Here’s a complete breakdown of every Friendship Bond you can unlock in Like a Dragon: Ishin and how to complete them.
Like a Dragon: Ishin is the brand new open-world action JRPG from RGG Studios, which tells the life story of legendary Samurai, Sakamoto Ryoma, from the Bakumatsu era. The game is set in 1860s Japan, allowing you to explore the city of Kyo from the late Edo period.
Read More: Like a Dragon: Ishin! – List of All Substories
During your adventures across Kyo, Ryoma will meet and befriend a bunch of unique characters. All of these people have a story to tell, and they will aid you on your jounrey in one way or the other. The relationship you have with these characters is represented as Friendship Bonds.
Friendship Bonds is one of the core mechanics of Like a Dragon: Ishin, which not only unlocks various rewards but also bestows Virtue points. And these Virtue Points can be used to purchase various stat upgrades for Ryoma.
Not only that, but there are also some hidden benefits that might come out of each friendship bond. For example, befriending the owner of an establishment will either grant discounts on purchases, or add new items to their shop or menu.
Moreover, several of these friendship bonds are directly tied to the Substories offered in the game. So completing them is required to get the full experience of the story that Ishin is trying to tell.
Furthermore, your friendship bond is not only limited to humans. That’s right; you can also befriend various stray animals in the game. And completing your friendship bond with these animals will allow you to adopt them as pets. They can then be trained to fetch various items for you in Another Life.
That said, there are 46 Friendship Bonds for you to unlock in Like a Dragon: Ishin. Since tracking them all down by yourself can be quite difficult, we have put together a list of every friendship bond you can unlock in Like a Dragon: Ishin, along with how to complete them.
List of All Friendship Bonds in Like a Dragon: Ishin
Below is a list of every Friendship Bond you can unlock in Like a Dragon: Ishin, along with their unlocking requirement, how to complete them, and their completion rewards.
| Friendship Bond | How to Unlock | How to Complete | Completion Reward(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maishiro-sensei | Complete Substory 1: Nichibuzza’s Newest Fan to get access to the Nichibuza Dancing School. | Once you’ve completed the Dancing tutorial, you must keep dancing at the establishment until you are challenged to a Dance Battle on Hard Difficulty. Winning the challenge will level up your bond with Maishiro-sensei to its Max rank. | – 1,500 Virtue – High-Quality Wood |
| Utamaruya Bar Owner | Visit the Karaoke Bar in Fushimi and sing a song. | Keep visiting the Karaoke Bar and sing songs. You can only sing one song during each visit, so keep visiting the establishment during your free time. You will reach a Max level on your bond after defeating the troublesome goons harassing the owner. | – 1,500 Virtue – Phoenix Feather |
| Umaiya Udon Shop Owner | Complete Substory 42: Invasion of the Black Ships. During the substory, you’ll visit the Umaiya Udon shop on the southeastern side of Fushimi. | You must revisit the establishment after completing the substory to start your friendship bond with its Owner. From there, you must keep talking to the Owner on every visit until you reach the Max level of your Friendship Bond. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Shinto Priest | Visit the Rakunai Shrine and get acquainted with the Shinto Priest there. | The Shinto Priest will introduce you to the Virtue exchange mechanic. So you must keep trading your Virtue with him for Blessings until he gets robbed. You will then need to catch the thief to reach the Max level of your Friendship Bond. | 1700 Virtue |
| Akari | Visit the Rakunai Shrine and get acquainted with the shrine maiden there. | Speak to the shrine maiden named Akari and offer her medicine. You will then need to keep talking to Akari during each visit to the shrine until you reach the Max level of your Friendship Bond. | – 1500 Virtue – Akari’s Omosubi |
