SEGA and RGG Studio have recently pulled back the curtain on some of the pivotal cast of characters starring in Stranger Than Heaven, a new action-RPG launching January 15, 2027 for Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Steam and PlayStation 5.
The game has already drawn buzz for its all-star cast, including some major real-world celebrities making a surprise appearance in RGG Studio’s next blockbuster. Here’s a quick guide to who’s who:
Yu Shirota as Makoto Daito
Makoto Daito is a half-Japanese, half-American man who sets out for Japan after facing persecution in America, he sets out for Japan. On the voyage, he meets a merchant named Orpheus and Yu Shinjo, a young man who shares similar circumstances. These encounters will change his life forever.
Daito is played by Yu Shirota, an actor and singer of mixed Japanese and Spanish descent. He began his acting career as a theater actor, portraying Tuxedo Mask in Sailor Moon Musicals and Kunimitsu Tezuka in Musical: The Prince of Tennis, before making the jump to TV with roles such as Makoto Kagurazaka from Hana-Kimi and Kei Shinjo from Rookies.
Dean Fujioka as Yu Shinjo
Yu Shinjo is a half-Japanese, half-British man, who, like Daito, is escaping persecution in his homeland by travelling to Japan. After meeting Daito aboard a ship to Japan, the two decide to stick together to survive.
Shinjo is portrayed by Dean Fujioka, a renowned actor, director and musician who can speak five different languages. He is best known for playing Godai Tomo in the NHK TV drama Here Comes the Morning, which is widely considered to be his breakout role; and for being the singer behind the Yuri On Ice! theme song, “History Maker”.
Snoop Dogg as Orpheus
Orpheus is a globe-trotting merchant with an ‘open mind’ toward the legality of his wares. After discovering Daito stowed away aboard his ship, he teaches him the harsh realities of life in Japan, and comes to recognize his talent for music.
The multi-award-winning rapper Snoop Dogg probably needs no introduction, but did you know that this isn’t his first voice acting role? While he’s mostly played himself across a wide range of games and movies, he’s also starred as Alabaster Jones from King of the Hill and Cousin Itt from the 3D-animated The Addams Family movies.
Akio Otsuka as Heigo Yashima
A merchant and boss in Kokura who built up his fortune in trade, Heigo Yashima eventually becomes a mentor figure towards Daito, helping him navigate life in Japan. He is voiced by Akio Otsuka, a veteran Japanese voice actor known for playing All For One from My Hero Academia, Iskandar from Fate/Zero, and Wamuu from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
Moeka Hoshi as Tae Matsumoto
Tae is a café waitress in Kokura, who is also a yakuza member’s mistress. She is voiced by Japanese actress and dancer Moeka Hoshi, best known for playing Usami Fuji in FX’s Shogun, a role which earned her a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Tori Kelly as Suzy Day
Suzy Day is a talented singer who dreams of making it big. After meeting Daito, she begins her rise through the world of show business. Suzy is played by American singer Tori Kelly, a former American Idol contestant and four-time Grammy award winner.
Tokuma Nishioka as Kiyoshi Otsuru
A stylish old man with an unmistakable air of authority, Kiyoshi Otsuru is voiced by Tokuma Nishioka, a Japanese actor known for voicing the Ultra Father across many instalments of the Ultraman franchise. He also portrayed Toda Hiramatsu in FX’s Shogun TV series.
Satoshi Fujihara as Takashi
Takashi is Daito’s sworn brother, a gifted pianist who rediscovers his passion for music thanks to Daito. He is portrayed by Satoshi Fujihara, the frontman of the J-pop group Official Hige Dandism, whose most popular songs include “Mixed Nuts”, the opening theme for Spy x Family; and “Cry Baby”, the opening theme for Tokyo Revengers.
Cordell Broadus as The Veiled Stranger
A man known only as “The Veiled Stranger”, who has been stationed in postwar Japan. He is portrayed by Snoop Dogg’s son, Cordell Broadus, who has mainly worked behind the scenes of the entertainment industry as a creative entrepreneur and brand strategist.
Ado as Keiko Shirai
The diva of wartime Osaka is played by Ado, an award-winning Japanese singer who previously provided Uta’s singing voice for One Piece Film Red. She is one of the four artists featured on Stranger Than Heaven‘s theme song, alongside Snoop Dogg, Tori Kelly and Satoshi Fujihara of Official Hige Dandism.
Takashi Ukaji as Genzo Iwaki
Genzo Iwaki is the big boss of Kure, who has unmatched influence over the town. His appearance is based on the late actor Bunta Sugawara, who was best known for starring in classic Japanese films Battles Without Honor and Humanity.
Iwaki’s voice is performed by actor Takashi Ukaji, who shared a close connection with Sugawara. Ukaji’s most notable roles include Kosei Kogami from Kamen Rider OOO, Raoh from Fist of the North Star and Seiichiro Tsutsumi from Ultraman Gaia.
Aside from voicing Iwaki for Stranger Than Heaven, Ukaji also plays the side character Tadashi Hataoka, a swaggering, violent yakuza from Kokura.
Takaya Kuroda as Takeo Godai
A skilled craftsman and a man of few words, Takeo Godai is voiced by Takaya Kuroda, who is none other than the voice actor behind Like A Dragon‘s Kazuma Kiryu himself. He is also the voice of Rei Amayado from Hypnosis Mic, Popuko from Pop Team Epic, and Jibanyan from Yo-Kai Watch.
Kouhei Tsuji as Suekichi
Daito’s carefree but dependable sworn brother Suekichi is played by Kouhei Tsuji, a member of the Japanese comedy duo Nippon no Shachou. He previously made his acting debut in the 2025 TV series Inheritance Detective.
Yasukaze Motomiya as Tetsuya Hama
Tetsuya Hama is a young yakuza from Kure who also serves as Iwaki’s right-hand man. He is played by Yasukaze Motomiya, best known to fans of RGG Studio as the actor behind Kosei Shishido in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, and Kazuma Kiryu in the live-action adaptation of Like a Dragon.
??? as Amaru
Little has been shared about Amaru, save for the fact that he is a mysterious man in hiding in Japan. While his voice actor is currently unknown, his appearance has been confirmed to be based on the late rapper Tupac, with RGG Studio collaborating closely with Tupac’s estate for the game.
Daisuke Shiba as Kimura
Finally, Kimura is an easygoing nightclub worker in Kamurocho, voiced by Daisuke Shiba of the Japanese comedy duo Mogurider. He previously portrayed Bakeneko in the 2025 TV series Hoso-Kyoku Senkyo.
Pre-orders for Stranger Than Heaven are now open. Players who pre-order the physical or digital edition of the game will receive Dosu: Kagekiri, an exclusive DLC weapon.
To stay up to date on the latest Stranger Than Heaven news, visit the official game webpage.
