Something you forgot to mention in this video is the fact that Mine, despite his background as a business man, values honor and integrity far more than any other character in the entire series. Ironically, it's one of the youngest villains in the series who has arguably the most old-school outlook on the Yakuza as a whole (even more so than a lot of the characters in 0) to the point where he's cutting off subordinates heads as punishments for their failures, taking out people's eyes for disrespecting their chairman, and killing himself to make up for his own failings at the end of game. I'll be honest, when I first saw Mine I assumed he'd be a stoic businessman character who didn't care for Yakuza honor and only cared about making money, and was legitimately shocked by how he was the exact opposite and had a crippling belief in Yakuza honor and romanticism. He's just such a fascinating character.
Mine and Anderson landed on a rubber truck. He went into a coma and is being cared for by his secretary. Soon the Kirin will fly to test the dragon again.
Fun Fact: Mine's VA Nakamura Shidō fought Jet Li in a Kung Fu movie Fearless in 2006, as one of the main character. He is also able to speak fluent Chinese. He is also one of the famous Kabuki actor in Japan, inherited the name & title from his dad, thus why he's called "Nakamura Shidō II"
Oh fuck, he played that incredibly annoying original character in Shinsengumi. I blame that on the writers, btw. Good thing he got promoted to Hijikata in Ishin. He also apparently played Ieyasu once. It would be fun to make a list of Yakuza voice actors' historical roles. The amount of people in these games who have played Nobunaga, for example, is downright funny. Kazama, Yagami, Sawashiro, Kuwana, and many more.
Yakuza/LAD 8 he returns as a different man that sells illegal temporary power enhancing stat boosters. Or someone who you partner up with in a finance mini game. Or as a side character with his own Pound Mates summon.
@@Kessekom well I'm not sure about ryuji because he fought kiryu twice before that not injured and kiryu wasn't struggling after the fight really only with the wounds he was tired and beaten
@@Kessekom true true i agree, still the hospital beatdown kiryu gave to the cia still worth mentioning, meaning kiryu is not on 100 percent condition fighting mine. I mean that hospital fight must be exhausting.
a video on my favorite villain? oh baby! Also Mine's death is unironically the point where the Tojo start heading into a death spiral that it never recovers from, the dude's money and influence really was one of the main pillars keeping it afloat.
yeah, while I wish Mine didn't have to die, I understand RGG's decision to kill him off since the plots Yakuza 4-6 wouldn't have happened if he was still in the picture
@@mr_smilesok1442 So if you think about it, In Y4 Daigo was essentially forced to bend over backwards to appease the Ueno Sewa since Mine was such a stabilizing force in the Tojo that had he been there, there's no way people would've tried to undermine the Tojo when he was still around, since although Daigo still had Majima to back him up, Majima is more so respected because of his physical strength than for his negotiation skills since he openly stays away from Yakuza politics. in Y5 Daigo going into hiding wouldn't have messed up the Tojo as bad as it did if they had Mine to basically be the de-facto leader in Daigo's stead in Y6 it's basically the same deal as Y5, since like 90% of the bad stuff that happens is basically a result of the Tojo's most important members: Daigo, Majima, and Saejima, all being in prison and since Mine does a really good job maintaining his front as a businessman he probably would've been able to avoid that.
@@thegamingprozone1941 I mean, it declined from 1 to 2 too, kinda stabilized on 3, then it was a sequence of Daigo trying plan after plan to keep it afloat, some better than others, until it climaxed on Y7
This is actually why he's the counterpart to Hijikata in Like a Dragon: Isshin. In the right context, Mine's character would have served as Kiryu's ally, and if he had lived, he would have been an extraordinarily valuable asset who could have kept Kiryu away from the yakuza
No it’s been reused in basically every game because it’s not exclusive to him to begin with, it comes from a SEGA arcade game where it is shared by like 10 characters lol
In general Yakuza 3 just reused a bunch of assets from Kenzan and other various SEGA arcade games like Virtua Fighter and Spikeout, this can be attributed to 3’s budget and extremely short development cycle
I wish Mine never died, he would have been one of the best characters going forward. Having him as an ally or maybe even a playable character would be amazing. Playing through Ishin and having Hijikata become Ryoma's close ally and helping him fight through Tosa made me miss Mine even more, it gave us a taste of how Mine could have been if he never died. I think it shows how RGG probably regret killing him, with how much he's featured in Ishin as someone who helps you.
Sorry for that! I would definitely recommend playing the games again if you have the time. That's how you notice all of the special intricacies that go into the writing. You might even make a RUclips channel around it hahah
@@gokudoni Don't be sorry for that. That's literally the best feeling . Being emotional. Just thinking about Daigo and Mine makes me tear up 💀 Just like thinking about that scene with Kiryu talking with one of the kids that's even is she is an orphan, she has a family. Anddd if i thinked about creating something on RUclips but...i just dont feel that freedom to do stuff like this in my life. Maybe when i get older ✨ Thanks for all those video's gokudoni.
I've seen alot of people playing Ishin recently mention how Hijikata really does feel like RGG realising they probably shouldn't have killed Mine. And having now played Ishin myself... Yeah, I miss him
Yakuza 3 is easily my favorite game in the series, so it warms my heart to see people singing its (in my eyes) many praises, especially in Mine's case. I've seen so many people write him off as "the gay Yakuza villain" and just ignore all of the intricacies of his character and his moveset. I think it says something that even for Yakuza 3 haters, his fight is basically the only thing that everyone can agree is great. And just for context, I am one of the people who feels that he probably is gay, but it says a lot about how strong a character he is that there's so much to discuss about him that isn't even related to whether he loves Daigo in that way.
Saying that Mine is the only villain to tire out Kiryu is techncially correct, because the only other character I can think of who was close to defeating Kiryu (twice) was Saejima
With Saejima it's pretty clear they wanted to have it so their power matches. Can't think of a point where one outright defeats the other, regardless of who the player has control of.
Yes! My heart genuinely broke after having finished Yakuza 3, because I wanted nothing more than for Mine to get another shot at life. That's the best part about Ishin! imo.