| Chicken Race Arena Owner | Visit the Chicken Race Arena and get acquainted with the owner there. | You must keep visiting the establishment and participating in Chicken Racing bets until the Owner asks you for help betting on Wondercrest or Tosan Pride. Pick either to max out your Friendship bond. | – 1500 Virtue – Broken Compass. |
| Courtesan Anna | Visit Yamabuki in Gion and get acquainted with Anna. | Keep visiting the establishment and play all of Anna’s mini-games. The mini-games involve A Sake Drinking Contest, a Rock-Paper-Scissors challenge, and a 2D Shooter challenge. You’ll need to visit Anna multiple times to reach the Max level of your Friendship Bond with her. Keep in mind that each visit will cost you 1 Ryo. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Shogi Parlor Owner | Visit the Shogi Parlor in Rakunai and get acquainted with the owner. | Keep playing Shogi matches until you get offered a game by the owner himself. Completing the challenge will max out your Friendship bond. | – 1,500 Virtue – Tear of the Dragon |
| Mahjong Parlor Owner | Visit the Mahjong Spot on Mukurogai’s 1st Floor and get acquainted with the Mahjong house residents. | Start your Mahjong journey at the Beginner table, and keep playing until you get offered a game by the owner himself at the Advanced table. Completing the challenge will max out your Friendship bond. | – 1,500 Virtue – Charming Doll |
| Ichikuraya Store Owner | Visit the Ichikuraya General Goods Store in Fushimi. | Keep purchasing from the shop to increase your bond with the owner until you reach the max level of your Friendship Bond. | – 1500 Virtue – Crystal |
| Cho-Han Dealer | Visit the Gambling Den in Rakugai and play a match. | The Cho-Han dealer will offer you a game when leaving the Gambling Den. Agree to make a bet and play a match with him. The bond will be complete no matter if you win or lose. But losing will cost you 10 Ryo. | – 1,500 Virtue – 20 Ryo |
| Sushi Zanmai Owner | Visit the Sushi Zanmai restaurant in Rakunai and get acquainted with the sushi chef. | Dine at the establishment multiple times until you reach the max level of your Friendship Bond with the owner. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Fukufuku Pub Owner | Visit the Fukufuku Pub in Fushimi Ichibangai and get acquainted with the owner. | Keep dining at the establishment during each visit until the place gets robbed. You’ll then have to catch the thief and choose the following dialogue options to complete your Friendship Bond with the owner: Answer 1: No, it’s fine Answer 2: Water would taste better | – 1500 Virtue – Nada Refined Sake |
| Echudo Pharmacy Owner | Purchase medicine from the Echudo Pharmacy in Rakunai and get acquainted with the owner. | After purchasing from his pharmacy multiple times, the owner will offer to test an experimental drug on you. Accept his offer and keep taking the experimental drug until you reach the max level of your Friendship Bond. | – Unlocks Ultra Medicine in shop inventory |
| Uji Tea Parlor Girl | Visit the Uji Teahouse in Rakugai and get acquainted with the Tea Parlor Girl there. | Keep drinking tea at the establishment until you reach the max level of your Friendship Bond with her. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Don Quijote Employee | Visit the Don Quijote discount store in Rakunai and get acquainted with the cashier there. | Keep purchasing items from the store until you reach the max level of your Friendship Bond. You can always purchase the cheapest item from the store. | – 1500 Virtue – Gold Plate |
| Ebisu Pawnshop Owner | Visit the Ebisu Pawnshop in Rakunai and get acquainted with the Pawnbroker there. | Keep buying and selling items from the shop until you reach the max level of your Friendship Bond. You can always purchase the cheapest items. | – 1500 Virtue – Platinum Chunk |
| Greengrocer | Visit the Greengrocer in Fushimi and get acquainted with the owner. | Keep purchasing vegetables from the Greengrocer until you reach the max level of your Friendship Bond. | – 1500 Virtue – Sturdy Lumber |
| Kitchen Aoba Chef | Visit Kitchen Aoba in Gion and get acquainted with the chef there. | Keep dining at the establishment until you reach the max level of your Friendship Bond. | 1500 Virtue |
