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 Please be advised that the PDF is outdated now, but still contains information for the whole game.
Dharma is a concept in Buddhism which refers to actions that are considered morally right - or "the right way of living" - according to the teachings of the Buddha. For example, in this game you are rewarded with "Dharma" for buying from people, talking with people and saving people on the streets who are being threatened by thugs. As you complete actions that gain you Dharma, your fame on the streets improves.
Virya is a Buddhist term basically referring to ones diligence in accomplishing actions of great virtue. In other words, it refers to ones constant effort to do the morally correct things. In this game, the "Virya" is a big list of actions to complete - such as becoming friends with certain people, or talking to people 100 times, or eating at restaurants 20 times. You are rewarded with lots of Dharma for completing items on this list.
You can exchange the Dharma you earn via Dharma Exchange.
| Name | Dharma Reward |
|---|---|
| Talk to people 100 times | 2000 |
| Talk to people 300 times | 4000 |
| Talk to people 500 times | 8000 |
| Eat at restaurants 20 times | 1500 |
| Eat at restaurants 50 times | 3000 |
| Eat at restaurants 100 times | 5000 |
| Eat at restaurants 200 times | 8000 |
| Get 20 items from pots | 1000 |
| Get 50 items from pots | 2000 |
| Get 100 items from pots | 4000 |
| Pray at shrines 20 times (interact with a shrine and save point and select the top option to pray - after praying at a shrine/save point, you have to wait for a little while before you can pray at it again) |
1000 |
| Pray at shrines 50 times | 2500 |
| Pray at shrines 100 times | 5000 |
| Play mini-games 30 times | 2000 |
| Play mini-games 100 times | 4000 |
| Play mini-games 200 times | 8000 |
| Eat 30 food items | 1500 |
| Eat 100 food items | 3000 |
| Eat 200 food items | 5000 |
| Eat 400 food items | 8000 |
| Use 20 medicine items (like those pills that restore health) |
1500 |
| Use 50 medicine items | 3000 |
| Use 100 medicine items | 5000 |
| Use 200 medicine items | 8000 |
| Travel in a palanquin 20 times (those fast-travel things - basically this games version of taxis. Kenzan had them as well) |
1500 |
| Travel in a palanquin 50 times | 3000 |
| Travel in a palanquin 100 times | 5000 |
| Reach fame level 3 in Rakunai | 1000 |
| Reach fame level 7 in Rakunai | 2500 |
| Reach max fame level in Rakunai | 5000 |
| Reach fame level 3 in Rakugai | 1000 |
| Reach fame level 7 in Rakugai | 2500 |
| Reach max fame level in Rakugai | 5000 |
| Reach fame level 3 in Mukurogai | 1000 |
| Reach fame level 7 in Mukurogai | 2500 |
| Reach max fame level in Mukurogai | 5000 |
| Reach fame level 3 in Fushimi | 1000 |
| Reach fame level 7 in Fushimi | 2500 |
| Reach max fame level in Fushimi | 5000 |
| Reach fame level 3 in Gion | 1000 |
| Reach fame level 7 in Gion | 2500 |
| Reach max fame level in Gion | 5000 |
| Spend 30 Ryo | 2000 |
| Spend 100 Ryo | 4000 |
| Spend 300 Ryo | 7000 |
| Spend 500 Ryo | 10000 |
| Travel 30km on foot | 2000 |
| Travel 100km on foot | 7000 |
| Travel 200km on foot | 10000 |
| Travel by sprinting for 5km | 2000 |
| Travel by sprinting for 20km | 4000 |
| Travel by sprinting for 50km | 8000 |
| Draw water from wells 20 times | 1000 |
| Draw water from wells 50 times | 2000 |
| Draw water from wells 100 times | 4000 |
| Deliver 10 packages | 1500 |
| Deliver 30 packages | 4000 |
| Deliver 50 packages | 7000 |
| Cut 100 pieces of wood | 500 |
| Cut 300 pieces of wood | 1000 |
| Cut 1000 pieces of wood | 4000 |
| Name | Dharma Reward |
|---|---|
| Harvest crops 50 times | 1500 |
| Harvest crops 200 times | 3000 |
| Harvest crops 500 times | 5000 |
| Harvest crops 1000 times | 7000 |
| Harvest crops 1500 times | 10000 |
| Harvest 50 Ginseng | 1500 |
| Harvest 100 Cabbages | 1000 |
| Harvest 100 Taro | 1000 |
| Harvest 100 Tomatos | 1000 |
| Harvest 100 Strawberries | 1000 |
| Cook 10 times | 2000 |
| Cook 30 times | 4000 |
| Cook 50 times | 7000 |
| Cook 100 times | 10000 |
| Cook 200 times | 15000 |
| Interact with pet dogs 10 times | 1500 |
| Interact with pet dogs 30 times | 4000 |
| Interact with pet dogs 100 times | 8000 |
| Interact with pet cats 10 times | 1500 |
| Interact with pet cats 30 times | 4000 |
| Interact with pet cats 100 times | 8000 |
