Yong Yea, Kazuma Kiryu's newest English voice actor, asks Yakuza Fans to withhold judgment until the game comes out! Learn more about Yong Yea's voice acting for Kiryu at Anime Expo 2023 and the fans' reaction to it.
Related Video
Voice Actor Yong Yea Announced As The New English Voice of Kazuma Kiryu
Starting From Like A Dragon Gaiden
Yong Yea, a voice actor and popular YouTuber, has been announced as the new English voice actor for the iconic character Kazuma Kiryu in the upcoming Yakuza game, Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
The announcement elicited mixed reactions from the Yakuza fan community, but Yea has urged gamers to reserve judgment until they can play the finished product as excitement for its release grows.
The creator of the Yakuza series, RGG Studio, confirmed in a tweet that Yong Yea would be replacing Kazuma Kiryu's longtime English voice actor, Daryll Kurylo. Many fans were shocked by this information as they were used to Kurylo's portrayal of Kiryu throughout the franchise.
A Sample of Yong Yea's Voice Acting as Kiryu
Yong Yea's was introduced as the new English voice of Kiryu during the Anime Expo 2023 on July 2. As a panelist representing SEGA, he was invited to read a line from Like A Dragon Gaiden
for the attendees. However, the initial reaction to his portrayal was met with mixed reviews, leaving fans in need of clarification about the direction of Kiryu's character.
In response to the conflicting comments, Yong Yea shared a polished version of the dialogue from Anime Expo on Twitter. He acknowledged the issues brought up by the players, but he urged them to hold off on making decisions until the game's official release. He asked people to play the entire game before expressing an opinion, realizing the importance of the part and the devotion fans have for Kiryu's character.
Fan Reactions and Concerns
The Yakuza fandom reacted with a range of viewpoints and feelings. A few supporters had praised Yong Yea on his new role and showed enthusiasm for the next game. However, a sizable portion of fans thought that Yong Yea's voice did not suit the stereotype of a 50-year-old Kiryu. They claimed that the character's voice sounded younger and more like a man in his twenties. Because of these worries, some fans questioned Yong Yea's ability to accurately portray the older Kiryu.
Ultimately, the fans will have to wait until the release of Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
on November 9, 2023, to reach a verdict on Yong Yea's portrayal of Kazuma Kiryu. The game will be coming to several platforms, including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S, and PC. Only then will fans have the complete context to judge whether Yong Yea's interpretation aligns with their expectations of the iconic character.
UPDATE: (07/07/2023) Yong Yea removed the video from his tweet out of concern that it was giving impression that his released clip was an official recording.
Source:
RGG Studio Tweets About Yong Yea As Panelist for Anime Expo 2023
Yong Yea Tweets About A Polished Version of Dialog in Anime Expo 2023
A Meeting With Kiryu and Yong Yea From Anime News Network