| Kasuga Okami Proprietress | Visit Kasuga Okami in Gion and get acquainted with the owner there. | Keep dining at the establishment until you reach the max level of your Friendship Bond. | – 1500 Virtue – Fine Silk Fabric |
| Momokawa Brothers | Visit Shippoku Momokawa in Rakunai and get acquainted with the three Ikugawa brothers. | Keep dining at the establishment until you get dragged into a competition. Clear the event and pick any of the dialogue choices to complete your Friendship Bond with the three brothers. | – 1500 Virtue – Broken Compass |
| Rakugai Weapon Shop Owner | Visit the Weapon Shop in Rakugai and get acquainted with the owner there. | Keep purchasing weapons and accessories from the shop until you reach the max level of your Friendship Bond with the owner. | – 1500 Virtue – Dragon Fang – New weapons added to the shop inventory |
| Hanamaru Udon Owner | Visit the Hanamaru Udon Shop in Rakunai and get acquainted with the owner there. | Keep dining at the establishment until you reach the max level of your Friendship Bond. | – 1500 Virtue – Beef Udon gets added to the menu |
| Palanquin House | Ride the Palanquin from any Palanquin spot to get acquainted with the Palanquin Bearer. | Keep taking Palanquin trips until a fight scene ensues. Defeat the enemies to max out your bond with the Palanquin Bearer. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Servile Begger | Speak to the Servile Beggar on Mukurogai’s 1st floor. Complete Substory 34: The Servile Begger | The Servile Begger can be found diagonally across the door to Rakugai. Complete his Friendship Bond by giving him food. | – 1500 Virtue – Precise Machinery |
| Hungry Sumo Wrestler | Speak to the Hungry Sumo Wrestler in South Teramachi Street. Complete Substory 12: The Hungry Sumo Wrestler | Complete his Friendship Bond by giving him food. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Revolutionary Chef | Complete Substory 58: The Revolutionary Chef. You will encounter the Revolutionary Chef in Gion. | Complete his Friendship Bond by preparing him a meal in Another Life. | – 1,500 Virtue – Revolutionary Croquettes recipe |
| Love Starved Husband | Complete Substory 12: The Love-Starved Husband. You will find the Love Starved Husband by the riverbank across from Rakunai’s East Shijo Street. | Complete his Friendship Bond by preparing him a meal in Another Life. | – 1,500 Virtue – Manly Love Bento |
| Sword Nut | Complete Substory 25: The Sword Nut. You can find the Odd Man in Rakunai’s Teramachi. | Complete his Friendship Bond by bringing him the following swords – Ebony Sword, Yaksha Blade, Vulpecula, and King of Beasts. The blacksmith can craft these weapons for you. | – 1,500 Virtue – Tunasmith Sword |
| Battered Defender | Complete Substory 26: The Battered Defender. You can find the Battered Defender in South Umekojicho. | Complete his Friendship Bond by bringing him medicine and health items over multiple visits. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Amnesiac | Complete Substory 56: The Amnesiac. You will find the Amnesiac man on the way to Kiyomizu Temple in Chapter 4. | Complete his Friendship Bond by bringing him medicine and health items over multiple visits. | – 1,500 Virtue – Sturdy Lumber – Thousand-Year Tree Branch – Sacred Wood |
| Oblivious Woman | Complete Substory 14: The Oblivious Woman. You can find the Oblivious Woman in Rakunai’s Karasuma Street. | Complete her Friendship Bond by bringing her fresh vegetables over multiple visits. | – 1,500 Virtue – 3 Ryo – Health Items |
| Veggie-Loving Boy | Complete Substory 66: The Boy Who Loves Veggies. You can find the Veggie-Loving Boy in Mibu. | Complete his Friendship Bond by bringing him fresh vegetables over multiple visits, and cooking a meal for him in Another Life. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Desperate Fisherman | Complete Substory 50: The Desperate Fisherman. You can find the Desperate Fisherman by the river in Fushimi’s Shinmachi. | Complete his Friendship Bond by bringing him fish (either caught or store-bought) over multiple visits. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Injured Grandma | Complete Substory 15: The Injured Grandma. You can find the Injured Grandma in Rakugai’s Teramachi, right next to the riverbank. | Complete the Friendship Bond by bringing her medicine and some other items as per her request. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Mysterious Merchant | Complete Substory 27: The Mysterious Merchant. You can find the Mysterious Merchant in Rakugai’s West Umekojicho. | Complete his Friendship Bond by bringing him various items and vegetables over multiple visits. | – 1,500 Virtue – Ryo – Unlocks the Mysterious Merchant’s shop |
