Akira Mabuchi (馬渕 昌, Mabuchi Akira), also known as Lao Ma (老馬, Lǎo Mǎ/ラオマー, Rao Mā), is a major antagonist in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. He is the second-in-command of the Yokohama Liumang.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Mabuchi has a slightly stocky build. His hair is medium-length and side-parted, and appears to be graying. The hair on the left side of his part appears to have been shaved recently and grown back, as it is very short.
Attire[]
Mabuchi wears a white double-breasted suit over printed shirt with matching pair of dress pants and black leather shoes. He also wears a chain necklace.
Personality[]
Mabuchi is a ruthlessly power-hungry individual, driven by his egotism and resentment towards the Liumang leadership. In order to realise his aims, he went as far as betraying his closest friend, killing an innocent soapland owner and doctoring video footage in order to frame someone else for the crime, then murdering two men from a rival gang to spark conflict. His attachment to his aims makes Mabuchi a determined person, as he made repeated attempts to seize control of the Liumang despite setbacks.
His fluency in multiple languages, mathematical talent, organizational skills, ability to set clear targets and assertiveness (in contrast to the easy-going Zhao) make Mabuchi a natural leader capable of inspiring strong followers, not unlike Kasuga. However, his charisma lacks warmth, causing him to frequently resort to violence.
Mabuchi appears to think very highly of himself, carrying a Guan Dao into battle, suggesting he places himself on par with Ancient Chinese heroes - this despite the fact that the conspiracy unfolding in Ijincho's criminal underworld was much more complex than he envisioned.
Background[]
Mabuchi was born into poverty as a child of Chinese immigrants in Japan, but he worked hard to make a name for himself. Growing up, he had ambition and talent that drew people like Tianyou Zhao to him. He graduated from a reputable college and learned how to speak Chinese, English, and Korean in addition to Japanese.
When he first started the Yokohama Trading Company, no one in Chinatown was friendly, but the high-quality goods he imported at low prices attracted buyers, which caused Chinatown to be reliant on him. One day, a subordinate found a box of paper used for making counterfeit money. The subordinate was familiar with money laundering and suggested making counterfeit yuan, which Mabuchi took up. After Mabuchi was promoted to an officer, he would openly challenge Zhao despite the latter's higher rank.
Mabuchi had bought out the entire Organized Crime Division of the Kanagawa Prefectural Police by funding their big events, which gave him access to each member's personal information, allowing him to evade investigation for any crimes he commits. Mabuchi's assertiveness made the Liumang elders suspect he would eventually betray Zhao, but Zhao pleaded with them to give his friend a second chance.
Involvement[]
Yakuza: Like a Dragon: 2019[]
Mabuchi is dissatisfied with the stagnation of the Ijin Three and wants to break the balance of power by creating a conflict between the three factions. He operates on the orders of Bleach Japan and the Omi Alliance in an effort to weaken the Great Wall of Muscle within Ijincho, allowing the Omi to invade. He believes that by handing over Ijincho to the Omi, he would be given a position of power like Masumi Arakawa had been when he gave them Kamurocho. With approval from Ryo Aoki, he murders Isao Nonomiya to bait a response, preferably from the Seiryu Clan.
Ichiban Kasuga and his allies infiltrate the Yokohama Trading Company in response to Nonomiya's murder to learn more of Mabuchi. They are found out, after which Mabuchi takes them to a dungeon of his. He interrogates Kasuga and records it on video. When done, he orders Kasuga and his allies killed and doctors the footage to incriminate the Seiryu Clan of starting war, after which he kills two young Seiryu Clan yakuza to spark the conflict he sought.
Mabuchi meets up with Hajime Ogasawara to learn of the Ijin Three counterfeit operation from Yu Nanba, who carries him away after Kasuga and co. defeat him at the Bleach Japan offices. Afterwards, Mabuchi gains the assistance of Omi lieutenants Reiji Ishioda and Yosuke Tendo, and together they attack Tianyou Zhao. Mabuchi exposes the Ijin Three operation to the Liumang and stages a coup d'état, however, he is again thwarted by Kasuga and co. After his defeat, Zhao - who once thought of Mabuchi as a brother - warns him to leave Ijincho, as Seonhee would not ignore his treachery and would hunt him down.
Mabuchi loses the Omi's support, but suspects they will give him a seat if he offers them Zhao and Kasuga's heads. He sends Zhao a message to lure him into a trap with the pretext being about him wanting to peacefully return to Ijincho. After being defeated yet again, Mabuchi still plans to fight, but an enraged Zhao pleads with him to stop and simply leave, or face all of his ambitions being wasted by a pointless death. Mabuchi is not heard from afterwards, presumably having left behind Ijincho.
Fighting Style[]
Mabuchi uses the Guan Dao as his primary weapon in combat. He has skills that can cause a wide variety of status ailments such as paralysis.
His moveset consists of:
- his basic attack, 2 slashes resembling the first 2 hits of Sakamoto's Sword style Rush Combo
- Resolute Counter, a stance where he counters with a slash if attacked
- Petal Blossom Kick, the 3rd hit of Yakuza Kiwami Lau Ka Long's spear Rush Combo, a right side push kick. Can also cause a defense debuff
- Crimson Aura, where Mabuchi fiercely swings around his weapon as his attack stat increases
- Dragon Breaker, a low reverse slash resembling the 2nd hit of Yakuza 3 Lau Ka Long's spear Rush Combo
He emits a dark red aura, which changes to a brighter color after he performs Crimson Aura.
Trivia[]
- Some of his henchmen call him "Lao Ma" (老馬), which literally means "Old Ma." It is a common Chinese term of endearment based off a person's surname.
Gallery[]
Yakuza: Like a Dragon[]
Ryu Ga Gotoku Online[]
![KSR [Unfulfilled Ambitions] Akira Mabuchi (:YLAD Assault)](/wiki/File:RGGO_-_Card_-_KSR_Akira_Mabuchi_(YLAD_Assault).png "RGGO - Card - KSR Akira Mabuchi (YLAD Assault).png (389 KB)")
Notes[]
- ↑ The given height of 190 cm (6′ 3″) is based on the character model's scaling factor within Yakuza: Like a Dragon's data.[1] For Dragon Engine games, this method is believed to be very accurate (±2 cm). However, this is intended as an estimate, not a substitute for an official statistic.