The Yakuza series, now known as Like a Dragon, has been a fixture in Japanese culture ever since its launch back in 2005. The characters of Kazuma Kiryu, Goro Majima, and the rest of the cast have etched their names into the history books. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series, the Like a Dragon – The Four Ceremonies of Life exhibition is certainly something that fans of the series must not pass on.

Set in the heart of Shibuya, Tokyo, the exhibit played host to wedding halls, funeral altars, and other cinematic set pieces drawn from the series, with interactive ceremonies, archived footage, and photo spots that bring the characters and moments of the Yakuza franchise to life. It depicts the series as a human drama built around life’s symbolic milestones – Coming of Age, Marriage, Funeral, and Festival – that takes attendees throughout an immersive narrative through interactive installations.

Like a Dragon ‘Four Ceremonies of Life’ Exhibition

What to See First

From the moment you step into the gallery, you are treated to a series recap that showcases all of the titles across 20 years, epic encounters with Kiryu and iconic villains, and explosive scenes that play out over a two-minute video. The recap is made even more epic with Takaya Kuroda, Kiryu’s Japanese Voice Actor, as he ends with a heartfelt speech about the Like a Dragon series.

Upon entering the main hall, it’s Like a Dragon sensory overload as character standees, informational backdrops, and much more fill your view. Attendees can expect concept art, development notes, and storyboards that reveal how key scenes were conceived and how themes such as loyalty, honor, and family evolved across titles.

On one side, you can see a literal wall of characters showing personalities ranging from minor to major roles and everything in between. It’s extremely impressive to see all of these characters laid out like this, which is reminiscent of a mosaic when zoomed out.

On the other side is a timeline of all things Yakuza and Like a Dragon, recounting the major events and happenings in the series.

You can even see the evolution of character designs in the Like a Dragon series, with the likes of Goro Majima and Kazuma Kiryu showing off their many wardrobe choices and how their look has changed over the course of 20 years.

Archived and Unreleased Material

For lore lovers, cabinets of documents and materials are on display, featuring early scripts, character sketches, and more. This is heaven for Yakuza and Like a Dragon loreheads who are curious about the creative process behind the franchise.

Interactive Ceremonies

Probably our favorite part of the Like a Dragon ‘Four Ceremonies of Life’ Exhibition was the interactive installations, particularly the mock wedding experience. Attendees can input a code to get their photos taken with an iconic character from the game, ranging from Kiryu to Ichiban and even to the ladies like Kaoru, as they immortalize their “ship” in digital form.

For those who want a deeper novelty, the event offers a paid “ceremony” experience where fans can stage a faux wedding with a favorite character, complete with mock paperwork and theatrical trappings. While we personally did not see this extraordinary event, this was only open to 15 participants and was already sold out as of the time of writing.

Included in this package are professional hair and makeup, invitations to guests, professional photography, an exchange of vows, and much more.

There’s even a funeral space that honors the main villains of the original titles – Akira Nishikiyama, Goda Ryuji, and Yoshitaka Mina – where attendees can lay down a flower for them, sign at the guestbook, and a purification with salt.

Photo Spots and Immersive Sets

Attendees of the Like a Dragon – The Four Ceremonies of Life exhibition will enjoy filling their phones with photos and videos of the many photo spots scattered throughout the venue. Multiple areas recreate iconic backdrops such as the back alleys of Kamurocho, meeting rooms, altars, and even the many character standees in the area.

One epic photo spot puts the attendee in the middle of Kiryu and Ichiban.

Another one will have attendees loaded with a stack of Kiryu dollars.

Then, Mr. Shakedown gets to you, you can cry yourself to sleep in a trash-filled alley.

There’s even a backdrop featuring Ichiban Kasuga and his character stats.

Events and Extras

Just when you’ve had your fill, the Like a Dragon – The Four Ceremonies of Life exhibition ends with an extensive lineup of limited-edition merchandise like prints, acrylic standees, pins, collectible trinkets, and apparel. There’s something for everyone, and it’s hard to leave without buying anything.

The Like a Dragon – The Four Ceremonies of Life exhibition is an exceptional interactive tribute to one of the most beloved video game series. The whole installation lets fans live and breathe in everything about the franchise, and whether you’re there for nostalgia or as a first-timer, it certainly does not disappoint.

The Like a Dragon – The Four Ceremonies of Life exhibition runs until December 22 in Shibuya, and will have another run in Osaka starting February 6 until February 24, 2026.