In Stranger Than Heaven, lead character Makoto Daito is played by Yu Shirota, and according to the official website the cast also includes Snoop Dogg, Ado, Tori Kelly, Dean Fujioka and more. Tupac Shakur and the late Bunta Sugawara appear as CG recreations. According to SEGA as of 12 November 2026, the game releases on 15 January 2027, so this guide only covers what SEGA and RGG Studio have announced, plus a few details from major outlets’ previews. No spoilers.
Makoto Daito (Yu Shirota)
Makoto is the son of an American father and a Japanese mother. He faces harsh discrimination in the US because of his Asian heritage, and after both his parents die, he sails from San Francisco to Japan in 1915, his mother’s homeland. There, a mentor discovers his musical talent, and Makoto gradually becomes a showman staging performances across the country. His path through five cities and eras is covered in our story guide.
The role is played by Yu Shirota. According to IGN and Game Informer, he is half Japanese himself and brings music and acting together in the role, a good fit for a character who makes his name through singing.
Character and cast table from the official site
As of 12 November 2026, the official website lists these eleven characters. Character names use the site’s English spelling:
| Character | Played by |
|---|---|
| Makoto Daito | Yu Shirota |
| Yu Shinjo | Dean Fujioka |
| Orpheus | Snoop Dogg |
| Tae Matsumoto | Moeka Hoshi |
| Suzy Day | Tori Kelly |
| Heigo Yashima | Akio Otsuka |
| Kiyoshi Otsuru | Tokuma Nishioka |
| Takashi | Satoshi Fujihara (Official HIGE DANdism) |
| The Veiled Stranger | Cordell Broadus |
| Keiko Shirai | Ado |
| Genzo Iwaki | Bunta Sugawara (CG likeness), voiced by Takashi Ukaji |
For most characters, SEGA hasn’t revealed anything more yet, so we only describe the ones we know more about. Previews from IGN and Game Informer describe Tae Matsumoto as a hostess Makoto grows close to in Kokura. The Veiled Stranger is a mysterious figure, and officially that’s all we know.
Orpheus and Snoop Dogg
Orpheus is played by Snoop Dogg. The official “Act I: Kokura Story” trailer from 21 October 2026 shows the voyage to Japan aboard the ship of the merchant Orpheus. According to previews from IGN and Game Informer, he is the character Makoto meets on the ship and who teaches him how to survive in Japan.
The musicians in the cast and the theme song
Music is the other half of Stranger Than Heaven’s story, and the cast reflects that. The main theme, “STRANGER THAN HEAVEN”, is performed by Snoop Dogg, Satoshi Fujihara of Official HIGE DANdism, Ado and Tori Kelly. All four also play characters in the game.
- Ado plays Keiko Shirai and sings her character’s songs in the game.
- Tori Kelly plays Suzy Day, who performs the song “Mr. Bee” in the Atami 1951 era. SEGA released it on YouTube on 10 November 2026.
- Satoshi Fujihara plays Takashi.
- Snoop Dogg plays Orpheus.
How music feeds into the gameplay, from collecting sounds to putting on your own show, is explained in our guide to combat and Showbiz.
Tupac and Bunta Sugawara: how SEGA recreated them
Two names in the cast belong to people who have passed away. Genzo Iwaki is portrayed by the late Japanese actor Bunta Sugawara, star of the yakuza films Battles Without Honor and Humanity. SEGA created his CG likeness with his family’s consent, based on archival footage and photographs from Toei, the studio behind his films. The character is voiced by Takashi Ukaji.
Tupac Shakur also appears in the game. SEGA says his CG likeness was built from archival footage and photographs in collaboration with Amaru Entertainment, without the use of AI. As of 12 November 2026, SEGA’s official materials don’t name his character or describe his role.
Cast members without an announced role
When SEGA announced the release date on 8 June 2026, it also revealed more cast members. Besides Tupac and Takashi Ukaji, they are:
- Yasukaze Motomiya,
- Takaya Kuroda,
- Kouhei Tsuji (Nippon no Shachou).
As of 12 November 2026, SEGA hasn’t said what roles they play. We’ll add them once they’re officially announced or appear in the game.
Who is leading the project
The game is made by RGG Studio, the team behind the Like a Dragon series, formerly known as Yakuza. The executive director is studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama, and the game’s director is Mikinobu Abe. For an overview of the game and its link to the series, read our game overview.
Join our Discord to talk about upcoming games with other players. Hop into the GamersTogether Discord and tell us which cast member you’re most excited about.
FAQ
Makoto Daito is played by Yu Shirota. According to IGN and Game Informer, he is half Japanese himself and combines music and acting in the role.
Snoop Dogg plays Orpheus, the merchant whose ship takes Makoto to Japan. According to previews, Orpheus teaches Makoto how to survive in Japan.
Yes. SEGA created his CG likeness from archival footage and photographs in collaboration with Amaru Entertainment, without using AI. As of 12 November 2026, SEGA hasn’t named his character.
Ado plays Keiko Shirai and also sings as the character in the game. Ado is one of the four voices on the main theme song too.
Snoop Dogg, Satoshi Fujihara (Official HIGE DANdism), Ado and Tori Kelly. All four also play characters in the game.
Information verified on 12 November 2026. We’ll update this article after the game launches. More guides are waiting in our Stranger Than Heaven hub.