What I love about Mine is that he listened to Kiryu unlike a lot of other antagonists. He didn't consider what Kiryu said or did to be stupid like the other villains. He listened and tried to refuse what he was hearing only to take Kiryu's hand and defended him as well as Daigo from Richardson. If he didn't jump off the roof, he would have not just became a powerful ally but he would have become a far better and less selfish person. Mine rarely received kindness in his life and in his final moments, he protected the two kindest people to him in probably his whole life.
Mine is a wonderfully tragic villain in the series. Unfortunately I feel the that people sell him short due to his rather lacking screentime in the grand scheme of things. Regardless, Mine is an insanely important villain on many levels. Both mechanically in gameplay, and narratively in story
I instatnly liked Mine once he was introduced and even more so as the story went on, espically by just how much he contrasted Hamazaki and Kanda's personality - RGG really nailed it with him in that aspect alone, not to mention every point you raised!
Mine was already my favorite RGG villain before, and this video just reinforced my opinion even further. The fact that he, an orphan who had lost his father figure, was doing everything to preserve his new home and family and the man who led it is amazing because it contrasts with the selfish motivations that Nishiki and Ryuji had in the previous two games. I also greatly appreciate the fact you mentioned the gameplay aspects surrounding him. In a medium built around interactivity, I find that too many people focus solely on the non-interactive parts when story and characters can grow through gameplay itself. While I wish we had more of him in the series, his end is a memorable one that fits his character and is a great conclusion to his growth. And thankfully we now have Hijikata Toshizo in Ishin! to give us more, I'm still going through the game but am always looking forward to stuff about him! Also he's handsome, which I felt was worth pointing out.
Struggling through whole Blockuza just to reach boss with banger soundtrack and unique aura-switching moveset, who doesn't even blocks often, I consider as one of best memories I have of the franchise. Ryuji is my favorite because he could steal the show in every cutscene he was in, but Mine is easily on 2nd spot. Before the only thing I disliked about Mine was his choice to kill Daigo which was very questionable to me, now I see things a bit differently thanks to analysis. Since his past was revealed, Mine started to feel kinda relatable actually. As an introvert who grew up in poor family, I do have just a couple of friends who sees me as an equal, without them, I'd most likely go insane already and lose my way in life. Hope this video will blow up, u make some really good video essays, deserves more views.
Admittedly, I wasn’t that invested in Mine when I finished 3, I think he just didn’t have enough screentime. But his actual characterization was pretty interesting, and I really grew to like his Ishin counterpart due to seeing a lot more of him. His intelligence and devout loyalty made him a great ally in that game, and the fact it actually follows what was set up by a small line from right before his death is great stuff.
Great video, Yakuza 3 has always been my favorite Yakuza game as it's the game that truly made me love Kiryu as a character, since before Y3 I never really got Kiryu's character and just kinda saw him as a Kenshiro knockoff, Y3 is the game that really gave a lot of depth to Kiryu's character not just through his relationship with the children in the orphanage, but also thanks to Mine since the final battle of Y3 is the most hyped I've ever felt in the entire series. Mine is basically the perfect foil for Kiryu in every way, and I think it's pretty fitting how Kiryu's status as a living legend basically starts with Mine's defeat since after Y3 characters start looking at Kiryu with this god-like level of admiration and awe.
Same for me. My problem with Kiryu’s character in 1 is that he’s reacting too much rather than acting. And in 2 Kaoru’s story was IMO stealing and overshadowing Kiryu’s. But in 3 he takes charge from the get go against Tamashiro and even if you dislike the kids from the orphanage, they add so much to Kiryu’s character.
@@Hilversumborn Honestly I think the kids from the orphanage are far more interesting than the convoluted mess that is that CIA/political intrigue story shoe-horned into the game. Mine''s motivation to keep the Tojo afloat no matter what were enough for me, no need to add international weapon's dealers.
Banger video, wouldn't have found this video had it not been for the recommendations algorithm. I've always maintained that Mine is one of, if not, the best antagonist in the mainline Yakuza series (Kuwana is the GOAT), despite his relatively short screen time. Unlike most antagonists in the series, who desire to attain the usual villain goals (e.g. Prestige, Influence, Power, Money, etc.), Mine stands out as the only one being in a clash of purely ideologies and values against Kiryu. You could argue that he was pursuing power by attempting to take hold of the Tojo after Daigo's supposed demise, however it was only there to fill the void in his heart, and not something he ever wanted in the first place. Yakuza 3 has its shortcomings, but I'd always recommend it just for Mine.
I would say Mine could do with some more screentime but you can say that for pretty much all the RGG villains But he's still a pretty good villain overall And his boss fight is absolutely amazing easily being one of the best in the series and making history by having the first dynamic intro it leaves him being very rememberable And his moveset is pretty cool, while not being the first boss to style switch (that goes to Shindo in OG Yakuza 2) his multiple styles is fun to fight and he even has an Electric Wing God Fist (just without the electricity) and his QTE is just him relentlessly attacking Kiryu giving him no chance to breathe and Kiryu's response to that is by making himself a titanium wall
I've thought for years how wasted mine is. Like I love akiyama but I've thought for years that genuinely akiyama should have just been mine going through a redemption arc.
Mine is an incredible character with the misfortune of being in a less-than-stellar entry in the series. A man who craves friendship even if he doesn't understand it.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this. It's funny to me that even if I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of 3's combat, I've ended up replaying the final battle sequence so many times. Nishiki narratively speaking I enjoy more (and I like how you referenced his own redemption as a comparison) but something about Mine still enchants me so to speak.
Mine was the last antagonist that was a reflection of kiryu, following nishiki and ryuji, and its why he was so captivating. Giving characters shared qualities but with completely different attitudes gives an impression of free will and believability. Its similar to what people mean when they call frieza an “anti-goku”
Great video! I've played them until 5, but Yakuza 3 is still my favorite because of its story and probably it always will be. And with the more time it passes, the more I understand its nuances. My little theory about Mine is why he wanted to end Daigo "suffering": it wasn't the first time he was in that situation. In the flashback, we can see the mysterious man that was supposedly a father figure to Mine: he died while bed ridden. When Mine saw Daigo bed ridden as well, he remembered how much his father figure suffered before dying and genuinely thought killing him was the best thing to do. I kinda wish they did remake Yakuza 3: it is actually the first game in the franchise where I tried to do everything, so I actually know that the combat is actually not bad, but it could help giving it the honor it deserves as the best Yakuza game.
