Tatsuo Shinada (品田 辰雄, Shinada Tatsuo) is a playable protagonist in Yakuza 5. Once a batter for the Nagoya Wyverns, he now resides in Kineicho as a nightlife journalist.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Shinada has a generally scruffy appearance. He has medium length black hair, and a stubbly mustache and goatee. He spends several hours a day doing 5,000 swings, 1,000 push-ups, and 1,000 sit-ups, giving him an extremely well-toned body.
Attire[]
Shinada is commonly seen wearing a worn brown suede jacket and matching Chelsea boots, along with a white tank top and blue jeans. His suede jacket has a bal collar, has the sleeves pulled up to his upper forearms, and is zipped up slightly at the bottom. He also wears a wooden bead bracelet around his right wrist.
Personality[]
— Shinada to Daigo, Yakuza 5 RemasteredThere's nothing you can say to convince me. I'm saving my dream with my own two hands. I'm getting that home run back!
An unambitious and lazy man, Shinada's ban from professional baseball killed off all of his motivation to succeed in life, making excuses constantly and running away from all his problems like his debt towards Takasugi and Uno. Shinada's fun and easygoing attitude has allowed him to befriend many residents of Kineicho despite being an unreliable freeloader.
Shinada tries his best to run away from his past; moving to a city where he believes no one knows his true identity in as well as trying very hard to not think about his past whenever it becomes relevant. Despite his ban from professional baseball, Shinada still continues to love the sport in secret and remains highly knowledgeable about it; shown when he recognizes the bat Toriyama broke was fake.
Shinada begins to show his past ambition again after accepting a job offer from a mysterious masked man. He is shown to be largely disappointed by the truth of his past; finding out his past teammates were cheating behind his back, learning the truth of the Nagoya Family all made him question his entire life following the baseball ban. When Shinada has finally had the time to take in all of the information, he decides to helm his life in his own way and finally take back the past 15 years in which he has accomplished practically nothing.
Shinada is shown to be on the side of justice, choosing revenge over pursuing the dream of a lost one when asked by Masaru Watase.
Background[]
Shinada in 1997
As a teenager, Shinada attended Kamuro West High School alongside Daigo Dojima. Shinada was the star slugger of the school's baseball team. On June 8, 1997, 22-year-old Shinada made his big league debut as a major league baseball player for the Nagoya Wyverns playing against the Tokyo Gigants. He was placed up to bat against his long time minor league rival, Yuki Sawada. Against all odds, Shinada hit a homerun on Sawada's last pitch, winning the game for his team. The next day, however, while Shinada signed autographs for fans, he was arrested on suspicion of being involved in game fixing and illegal gambling. While he was eventually cleared of all charges, he was banned for life from professional baseball and his coach, Fujita, was forced to resign in shame as the team's manager.
Involvement[]
Ryu Ga Gotoku Online: 1999[]
Two years after his dishonorable resignation, Shinada lives as a homeless man, having to sleep on the streets of Nagoya. One night, his sleep is interrupted by a fight between Ryuji Goda and Joon-gi Han. Shinada yells at them to shut up and let him sleep. Han tells him to leave before he gets hurt, but he replies that as this is his spot, they are the ones that should be leaving. After hearing this Ryuji recognizes him as the pitch-hitter who made a famous sayonara homerun (also known as a walk-off home run). Shinada says nothing, but Ryuji insists and Shinada says that he is mistaken. Ryuji recounts Shinada's moment two years ago, and apparently doesn't know what happened after the match. Shinada runs away after a police officer turns up and asks what's going on.
The next day, Shinada meets Ryuji once again at a cabaret club. Ryuji praises him for spending money on women even while being homeless. Shinada tells Ryuji to leave him alone and runs away, Ryuji says that he just wanted an autograph. Ryuji chases Shinada on the streets of Nagoya, with Han following.
Shinada eventually stops running and Ryuji asks him for his autograph again. Ryuji finally remembers that Shinada was wrongfully accused of match fixing but says that he still wants the autograph because he knows that Shinada is innocent and that anyone who watched the live broadcast could tell that Shinada and the pitcher were serious and says that if they were pretending they should have become actors instead of baseball players. Shinada is left speechless, as this is the first time someone believes in his innocence, but says that he isn't worthy of giving autographs to anyone, as he is a homeless man who simply scrounges his way across life, and that a life like that has no value, after which he ran away again.
