Welcome back, Dragon of Dojima! Yakuza 6: The Song of Life kicks off the dramatic conclusion to Kazuma Kiryu's saga, and it all starts with a powerful, emotional, and largely cinematic Prologue. This guide provides a step-by-step breakdown of this essential opening sequence, detailing the characters, key events, and the minimal-but-important gameplay moments.
If you're looking to dive into Kiryu's final stand or just need a refresher, read on!
🎬 Prologue: A New Beginning (and a Tragic Turn)
The Prologue in Yakuza 6 is more of an extended cinematic introduction than a typical chapter, setting the stage for the game's core mystery. Be prepared for a heavy focus on the narrative and less on open-world exploration.
🔑 Key Characters Introduced
The Prologue masterfully brings back the characters central to Kiryu's life and introduces the tragedy that sets him on his new journey:
Kazuma Kiryu: The legendary protagonist. He willingly returns to prison for his past crimes, hoping for a clean break to live with his family at the Morning Glory Orphanage.
Haruka Sawamura: Kiryu's adopted daughter. She makes the life-altering decision to leave the idol world to protect Kiryu's reputation.
Haruto Sawamura: Haruka's infant son, whose existence is the central mystery that propels Kiryu's quest.
Makoto Date: Kiryu's longtime detective friend from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, who delivers the devastating news about Haruka.
📝 Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Follow these steps to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of the Prologue:
Step 1: The Sacrifice and Imprisonment (Cutscene)
Event: The prologue begins with a recap of the events following Yakuza 5, where Kiryu chooses to turn himself in to the police to face his past crimes, seeking to sever all ties to the yakuza life for the sake of his family.
Action: No gameplay here. Simply sit back and watch the emotional opening. Kiryu is sentenced to three years in prison.
Step 2: A Vision of the Past (Brief Gameplay)
Event: Upon his release, Kiryu is granted a few moments of reflection, visualizing the people and events that defined his journey. This serves as a quick lore recap for new and returning players.
Action: You regain control of Kiryu in a surreal, dream-like state on a beach.
Objective: Walk around and approach the blue-glowing characters (Haruka, Date, Daigo Dojima, etc.). Speaking to them triggers a quick text summary of their relationship with Kiryu.
Completion: Once you've spoken to everyone, approach the bright glowing light to trigger the next long cutscene sequence.
Step 3: The Search and the Tragedy (Cutscene)
Event: Kiryu returns to the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa, only to discover Haruka has vanished. He quickly travels to Kamurocho, where he meets Makoto Date. Date delivers the shocking news: Haruka has been the victim of a hit-and-run and is in a coma.
Action: Again, this section is a prolonged, crucial cutscene. Pay close attention to the details of Haruka’s disappearance.
Step 4: A New Mystery (Cutscene)
Event: Date reveals the biggest twist: Haruka was protecting a baby during the accident—her son, Haruto Sawamura. Kiryu is now tasked with caring for the baby and uncovering the identity of the child's father and the truth behind Haruka's attack.
Action: The focus shifts entirely to the narrative and the setup for the main campaign, leading directly into Chapter 1: The Price of Freedom, where the true gameplay begins in Kamurocho.