| Collect 10 Eggs | 1500 |
| Collect 30 Eggs | 4000 |
| Collect 100 Eggs | 8000 |
| Complete 30 Orders (Peddling) | 3000 |
| Complete 100 Orders (Peddling) | 8000 |
| Complete 200 Orders (Peddling) | 15000 |
| Catch 30 Fish | 2000 |
| Catch 100 Fish | 7000 |
| Catch 200 Fish | 13000 |
| Catch 10 Tuna | 4000 |
| Catch a big game Tuna | 2000 |
| See the futon calming event | 2000 |
| See the bath calming event | 2000 |
| See the living room calming event | 2000 |
| See the garden calming event | 2000 |
You become friends with shopkeepers after buying enough stuff from them
| Name | Dharma Reward |
|---|---|
| Become friends with the proprietor of the Singing Bar | 1500 |
| Become friends with the proprietor of the Umaiya Udon restaurant | 1500 |
| Become friends with the master of the Nichibu Dance Castle | 1500 |
| Become friends with the Shinto Priest | 1500 |
| Become friends with Akari | 1500 |
| Become friends with the shop assistant of the Hanamaru Udon restaurant | 1500 |
| Become friends with the courtesan Anna | 1500 |
| Become friends with the man in the Mahjong Parlour | 1500 |
| Become friends with the proprietor of the Shogi Parlour | 1500 |
| Become friends with the dice roller in the Gambling Den | 1500 |
| Become friends with the receptionist at the Chicken Racing Area | 1500 |
| Become friends with the proprietor of Ichikuraya | 1500 |
| Become friends with the proprietor of Sushizanmai | 1500 |
| Become friends with the proprietor of the Fukufukuya bar | 1500 |
| Become friends with the proprietor of Ecchudo Pharmacy | 1500 |
| Become friends with the girl at Uji Tea House | 1500 |
| Become friends with the shopkeeper at Don Quijote | 1500 |
| Become friends with the proprietor of the Pawn Shop in Rakunai | 1500 |
| Become friends with the mistress of the Japanese restaurant Haruhi | 1500 |
| Become friends with the boss of the small restaurant Aoba | 1500 |
| Become friends with the proprietor of the weapons store in Rakugai | 1500 |
| Become friends with the Greengrocer | 1500 |
| Become friends with the Palanquin bearer | 1500 |
| Become friends with the 3 brothers from Hyakugawa | 1500 |
You become friends with people via substories
| Name | Dharma Reward |
|---|---|
| Become friends with the grovelling beggar | 1500 |
| Become friends with hungry sumo wrestler | 1500 |
| Become friends with the revolutionary chef | 1500 |
| Become friends with the love-hungry man | 1500 |
| Become friends with the man enchanted by swords | 1500 |
| Become friends with the injured man with a sense of justice | 1500 |
| Become friends with the man who can't remember | 1500 |
| Become friends with the careless wife | 1500 |
| Become friends with the boy who loves vegetables | 1500 |
| Become friends with the man fishing off the edge of a precipice | 1500 |
| Become friends with the injured old lady | 1500 |
| Become friends with the mysterious merchant | 1500 |
| Become friends with the fascinating wife | 1500 |
| Become friends with the junk-child | 1500 |
| Become friends with the man who collects junk | 1500 |
| Become friends with the woodcutter | 1500 |
| Become friends with the postman with no sense of direction | 1500 |
| Become friends with the waiting dog | 1500 |
| Become friends with the injured dog | 1500 |
| Become friends with the barking dog | 1500 |
| Become friends with the starving cat | 1500 |
| Become friends with the filthy cat | 1500 |
| Become friends with the beckoning cat | 1500 |
| Name | Dharma Reward |
|---|---|
| Defeat 100 enemies in fights on the streets | 2000 |
| Defeat 200 enemies in fights on the streets | 4000 |
| Defeat 300 enemies in fights on the streets | 6000 |
| Defeat 500 enemies in fights on the streets | 10000 |
| Complete battle dungeon missions 10 times | 1500 |
| Complete battle dungeon missions 30 times | 4000 |
| Complete battle dungeon missions 100 times | 10000 |
| Defeat 10 of the "Golden Masses" (enemies that wear fox masks) |
1500 |
| Defeat 30 of the "Golden Masses" | 3000 |
| Defeat 50 of the "Golden Masses" | 5000 |
| Win with a finishing blow 20 times (defeat the final enemy in battle with either a heat action or special ability) |
2000 |
| Win with a finishing blow 50 times | 5000 |
| Win with a finishing blow 100 times | 10000 |
| Break 20 objects in battle | 1500 |
| Break 50 objects in battle | 4000 |
| Break 100 objects in battle | 8000 |
