Chapter 1: Bound By Oath – The Empty Lot Conspiracy and Kazuma Kiryu’s Exile
Chapter 1 of Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, ‘Bound by Oath,’ introduces the Kamurocho ‘Empty Lot’ crisis. In December 1988, 20-year-old Kazuma Kiryu, a low-ranking member of the Dojima Family, becomes involved. The story begins with a routine debt collection from businessman Taichi Kurihara. This event sparks a political frame-up. Kurihara is found dead in a 10×10 meter plot called the ‘Empty Lot.’ Kiryu is framed as the main suspect in a murder designed to threaten his mentor, Captain Shintaro Kazama.
The Empty Lot is a vital centerpiece of a multi-billion yen redevelopment project. This revelation triggers a power struggle among the three Dojima Family Lieutenants: Daisaku Kuze (the brawler), Hiroki Awano (the information gatherer), and Keiji Shibusawa (the strategist). They hope the murder scandal will force Kazama out. Each wants the Captain’s seat by securing the land for Patriarch Sohei Dojima.
To shield Kazama, Kiryu resigns, seeking ‘Hamon’ (expulsion) to cut legal ties to the family. This act leads to a tense ‘Long Battle’ within Dojima Family Headquarters. The climax is a brutal fight with Daisaku Kuze. Kiryu’s victory marks his shift from yakuza to a marked civilian. The chapter ends as Tachibana of Tachibana Real Estate appears, observing the conflict. This hints that the Empty Lot fight is bigger than the yakuza. The story’s core themes are loyalty, economic corruption, and the personal cost of the yakuza code.
