Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin (released in Japan in February 2014) is a spin-off game set at the end of the Edo period of Japanese history (known as the Bakumatsu period), a period when the Tokugawa Shogunate came to an end and imperial rule was restored (Meiji Restoration).
Sakamoto Ryoma is living undercover, with a false identity, as "Saito Hajime" in Kyoto. One year earlier, on the eve of the coup d'état of Tosa, Ryoma's foster father, the man who raised him, was murdered before his eyes. The only lead he had to discover who the killer was is that he used the Tennen Rishin style of fighting. This is a style used by the Shinsengumi, so Ryoma infiltrates their ranks, becoming captain of the 3rd Shinsengumi unit, in attempt to find the killer.
Big thanks to Kevin Debrabandere for creating a PDF for the entire Ishin guide. You can download the PDF version of the guide here. Please be advised that the PDF is outdated now, but still contains information for the whole game.
You can exchange the Dharma you earn at the shrines around Kyoto or the shrine at your secondary home in Another Life mode for bonuses such as increased item carrying capacity. You can also exchange Dharma with the Shinto Priest himself for items after you get the upgrade from the Dharma exchange shrine.
Above is the Dharma exchange screen. Use the L1 and R1 buttons to switch to different sections, to make it easier to find what you're looking for.
A lot of the abilities don't show up until you purchase the lower version of the upgrade first. For example - "Kitchen Utensil Expansion (Cooking-Lovers Kitchen)" won't appear until you get the "Kitchen Utensil Expansion (Normal Kitchen)" first.
It's also worth pointing out that none of the Another Life related upgrades appear on the list until you can actually do the Another Life part of the game.
The following are upgrades you can get when exchanging Dharma at one of the shrines.
Second Home || Field || Fishing || Functions || Dharma || Other || Shinto Priest's Shop
Kitchen Utensil Expansion
(Normal Kitchen)
300
More utensils for cooking and allows you to create more types of food
Kitchen Utensil Expansion
(Cooking-Lovers Kitchen)
500
More utensils for cooking and allows you to create more types of food
Kitchen Utensil Expansion
(All-Purpose Kitchen)
2000
More utensils for cooking and allows you to create more types of food
Cooking Success Probability Enhancement
(Good)
1500
Makes it slightly easier to create high quality food
Cooking Success Probability Enhancement
(Excellent)
4000
Makes it easier to create high quality food
Cooking Success Probability Enhancement
(Godlike)
8000
Makes it a lot easier to create high quality food
Kennel Establishment
500
Creates a kennel at your secondary home. Makes it easier to keep the pet dog happy. The dog will pick up items and equipment materials more frequently
Kennel Establishment
(Luxurious)
2000
Upgrades the kennel. Makes it easier to keep the pet dog happy. The dog will pick up items and equipment materials more frequently
Kennel Establishment
(Super Luxurious)
5000
Upgrades the kennel. Makes it easier to keep the pet dog happy. The dog is very likely to pick up items and equipment materials
Cat Blanket Establishment
500
Creates a cat blanket at your secondary home. Makes it easier to keep the pet cat happy. Makes it easier to obtain items while peddling
Cat Blanket Establishment
(Luxurious)
2000
Upgrades the cat blanket. Makes it easier to keep the pet cat happy. Makes it even easier to obtain items while peddling
Cat Blanket Establishment
(Super Luxurious)
5000
Upgrades the cat blanket. Makes it easier to keep the pet cat happy. Makes it a lot easier to obtain items while peddling
Chicken Farming Facilities Establishment
500
Sets up a chicken farm where you can keep chickens and collect eggs
Chicken Farming Facilities Establishment
(Luxurious)
2000
Expands the chicken facilities. You are more likely to obtain eggs
Chicken Farming Facilities Establishment
(Super Luxurious)
5000
Expands the chicken facilities. You are a lot more likely to obtain eggs
Interior Design Change
(New Wind)
2000
Changes the interior of the house
Interior Design Change
(Beloved Night)
5000
Changes the interior of the house
Interior Design Change
(Golden Dance)
10000
Changes the interior of the house
Field Expansion #1
500
The field expands to an area of 5x4
Field Expansion #2
1500
The field expands to an area of 5x6
Field Expansion #3
4000
The field expands to an area of 5x8
Field Expansion Max
10000
The field expands to an area of 5x10
Field Level 2
1500
Makes cultivation speed 110%. Increases the probability of a rich harvest by 10%
Field Level 3
4000
Makes cultivation speed 120%. Increases the probability of a rich harvest by 15%
Field Level 4
8000
Makes cultivation speed 130%. Increases the probability of a rich harvest by 20%
Field Level 5
12000
Makes cultivation speed 150%. Increases the probability of a rich harvest by 30%
Scarecrow Implementation
1000
Puts up a scarecrow to protect your crops
Okappiki Scarecrow Implementation
2000
Scarecrow upgrade. Gives better protection to your crops
Machibugyo Scarecrow Implementation
4000
Scarecrow upgrade. Gives better protection to your crops
Roju Scarecrow Implementation
6000
Scarecrow upgrade. Gives better protection to your crops
Shogun Scarecrow Implementation
12000
Scarecrow upgrade. Gives the best protection to your crops
Unpredictable Planting Implementation
1500
Enables "Unpredictable Planting" which automatically plants crops at random - once you have the upgrade, select it in the planting arrangement screen to randomise the arrangement
Sweet Potato Planting
100
Enables the planting of Sweet Potato
Green Onion Planting
100
Enables the planting of Green Onion
Ginger Planting
150
Enables the planting of Ginger