The next day, during Ryuji and Han's escape from Nagoya, Ryuji decides to meet with Shinada once again. They find him in the park and Ryuji insults him saying that he shouldn't act in such disgraceful way in front on his fan. Shinada replies that Ryuji doesn't know anything about him and the two start fighting. Ryuji is glad seeing Shinada recovering his fighting spirit and recounts how he felt after being expelled from the Omi Alliance, saying that Shinada should try to find another way of living. Ryuji asks him once again for his autograph and realizes that he forgot to bring paper, so he rips a page of a magazine he gave Shinada and tells him to write his autograph there. Ryuji and Han are forced to run away after being found a group of members of the Nagoya Family. A policeman asks Shinada if he had seen a blond man and a silver-haired man around there, to which Shinada responds no. After the policeman leaves, Shinada remembers that he never asked their names. Then he starts looking at the magazine. An advert is marked, for a writer for a nighttime entertainment magazine. He phones and arranges an interview.
Yakuza 5: 2012[]
Shinada's misadventure begins as what would be another ordinary day in his life in Kineicho, working a dead end job as an entertainment writer for the red light district. He is constantly hounded by his loan shark Koichi Takasugi who makes sure Shinada pays his debts and avoids ending up on the streets at the same time. Shinada was tasked with helping Milky resolve a dilemma involving the Nagoya family, the resident group of yakuza in control of Nagoya that is neither Omi or Tojo aligned. After helping her out, Shinada arrives to meet Milky for the article and enjoys some time with her.
On his way to the office to get paid for his efforts, Shinada runs into Uno, who Shinada explains about his situation with Takasugi. He learns that for the last 15 years, Kineicho had no true yakuza presence thanks to the help of the Nagoya family. In an attempt to get a free dinner at Ushijima's restaurant, he had learned both Omi and Tojo's delegates have been murdered and they are looking for the guilty party, but Shinada dismisses such concerns until he crosses paths with a strange man who knew about the baseball scandal that had ruined his career. Promising to pay off his debts if he learns about the truth, the mysterious man entrusts Takasugi as the one responsible for the collateral who he accepts.
Shinada, upon being forced to learn about the truth, is struck by misfortune almost immediately as people from his past proceed to condemn him for his actions. During a chance meeting with Milky, he tries to skip town with her but she refuses as Takasugi snoops around Shinada's back. Returning home, he reveals the information he had known. During the match between the Gigants and Wyverns, Shinada was wrongfully accused of stealing signs from the rival team as he was able to hit the one ball that helped the Wyverns win and as a result caused a scandal that caused him to be banned from playing professionally and their manager Fujita's resignation. He suspects that someone had plotted Fujita's fall from grace and Takasugi suspects someone profited from his resignation. With few leads, Shinada investigates around Uno who reveals Shinada's involvement in the scandal crippled the Tojo and Omi's rackets in Nagoya and they are forced out of town, more importantly he gives Shinada a link to the scandal through Manabe, the Wyvern's cleanup hitter.
Meeting Manabe to disclose if there was game fixing or not, he confirms that there was game fixing by Manabe through the yakuza to make things profitable. Manabe and the other plays complied to avoid being shuffled out of the team. But before they could seek more answers, they were asked to leave. Returning to Uno, he confirms the Nagoya family were responsible and Takasugi was a Nagoya Family member. However he denies his involvement and explains that they are an enigma to everyone in Nagoya. Before they can investigate further, they noticed a thug filling the building with gas to start a fire. Chasing him down, Shinada demands answers only for him to get crushed by construction debris by Sakai, a former teammate of Shinada. Forced to fight his former teammate, he reveals that Shinada was indeed the scapegoat for the sake of Nagoya before being killed along with the thug when he pushes him aside to save Shinada.
The following day, Shinada realizes that Sawada was also involved in the scandal. With the help of Takasugi, they try and get answers from Ushijima who denies anything about his involvement with the Nagoya family when Milky calls Shinada saying her brother had been kidnapped and she ends up being captured as well. Rushing to her rescue, he was knocked out by Ushijima and learns the truth; it turns out the entire town is the Nagoya Family and they have been desperate to keep the peace in the city. But Shinada knew that someone had ordered his death and demanded answers. Only Ushijima tried to kill him, halfheartedly. Kubota, one of the actual yakuza realizing Ushijima was hesitating, decided to finish the job only for Takasugi to barge in on a forklift truck. Working together both them overcome the mysterious mobsters and survive the attack. However Shinada, shocked by the betrayal, unable to accept that the very people who had been lenient with him would ultimately be a criminal organization, wants to leave town for good. However Takasugi reveals that he knew about the whole thing and wanted to help Shinada get his home-run and pride back. Manabe then arrives, coming to finish where Kubota failed as both Shinada and Manabe face off. However Shinada knew his intentions was to give him a reason to seek out the truth. Defeating Manabe, he hands Shinada the phone and learns of the true culprit: Fujita, the man who gave a chance to become part of the Nagoya Wyverns.
