Highlights

  • Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's first chapter reintroduces Ichiban as a protagonist and showcases his commitment to helping ex-Yakuza despite societal barriers.
  • The chapter takes a slow pace to explore Ijincho and emphasize Ichiban's affable nature, with a humorous segment focusing on his nervousness for a first date.
  • The story takes unexpected turns, including Ichiban proposing to Saeko on their first date, leading to awkward and comedic moments that ultimately strain their relationship.

This article contains spoilers for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth 's first chapter.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's release brings both Ichiban and his party back into the fray, and its first chapter spares no expense in reintroducing what makes him so special as a protagonist. As an employee of Hello Work looking to fulfill the promise he made to Masumi Arakawa, Ichiban looks to help ex-Yakuza back on their feet during the five-year clause that bars much of their societal reintegration. Before all of this, however, the first half of Infinite Wealth's introductory chapter gives some space to re-establish Ichiban and his relationships, both with the greater population of Yokohama, and his closest confidants.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's first chapter takes things slow for all the right reasons. This introduction gives space to explore a bit of Ijincho while reminding players of just how affable Ichiban is. Dubbed the "Hero of Yokohama," Ichi does his best to make a difference in ex-Yakuza lives, helping to stir their commitment to making a change for the better, despite societal regulations that make it difficult to do so.

Ichiban in Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth and Fighting enemies as Nanba in Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth
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How Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's Introductory Chapter Gives Ichiban Some Breathing Room

Showing Humor in the Mundane

Past party members like Nanba, Adachi, and Saeko are shown making advances in their own respective fields, demonstrating how the group has grown since the events of LAD 7. Despite these changes, however, the core four are just as close-knit as they were before, leading to one of the chapter's main segments: preparing Ichi for a date. Ichiban has faced crime, torture, and a bullet from his own boss and father, though none have seemed to leave him more nervous than preparing for his date with Saeko.

Spurred on by the support of Adachi and Nanba, Ichi finally gets the courage to ask Saeko out , leaving him a bumbling mess as he makes his first real attempt at romance in his life.

Luckily, he has his closest confidants to lean on for help, as the boys reunite to make preparations for the first date. Unluckily, however, Adachi and Nanba have conflicting views over how to approach things, resulting in both a humorous and endearing way to reintroduce their group dynamic.

The segment ties cleverly into Infinite Wealth's personality system, bearing weight on Ichiban's stats depending on who he takes advice from. The sequence has the middle-aged characters acting like schoolkids, as Adachi and Nanba squabble between the best choices for a date outfit, restaurant, and the demeanor Ichiban should hold to make the best impression.

Operating under one brain cell, it's clear that the three are far from relationship experts. Still, the support from Adachi and Nanba helps to ease Ichiban's nervousness, even if just a little, showcasing just how strong their friendships are.

A First Date With Saeko in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

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The reveal of Ichiban proposing, first shown in Infinite Wealth's story trailer, had fans wondering about the moments that led up to this event. While many may have expected a time skip showing how Ichi and Saeko's romantic relationship evolved, it turns out there wasn't much time on that matter, as Ichiban concludes his first date by asking for her hand in marriage.

The ensuing events are as awkward as they are comedic, though they ultimately lead to Saeko distancing herself. It's at this point where the time skip happens, adding to the inciting conflict that sees Ichiban, Adachi, and Nanba lose their jobs under the scrutiny of the Tatara Channel and the millions of views the video gains.

Afterward, the chapter picks up pace, as the three storm the Seiryu Clan HQ and learn about Ebina and Sawashiro, resulting in Ichi's trip to Hawaii. The slow start that precedes these events, however, makes for a compelling reintroduction to both Ichiban as a protagonist and the allies he holds dear.

The strength that the series shows in its more mundane moments is what helps to distinguish its stories as heartfelt, serving as a reminder of how essential breathing room is to even the most action-packed of plots. Ichiban, as the chapter's title denotes, is doing the best he can, and that's something worth exploring.