Bulb Onion Planting
150
Enables the planting of Bulb Onion
Eggplant Planting
200
Enables the planting of Eggplant
Turnip Planting
200
Enables the planting of Turnip
Broad Bean Planting
250
Enables the planting of Broad Bean
Burdock Planting
250
Enables the planting of Burdock
Chili Pepper Planting
300
Enables the planting of Chili Pepper
Garlic Planting
400
Enables the planting of Garlic
Chinese Cabbage Planting
500
Enables the planting of Chinese Cabbage
Pumpkin Planting
600
Enables the planting of Pumpkin
Tomato Planting
1000
Enables the planting of Tomato
Cabbage Planting
1500
Enables the planting of Cabbage
Strawberry Planting
1500
Enables the planting of Strawberry
Taro Planting
3000
Enables the planting of Taro
Ginseng Planting
10000
Enables the planting of Ginseng
Note that you can use any of the fishing gear in either River or Ocean fishing. Even though some gear is described as being "River" or "Ocean" gear, it can be used in either (though River fishing gear isn't as good for Ocean fishing as Ocean gear (and vice-versa), of course)
River Fishing Gear
(Tansuimaru)
400
Obtain the "Tansuimaru" river fishing gear, making it easier to catch fish in the river
River Fishing Gear
(Kawataiga)
1500
Obtain the "Kawataiga" river fighting gear, making it easier to catch fish in the river
Ocean Fishing Gear
(Umimaru)
400
Obtain the "Umimaru" ocean fishing gear, making it easier to catch fish in the ocean
Ocean Fishing Gear
(King of the Ocean)
1500
Obtain the "King of the Ocean" ocean fishing gear, making it easier to catch fish in the ocean
Fishing Gear
(Super Fishing God)
4000
Obtain the "Super Fishing God" fishing gear, most effective of all the fishing gear
(appears after you have both the "Kawataiga" and "King of the Ocean" fishing gear upgrades)
Sprint Enhancement #1
500
Increases the length of time you can sprint and also makes you recover from fatigue faster
Sprint Enhancement #2
2000
Increases the length of time you can sprint and also makes you recover from fatigue faster
Sprint Enhancement #3
4000
Increases the length of time you can sprint and also makes you recover from fatigue faster
Sprint Enhancement #4
7000
Increases the length of time you can sprint and also makes you recover from fatigue faster
Sprint Enhancement Max
12000
Increases the length of time you can sprint and also makes you recover from fatigue faster
Item Possession Capacity Increase #1
700
The number of items you can carry in your inventory increases by 4
Item Possession Capacity Increase #2
3000
The number of items you can carry in your inventory increases by another 4
Item Possession Capacity Increase #3
5000
The number of items you can carry in your inventory increases by another 4
Item Possession Capacity Increase #4
10000
The number of items you can carry in your inventory increases by another 4
Item Possession Capacity Increase Max
12000
The number of items you can carry in your inventory increases by another 4
Soldier Possession Amount Increase #1
800
The number of soldier cards you can have on you increases by 20
(this only appears after doing the Battle Dungeon tutorial in chapter 5)
Soldier Possession Amount Increase #2
2000
The number of soldier cards you can have on you increases by another 20
Soldier Possession Amount Increase #3
4000
The number of soldier cards you can have on you increases by another 20
Soldier Possession Amount Increase #4
7000
The number of soldier cards you can have on you increases by another 20
Soldier Possession Amount Increase Max
10000
The number of soldier cards you can have on you increases by another 20
Shinto Priest's Shop Opening
500
You can now exchange Dharma with the Shinto Priest for items
(this item appears in chapter 4 after you are introduced to the "Another Life" section of the game)
Shinto Priest's Shop Expansion #1
1000
Get better items from the Shinto Priest's Shop
Shinto Priest's Shop Expansion #2
2000
Get better items from the Shinto Priest's Shop
Shinto Priest's Shop Expansion #3
5000
Get better items from the Shinto Priest's Shop
Shinto Priest's Shop Expansion #4
8000
Get better items from the Shinto Priest's Shop
Shinto Priest's Shop Expansion Max
15000
Get better items from the Shinto Priest's Shop
Dharma Acquisition Rate Enhancement #1
1500
Increases the rate at which you gain Dharma by 10%
Dharma Acquisition Rate Enhancement #2
3000
Increases the rate at which you gain Dharma by another 10%
Dharma Acquisition Rate Enhancement #3
6000
Increases the rate at which you gain Dharma by another 10%
Dharma Acquisition Rate Enhancement #4
9000
Increases the rate at which you gain Dharma by another 10%
Dharma Acquisition Rate Enhancement Max
12000
Increases the rate at which you gain Dharma by another 10%
Full Stomach Dharma Acquisition Rate Enhancement #1
1500
Slightly suppresses the reduction of Dharma Acquisition when eating food while your health bar is full
Full Stomach Dharma Acquisition Rate Enhancement #2
4000
Suppresses the reduction of Dharma Acquisition when eating food while your health bar is full
Full Stomach Dharma Acquisition Rate Enhancement Max
8000
Greatly suppresses the reduction of Dharma Acquisition when eating food while your health bar is full
Rakunai Fame Enhancement
1500
Increases Ryoma's fame in Rakunai by a certain amount
Rakugai Fame Enhancement
1500
Increases Ryoma's fame in Rakugai by a certain amount
Mukurogai Fame Enhancement
1500
Increases Ryoma's fame in Mukurogai by a certain amount
Fushimi Fame Enhancement
1500
Increases Ryoma's fame in Fushimi by a certain amount
Gion Fame Enhancement
1500
Increases Ryoma's fame in Gion by a certain amount
16000
12000
1800
150
20
1500
3500
6000
10000
50
150
200
500
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
4000
4000
4000
4000
4000
10000
10000
10000
10000
10000
120
210
30
430
1300
70
160
280
450
650
880
1100
1400
1800
100
1000
1000
