RGG Studio’s next game, Stranger than Heaven, is a Yakuza prequel focusing on the origins of the Tojo Clan. Its narrative spans five timelines and takes place in five cities, each depicting a different era of Japan.
You play as a half-American, half-Japanese immigrant man, Makoto, who escapes from the unfair clutches of American streets after his parents’ death to his mother’s home country, Japan, to find a place of his own.
Stranger than Heaven is an action-adventure title with fast-paced gameplay highly reminiscent of the earlier Yakuza games and a story that explores the underbelly of contemporary Japanese society.
But more so this time, it’s a game that puts the spotlight on Japan’s showbiz and Jazz culture, which comes with the cultural amalgamation of two distinct nations. Much of it is brought to life by its multitude of characters played by universally acclaimed actors and musicians.
Below, we list all the Stranger than Heaven voice actors, what roles they play, and discuss some of their most notable works.
Full Stranger than Heaven voice cast explained
Just like its characters, Stranger than Heaven’s voice cast includes a mix of English (American) and Japanese actors and musicians.
| Cast | Character |
|---|---|
| Yu Shirota | Makoto Daito (Protagonist) |
| Snoop Dog | Orpheus |
| Dean Fujioka | Yu Shinjo |
| Satoshi Fujihara | Takashi |
| Tori Kelly | Suzy |
| Bunta Sugawara (voiced by Takashi Ukaji) | TBC |
| Ado | TBC |
| Cordell Broadus | TBC |
The game’s protagonist, Makoto, the founder of Tojo Clan and a Jazz showman, is played by Yu Shirota, who, like Makoto, is biracial, with a Japanese father and a Spanish mother. Shirota is now a well-known Japanese actor who has appeared in various TV shows and even boasts a music career as a singer. His most notable roles include Kagurazaka Makoto in the live-action adaptation of Hana-Kimi and Tuxedo Masks in the Sailor Moon musicals.
Makoto isn’t the only star of Stranger than Heaven; the story puts almost equal emphasis on his fellow immigrant partner, Yu Shinjo. He’s voiced by Dean Fujioka, who has countless Japanese films, TV shows, anime, and music video roles to his name. Fujioka is perhaps most fondly known for portraying Roy Mustang in 2017’s live-action adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist.
Snoop Dog and his son, Cordell Broadus, both have significant roles in Stranger than Heaven. The latter plays a globe-trotting smuggler and a mentor figure to Makoto. As for Cordell’s character, it remains a mystery.
The 10-time Grammy-nominated American Rapper and his son aren’t the only musical icons in this game. Two global Japanese pop artists, Ado and Satoshi Fujihara, are also part of Stranger than Heaven’s insane music-oriented cast. Fujihara, who’s part of the pop-rock band Official Hige Dandism, portrays Takashi, a sort of younger brother to Makoto and a Yakuza member with a secret passion for music and playing piano.
Ado’s character, on the other hand, is another singer, though her name is unclear. As acknowledged by the artist herself, this will be Ado’s voice-acting debut.
Another American musician joining the cast is none other than “Should’ve been Us” star Tori Kelly, who plays the role of a singer, Suzy, whom Makoto and Yu come across in the seaside city of Atami. In addition, she’s the co-composer and singer behind Stranger than Heaven’s theme song.
Perhaps the most intriguing and surprising inclusion to the game’s stellar cast is the late Bunta Sugawara. The legendary Japanese actor appeared in numerous Yakuza-centric films and Ghibli movies before passing away in 2014. In Stranger than Heaven, he’s voiced by Takashi Ukaji, the Kamen Rider fame, who shared a close connection to Sugawara.
It’s worth pointing out that Sega received formal consent from Sugawara’s family and received footage from Toei Company Ltd to craft his CGI character design.
That’s pretty much the Stranger than Heaven full voice cast. RGG has yet to announce a separate list of English and Japanese voice actors for the game, though some fans seem to want an option that lets you listen to each major character’s voice in their native language.
A mix of English and Japanese audio would make a ton of sense in Stranger than Heaven, given the game’s focus on culture amalgamation, and the fact that it’s developed by a Japanese studio and marketed by an American company.
