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The latest issue of Famitsu revealed that Etsuko the Obatarian and Masaharu Kaito will return in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name as guest characters. Etsuko the Obatarian first appeared in Yakuza 0. Meanwhile Kaito is a major supporting character in the Judgement series, and the protagonist of The Kaito Files DLC expansion in Lost Judgment. [Thanks, Famitsu!]
Etsuko, also known as the Obatarian, is a beloved side-character which appeared in Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami 2, and she was briefly referenced in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Her nickname is a portmanteau of the words Oba (Middle-aged woman, or “auntie” in Japanese) and Battalion. How the Obatarian remains the same in Like a Dragon Gaiden as she looked over 30 years prior in Yakuza 0 remains a mystery.
Her profile in the latest Famitsu issue mentions her work as a cabaret girl and her outstanding national karaoke skills, in reference to her being one of the girls available in the Cabaret Club Czar in Yakuza 0 and Cabaret Club Grand Prix in Yakuza Kiwami 2, as well as her karaoke leaderboard positions in Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza 6.
Meanwhile, fans of Judgement and Lost Judgment will remember Masaharu Kaito as a private investigator at Yagami Detective Agency, and Yagami’s partner. Kaito is a former member of the Matsugane Family, a subsidiary of the Tojo Clan. His profile on the Famitsu issue mentions that it will be interesting witnessing how former yakuza of the Tojo Clan, Kaito and Kiryu interact in the coming Like a Dragon Gaiden.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will come out on November 9, 2023 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC.
