Ishin

Story

Text Walkthrough
Cutscenes

Side Content

Substories
Friendship
Wanted Men
Another Life

Combat

Battle System
Abilities
Heat Actions
Training
Arena
Battle Dungeon
Soldier Cards
Ultimate Battles

Completion

Mini-Games
Shops & Restaurants
Blacksmith
Symbols
Weapons
Armour
Items
Dharma & Virya
Dharma Exchange
Completion

Other

Maps
Lottery
Trophies
Controls
Menu & Options

Ishin

Story

Text Walkthrough Cutscenes

Side Content

Substories Friendship Wanted Men Another Life

Combat

Battle System Abilities Heat Actions Training Arena Battle Dungeon Soldier Cards Ultimate Battles

Completion

Mini-Games Shops & Restaurants Blacksmith Symbols Weapons Armour Items Dharma & Virya Dharma Exchange Completion

Other

Maps Lottery Trophies Controls Menu & Options

RYU GA GOTOKU ISHIN

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 Please be advised that the PDF is outdated now, but still contains information for the whole game.

This guide is for the original (2014) release of Ishin. The information contained within may not necessarily be accurate for the 2023 "Like a Dragon: Ishin" remake.
Fisherman

After completing the "The Man Fishing Off The Edge Of A Precipice" substory, you can give him a fish whenever you see him at the same location. After you are close to maxing out the friendship gauge, he tells you how he's been fishing for 5 years (Ryoma is shocked - 5 years and he's never caught a single fish!?). Turns out he's been doing it wrong all these years. Ryoma helps him out and he finally catches a fish of his own! After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out. You can continue giving him fish even after you max out the gauge to get more Dharma if you want.

Junk Child

After completing the "The Junk-Child" substory, you can give him any old junk whenever you see him at the same location. You can keep giving him the same item over and over again if you like. For example, I had a LOT of Scrap Metal so I just kept giving him that until the gauge maxed out. When you get the gauge to half full, he talks about getting into a fight with a friend, saying he broke the toy that Ryoma gave him (the kid broke scrap metal?). Ryoma asks if the friend did it deliberately, but the boy doesn't think it was on purpose and the friend did apologise a lot after it happened. He says he couldn't forgive him because that toy was so important to him - it's the toy that enabled him to play with all his friends. Ryoma tells him it wasn't a toy; just junk he didn't need (lol). He gives the boy a speech about how he shouldn't cast aside friends over junk Ryoma didn't need anymore - saying friends are what's really important to him; not the toys. The boy comes to his senses and says he has to go back to his friends. Ryoma gives the boy another toy (again, I gave him Scrap Metal, lol) to take back to his friends.

When you are close to maxing out the gauge, the boy says he made up with his friend and thanks Ryoma for helping him understand the value of friendship. He thanks Ryoma again for everything he's done for him. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out. You can continue giving him junk even after you max out the gauge to get more Dharma if you want.

Woodcutter

After completing the "The Woodcutter" substory, you can go to him and cut wood to build up the friendship gauge.

After you cut 100 pieces of wood for him, he gives you an Ancient Amulet.

After you cut 300 pieces of wood for him, he gives you a Broken Compass.

After this, he leaves the area temporarily. Simply leave and come back to find him here again (going into a building, then leaving and going back here works). He tells Ryoma his back is better, so now he can cut wood again, but he said his doctor told him to take it easy when working, so he says he still needs Ryoma's help. Ryoma tells him he'll help if he has the time. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out. You can continue cutting wood for him even after you max out the gauge to get more Dharma if you want. You also get paid 150 mon per piece of wood cut after you max out the gauge.

Postman

After completing the "The Postman with no Sense of Direction" substory, you can deliver packages for him to build up the friendship gauge. You also get paid for each delivery. Talk to him to receive a package and then after you deliver it, speak to him again to get another one.

Below are package delivery locations on the map. Talk to the people at these locations to deliver the packages.

Fushimi Area

Rakugai Area

Rakunai Area

Mukurogai Area

Mukurogai Area (second level (upstairs))

Unfortunately, the package delivery locations are random and sometimes you can even have multiple deliveries to the same area in a row (for example, I had two C location deliveries in a row once), so if you don't read Japanese this isn't going to be easy; you'll have to keep visiting delivery locations outlined on the maps above until you find the right area.

After delivering 4 packages, he tells you how business is doing well because of Ryoma. Ryoma asks how his dad is doing and the postman says he's getting better but still can't work. He asks Ryoma if he'll keep helping him out until his dad can get back to work.

Come back again later and speak to him to get another package.

