fushimi. The dog is hungry. If you feed the dog five times, you will adopt it. It does not matter what food you give it.

The Filthy Cat (55)

This is another animal adoption substory. There is a cat who hangs out on the dock to the left of the boatman who takes you to your farm. If you interact with that cat five times, you will adopt it.

The Captain And The Curious (70)

Hanging out at the bar next to Umai Udon will be a foreigner named Satow. Agree to share a drink with the man, and the two of you will end up drinking each other into a stooper. Satow will then decide to head to the rough and tumble Rakugai. Rush into Rakugai, and you will find Satow being harassed by a samurai named Kawakami.

Kawakami isn't substantially different from the standard swordsman enemy you encounter on the regular, though he does have more health, and he seems to hit a little harder. Beat him up, and Satow will then get you to collect memoirs for him. These memoirs will now start appearing all over Kyo. They often appear in the location of completed quests, others seem to be located in random spots all over. On the ground, memoirs look just like prize tickets.

Diplomacy In Darkness (71)

After you have discussed around half of the available memoirs with Satow, leave the area, and then return to his favorite bar (the one next to Umai Udon). You will be told that he has been kidnaped and taken to Mukurogai. Head to the docks on the south end, right next to the cannonball cutting minigame, and you will see Satow surrounded by goons. The leader of this gang is Tanaka Shinbei. Unsurprisingly, this is another conflict you are going to resolve with violence!

Tanaka Shinbei is, for the most part, a pretty standard swordsmen. He may hit a little harder than your average bandit, but there seems to be little else to distinguish him from the typical enemy. So, use your best crowd clearing attacks, and take these guys out in the same way you would polish off any encounter.

A Lasting Thirst For Peace (72)

This is the final substory in the Satow questline. It requires that you collect every single last memoir. These can be pretty tricky. Some of them can be collected by completing certain bonds, such as with the Trash Dealer in Mukurogai, others can be found after you have completed certain substories, such as the Invasion of the Black Ships substory in Fushimi.

Others are seemingly found at random? It is likely that they correspond to different story events, but the truth is, we have found certain memoirs in places that don't appear to be connected to a specific bond or substory. We are currently trying to gather more reliable information on how to collect all these memoirs. Once we do, we will update this section accordingly.

Next: Like A Dragon: Ishin - Komaki Dojo Guide