Mine is the best vilian in the franchise. He is the Perfect counter to Kiryu. Mine went after the most important thing in Kiryus life, that being his kids. Destroying the Orphanage and wishing death to the kids. Mine is one of the few villians along with Kuze, Nishiki and Iwami that effected kiryu's life going forward.
I adore Y3. 1st played it via it then being the only 1 I could get on the console I was playing back then, but Mine was the 1 big reason to this day Im fond of it as he just stuck in the mind.
9:26 I assume Mine wanted to kill Daigo cause since he couldn't save him, killing him was the only way to gain control over the situation. This is a reflection of human nature even in the real world, but I think the controversy is because this is a stupid motivation that makes no goddamn sense, even though similar things happen in the real world for similar reasons, that doesn't make it any less stupid
i am a mine lover. he is my favorite character in the series... i hope one day we get a yakuza kiwami 3 because i NEED more scenes of mine and daigo specifically interacting. their relationship makes me ill. i love thme. thank you for pointing out that mine is pretty calm and collected EXCEPT when daigo gets involved. he had so many locked up emotions for daigo that he genuinely didn't know how to process it all, which is what leads him to doing something as drastic as trying to kill him in order to "save him"
This was such a beautiful analysis on Mine! There were multiple points you made about him that clicked with me such as his mannerisms and how his behavior reflected his irezumi. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and take on one of the greatest characters in RGG. :)
Awesome video dude, I really like this analysis, but it makes it so much better after finding out you’re the guy that made the Jingu’s laugh keeps interrupting Kiryu video
Much like the Yakuza series as a whole, you can't always be serious hahah I intend to do some more "comedic" content down the line cause those projects are equally fun to do, like these deconstructions.
Mine wasn't like typical Yakuza villan. I love the ending, where they didn.t make him public bad guy, and his bound with Daigo. It greatly fits in this game climate.
I will absolutely do a video on Hijikata! Currently playing through Ishin and the treatment he got so far is perfection to me! Same with RGGO, it's a literal goldmine for those of us who like to get over-analytical hahah
In my eyes, Mine holds a very special place in this franchise. His loneliness and desire for connections make him incredibly relatable to me personally. There's a great moment when, after being defeated, he gets the phone call from his secretary. And he thinks she's actually worried about him, but she starts talking about business instead. The way he realized that he really has no one in the end, no connection, that he's alone. That shit really got me.
I don't see this missunderstanding you claim towards Mine in our community. On the contrary, I think he is one of the most appreciated villains, even for RGG Studio. I haven't played Ishin yet but the fact that they chose Mine to impersonate Hijikata Toshizō, one of their greatest national heroes, should already be enough to appreciate their fondness for the character.
He is very popular in the community just for the wrong reasons I think. I see more talk about the "Mine is gay for Daigo" stuff and the "There is no change in the plan" meme more so than talk regarding Mine as a character and his motivations
Personally I think his character would have greatly benefited from more screen time and a deeper exploration of his motivations and overall backstory, not just an big expository dialogue at the end. Yakuza 3 does him a diservice since the story is so convoluted for really no reason and he's out of the story for really big chunks of the game.
Mine & Ryuji were the only 2 characters I thought could give Kiryu a go in a fight. Great video would love to see more Yakuza analysis. There is a serious lack of that on YT considering how good this series is.
10/10 vid. I always liked Mine a lot in comparison to other antagonists in the series, but this vid just made me love him even more. Semi related, but where would one be able to find translations of the "RGG Online Lore" for Mine?
If I remember correctly, there is a RUclipsr named Hisanas who has done a number of RGGO translations. Not sure if they've kept up with it, but there is surely enough content there to keep you busy for a while.
"Hello,... Ok got it. There's no change in the plan" Best Mine line, how can you not like this guy for who his story who he was and tried to be in the end. Another orphan like Kiryu, if Kiryu didn't have the support that he did had and no Buracku Monday. Overall a great villain and theme
Honestly a great analysis, I really love Mine as a villain and he doesn't get nearly enough coverage in the fandom. Easily one of my personal favorities and Im glad to see such a deep dive into this character
Amazing video brother i remember being so impressed by mine when i first played and finished 3 especially cause of noticing some of the points you mentioned in the video
Thank you so much! I'd love to do a video on him. Obviously, I have a soft spot for Yakuza 3 and shining the spotlight on the best aniki just seems like a logical extension hahah
Loved your Ryo Nozaki video. Great to see your growth. In terms of mic quality, writing, articulation in points. Can't wait to see what else you have in mind in the future.
There would literally be no problems if every yakuza villain survived. Literally if Nishiki, ryuji, and mine survived the later villains would be fucked.
Most people point to Ryuuji (or Nishiki) when it comes to best main antagonist and especially when it comes to the most epic final fight, but while certainly legendary I always remembered Mine more fondly. He's a great antagonist but the final fight against him is what really made him memorable. Seeing him as Hijikata in Ishin was a real treat, it's a shame we can't have him back in the main series.
This is why i think yakuza 3 is really underrated because i think i got his actions and really liked him i would actually sayyakuza 3 is in the middle if i would rank every game
hello! i'm back again... I've always considered him as "a diamond in the rough" because of how people look over his game-changing presence in the series due to the game's reputation. there have been plenty of redemption arcs that ended in tragedy/death but man this one takes it by far for me. he's been my favorite character for a while because of how complex and how realistic he is as a character, as a person. i just wanna give him a hug and a shoulder to cry on, honestly. he's been through a lot. thank you again for this video, looking forward to more
Ah, yes. My second brother as a Villain and one of my favourite Yakuza characters in general. Can't wait to see this. I'll edit this comment when I finish the video.
