SEGAbits @ Anime Expo 2024: Essence of Fandom Event Recap & Impressions

SEGAbits is back from attending Anime Expo, and we have some exciting stories to share from SEGA and RGG Studio’s Essence of Fandom: Like a Dragon & Yakuza Experience, an event dedicated to the Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise and its passionate fans. If you missed out on the event, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with a detailed recap filled with photos and our impressions of this amazing experience. Huge thanks to SEGA and RGG Studio for providing VIP access!

As the doors to Lounge 21 opened, we were greeted with a plethora of activities at the Essence of Fandom, all inspired by the side quests and minigames featured in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon games. The event was adorned with standees of beloved characters from the franchise’s history, creating an immersive atmosphere for all attendees. The event floor boasted playable SEGA AM2 arcade classics such as Super Hang-On, Afterburner, OutRun, and Space Harrier, offering nostalgic arcade fun for everyone.

On the far right, away from the entrance, was the franchise wall where attendees could write about their favorite game in the series. The wall quickly filled with funny illustrations of beloved characters and heartwarming messages from fans. For those 21 and up, drinks were available, adding to the festive atmosphere. There was also a dedicated mahjong table where groups could play together, and photo op sessions with special guests like Vampy, sporting Goro Majima’s Yakuza 0 attire, and Hikaru Shida, rocking Ichiban Kasuga’s iconic red suit and barbed-wire baseball bat.

As we explored the event, another set of doors opened, revealing the iconic Kamurocho district sign. This made many attendees, including us, feel as if we were truly living in the world of the Yakuza video game series. Straight ahead from the Kamurocho district sign was a colorfully lit dance floor, reminiscent of Yakuza 0, with music from the games playing in the background. There was also a pocket circuit course where attendees could compete against each other. The transition of these aspects from the game to reality was a thrilling experience that amazed everyone.

The excitement continued as the RGG Studio crew prepared for a mini panel hosted by Vampy, featuring Like a Dragon/Yakuza’s chief producer, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, and Kazuhiro Nakaya, the voice of Ichiban Kasuga and Akira Nishikiyama. They shared their experiences and memories working on the series with fans at the Essence of Fandom Party during Anime Expo. During the panel, we learned several interesting insights from Sakamoto and Nakaya-san as they reflected on the worldwide success of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and other RGG titles released within the last 12 months. They also announced a new game in the series currently in development and answered questions from the community.

The highlight of the mini panel was when Nakaya-san was asked about the strength he drew upon when portraying Ichiban Kasuga. He shared that the character’s core principle is to never disrespect the life in front of you, regardless of who they are. This philosophy was shaped by Nakaya-san’s personal experience, including the grief of losing his father eight years ago. He expressed gratitude for his father and for being able to attend an event filled with wonderful fans. You can watch the full mini panel on YouTube.

Following the panel, we were treated to an invitational karaoke contest featuring special guests Rocco Botte of Mega 64, CrystAAHHL, and Hikaru Shida, with Sakamoto and Nakaya-san as judges. Each guest cosplayed as their favorite Yakuza/Like a Dragon characters and performed iconic songs from the karaoke minigame such as “Baka Mitai,” “24 Hour Cinderella,” and “So Much More!” The crowd sang along, and each contestant gave it their all. In the end, Sakamoto and Nakaya-san declared professional wrestler Hikaru Shida as the winner. As a special surprise, Nakaya-san performed two songs for the crowd: “Judgment -Shinpan-” and “The Future I Dreamed Of,” creating a memorable and positive atmosphere with everyone singing along.

Towards the end of the event, raffle prizes were given away to lucky winners, and fans danced the night away as DJ James Landino mixed soundtracks from the Yakuza/Like a Dragon games with tracks from other SEGA and Atlus titles. In conclusion, we had an amazing experience at the Essence of Fandom event and were thrilled to see fans of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series unite to share their passion for the games. We believe SEGA should host more events like this when new games are announced, and we hope for a dedicated event for general SEGA fans similar to the SEGA Fes events held in Japan with the all the hype from their anticipated return of retro SEGA video games.

Once again, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Carlos and Brent from SEGA of America/RGG Studio for hosting such a fun event and inviting us as VIP guests. Special thanks also to Pseudochel and S-Dell for providing additional photos from the event. We look forward to attending the next event and covering it for the many fans of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series!

 

 

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