Yakuza Prequel Uses Deceased Actor’s Likeness, Sparking Backlash
During Sega/Xbox’s reveal for Stranger Than Heaven, the Yakuza prequel reveals a CG likeness of late actor Bunta Sugawara (died 2014), crafted from archival material with family consent and voiced by Takashi Ukaji. This marks the first time RGG Studio uses a deceased actor’s likeness in a game, prompting debate over memorialization versus exploitation and drawing criticism that the move could commodify Sugawara’s legacy, though Sega says it honors him with materials provided by Toei.