I feel Mine gets hate mainly because of the very inorganic hateboner newcomers seem to have for Yakuza 3. When you're told something is bad by a mob or by someone you look up to, you tend to categorize anything and everything in it as bad without giving it a second glance For the longest of times Yakuza tier lists went 2,3 and 4 and then 0 gets released and suddenly Yakuza 3 drops to the bottom and gets this insane amount of hate out of left field. I think a big part of it is because Y0 attracted a huge audience of people who don't play video games who then struggled mashing through the game even on the easiest difficulty I'm glad you mentioned DMC because back when Y3 was released the parallels with DMC's Dante and Vergil and God Hand's Gene vs Devil Hand were all over the place. While Nishiki would have been a better fit for that role and Ryuji also paralleled Kiryu in his own way, Mine filled it better both narratively and in the final fight. Great video
Just watched this video again for the 2nd time and I just realized that, RGG used Mine as an example of a bad "Sigma male". Some people see the life of isolation from entertainment and inhuman amount of dedication towards jobs and money being a good thing aka "the Sigma" and I can see Mine a part of that archetype. Not saying that hustling is a bad thing, but building yourself on anger, hatred and oneupmanship will do a number on your mental health and those around you. Had Mine and a lot of these people learned the value in human relationships and emotions, they could've used their insurmountable dedication to other things like healthy relationships and charity too.
I finished the game a week ago and think it’s one of the more disappointing treatments to a Yakuza game antagonist by far. Grew a liking to the guy nearing the end, and always feel like there’s a good amount of unnecessary things that happen, but that’s how they were written back then and obviously can’t be changed. It’s just sad, imagine a happy ending to all the games with everyone teaming up. That’d be nuts
I actually hate if every villains live in the series. This is story about japanese mafia, essentially, with a bit of anime over the top flair to it, if nobody actually dies then the I feel then it would pack less impact. It's tragic, sure, but that's why these games sometimes hit so much harder
not every character needs a happy ending. the games consantly drill into your head that theres no happy ending for the Yakuza. A Villian turning a new leaf to become a lasting ally would go agaisnt everything the franchise stand for.
I hope you’ll do a follow up video on Hanzaki. He’s a scoundrel in 3 but 4 tried to put him on a redemption arch that would have profound affects on Kiryu, Saejima and Haruka. Appreciate your work and thoughts.
Mine is far and away the best villain in the series, as of Y0-5 anyway. Ryuji and Nishiki are great too, but it feels like Mine takes the best part of both of them, and elevates it.
I'd love to do one! I've made a whole video on why Yakuza 6 is the perfect conclusion to Kiryu's story and Iwami is a big reason for that. He is divisive, sure, but I think they've done a phenomenal job with him story-wise.
Something you forgot to mention in this video is the fact that Mine, despite his background as a business man, values honor and integrity far more than any other character in the entire series. Ironically, it's one of the youngest villains in the series who has arguably the most old-school outlook on the Yakuza as a whole (even more so than a lot of the characters in 0) to the point where he's cutting off subordinates heads as punishments for their failures, taking out people's eyes for disrespecting their chairman, and killing himself to make up for his own failings at the end of game.
I'll be honest, when I first saw Mine I assumed he'd be a stoic businessman character who didn't care for Yakuza honor and only cared about making money, and was legitimately shocked by how he was the exact opposite and had a crippling belief in Yakuza honor and romanticism. He's just such a fascinating character.
Facts
FACTS FACTS FACTS!🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶
i wonder if knocking off orphanage's homes is part of his views of "honor and integrity".
He values it
Not that he is a values and honorable man himself@@1Manimation1
@@1Manimation1 he wanted to break Kiryu, so yeah no honor here I guess
Think about it: If Kashiwagi survived 500 bullets to his body Mine could survive from a fall
Famous Yakuza logic
It is one of the dumbest parts of 7 how apparently if a character died in 3, it does not matter.
Mine and Anderson landed on a rubber truck.
He went into a coma and is being cared for by his secretary. Soon the Kirin will fly to test the dragon again.
@@revbladez5773 it's ok, he'll make you a bento and a bouquet
@@revbladez5773 Yakuza 7 is a shitshow
They were obviously rubber bullets /s
His name isn't 'No change in the plan guy' his name is Fly
Nah i think his name is Yakuza 3
📞 OK got it
no.
theres no change to za plan
You may be dripping kiryu, but I'm
F L Y
*jumps off the rooftop*
Fun Fact:
Mine's VA Nakamura Shidō fought Jet Li in a Kung Fu movie Fearless in 2006, as one of the main character. He is also able to speak fluent Chinese.
He is also one of the famous Kabuki actor in Japan, inherited the name & title from his dad, thus why he's called "Nakamura Shidō II"
Indeed! And let's not forget his legendary performance as everyone's favourite Shinigami Ryuk in Death Note. Chilling performance...
Oh fuck, he played that incredibly annoying original character in Shinsengumi. I blame that on the writers, btw. Good thing he got promoted to Hijikata in Ishin.
He also apparently played Ieyasu once. It would be fun to make a list of Yakuza voice actors' historical roles. The amount of people in these games who have played Nobunaga, for example, is downright funny. Kazama, Yagami, Sawashiro, Kuwana, and many more.
I really wish Mine didn't have to die.... Imagine how awesome it would be to see him redeem himself, or even to play as him!
He's a supporting character in Ishin
Who knows, we didn't see a body so maybe, just maybe, he might be alive. Maybe he cling on something as he fell and dropped Alan Wesker to die.
@@GoodOlFiddle It was a rubber ground.
Yakuza/LAD 8 he returns as a different man that sells illegal temporary power enhancing stat boosters. Or someone who you partner up with in a finance mini game. Or as a side character with his own Pound Mates summon.
@@GoodOlFiddle Inb4 both 'survived' the fall and make it to LAD8 🌚
Mine is basically a dark reflection of Kiryu. Not to mention, he was one of Kiryu's toughest opponents. That's why he's one of my favorite villain.
i don't know man, kiryu's haircut is a dark reflection of mine's so i disagree
@@Kessekom well I'm not sure about ryuji because he fought kiryu twice before that not injured and kiryu wasn't struggling after the fight really only with the wounds he was tired and beaten
@@Kessekom iirc kiryu has to takedown richard and his entire goon before fighting mine.
@@Kessekom true true i agree, still the hospital beatdown kiryu gave to the cia still worth mentioning, meaning kiryu is not on 100 percent condition fighting mine. I mean that hospital fight must be exhausting.
