Sega dreams up of all sorts of ways to promote the Ryu ga Gotoku (Yakuza) series in Japan. Their marketing strategy for Ryu ga Gotoku 4 involves dart bars.

A leaked document found on Sega’s FTP by Objectif-Sega described a “special Japanese import section” for games like Yakuza. Titles would be sold digitally for $9.99 to $39.99 for a full game.

According to 1up, someone is working on localizing Yakuza 3 (aka Ryu ga Gotoku 3) for North America and Europe.

Last night “news” spread that Yakuza 3 was “never” coming out in North America. Crushing words, but there’s hope for Yakuza fans.

After sorting through 1,500 applicants Sega whittled down their search for Ryu ga Gotoku hostesses to 16 candidates, many of which are apparently real life hostesses.

Yakuza 3 came out less than three months ago and Sega isn’t giving the series a break. Series producer Toshihiro Nagoshi shared vague details about a new Ryu ga Gotoku project in an interview with Famitsu.

When it comes to crossover marketing for Ryu ga Gotoku 3 (Yakuza 3) nothing is off the table. In addition to partnering with tan salons and fast food chain Matsuya, Sega made a deal with Seifuku Distillery to create Yakuza branded sake.
 
Two 720 mL bottles will be available for purchase: Awamori for 1,100 yen [...]

Ryu ga Gotoku 3 (Yakuza 3) isn’t kicking in Japanese PS3s yet. Still a week to go before it comes out and Sega is already teasing the future.
 
After the game launches Sega will support it with twenty nine downloadable items spread out over a period of eight weeks. Some of these will be special [...]

Yakuza 3 comes out in Japan next week. Sega hasn’t said anything about releasing the PS3 game or Yakuza: Kenzan, which preludes Yakuza 3 anywhere else yet. Bummer. As a domestic marketing push and a consolation prize for the rest of the world Sega is releasing a demo of Yakuza 3 on the PlayStation [...]

Sega blends fantasy and reality with their Yakuza series. Past games tied in products like Suntory beverages and we-have-everything discount retailer Don Quijote. Yakuza 3 will go a step further and let Kiryu Kazuma have a meal in Matsuya.
 
Matsuya is a fast food chain in Japan that deals local cuisine like Japanese curry rice [...]