Summary
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiimay use the same Honolulu map from itsInfinite Wealthpredecessor, but it still tells its own story with its own characters. While the game’s protagonist is none other thanfan-favoriteLike a Dragon/YakuzacharacterGoro Majima,Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiiintroduces new characters to the series' world, including the adorable feline companion Goro the Tiger. Goro the Tiger is more than Noah’s pet inLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, however, as he proves to be the perfect totem for Goro Majima’s character, bridging his notorious past with his innocent present.
A totem in storytelling is a symbolic object, creature, or motif that often serves as a device for reinforcing the themes, character arcs, and emotional stakes of a narrative. In the case ofLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Goro the Tiger is a totem for Goro Majima, and the story repeatedly draws attention to this through subtle comments about the animal companion’s nature as a tiger whom Noah affectionately refers to as a “cat.” It is through this that Goro the Tiger and Goro Majima share more than a name, as the latter’s history lines up perfectly with the individual that he is on the road to becoming inLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s Goro the Tiger Doubles as a Totem for Majima
Throughout theLike a Dragon/Yakuzaseries, Goro Majima has been portrayed as one of its most unpredictable characters, with a brutal and dangerous nature that not even the yakuza world has been able to fully contain. During his time within the Tojo Clan, he was often treated as a wild card — someone whose loyalty and power was unmatched and yet was too dangerous to be given extensive responsibility. As such, Majima has essentially been a “caged beast” during the series' lifespan, frequently leashed by duty and law, but internally mad and capable of inflicting extreme violence if he is let loose.
Goro the Tiger Is the Best Example of Majima’s Nature in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
This is ultimately what makes Goro the Tiger the best example of Majima’s nature inLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Near the beginning of the game, Goro the Tiger is introduced by Noah as a “cat,” to which Majima replies, “That’s definitely a tiger.” Not only do the two of them have the same name, but this moment effectively establishes Goro the Tiger as a totem for Goro Majima. Inside, Majima is a tiger (or at least he used to be), with his arc throughout the series even following the classic “caged beast” trope. However, when he washes up on the beach ofRich Island inLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, he’s essentially reduced to kitten/cat form, no longer a beast, but a more domesticated animal just trying to survive.
Throughout theLike a Dragon/Yakuzaseries, Goro Majima has been portrayed as one of its most unpredictable characters, with a brutal and dangerous nature that not even the yakuza world has been able to fully contain.
It’s also reflective of how Noah viewsMajima inLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, as a cat rather than a tiger, especially since Majima is internally exposed to the “tiger” that he once was throughout the game as his memory is restored. Tigers are capable of inflicting massive harm to animals and people, much like Majima has been known to do in the series' past. However, thanks to Noah’s perception of Majima as a cat rather than the tiger that he truly is, he is able to travel alongside Noah and interact with others without being perceived as a natural threat.
By using Goro the Tiger as a totem,Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiidelivers one of the richest representations ofGoro Majima’s characterin the series. While past games have portrayed Majima as a caged beast, a “tiger” kept in check by the world around him,Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiieffortlessly shifts those perceptions. Noah’s insistence on seeing Goro the Tiger as a cat reflects how Majima, removed from his past, is forced to confront a version of himself that is no longer defined by chaos.