What about Aizawa? Kiryu nearly dies after beating him.
a video on my favorite villain? oh baby!
Also Mine's death is unironically the point where the Tojo start heading into a death spiral that it never recovers from, the dude's money and influence really was one of the main pillars keeping it afloat.
yeah, while I wish Mine didn't have to die, I understand RGG's decision to kill him off since the plots Yakuza 4-6 wouldn't have happened if he was still in the picture
@@yehuda8589like how because I am generally curious?
@@mr_smilesok1442 So if you think about it, In Y4 Daigo was essentially forced to bend over backwards to appease the Ueno Sewa since Mine was such a stabilizing force in the Tojo that had he been there, there's no way people would've tried to undermine the Tojo when he was still around, since although Daigo still had Majima to back him up, Majima is more so respected because of his physical strength than for his negotiation skills since he openly stays away from Yakuza politics.
in Y5 Daigo going into hiding wouldn't have messed up the Tojo as bad as it did if they had Mine to basically be the de-facto leader in Daigo's stead
in Y6 it's basically the same deal as Y5, since like 90% of the bad stuff that happens is basically a result of the Tojo's most important members: Daigo, Majima, and Saejima, all being in prison and since Mine does a really good job maintaining his front as a businessman he probably would've been able to avoid that.
Yeah the Tojo Clan declines after 3 badly
@@thegamingprozone1941 I mean, it declined from 1 to 2 too, kinda stabilized on 3, then it was a sequence of Daigo trying plan after plan to keep it afloat, some better than others, until it climaxed on Y7
This is actually why he's the counterpart to Hijikata in Like a Dragon: Isshin. In the right context, Mine's character would have served as Kiryu's ally, and if he had lived, he would have been an extraordinarily valuable asset who could have kept Kiryu away from the yakuza
Mine's entire thing is that he was a modern day Hijikata. It's why that part of Ishin wasn't changed in the Kiwami.
His moveset is so good it's ended up in basically every Yakuza game since 3, always some elite colliseum fighter or someone that has Mine's moves.
No it’s been reused in basically every game because it’s not exclusive to him to begin with, it comes from a SEGA arcade game where it is shared by like 10 characters lol
Even this one scammer in the beginning of Lost Judgment has it.
In general Yakuza 3 just reused a bunch of assets from Kenzan and other various SEGA arcade games like Virtua Fighter and Spikeout, this can be attributed to 3’s budget and extremely short development cycle
@@CS-om3kj Which game was it?
His move set is really fun to use in modded yakuza too.
I wish Mine never died, he would have been one of the best characters going forward. Having him as an ally or maybe even a playable character would be amazing. Playing through Ishin and having Hijikata become Ryoma's close ally and helping him fight through Tosa made me miss Mine even more, it gave us a taste of how Mine could have been if he never died. I think it shows how RGG probably regret killing him, with how much he's featured in Ishin as someone who helps you.
You literally made me tear up dude 💀 I wish i had that understanding of this series like you. Makes me want to play them again.
Sorry for that! I would definitely recommend playing the games again if you have the time. That's how you notice all of the special intricacies that go into the writing. You might even make a RUclips channel around it hahah
@@gokudoni Don't be sorry for that. That's literally the best feeling . Being emotional. Just thinking about Daigo and Mine makes me tear up 💀 Just like thinking about that scene with Kiryu talking with one of the kids that's even is she is an orphan, she has a family.
Anddd if i thinked about creating something on RUclips but...i just dont feel that freedom to do stuff like this in my life. Maybe when i get older ✨ Thanks for all those video's gokudoni.
I've seen alot of people playing Ishin recently mention how Hijikata really does feel like RGG realising they probably shouldn't have killed Mine.
And having now played Ishin myself... Yeah, I miss him
I get the same vibes with Ryuji and Dead Souls. Dead Souls really made me wish Ryuji hadn't been killed.
I believe in rubber ground
Clearly, RGG regret a lot of deaths from Yakuza 3. Don’t see why we can’t undo one more
@@Calhasnopals rikiya is the most realistic
@@generalhenrystickmin but Andre Richardson would definitely be the funniest
Yakuza 3 is easily my favorite game in the series, so it warms my heart to see people singing its (in my eyes) many praises, especially in Mine's case. I've seen so many people write him off as "the gay Yakuza villain" and just ignore all of the intricacies of his character and his moveset. I think it says something that even for Yakuza 3 haters, his fight is basically the only thing that everyone can agree is great.
And just for context, I am one of the people who feels that he probably is gay, but it says a lot about how strong a character he is that there's so much to discuss about him that isn't even related to whether he loves Daigo in that way.
Saying that Mine is the only villain to tire out Kiryu is techncially correct, because the only other character I can think of who was close to defeating Kiryu (twice) was Saejima
With Saejima it's pretty clear they wanted to have it so their power matches. Can't think of a point where one outright defeats the other, regardless of who the player has control of.
@@mr.barrel9359 Yeah, they never got to finish their matches properly, but Saejima was definetly the closest
@@marleonka. of course he's closest, he goes balls out
There was also Joji Fuma.
Yes! My heart genuinely broke after having finished Yakuza 3, because I wanted nothing more than for Mine to get another shot at life. That's the best part about Ishin! imo.
You never know, he might be alive after falling into a rubber street.
What I love about Mine is that he listened to Kiryu unlike a lot of other antagonists. He didn't consider what Kiryu said or did to be stupid like the other villains. He listened and tried to refuse what he was hearing only to take Kiryu's hand and defended him as well as Daigo from Richardson. If he didn't jump off the roof, he would have not just became a powerful ally but he would have become a far better and less selfish person.
Mine rarely received kindness in his life and in his final moments, he protected the two kindest people to him in probably his whole life.
Mine is a wonderfully tragic villain in the series. Unfortunately I feel the that people sell him short due to his rather lacking screentime in the grand scheme of things. Regardless, Mine is an insanely important villain on many levels. Both mechanically in gameplay, and narratively in story
I instatnly liked Mine once he was introduced and even more so as the story went on, espically by just how much he contrasted Hamazaki and Kanda's personality - RGG really nailed it with him in that aspect alone, not to mention every point you raised!
