Some Yakuza / Like a Dragon fans just have the drive to complete every substory in the game, and it takes a heck of a lot of drive to finish every substory in any game in the series. In this Like a Dragon: Ishin! series of guides, we go over the location and how to complete each substory, segmented by the first chapter they can be initiated.
Any substory can be finished before the end of the game regardless of when they unlock. We have guides on the substories that start in other chapters, check them out for further help:
- Like a Dragon: Ishin! Chapter 2 Substories Guide
- Like a Dragon: Ishin! Chapter 3 Substories Guide
- Like a Dragon: Ishin! Chapter 5 Through 7 Substories Guide
- Like a Dragon: Ishin! Chapters 10 to 14 Substories Guide
Like a Dragon: Ishin! Chapter 4 Substory Guide
13. The Love-Starved Husband
Available in: Chapter 4, after unlocking Another Life
Location: Teramachi, on the riverbank, in Rakunai
How to complete: This guy really wants some bento, made with care, by a loving wife. Cook him something in Another Life and bring it to him. Any recipe is fine.
Reward: Bond with Love-Starved Husband, 150 Virtue
14. The Oblivious Woman
Available in: Chapter 4, after unlocking Another Life
Location: Just outside the Kyo-Satsuma Consulate on Karhsuma St in Rakunai
How to complete: Talk to the woman standing near the palanquin bearers.She’s lost her purse and needs some vegetables. Offer her some from your inventory.
Reward: Bond with Oblivious Woman, Vitality Pill, 150 Virtue
16. The Barking Dog
Available in: Chapter 4, after unlocking Another Life
Location: Around the corner from Ebisu Pawn, on Teramachi, in Rakunai
How to complete: This little dog barks at everyone. He’ll get put down unless you do something. Head around the corner to the pawnbroker to pick up a bone for him, or offer him one from your inventory if you have it, to make a new friend.
Reward: Bond with Barking Dog, 150 Virtue
17. The Lucky Cat
Available in: Chapter 4, Day, after unlocking Another life
Location: On the corner of Karamusa Street, northeast of Ginryu Dojo
How to complete: You’ll see a man bowing to a cat in the corner of the road. Offer the cat a thousand mon and you’ll unlock his bond.
Reward: Bond with Lucky Cat, 150 Virtue
27. The Mysterious Merchant
Available in: Chapter 4, after unlocking Another Life
Location: West Umekojicho, Rakugai. Just southwest of the arms dealer, in a small alley, near a cart.
How to complete: Talk to the shady guy in the alley. Bring him ten tomatoes to complete the Substory.
Reward: Bond with Mysterious Merchant, 2 ryo, 150 Virtue
28. The Hungry Cat
Available in: Chapter 4, after unlocking Another Life
Location: On the street to the right of Unyuan
How to complete: Give the cat any fish you have on you. If you haven’t caught any, store-bought is fine.
Reward: Bond with Hungry Cat, 150 Virtue
35. The Trash Dealer
Available in: Chapter 4, after unlocking Another Life
Location: Just to the left of Mukurogai’s entrance, inside Mukurogai
How to complete: Give him any item you have. I gave him Misshapen Screws because they’re easy to find.
Reward: Bond with the Trash Dealer, 150 Virtue
36. The Injured Dog
Available In: Chapter 4, after unlocking Another Life
Location: Mukurogai, just west of the Brawler from substory 30, 31, and 32
How to complete: This dog has been abused. Give the poor pup a Vitality Pill or other medicine.
Reward: Bond with The Injured Dog, 150 Virtue
54. The Patient Dog
Available in: Chapter 4, Day, after unlocking Another Life
Location: Yashikimachi, second street south of the Fushimi dojo, between two sets of stairs
How to complete: This dog is starving, but refuses to leave this spot. Give him some food to unlock his bond.
Reward: Bond with Patient Dog, 150 Virtue
55. The Filthy Cat
Available in: Chapter 4, Day, after unlocking Another Life
Location: South Yashikimachi by the docks
How to complete: Clean up this poor, clumsy cat to unlock her bond.
