The full remake of 2009's "Yakuza 3," titled "Like a Dragon Kiwami 3 / Like a Dragon 3 Gaiden: Dark Ties," recently dropped a free demo, letting players get a sneak peek before its official release on February 12.
But once the demo hit, one particular in-game feature unexpectedly stole the spotlight: a collaboration with food giant Imuraya, allowing players to chow down on their classic Azuki Bar (red bean ice pop) as a healing item. This news, however, didn't exactly thrill all the fans. The internet quickly filled with hilarious complaints, even prompting an official response from Imuraya. So, what's the deal?
In the game, the Azuki Bar appears as a recovery item, restoring 2240 HP when consumed by a character.
As soon as the news broke, X (formerly Twitter) absolutely exploded! Netizens piled on with comments like, "Isn't it a weapon?" "...Seriously, just a healing item? Not for blunt force trauma?" and "Why does eating a weapon restore HP?!" Some even started eagerly anticipating "Azuki Bar attack animations," clearly seeing it as nothing but a weapon.
When it comes to Imuraya's Azuki Bar, the most famous thing about it in Japan is its legendary hardness. It contains absolutely no additives to soften the ice, instead packing itself with fiber-rich red beans and minimal air bubbles. This unique composition gives it its mythical, rock-solid texture, making it a long-running meme and punchline across the internet.
Even Bandai's TAMASHII NATIONS "Chogokin" series, celebrating its 50th anniversary, collaborated with Imuraya to release the "Azuki Bar Robot," a legend of hardness – proving this isn't just a meme anymore.
Imuraya's official X account even jumped into the fray, responding with a playful tone: "We've received so many disappointed comments like, 'It's not a weapon, huh...' We wonder why~" They then added, "Please think of it this way: in the heat of battle, you're healed by a 'gently flavored Azuki Bar,' thus restoring your HP. That's roughly the concept, and we appreciate your understanding."
Joking aside, netizens agreed that this is already a national impression in Japan: Imuraya Azuki Bar = hard. So, it totally makes sense as a weapon, right?
As for whether the Imuraya Azuki Bar *should* be a weapon, well, that's probably up to each player's personal "Like a Dragon" worldview to decide!