Absolutely agree! So glad we got to see more of him in Ishin and RGGO :D
When I saw Mine naked training, I could not think on anything but American Psycho, I really think that is a big inspiration, all the emotionless idk
same fr
Mine was already my favorite RGG villain before, and this video just reinforced my opinion even further.
The fact that he, an orphan who had lost his father figure, was doing everything to preserve his new home and family and the man who led it is amazing because it contrasts with the selfish motivations that Nishiki and Ryuji had in the previous two games.
I also greatly appreciate the fact you mentioned the gameplay aspects surrounding him. In a medium built around interactivity, I find that too many people focus solely on the non-interactive parts when story and characters can grow through gameplay itself.
While I wish we had more of him in the series, his end is a memorable one that fits his character and is a great conclusion to his growth. And thankfully we now have Hijikata Toshizo in Ishin! to give us more, I'm still going through the game but am always looking forward to stuff about him!
Also he's handsome, which I felt was worth pointing out.
So true for that last line sis
I mean, was there ever a Yakuza protagonist or final boss that wasn’t handsome? (ok writing this I remembered Munakata, but besides him)
Struggling through whole Blockuza just to reach boss with banger soundtrack and unique aura-switching moveset, who doesn't even blocks often, I consider as one of best memories I have of the franchise. Ryuji is my favorite because he could steal the show in every cutscene he was in, but Mine is easily on 2nd spot. Before the only thing I disliked about Mine was his choice to kill Daigo which was very questionable to me, now I see things a bit differently thanks to analysis. Since his past was revealed, Mine started to feel kinda relatable actually. As an introvert who grew up in poor family, I do have just a couple of friends who sees me as an equal, without them, I'd most likely go insane already and lose my way in life.
Hope this video will blow up, u make some really good video essays, deserves more views.
Admittedly, I wasn’t that invested in Mine when I finished 3, I think he just didn’t have enough screentime. But his actual characterization was pretty interesting, and I really grew to like his Ishin counterpart due to seeing a lot more of him. His intelligence and devout loyalty made him a great ally in that game, and the fact it actually follows what was set up by a small line from right before his death is great stuff.
Great video, Yakuza 3 has always been my favorite Yakuza game as it's the game that truly made me love Kiryu as a character, since before Y3 I never really got Kiryu's character and just kinda saw him as a Kenshiro knockoff, Y3 is the game that really gave a lot of depth to Kiryu's character not just through his relationship with the children in the orphanage, but also thanks to Mine since the final battle of Y3 is the most hyped I've ever felt in the entire series. Mine is basically the perfect foil for Kiryu in every way, and I think it's pretty fitting how Kiryu's status as a living legend basically starts with Mine's defeat since after Y3 characters start looking at Kiryu with this god-like level of admiration and awe.
Same for me.
My problem with Kiryu’s character in 1 is that he’s reacting too much rather than acting.
And in 2 Kaoru’s story was IMO stealing and overshadowing Kiryu’s.
But in 3 he takes charge from the get go against Tamashiro and even if you dislike the kids from the orphanage, they add so much to Kiryu’s character.
@@Hilversumborn Honestly I think the kids from the orphanage are far more interesting than the convoluted mess that is that CIA/political intrigue story shoe-horned into the game. Mine''s motivation to keep the Tojo afloat no matter what were enough for me, no need to add international weapon's dealers.
Amazing video, perfectly encapsulates why I like Mine so much as a villain. Mine and Ryuji are easily my two favorite villains in the franchise.
Banger video, wouldn't have found this video had it not been for the recommendations algorithm.
I've always maintained that Mine is one of, if not, the best antagonist in the mainline Yakuza series (Kuwana is the GOAT), despite his relatively short screen time. Unlike most antagonists in the series, who desire to attain the usual villain goals (e.g. Prestige, Influence, Power, Money, etc.), Mine stands out as the only one being in a clash of purely ideologies and values against Kiryu. You could argue that he was pursuing power by attempting to take hold of the Tojo after Daigo's supposed demise, however it was only there to fill the void in his heart, and not something he ever wanted in the first place.
Yakuza 3 has its shortcomings, but I'd always recommend it just for Mine.
I always saw his desire to take over the Tojo Clan after Daigo's death as a way of upholding Daigo's legacy
I would say Mine could do with some more screentime but you can say that for pretty much all the RGG villains
But he's still a pretty good villain overall
And his boss fight is absolutely amazing easily being one of the best in the series and making history by having the first dynamic intro it leaves him being very rememberable
And his moveset is pretty cool, while not being the first boss to style switch (that goes to Shindo in OG Yakuza 2) his multiple styles is fun to fight and he even has an Electric Wing God Fist (just without the electricity) and his QTE is just him relentlessly attacking Kiryu giving him no chance to breathe and Kiryu's response to that is by making himself a titanium wall
Kiryu stopping that punch with his forehead is one of the most badass moments in the franchise.
Finally my boy is getting all the recognition he deserves
I've thought for years how wasted mine is. Like I love akiyama but I've thought for years that genuinely akiyama should have just been mine going through a redemption arc.
Mine is an incredible character with the misfortune of being in a less-than-stellar entry in the series. A man who craves friendship even if he doesn't understand it.
I would not be opposed to Mine pulling a that-other-guy-from-yakuza-3-no-the-other-one and coming back in a future entry.
he fell off the millennium tower bra
@@llukissj1540 Kashiwagi got riddled with a minigun, and Kau Long got his brains sent everywhere. Yet, they aren't dead.
Mine and Daigos relationship seriously is so heartbreaking when you really think about it especially with the extra content we get of them in RGGO
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this. It's funny to me that even if I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of 3's combat, I've ended up replaying the final battle sequence so many times. Nishiki narratively speaking I enjoy more (and I like how you referenced his own redemption as a comparison) but something about Mine still enchants me so to speak.
Mine was the last antagonist that was a reflection of kiryu, following nishiki and ryuji, and its why he was so captivating. Giving characters shared qualities but with completely different attitudes gives an impression of free will and believability. Its similar to what people mean when they call frieza an “anti-goku”
Great video! I've played them until 5, but Yakuza 3 is still my favorite because of its story and probably it always will be. And with the more time it passes, the more I understand its nuances.