Piecing together the clues at last, he tells his benefactor the truth of the details about how Fujita was indeed working for somebody else and was rewarded the money. He then reveals himself as none other than Daigo, Shinada's former classmate. It turns out Daigo was expelled for getting into a fight with Kamuro Tech as he wanted to see the team make it to the Nationals despite ultimately losing. As he was willing to do him a favor to reinstate him back to the professional baseball league, Shinada is understandably upset as it was due to the yakuza that led to the problems in Nagoya and having the people who he trusted get caught in criminal affairs. Settling his feelings with Daigo in a fight, he proves his determination to Daigo after their fight results in a tie, and Daigo agrees to see him in Tokyo. However, on the train to Tokyo, he learns that Sawada was to be traded to the Wyverns which meant Sawada would become the new head of the Nagoya family as Fujita leaves. Here he learns of the truth: the Omi Chairman uses his connections to clear the entire Nagoya family of all charges; in exchange, Sawada will take control of the family and continue the rackets on the Omi's behalf once Fujita leaves. As Sawada is about to shoot Shinada, he says that he had no interest in letting the Omi in Nagoya ever again and works with Shinada to defeat the thugs. Once they are accounted for, Shinada settles his affairs with Sawada as they repeat the home run situation from 15 years ago, this time with Shinada finally hitting the curveball that previously gave him trouble.
Arriving at Kamurocho by himself, he was shocked to learned that Fujita was found dead and Naoki Katsuya was framed as the murderer. Warned by Sawada that there is going to be something big happening at Tokyo Dome, Shinada approaches Akiyama for a loan and realizes he is not the only person who wants the concert cancelled and suspect it is the center of a power struggle between the Omi Alliance. Finding the president of Mao Inc, they learn that Katsuya, Park and Majima were in fact working together and wanted to use the incident to reveal Kurosawa's attempt to maintain power in his deathbed.
When he learns that Daigo has been hospitalized, he goes to visit his room. Before reaching there, he briefly comes across Masaru Watase, who then asks if one should seek revenge for a deceased friend or pursue their dreams instead if they shared a dream. Shinada initially states that he would seek revenge, but is willing to go for either as long as it is what they would want. Shinada's answer satisfies Watase.
Shinada eventually reunites with Kiryu, Saejima, and Akiyama at New Serena, and they discuss how to approach the situation with the concert. Shinada decides that he should go to the Japan Dome to save Haruka Sawamura in the event that there is a sniper, as he knows the stadium the best and pinpoints the only viable location for a clear shot at the stage, which is the center field stand at the very back of the Dome. They decide to leave New Serena the next evening, only for a news report on TV to reveal that Majima is not only alive, but taken hostage at the roof of the Millennium Tower, and they rush to the Tower.
After the four men come across Tsubasa Kurosawa's army near the Millennium Tower, Shinada splits from the group along with Saejima to the sewers to reach the Japan Dome. By the time he arrives, Shigeki Baba, the man assigned to kill Haruka, had already changed his mind about doing so. However, when Baba attempts to leave, Shinada stops him, accusing Baba of doing a "sloppy job" of hiding the evidence and not owning up to his original intentions. He fights and defeats Baba, who is now suicidal and apologetic to Saejima for disgracing him. Baba's attempt at his own life is stopped by his former cellmates, Himura and Oshima, and Seiji Kosaka, the warden from their prison.
As the concert calls for an intermission, Shinada thinks about where to go next and call home, only to get an unexpected call from Takasugi, who reveals that Milky was released from prison and that everyone, including himself, misses him. Shinada is left speechless as he realizes Kineicho was his real home all along. Shinada then watches the remainder of the concert along with the rest of the men present on the center field stand.
It is unknown what happened to Shinada afterwards, though it can be assumed he returned to Nagoya.
Fighting Style[]
バットは人を殴るもんじゃない。
— Shinada upon picking up a bat.A bat is not for hitting people.
Shinada's unarmed fighting style is primarily based around clinch-fighting and grappling, making him unique from other playable characters whose fighting styles are more striking-based. His fighting style is completely lacking in finesse, showing his lack of skill compared to other protagonists and their fighting styles (even compared to Kiryu's Brawler style). He often has to make up for his lack of fighting experience and proper fighting technique by overwhelming opponents with sheer brutality.
