The Cast of "Stranger Than Heaven" Includes Snoop Dogg and Ado

SEGA revealed several key characters from *Stranger Than Heaven* on September 24, 2026. This latest game from RGG Studio is scheduled to launch on January 15, 2027. The cast is quite diverse, ranging from Japanese actors and singers to hip-hop artists from the United States.

Stranger Than Heaven follows Makoto Daito’s life journey over 50 years, from 1915 to 1965. Daito struggles to survive in five different cities and searches for a place he can call home. Along the way, he meets many characters, each with their own ambitions, beliefs, and pasts.

Makoto Daito's journey began in San Francisco

The story of this game begins one night in 1915. The ship set sail from the port of San Francisco, United States. There were many rumors circulating about the ship, and even the police were reluctant to approach it.

Makoto Daito was hiding on the ship. His father was from the United States, while his mother was from Japan. Daito had faced severe discrimination in the United States, so he risked his life to sneak onto the ship bound for Japan, his mother’s homeland.

On board the ship, Daito met Orpheus, the ship’s captain. He also met Yu Shinjo, another stowaway. These two encounters would drastically change the course of Daito’s life.

Makoto Daito and Yu Shinjo as the main characters

Makoto Daito is played by Yu Shirota. Daito is a man of mixed Japanese and American heritage. After facing persecution in the United States, he left for Japan to start a new life.

Yu Shinjo is played by Dean Fujioka. Shinjo is a man of mixed Japanese and British heritage. Like Daito, he also faced persecution in his home country.

Daito and Shinjo met on a ship bound for Japan. The two then decided to work together to survive. SEGA portrays Shinjo as a calm and intelligent character who is always one step ahead of Daito.

Snoop Dogg, Tori Kelly, and Ado have joined the lineup

Music seems to play an important role in the story of *Stranger Than Heaven*. Several characters are played by famous musicians.

Here is the list of those characters:

• Orpheus (Snoop Dogg): A merchant who travels the world and doesn’t care much about the legality of his merchandise. Orpheus teaches Daito about the harsh realities of life in Japan, then recognizes Daito’s musical talent.
• Suzy Day (Tori Kelly): A talented singer who wants to make it big. After meeting Daito, her career in show business began to take off.
• Keiko Shirai (Ado): A diva from Osaka during the war.
• Takashi (Satoshi Fujihara of OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM): Daito, his sworn brother and a talented pianist. Daito helped him rediscover his passion for music.
• The Veiled Stranger (Cordell Broadus): A man who was stationed in Japan after the war ended.

Bosses and yakuza from Kokura to Kure

Daito will also have to deal with the business world and the yakuza.

SEGA introduces the following characters from the cities of Kokura and Kure:

• Heigo Yashima (Akio Otsuka): A merchant and business owner in Kokura. He built his fortune through trade.
• Tadashi Hataoka (Takashi Ukaji): An arrogant, violent Yakuza member from Kokura.
• Tae Matsumoto (Moeka Hoshi): A waitress at a café in Kokura. She’s also the secret lover of a yakuza member.
• Genzo Iwaki (Bunta Sugawara, voiced by Takashi Ukaji): A powerful boss in Kure with immense influence.
• Tetsuya Hama (Yasukaze Motomiya): A young Yakuza from Kure and Genzo Iwaki’s right-hand man.
• Kiyoshi Otsuru (Tokuma Nishioka): A stylish older man with a commanding presence.

Supporting characters around Daito

In addition to the characters listed above, Daito will also meet the following supporting characters:

• Takeo Godai (Takaya Kuroda): A skilled artisan who doesn't say much.
• Suekichi (Kouhei Tsuji from *Nippon no Shachou*): Another of Daito's sworn brothers. He seems laid-back, but he's reliable when needed.
• Kimura (Daisuke Shiba from Mogurider): A laid-back nightclub worker in Kamurocho.

Bunta Sugawara and Tupac were present with the family's permission

Two names that have drawn quite a bit of attention are Bunta Sugawara and Tupac. Both have passed away, but they still appear in this game. SEGA explained that their inclusion was made possible through an official licensing process.

Bunta Sugawara is a legendary Japanese actor. SEGA obtained official approval from his family, while Toei Company, Ltd. provided supporting materials. Toei produced many of Sugawara’s films, including *Battles Without Honor and Humanity*.

RGG Studio created the CG character design for Genzo Iwaki based on archival footage and photographs from that era. The character is voiced by Takashi Ukaji, who was close friends with Sugawara during his lifetime.

Tupac plays Amaru, a man in hiding in Japan. This role was created with the permission and oversight of Tupac’s estate, Amaru Entertainment. RGG Studio developed this character through close collaboration with the estate, including character designs based on archival footage and photographs.

Pre-orders, platforms, and release dates

Stranger Than Heaven will be released on January 15, 2027. Pre-orders for both the physical and digital versions are now open. Players who pre-order will receive an exclusive weapon DLC called Dosu: Kagekiri.

This game will be available on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, PC (Steam), and PlayStation 5. The Xbox Series X|S version, the Steam version, and the Deluxe Edition are available only in digital format. You can find more information at Stranger Than Heaven's official website.

About Stranger Than Heaven

Stranger Than Heaven was developed by RGG Studio, the studio behind the Like a Dragon series, formerly known as Yakuza. The game was first unveiled as Project Century at The Game Awards 2023. A year later, at The Game Awards 2024, SEGA announced its official title.

Unlike the Like a Dragon series, Stranger Than Heaven is set in five different cities and five different eras. You can follow Makoto Daito’s journey starting January 15, 2027.