My little theory about Mine is why he wanted to end Daigo "suffering": it wasn't the first time he was in that situation. In the flashback, we can see the mysterious man that was supposedly a father figure to Mine: he died while bed ridden. When Mine saw Daigo bed ridden as well, he remembered how much his father figure suffered before dying and genuinely thought killing him was the best thing to do.
I kinda wish they did remake Yakuza 3: it is actually the first game in the franchise where I tried to do everything, so I actually know that the combat is actually not bad, but it could help giving it the honor it deserves as the best Yakuza game.
Mine is the best vilian in the franchise. He is the Perfect counter to Kiryu.
Mine went after the most important thing in Kiryus life, that being his kids. Destroying the Orphanage and wishing death to the kids. Mine is one of the few villians along with Kuze, Nishiki and Iwami that effected kiryu's life going forward.
I adore Y3. 1st played it via it then being the only 1 I could get on the console I was playing back then, but Mine was the 1 big reason to this day Im fond of it as he just stuck in the mind.
9:26 I assume Mine wanted to kill Daigo cause since he couldn't save him, killing him was the only way to gain control over the situation. This is a reflection of human nature even in the real world, but I think the controversy is because this is a stupid motivation that makes no goddamn sense, even though similar things happen in the real world for similar reasons, that doesn't make it any less stupid
Beautiful analysis, like I heard from my brother before.
Mine is such a badass villain
i am a mine lover. he is my favorite character in the series... i hope one day we get a yakuza kiwami 3 because i NEED more scenes of mine and daigo specifically interacting. their relationship makes me ill. i love thme. thank you for pointing out that mine is pretty calm and collected EXCEPT when daigo gets involved. he had so many locked up emotions for daigo that he genuinely didn't know how to process it all, which is what leads him to doing something as drastic as trying to kill him in order to "save him"
Excellent analysis. Definitely have a better appreciation of Mine now.
(I still won’t forgive him for destroying the orphanage though)
This was such a beautiful analysis on Mine!
There were multiple points you made about him that clicked with me such as his mannerisms and how his behavior reflected his irezumi.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and take on one of the greatest characters in RGG. :)
Awesome video dude, I really like this analysis, but it makes it so much better after finding out you’re the guy that made the Jingu’s laugh keeps interrupting Kiryu video
Much like the Yakuza series as a whole, you can't always be serious hahah
I intend to do some more "comedic" content down the line cause those projects are equally fun to do, like these deconstructions.
Mine wasn't like typical Yakuza villan. I love the ending, where they didn.t make him public bad guy, and his bound with Daigo. It greatly fits in this game climate.
Alright, Yakuza analysis video! Mine pretty much inspired the quieter and dangerous villains with a sense of honor or thought like Someya or Shibusawa
Great video. Mine was a very memorable character and final boss for me
I hope you return to Mine someday to talk about RGGO and Hijikata, as Mine is my favorite Yakuza villain
I will absolutely do a video on Hijikata! Currently playing through Ishin and the treatment he got so far is perfection to me! Same with RGGO, it's a literal goldmine for those of us who like to get over-analytical hahah
here's hoping that mine gets the kashiwagi treatment they both "die" in the same game after all
In my eyes, Mine holds a very special place in this franchise. His loneliness and desire for connections make him incredibly relatable to me personally. There's a great moment when, after being defeated, he gets the phone call from his secretary. And he thinks she's actually worried about him, but she starts talking about business instead. The way he realized that he really has no one in the end, no connection, that he's alone. That shit really got me.
At least Mine doesn't bore me out of all of Yakuza 3's pacing.
Quality video! You’ve just gained a new subscriber
I don't see this missunderstanding you claim towards Mine in our community. On the contrary, I think he is one of the most appreciated villains, even for RGG Studio. I haven't played Ishin yet but the fact that they chose Mine to impersonate Hijikata Toshizō, one of their greatest national heroes, should already be enough to appreciate their fondness for the character.
He is very popular in the community just for the wrong reasons I think. I see more talk about the "Mine is gay for Daigo" stuff and the "There is no change in the plan" meme more so than talk regarding Mine as a character and his motivations
Personally I think his character would have greatly benefited from more screen time and a deeper exploration of his motivations and overall backstory, not just an big expository dialogue at the end. Yakuza 3 does him a diservice since the story is so convoluted for really no reason and he's out of the story for really big chunks of the game.
I've never seen it either, all the points in this video are very common to see online. Seems like typical clickbait titling to me.
That was an amazing video man! Not only you noted the reason why I think Mine is great you also had stuff that I didn't even consider until now.
Mine & Ryuji were the only 2 characters I thought could give Kiryu a go in a fight. Great video would love to see more Yakuza analysis. There is a serious lack of that on YT considering how good this series is.
10/10 vid. I always liked Mine a lot in comparison to other antagonists in the series, but this vid just made me love him even more. Semi related, but where would one be able to find translations of the "RGG Online Lore" for Mine?
If I remember correctly, there is a RUclipsr named Hisanas who has done a number of RGGO translations. Not sure if they've kept up with it, but there is surely enough content there to keep you busy for a while.
@@gokudoni Ty
A video essay on one of my favorite characters, let's go
This was such a good video. I'm glad you gave Mine the attention he deserves.
I'm glad I got to check this out, especially after seeing him again as shinsengumi 2nd in command
"Hello,... Ok got it. There's no change in the plan" Best Mine line, how can you not like this guy for who his story who he was and tried to be in the end. Another orphan like Kiryu, if Kiryu didn't have the support that he did had and no Buracku Monday.
Overall a great villain and theme
Honestly a great analysis, I really love Mine as a villain and he doesn't get nearly enough coverage in the fandom. Easily one of my personal favorities and Im glad to see such a deep dive into this character
I think even i misunderstood him a bit. This was a great video that helped me see differently.
Combat mechanics aside Yakuza 3 is a fatherhood simulator where you get to beat the shit out of the CIA. Woe to any that besmirch its reputation.
