So, Just How Old is the Dragon of Dojima in Yakuza 7?

As a loyal Yakuza gamer, I‘m sure you‘ve wondered: how old is longtime series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu in his latest appearance in Yakuza 7? After all, the "Dragon of Dojima" never seems to age even after starring in multiple games spanning several decades.

Well gamers, I‘m here to finally give you the details. Read on for a complete breakdown of Kiryu‘s age in Yakuza 7 and across the storied Yakuza franchise!

Tracing Kiryu‘s History Leading up to Yakuza 7

To understand Kiryu in Yakuza 7, you need proper context from his long history across many Yakuza games:

• Yakuza 0 (1988) – Here we meet a young 20-year-old Kiryu working as a junior member of the Dojima Family
• Yakuza Kiwami (2005) – Now 37 years old and a legend as the "Dragon of Dojima"
• Yakuza 6 (2016) – Kiryu is 48 and becomes caretaker for an orphan named Haruto
• Judgment (2018) – Chronologically, a 51-year-old Kiryu appears briefly
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2021) – Kiryu returns for his secret cameo at 53 years old

So you can see Kiryu has clearly grown older with the timeline through some of his most pivotal story moments across multiple decades.

See below for a full table detailing Kiryu‘s age per Yakuza game release year:

As you can see, Kiryu has aged significantly over his storied tenure. But while he gets older, his skills and physicality never seem to decline…

Kiryu Only Gets More Dangerous with Age

Now some 53 years old since his introduction in the very first Yakuza game back in 2005, Kiryu shows his battle experience when he returns as a boss in Yakuza 7.

Despite his age, Kiryu displays visceral combat abilities – smashing enemies with powerful kicks and using his signature finishing holds. His famous unyielding durability also remains intact even as he nears senior status!

This tracks with Kiryu‘s progression across the series. He‘s only accumulated more devastating moves and become more of a disciplined fighter as the years tick by. Aging has only made him more versatile and formidable over time.

Yakuza series producer Daisuke Sato has elaborated on this purposefully:

"Kiryu‘s aging had a big influence on how his ability evolved. We wanted to depict how his battle experience enriched his skills."

So don‘t let the salt-and-pepper hair fool you – Kiryu is a certified lethal weapon even as he passes 50 years old!

Facing Down the Dragon Himself in Yakuza 7

Now let‘s talk about Kiryu‘s iconic boss battle cameo in Yakuza 7 specifically.

After you wrap up the main story quests in Yakuza 7, Kiryu Kazuma becomes available as a secret boss fight. And let me tell you gamers – this battle will test the skills you‘ve developed across 40+ hours!

As an optional encounter unrelated to the main story, facing off against Kiryu is pure fanservice for longtime franchise devotees. This fight captures his signature look, moves and mannerisms just like "classic" Kiryu.

Here‘s a preview of what you‘re up against when confronting the Dragon of Dojima himself:

• High HP pool befitting a final boss
• Uses signature offensive stance and finisher grabs
• High attack damage and combo capabilities
• Gains temporary damage boosts when injured
• Can increase own evasion and negate your abilities

It took me three whole attempts with a nearly max-level party to finally triumph! So if you lose once or even twice, don‘t feel too bad. Surviving Kiryu‘s onslaught is a feat in itself.

"We felt having Kiryu appear as an incredibly formidable secret boss was a great surprise for players." – Daisuke Sato

Sato‘s quote says it all. Becoming worthy of besting the legendary Dragon of Dojima makes for an epic hidden challenge!

What Does the Future Hold for Kiryu?

With Ichiban Kasuga now cemented as the Yakuza series protagonist moving forward, where does that leave Kazuma Kiryu himself in future game installments?

Well, we know a few key details concretely:

• Kiryu will be playable again in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name releasing in 2024
• He is confirmed to be a secondary protagonist alongside Ichiban in the recently revealed Like a Dragon 8, releasing in 2024

Series creative producer Masayoshi Yokoyama also hinted that Kiryu could continue appearing as late as Yakuza 9/Yakuza 10 as well!

This all suggests Kiryu‘s legendary status makes him essentially immortal in the Yakuza universe – an integral fixture regardless of age or any passing of torches.

So while Kiryu will undoubtedly be even more seasoned by age 60 if he lasts to Yakuza 10, all evidence indicates his power, spirit and influence persisting undimmed. Much like the unstoppable dragon he is nicknamed after, Kiryu‘s presence will continue to be felt as long as there‘s criminal scum left to pulverize!

I hope this detailed profile gave you some fun insight into Kiryu‘s age progression leading up to his Yakuza 7 boss battle, as well as speculation about his future in the Yakuza franchise. Let me know what other topics you might want an analysis on!