Over the weekend, Sega published a fresh trailer for its forthcoming remake of Yakuza 3, offering a closer look at the Japanese voice cast. Despite strong player backlash, it appears Sega and developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio are not planning to address the controversy surrounding the casting of actor Teruyuki Kagawa as the game’s antagonist, Goh Hamazaki. Community complaints continue to circulate online.
Kagawa was publicly accused of sexual harassment in 2019 by two women, and additional reports have suggested other possible victims. In 2022 he acknowledged forcibly kissing, groping, and removing a woman’s undergarment, while the second accuser has stated she never received an apology. Shortly after Sega announced his casting as Hamazaki, images purportedly showing Kagawa pulling a victim’s hair spread across social platforms and the hashtag #REMOVEKAGAWA trended among fans.
Sega and RGG Studio have not issued a response to the criticism. The newly released six‑minute trailer devotes substantial screen time to Kagawa’s portrayal, suggesting there are currently no plans to remove him. He provides both the voice and likeness for Hamazaki, and the character’s appearance in the remake has been altered to reflect Kagawa’s features.
In the original 2009 PlayStation 3 release, Goh Hamazaki was voiced by Joji “George” Takahashi. The remake, billed as Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, was unveiled in September. While many fans welcome the expanded narrative and the playable prequel material, a vocal segment is urging Sega and RGG to recast Hamazaki, noting that the company has replaced performers in past instances for lesser offenses. For example, in 2019 Sega replaced Pierre Taki in the Judgment spinoff after his arrest; voice actor Miou Tanaka assumed the role and the character’s likeness was redesigned.
Polygon has reached out to Sega for comment regarding Kagawa’s involvement and will provide updates if the company responds.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is scheduled to launch on February 12, 2026.
Source: Polygon
