Goro Majima | |
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Yakuza / Like a Dragon character | |
First appearance | Yakuza (2005) |
Portrayed by | Goro Kishitani (Like a Dragon) Shunsuke Kubozuka (Ryu ga Gotoku stage play) Munetaka Aoki (Like a Dragon: Yakuza) |
Voiced by |
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In-universe information | |
Nationality | Japanese |
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 the main protagonist of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and one of the main playable protagonists of Yakuza 0 and Yakuza: Dead Souls, as well as the Majima Saga of Yakuza Kiwami 2. Introduced as a member of the Tojo Clan and patriarch of its subsidiary group, the Majima Family as well as second-in-command of the Shimano Family, nicknamed "Mad Dog of Shimano", he develops a sadomasochistic obsession with the protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. He continually seeks to fight him, seeing him as the perfect rival, but eventually bonds with him across the franchise and becomes an important ally of his. He is also the sworn brother of Taiga Saejima who is one of the protagonists of Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5. Majima's character is explored in more detail during the prequel Yakuza 0, in which he is a 24-year-old former Yakuza and a playable protagonist along with Kiryu. In this game, Majima has a much more calm and serious demeanor that develops into his standard sadomasochistic one during a war between a number of families in a fight for a patch of land known as the Empty Lot. Majima also appears in the spin-off Dead Souls as well as the crossover Project X Zone 2.
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio created Majima as a "clown" character who would contrast his calmer characterization in Yakuza 0, where the localization shifted Majima's character arc so he would not come across as insane. Majima has been popular with the Yakuza fanbase, having earned a CD with all the songs Ugaki plays in his karaoke mini-games while topping a popularity poll. His character and fighting style in Yakuza 0 were highly praised by critics.
Even as protagonist, Goro Majima is never silent and the player always sees his dialogue, a trait which he shares with Ichiban Kasuga.