When photos of a Japanese woman in a pristine wedding gown standing beside a life-sized cardboard cutout of video game character Kazuma Kiryu started making the rounds on social media, the internet did what it does best: jumped to conclusions.
“A woman in Japan has officially married Kazuma Kiryu. How are we as men supposed to compete with the Dragon of Dojima?” read one viral tweet that racked up nearly a million views. Russian outlet RT posted, “It’s Japan again — woman, 25, just marries a cardboard video game character.”
But before anyone starts questioning the state of modern romance, here’s what actually happened.
The woman didn’t legally marry anyone—cardboard or otherwise. Instead, she participated in an elaborate promotional experience created by Sega and RGG Studio to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the beloved Like a Dragon video game series, formerly known as Yakuza in the West.
The celebration takes the form of an exhibition called “The Four Ceremonies of Life,” which runs from late November through December in Tokyo, with another stint scheduled for Osaka in February. The exhibition allows fans to commemorate major life milestones with their favorite characters from the franchise, and yes, one of those ceremonies is marriage.
The event space features a venue designed to resemble an authentic wedding hall, complete with life-sized panels of 11 major characters from the series, including the iconic Kazuma Kiryu, fan-favorite Goro Majima, protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, and the enigmatic Seonhee. Attendees can snap photos as they “tie the knot” with the character of their choice.
According to reports from Automaton, the exhibition even offers an augmented reality app that lets visitors create customized couple photos using specially commissioned character artwork created for the anniversary celebration.
But the viral photo that set social media ablaze came from something far more elaborate than a simple photo opportunity. The woman had purchased the Special Wedding Experience Package, which costs 150,000 yen—approximately $980.
For that price, fans get the full ceremonial treatment. The package includes a private room for the simulated ceremony, professional hair and makeup services, a dedicated photographer to capture every moment, and the choice between wearing a wedding gown or tuxedo. Participants can even invite up to ten guests to witness their fictional nuptials.
Those who complete the experience walk away with commemorative documents: a marriage certificate and, interestingly enough, divorce papers. Neither carries any legal weight, of course, but they serve as tangible mementos of the roleplay experience.
Given the premium nature of the package, only 15 applicants are selected through a lottery system, making it an exclusive opportunity for the series’ most devoted fans.
When questions arose about the hefty price tag, event organizers explained that the package was designed to help fans “create the best memories to commemorate the 20th anniversary.” And compared to the cost of an actual wedding—which can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars—the $980 experience might actually seem like a bargain to die-hard fans.
The Like a Dragon franchise has cultivated an intensely loyal fanbase over its two decades, with players developing deep connections to its cast of complex, memorable characters. For many fans, the opportunity to participate in such an immersive, personalized experience represents a dream come true, even if it exists purely in the realm of imagination and roleplay.
So rest assured, Kazuma Kiryu remains very much available—at least in the fictional sense.