Reward: Bond with Filthy Cat, 150 Virtue
56. Finders Weepers
Available: After meeting Akari at the Rakunai shrine in Chapter 4, requires unlocking Another Life and rank 4 trust with Haruka
Location: Gion, at the eastern edge of the area, near a torii (shrine) you can’t normally interact with.
How to complete: You’ll find a pink diary on the ground in eastern Gion. “Take a peek” to start the substory. Answer the first prompt with “All love is precious,” then exit the area (walking out of the zone and walking back in works fine). Return, and answer the second prompt with “Try getting to know him.” Leave the area and come back. Answer the third prompt with “Better be simple and direct,” and leave the area. Return one more time to see this love story play out.
Reward: 350 virtue
58. The Revolutionary Chef
Available in: Chapter 4, after unlocking Another Life
Location: Gion, close to Asahi
How to complete: The chef wants you to bring him a home-cooked meal. Anything is fine as long as you cook it yourself.
Rewards: Bond with Revolutionary Chef, 150 Virtue
59. The Sexy Madam
Available in: Chapter 4, night
Location: Gion, North of Kitchen Aoba; talk to the woman by the tree
How to complete: This lovely lady wants a cucumber. Your cucumber to be exact. Bring her one. If you’re uncomfortable letting her have your cucumber, store bought is fine.
Reward: Bond with Sexy Madam, 150 Virtue, Vitality Pill
61. Hope Blooms Again
Available in: Chapter 4, after unlocking Another Life
Location: In Mibu, at the house to the west, just before the shrine
How to complete: Intervene when the old couple and their dog are being harassed. Then go to the villa/Another Life and then interact with the cherry blossom tree there. Return to the house in Mibo to wrap up the quest.
Reward: 350 Virtue, Double Worship Talisman
62. A Warlord’s Ambition
Available in: Chapter 4 onward after you’ve unlocked Another Life
Location: Automatic; after cooking 10 meals in Another Life, someone will knock on your door.
How to complete: Accept the challenge! Cook some fish!
Reward: Dragon’s Whisker, 350 Virtue
64. Mama Ryoma
Available in: Chapter 4, after unlocking Another Life
Location: Mibo, just east of Shinsengumi HQ
How to complete: Agree to play house with the kids. To impress them, choose the following (though it doesn’t matter much):
- Vegetables, potatoes, and tofu
- How was work?
After you finish playing, a fight will break out. Win it.
Reward: 350 Virtue
65. The Amnesiac
Available in: Chapter 4, night
Location: Automatically triggers on the way to Kiyomizu Temple
How to complete: Patch up the injured man with some medicine. Some Ointment or a Vitality Pill will do.
Reward: Bond with Amnesiac, Dead Branch, 150 Virtue
66. The Boy Who Loves Veggies
Available in: Chapter 4, after unlocking Another Life
Location: Mibu
How to complete: Triggers automatically on the way to Shinsengumi HQ. This boy wants veggies, but his veggie-hating mother refuses to give him any. Give him a vegetable.
Reward: Bond with Veggie-Loving Boy, 150 Virtue
67. The Spitfire Debt Collector
Available in: Chapter 4, after Substory 69
Location: Outside Kurogane Smithing.
How to complete: Talk to Yae and be ready to fight a large group. Hilarity ensues afterwards.
Reward: 3 ryo, 300 Virtue
68. The Spitfire Lie Detector
Available in: Chapter 4, after completing Substory 67
Location: Outside Kurogane Smithing.
How to complete: Talk to Yae and she’ll give you 3 ryo to get ready. If you don’t have any healing items, consider buying some; this one can be tough.
Reward: 3 ryo, 350 virtue
69. The Spitfire Town Protector
Available in: Chapter 4
Location: Just outside of the chicken racing den in Umekojicho, Rakugai.
How to complete: Meet up with Yae (Miss Tatsu) and help a girl being swindled by Scary Men. Be careful; there’s a tough enemy in this group.
Reward: 3 ryo, 300 virtue
That covers all of the substories available in Chapter 4: Joint Struggle. If you’ve been following our guides, you’ll have completed 51 of them. Only 21 more to go. For more on Like a Dragon: Ishin!, check out our guides hub.
Featured image via Sega
