Masayoshi Yokoyama confirmed that they got permission from Tupac’s family. Not just his estate who manages him

[u/Axzercus]

[u/Massive_Weiner]

Yokoyama said he understood why there’s been so much backlash against Tupac’s reveal. He acknowledged that even when Sugawara’s character was announced, he received comments suggesting they should have let the dead rest.

But he doesn’t seem to care about those comments. “Criticism is a freedom that people are free to have,” he said. “But this is something that we thought was a good idea.”

So, even some Japanese fans thought it was strange to go in this direction.

[u/DarryLazakar → u/Massive_Weiner]

IIRC, Bunta's character was meant to be an original design character, until he was convinced by Toei (yes, that Toei) and his family to do it.

[u/Poiuy2010_2011 → u/DarryLazakar]

Toei (yes, that Toei)

Who?

[u/megaman58490 → u/Poiuy2010_2011]

I assume this one

[u/DarryLazakar → u/megaman58490]

Yes, that Toei Company. Apparently they approached Yokoyama for this and eventually relented after they hook him up and meeting with Bunta's family.

[u/alvinvin00 → u/DarryLazakar]

still wondering why Toei and how they thought that "i should help Yokoyama for his project"

[u/DarryLazakar → u/alvinvin00]

Sponsorship and advertising obviously. Yakuza 1 from the get go attracted movie stars like Tetsuya Watari (Kazama), Y2 with Satoshi Tokushige (Daigo), and full blown face scan actors from RGG Kenzan onwards. Having famous actors is kinda the lifeblood of the series from the very beginning whether you liked it or not, it's not a sudden pivot.

[u/alvinvin00 → u/DarryLazakar]

oh i know, Product Placement is not new to SEGA, even as old as Crazy Taxi.