Sega’s Stranger Than Heaven cast includes a yakuza icon who died 12 years ago

The story

Bunta Sugawara starred in the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series in the 1970s, which were a huge influence on RGG Studio's Yakuza games

From the source

Sega’s RGG Studio just shared a ton of new information about its upcoming Yakuza prequel, Stranger Than Heaven . The game features an eclectic cast that includes Snoop Dogg, his son, a former American Idol contestant, and an iconic Japanese actor who passed away back in 2014.

Bunta Sugawara starred in five films in the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series in the 1970s. These hugely popular yakuza films have been a major influence on RGG’s depiction of the criminal underworld. Sugawara also inspired the look of an iconic One Piece hardass known as Admiral Akainu, who goes by the name Sakazuki later in the series. In his later years, Sugawara voiced characters in a number of Studio Ghibli films, including Spirited Away and Tales of Earthsea. Takashi Ukaji will provide the voice of Sugawara's character in Stranger Than Heaven. Ukaji has appeared in numerous film and television projects, including Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and the First of the North Star franchises.

"In Stranger Than Heaven, the late and legendary actor Bunta Sugawara appears," said representatives of Sega and RGG Studio in a press release provided to Polygon. "Sega received formal consent from his family, and, with materials provided by Toei Company, Ltd.—which produced many of Mr. Sugawara’s films, including the Battles Without Honor and Humanity — RGG Studio crafted his CG character design based on archival footage and photographs from the time. The character’s voice is performed by actor Takashi Ukaji, who shared a close connection with Mr. Sugawara."

Who and what

Key names and topics in this story: Sega, Stranger Than Heaven.

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