Homare Nishitani is the patriarch of the Kijin Clan, a direct subsidiary of the fifth-generation Omi Alliance. He is an extreme combatant who is faithful to his desires for money, women, and violence. He loves life-or-death battles with the strong above all else, making him a wild yakuza that even the Omi Alliance finds difficult to handle.

Goro Majima, unlike his later persona as the "Mad Dog of Shimano," serves as the manager and "Lord of the Night" overseeing the cabaret "The Grand" in Sotenbori, Osaka. He is a deeply human person who returns to the yakuza world to protect a certain woman, staying true to his convictions despite being toyed with by a cruel fate.

Kazuma Kiryu is a young yakuza framed for a certain murder during the bubble era. To uncover the truth and protect his foster father, Shintaro Kazama, he stands against a massive conspiracy surrounding the legendary piece of land known as the "Empty Lot."

Akira Nishikiyama is Kiryu's best friend and sworn brother in their younger days. He is a key figure who walks the path of the yakuza alongside Kiryu, supporting him while using his own ambition and talent to rise through the underworld. Raised in the "Sunflower" orphanage like Kiryu, he is an ally with a bond stronger than blood. He is passionate and compassionate, but possesses a more ambitious and realistic talent compared to Kiryu.

Tsukasa Sagawa is the patriarch of the Sagawa Family, a direct subsidiary of the massive Kansai yakuza organization, the Omi Alliance. His public role is the owner of the cabaret "The Grand" in Sotenbori, Osaka. He is Majima's handler. He is in a "sworn brotherhood of different crests" with Futoshi Shimano of the Tojo Clan, and he strictly manages Majima's actions as a condition for his return to the Tojo Clan.

Osamu Kashiwagi is the captain of the Kazama Family, a subsidiary of the Tojo Clan's Dojima Family. A skilled yakuza whose name is known in Kamurocho as Kazama's right hand, he is a "terrifying yet reliable older brother figure" to Kiryu and Nishikiyama, strict about duty and humanity and never forgiving those who don't follow the code. He loves cold noodles and eats them often.

Reina is the young proprietress of the high-end club "Serena" on Tenkaichi Street in Kamurocho. Her meeting with the duo began when Nishikiyama, who was sensitive to trends and heard rumors of her shop, became a regular, leading to Kiryu's introduction. Serena is one of the few oases where they can rest their hearts, and she herself becomes a source of support for the two.