Yazuka Kiwami 3 director Ryosuke Horii justified the controversial casting of actor Teruyuki Kagawa as Goh Hamazaki in a recent interview, saying, “We tried to think of someone who makes you go, ‘This guy’s a creep.'”
Horii spoke to Japanese outlet GAME Watch (independently translated by IGN) about the casting, which has drawn criticism because Kagawa has been accused of sexual assault. Horii said the team made their decision based on what performance they would most like to see in the game.
“Hamazaki is a sleazy, persistent, and militant yakuza, right?” Horii said. “Since he isn’t an explosive character like Kanda, when we tried to think of someone who makes you go, ‘This guy’s a creep,’ naturally it was Kagawa–that was the main factor. Kagawa’s acting is fun to watch. Even when he’s chopping a pig’s feet off with a chef’s knife, it has a slimy feel. That feeling permeates his performance, so it brings a freshness to the scene and made it feel really fun.”
Several women accused Kagawa of sexual assault in 2022. Kagawa has admitted to and publicly apologized for one incident, though at least one accuser claimed to have never received a personal apology.
Horii also expressed during the interview that the team had considered fan backlash in making its decision. Ultimately, though, he claimed the studio “felt there was no use being afraid.”
Yazuka fans have expressed ire, posting on social media with the hashtag #REMOVEKAGAWA and starting a Change.org petition, which has almost 10,000 signers. Additionally, fans on Reddit have accused developer Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio of stifling the #REMOVEKAGAWA hashtag on Instagram and removing comments that directly reference the issue.
If Kagawa were to be removed, it would not be the first time RGG Studios has recast an actor. It replaced the vocal performance and character model of actor Pierre Taki in Judgement after he was linked to drug use.