Unlike the fighting styles of most other characters, to whom weapons tend to be little more than gimmicks, use of weapons is integral to Shinada's fighting style. His primary weapons are a pipe, pole, knife and katana, all of which can be acquired as sturdy weapons, meaning their durability never runs out. Whenever he switches to one of these weapons, he does so by attacking with the weapon while switching to it, which can also be done as a Heat Action. Each of these weapons features at least two Heat Actions, sometimes more when used by Shinada, whereas other characters typically only have one. Due to his respect for the sport of baseball, he refuses to use a baseball bat as a weapon. Despite this, many of his attacks both unarmed and armed feature baseball-style swings. Additionally, as an AI partner, he can pick up and fight with bats.
Combos[]
Shinada's Rush Combo is two left jabs and a right hook. His finishers include a left side kick, a jumping right hook, and a double hammerfist swing (similar to swinging a baseball bat). He can initiate a clinch after any combo; after the first finisher he can knee the enemy, after the second finisher he can headbutt the enemy and after the third finisher he can leg sweep his enemies. He may also initiate My Meteor Tackle after a combo.
Basic attacks[]
Shinada's heavy attack is a right front kick. With My Ground Cleaving Slide, he can slide tackle into his opponent's legs in an attempt to sweep them off their feet which can be performed while running. His downed attack is a hammerfist.
Grab attacks[]
From a grab, Shinada can use a three hit combo consisting of a headbutt, a right hook, and a spinning left backfist, deliver a single jumping right hook, or use an Osotogari. He can pick his opponent immediately back up after throwing them, allowing him to immediately throw them again or strike them, though the enemy can break free. He can also grab his opponent in the middle of a combo or a quickstep.
Blocking, dodging and reversals[]
Shinada can quickstep once, and dodge roll after a quickstep. His only reversal is a grab reversal.
Counterattacks[]
Shinada can counter opponents' attacks by parrying and grabbing them.
Special attacks[]
Shinada has a special Climax Heat move called My Meteor Tackle where he grabs an enemy by their abdomen and furiously runs forward, and from there he can run into other enemies, crash the enemy into a wall, use My Meteor Finish after crashing the enemy into a wall (a right backfist strike to the head), or use the Essence of Heaving. This move slowly drains Shinada's heat while it is active. Boss enemies are able to counter My Meteor Tackle after being tackled once, though tackling them close to a wall will still result in them being slammed into it and not allow them to counter attack.
Heat Actions[]
Shinada has Heat Actions such as one where he picks up a downed opponent and tackles them into the wall once more, and then repeatedly slams their head against the wall before hitting them to the ground, or one where he uses a pole as a javelin to impale an enemy and simultaneously knock them to the ground with the pole sticking upright out of their body, and then rides atop the pole, similarly to a pole vaulter. Two of his three Climax Heat actions are based on his proficiency with melee weapons with added improvisation. His Climax Heat Actions are My Essence of Dragging, My Essence of Bashing Combo, and My Essence of Whirlwind. For My Essence of Dragging, Shinada will kick the enemy's feet and grab their legs while turning around, dragging the enemy along the ground on their face while running around with a grip on their ankles. For My Essence of Whirlwind, Shinada will use a pole to sweep three enemies off their feet and into the air, hit a particular enemy again in the other direction to cause them to spin the opposite direction, then slam the pole down on that specific enemy. For My Essence of Bashing Combo, Shinada will throw a swinging weapon such as a pipe or umbrella at the opponent, causing it to bounce off thrice before catching it for a final time and using the weapon to deliver a powerful baseball bat style swing, sending the enemy flying stiff. Through a revelation, Shinada can learn the Essence of Furious Thrusts which utilizes a swinging weapon such as a pipe or umbrella to devastating effect. Shinada will start by striking the opponent in the chin, causing the opponent to stumble backwards. With his weapon in his right hand, he takes precision strikes at the opponent's cheek, jaw, chest, right ribs, left ribs, and groin before swinging his weapon upward into the opponent's face, and then again downwards on the opponent's head before using his weapon on their jaw to guide the opponent's gaze to his face and delivering a palm strike to the opposite end of the weapon in order to slam the weapon's end into their throat.
Notes[]
- ↑ The given birth year of 1975 is an estimate based on Shinada's age and is not intended as a substitute for an official date.