Amazing video brother i remember being so impressed by mine when i first played and finished 3 especially cause of noticing some of the points you mentioned in the video
Compelling villains. Except Oda. Oda is just a massive prick. The way RGG wrote Makoto 'forgiving' him spoiled her character for me too by consequence
You ever gonna make a video on rikiya? Also you killed it as always on these videos 💕
Thank you so much! I'd love to do a video on him. Obviously, I have a soft spot for Yakuza 3 and shining the spotlight on the best aniki just seems like a logical extension hahah
Mine survived the fall ong Yakuza 3 sweep
(please let me have this)
Mine, my beloved.
Another great analysis. Keep up the good work mate.
Found your channel through the recent Devilleon spoilercast, just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this video!
Ngl like this video made me want to play yakuza 3 again because of how you describe mine in the vid.
Loved your Ryo Nozaki video. Great to see your growth. In terms of mic quality, writing, articulation in points. Can't wait to see what else you have in mind in the future.
mine is possibly the best reflection of how money and power can destroy your soul and make you feel miserable even with all the money in the world
Thank you for this i hope people see Mine more then a no change in the plan guy but an amazing character
There would literally be no problems if every yakuza villain survived. Literally if Nishiki, ryuji, and mine survived the later villains would be fucked.
Most people point to Ryuuji (or Nishiki) when it comes to best main antagonist and especially when it comes to the most epic final fight, but while certainly legendary I always remembered Mine more fondly. He's a great antagonist but the final fight against him is what really made him memorable.
Seeing him as Hijikata in Ishin was a real treat, it's a shame we can't have him back in the main series.
If you're looking for daigo minay's taken him up to the ruff☝️
This is why i think yakuza 3 is really underrated because i think i got his actions and really liked him i would actually sayyakuza 3 is in the middle if i would rank every game
Easily became one of my favorite Yakuza ytubers. Amazing content, keep up the great work!
hello! i'm back again... I've always considered him as "a diamond in the rough" because of how people look over his game-changing presence in the series due to the game's reputation.
there have been plenty of redemption arcs that ended in tragedy/death but man this one takes it by far for me.
he's been my favorite character for a while because of how complex and how realistic he is as a character, as a person. i just wanna give him a hug and a shoulder to cry on, honestly. he's been through a lot.
thank you again for this video, looking forward to more
Ah, yes. My second brother as a Villain and one of my favourite Yakuza characters in general. Can't wait to see this. I'll edit this comment when I finish the video.
Leaving a like an a comment purely out of appreciation that you made a video on MY MAN ❤ Thank you so much!! (I miss Mine so much .....)
I feel Mine gets hate mainly because of the very inorganic hateboner newcomers seem to have for Yakuza 3. When you're told something is bad by a mob or by someone you look up to, you tend to categorize anything and everything in it as bad without giving it a second glance
For the longest of times Yakuza tier lists went 2,3 and 4 and then 0 gets released and suddenly Yakuza 3 drops to the bottom and gets this insane amount of hate out of left field. I think a big part of it is because Y0 attracted a huge audience of people who don't play video games who then struggled mashing through the game even on the easiest difficulty
I'm glad you mentioned DMC because back when Y3 was released the parallels with DMC's Dante and Vergil and God Hand's Gene vs Devil Hand were all over the place. While Nishiki would have been a better fit for that role and Ryuji also paralleled Kiryu in his own way, Mine filled it better both narratively and in the final fight. Great video
I like how at 0:40 you can 1 frame of Majima.
I love that Mine gets more vindication over the years as an amazing villain.
Mine for me was my favourite villain.
wonderfully done introspective into mine. actually changed my whole opinion on the storyline
If you skip Yakuza 3 you're not a real G
Just watched this video again for the 2nd time and I just realized that, RGG used Mine as an example of a bad "Sigma male".
Some people see the life of isolation from entertainment and inhuman amount of dedication towards jobs and money being a good thing aka "the Sigma" and I can see Mine a part of that archetype. Not saying that hustling is a bad thing, but building yourself on anger, hatred and oneupmanship will do a number on your mental health and those around you.
Had Mine and a lot of these people learned the value in human relationships and emotions, they could've used their insurmountable dedication to other things like healthy relationships and charity too.
There are rumors that RGG is going to bring back Mine in 8. (And possibly Ryuji as well).
Wouldn't that be wild if that was true?!
What a fantastic video essay.
Mine is such an underrated Villain IMHO.
Really?
He’s always high on tier, top 10/15 villains lists.
Thanks RUclips algorithm
I finished the game a week ago and think it’s one of the more disappointing treatments to a Yakuza game antagonist by far. Grew a liking to the guy nearing the end, and always feel like there’s a good amount of unnecessary things that happen, but that’s how they were written back then and obviously can’t be changed. It’s just sad, imagine a happy ending to all the games with everyone teaming up. That’d be nuts
I actually hate if every villains live in the series. This is story about japanese mafia, essentially, with a bit of anime over the top flair to it, if nobody actually dies then the I feel then it would pack less impact. It's tragic, sure, but that's why these games sometimes hit so much harder
It’s funny how Yakuza 5 is one of the darkest games (maybe next to K1) but it has the least amount of character/villain deaths
not every character needs a happy ending.
the games consantly drill into your head that theres no happy ending for the Yakuza. A Villian turning a new leaf to become a lasting ally would go agaisnt everything the franchise stand for.
Dude is one of the big reasons why 3 is so peak
Mine is one of my favorite villains in the series and the closest well get from a mine redemption arc is in ishin
"switching between different fighting styles on the Fly" good one lol
Mine is the 3rd best villain in the whole franchise after Ryuji and Nishiki.
I hope you’ll do a follow up video on Hanzaki. He’s a scoundrel in 3 but 4 tried to put him on a redemption arch that would have profound affects on Kiryu, Saejima and Haruka. Appreciate your work and thoughts.
Mine is far and away the best villain in the series, as of Y0-5 anyway. Ryuji and Nishiki are great too, but it feels like Mine takes the best part of both of them, and elevates it.
Are you planning to do one on iwami? I always felt like he is underrated just because he isn't a reedemable character
I'd love to do one! I've made a whole video on why Yakuza 6 is the perfect conclusion to Kiryu's story and Iwami is a big reason for that. He is divisive, sure, but I think they've done a phenomenal job with him story-wise.
@@gokudoni I’ve noticed that similar to Mine, Iwami gets more and more vindication the more time passes.