Yakuza 4 - Hamazaki Goh

YAKUZA 4 - HAMAZAKI GOH

If you have played Yakuza 3 and 4 you will probably disagree with this post as you would know him as an antagonist and partly turned protagonist. But I find his story has more meaning than just someone trying to get to the top. I'll give you a quick recap of who he is.

Hamazaki Goh

Goh is the tough and cunning leader of the Hamazaki Family using intimidation and business connections to further his ambitions. The Hamazaki Family only has ten members which he used to rise to the top ranks of the Tojo clan after taking over the Yokohama branch of the Chinese Snake Flower Triad by secretly working with Lau Ka Long.
When a resort deal threatened Kazuma Kiryu's (the protagonist) orphanage, Sunshine Orphanage, Hamazaki looked for taking a piece of it for himself and building a secret Triad casino on the land. When Lau Ka Long, the leader of the Snake Flower Triad is killed by Kiryu the Hamazaki Famly is attacked with their HQ and all of it's assests destroyed. Hamazaki then goes into hiding.

Hamazaki confronts Kiryu at the end of the game in anger at losing everything because of him. Kiryu tells him that it's not too late to mend his ways and start new again. As Kazuma reaches out to shake his hand Hamazaki pulls out a knife and stabs him in the abdomen. Goh tells him that he would rather die than live in personal shame. Even as he lies bleeding in the street, Kiryu tells him that he still believes in people and that they can change if they want to. Hamazaki is then tackled to the ground by a couple of Kiryu's friends and police sirens are heard in the background.

From this round up of the events of Yakuza 3 he really doesn't seem like a nice or likeable character. Just a selfish Yakuza member looking to rise to the top and take the power just like the ambitions of so many others. But here's where things begins to change the outlook of him in a better light.

Hamazaki while in prison

In Yakuza 4 we find out that Hamazaki Goh is in prison and makes friends with another inmate, Taiga Saejima, who has just been transferred. After Saejima was beaten and tortured Hamazaki was able to talk to him. They discussed why Saeijima was in prsion because of a shady hit he pulled off resulting in the deaths of eighteen of the Ueno Seiwa clan members and that he misses his sister who he hasn't seen in twenty five years. Hamazaki then trusted him with his escape plan saying it needs two people and he is perfect for it. While breaking out the two are just about free before a head prison guard shoots Hamazaki multiple times. He tells Saejima to get away while he can and to just leave him.
Goh then later washes up on the beach of Sunshine Orphanage and find out that it is run by Kiryu. The two put aside their differences and begin to talk of Saejima and the conspiracy surrounding the hit that occured twenty five years ago. Upon finding out this new information two two proceded to Kamurocho to look for more information only to run into Saejima's sister, Yasuko,  completely by accident. While looking around a deceased Tamoshiro's office, guards from the prison show up and ambush them. Telling Kiryu and Yasuko to run he holds off the prison guards but is unfortunately shot in the back. He faints and is taken to hospital some time later but ultimately succumbs to his wounds.

Kiryu wounded by Hamazaki on the streets of Kamurocho

The thing I find sad about this is the face that Kiryu was right. Hamazaki didn't see it at the time as his mind was only focused on revenge on Kiryu for all that he lost. Attempting to kill Kiryu got him sent to prison and in there I assumed that he did begin to rethink his life. Not that he has much of a chance to make a new one, it did however give him a chance to create a new way of thinking. Even though he mainly wanted to use Saejima to help him escape after seeing his strength, he eventually got to learn of his story and felt somewhat touched and decided to help him out even after he escaped badly wounded. Washing up on the shores of Okinawa and being helped by a child of Sunshine Orphanage he met with Kiryu. Showing no hostility towards Hamazaki, only confusion and caution, he listens to what Hamazaki has to say and realizing he has rethought his life although now being on the run.

Towards the end he helps out Yasuko and Kiryu escape from the police which ultimately led to his death. It shows that he really had changed and wanted to help Kiryu, Yasuko and Saejima with their mission.
I just find it sad that he died protecting the person he once wanted to kill. It must take a lot to sacrifice yourself for someone like that. Kiryu showed respect for Hamazaki in return by keeping his body at Sunshine Orphanage until he could give him a proper burial.

"G-Guess I've gone soft" - The final words of Hamazaki Goh