What an amazing game!! It's truly a masterpiece. Personally speaking, Japanese gaming imo is by far the best from any other regions. Not that other regions don't produce good or fantastic games, but Japanese gaming, particularly if it's a true masterpiece, is virtually unbeatable.
The Yakuza franchise has never been better than this (played the PS5 remastered version). My wife and I were totally sucked into the game. It was a whole experience that included gaming, a story, a movie, and a lot more. The story of Ichiban and Ichiban's character has become one of my favorite heroes. It's incredible how the game manages to blend humor with seriousness while still including a ton of odd comedy moments that actually make sense. Honestly, this game was created by some geniuses.
Normally, I try to finish games by completing the main stories and a select few side missions, but for this particular game, I didn't actually want to go all the way to the end, so I was attempting to complete every side story, hero quest, extra bonus exp farm, job farm, and other parts of the game. Was genuinely sad when I finished the game, although not so much because it took me a while (just a little over a month, I believe) to complete it.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but all I can say is that this game will undoubtedly rank among your top 3 or 5 favorites of all time. Top 3 for me personally. I am still the biggest fan of MGS - Metal Gear Solid franchise (again Japanese gaming).