Stranger Than Heaven Resurrected an Actor Who Died in 2014
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios has made it a tradition in recent years to include famous actors in their games. Danny Trejo in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Samoa Joe in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii are the most recent examples. The studio’s new game, Stranger Than Heaven, continues this trend, but this time with a rather different and emotional choice.
Stranger Than Heaven Brings Bunta Sugawara to the Game
In the new story and cast trailer for Stranger Than Heaven, it was announced that Bunta Sugawara, a legendary figure of Japanese cinema, will be featured in the game. Sugawara was a very important actor, particularly associated with yakuza films in Japan, having appeared in over 200 productions. However, the famous actor passed away in 2014 due to liver cancer and liver failure.
The game will utilize both Sugawara’s face and character likeness. This decision naturally brought back into focus the issue of digitally recreating deceased actors in video games. However, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios stated that this use was done with the family’s consent. In a statement to Polygon, they said that Sugawara’s family was aware of the project and gave their permission.
Bunta Sugawara’s voice will not be directly used from archival recordings. The character will be voiced by Takashi Ukaji, a close friend of Sugawara. This detail elevates the project beyond a purely technological likeness to a more respectful and personal tribute. Considering Sugawara’s place in Japanese culture, this choice could add significant weight to the game’s atmosphere.
Some players may remember Sugawara from his voice as Cid in the Final Fantasy Dissidia games, while moviegoers may remember him from his role as Kamajî in Spirited Away. Given that Stranger Than Heaven tells a story spanning 50 years, starting in 1915, the inclusion of such an iconic face in the game doesn’t seem like a coincidence. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios, with this choice, both pays homage to Japanese cinema and strengthens the game’s cultural tone.