| Sexy Madam | Complete Substory 59: The Sexy Madam. The Sexy Madam can be found in Gion. | Complete her Friendship Bond by bringing her the following vegetables: a cucumber, a carrot, an eggplant, a daikon, and a pumpkin over multiple visits. | – 1,500 Virtue – Gold Plate – Health Items |
| Junk Boy | Complete Substory 51: The Junk Boy. The Junk Boy can be found in Fushimi’s Kuramachi. | Complete his Friendship Bond by giving him any item from your inventory over multiple visits, so that he can use them as toys. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Trash Dealer | Complete Substory 35: The Trash Dealer. The Trash Dealer can be found in Mukurogai’s 1st floor. | Complete his Friendship Bond by giving him any unwanted items from your inventory over multiple visits. | 1,500 Virtue |
| Frequently Lost Courier | Complete Substory 53: The Frequently Lost Courier. The Frequently Lost Courier can be found by the riverbank in Fushimi’s Shinmachi. | Complete his Friendship Bond by making multiple deliveries for him. | – 1,500 Virtue – Ryo |
| Patient Dog | Complete Substory 54: The Patient Dog. You can find the patient dog near Ebisu Pawn Shop in Fushimi’s Yashikimachi. | Complete its Friendship Bond by giving it any food item from your inventory over multiple visits. Once you’ve reached the Max bond level, you can bring it to Another Life and give it a name to make it your personal pet dog. | – 1,500 Virtue – New Pet for Another Life |
| Injured Dog | Complete Substory 36: The Injured Dog. You can find the injured dog in Mukurogai’s 1st floor. | Complete its Friendship Bond by giving it any health item or medicine from your inventory over multiple visits. Once you’ve reached the Max bond level, you can bring it to Another Life and give it a name to make it your personal pet dog. | – 1,500 Virtue – New Pet for Another Life |
| Barking Dog | Complete Substory 16: The Barking Dog. You can find the Barking dog in Rakunai’s Teramachi. | Complete its Friendship Bond by feeding it Bones over multiple visits. Once you’ve reached the Max bond level, you can bring it to Another Life and give it a name to make it your personal pet dog. | – 1,500 Virtue – New Pet for Another Life |
| Hungry Cat | Complete Substory 28: The Hungry Cat. You can find the Hungry Cat in Rakugai’s East Umekojicho. | Complete its Friendship Bond by feeding it fish over multiple visits. The cat will eventually ask for a sea bream, which can be bought from Fushimi’s street market. Once you’ve reached the Max bond level, you can bring it to Another Life and give it a name to make it your personal pet cat. | – 1,500 Virtue – New Pet for Another Life |
| Filthy Cat | Complete Substory 55: The Filthy Cat. You can find the Filthy Cat in Fushimi’s South Yashikimachi, sitting right on the pier. | Complete its Friendship Bond by giving it a bath in the bathhouse over multiple visits. Once you’ve reached the Max bond level, you can bring it to Another Life and give it a name to make it your personal pet cat. | – 1,500 Virtue – New Pet for Another Life |
| Lucky Cat | Complete Substory 17: The Lucky Cat. You can find the Lucky Cat in Rakunai’s Karasuma Street, right near Ginryu Dojo. | Complete its Friendship Bond by giving it a few thousand Mon over multiple visits. Once you’ve reached the Max bond level, you can bring it to Another Life and give it a name to make it your personal pet cat. | – 1,500 Virtue – 5 Ryo – New Pet for Another Life |
Wish to learn more about Like a Dragon: Ishin? Then check out our other guides on All Trophies and Achievements, All Swords, All Outfits, All materials, How To Level Up Fast, and the Best Weapons to Equip in Like A Dragon: Ishin.
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