After delivering another couple of packages, when you go back to the postman he is with his father. The father says he'd like Ryoma to continue helping his son out, if he's willing. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out. You can continue coming back to the postman to get more packages to deliver for money.

Man Enchanted by Swords

After completing the "The Man Enchanted by Swords" substory, get hold of the "Kurotetsumaru" sword, then go back to the guy and show him the sword. To get this sword, you need an "Unsigned Sword" (which you can buy at the arms dealer in Mukurogai), 1x Crooked Magnet, 5x Scrap Metal and 5000 Mon. If you don't have the items you need, visit the items page to find out how to get them. When you have everything, upgrade your Unsigned Sword to a Kurotetsumaru at the blacksmith.

Show the man the Kurotetsumaru sword. This builds up the gauge more. Next he asks you to show him a sword called "Yashamaru". You can create this sword when you have a "Kurotetsumaru" sword, 1x Picture of a Spectre, 5x Steel Board and 8000 Mon. Upgrade at the blacksmith when you have everything you need.

Show the man the Yashamaru sword. This builds up the gauge more. Next he asks you to show him a sword called "Kogitsunemaru". To get this sword, you need a "Matsukaze" sword, 1x Beautiful Leaf, 5x Steel Board and 8000 Mon. Visit the weapons page to find out how to get the Matsukaze sword, if you don't already have one. When you have everything, upgrade at the blacksmith.

Show the man the Kogitsunemaru sword. This builds up the gauge more. Next he asks you to show him a sword called "Lion King". To get this sword, you need a "Kogitsunemaru" sword, 1x Emerald, 5x Tamahagane and 1 Ryo + 1000 Mon. Alternatively, you can buy it from the Arms Dealer in Mukurogai any time from Chapter 7 onwards for 32 Ryo + 9000 Mon. When you have everything you need, upgrade at the blacksmith.

Show the man the Lion King sword and he rewards Ryoma with a Magurosetsu sword. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

Beggar

After completing the "The Grovelling Beggar" substory, you can give this man food (or drink) to build the friendship gauge. After giving him food, you have to leave and come back at another time before you can give him another item of food. A good idea is to just buy one item of food from Fushimi, then go back to him, then go back to the shop and get another, then back to the man again, and repeat.

When you are close to filling the gauge, the man tells Ryoma how a guy like him, with his social class, could only be a beggar or someone who extorts money from travellers on highways. Ryoma tells him that the world is changing and he can have a part in the changing, explaining that he himself has bad memories of his upbringing, but because of that it made him want to bring about change in the country. The man thanks Ryoma, saying he feels a bit more brave now.

When you leave and come back again, you'll notice the beggar is not there.

[1]

Go here and the beggar speaks to Ryoma. He says he's found work and says it's because of Ryoma giving him the bravery he needed. He gives Ryoma a Precision Machine. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

Old Lady

After completing the "The Injured Old Lady" substory, you can do shopping for the old lady to build up the friendship gauge.

[1]

You can find the old lady here in Rakunai after completing the substory.

You have to leave and then come back another time before you can do more shopping for her. Check the items or shops pages to find out where to get any of the items she asks for. She gives you money for the shopping each time.

First she asks Ryoma to buy her a Vulnerary.

The next item she asks Ryoma to buy is an All-Purpose Pill.

The next item she asks Ryoma to buy is Yokan. After giving her this item, Ryoma sits with her and she thanks him for what he's done.

Next time you can speak to her, she says she doesn't need anything, because she's feeling a lot better. She tells Ryoma it's thanks to him - she's had a lot of fun talking with him here and says she had secretly been practicing to get herself back to being able to walk, so that she could walk and chat with Ryoma one day. Then she asks Ryoma if he'll walk with her. After their walk, she thanks Ryoma again, saying that from now on she'll be able to do her own shopping. She tells Ryoma he can come by for tea again any time. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

Love-Hungry Man

After completing the "The Love-Hungry Man" substory, you can continue giving him more meals (made in Another Life) to build the friendship gauge. Note that you have to leave the area and come back later before you can give him another one (go into a building somewhere and then leave and go back to him).

When you get the gauge up to about 75%ish, he says he has a favour to ask of Ryoma - he wants him to bring his wife along, so he can meet her! Ryoma says he'll think about it.

Leave, then return and give him another meal. After they eat, the man apologises for his request to meet his wife and tells Ryoma to forget about it. Then Ryoma decides now is the time to finally tell the man that he made these meals - not his wife. The man thanks Ryoma for always making such wonderful meals for him. He says he's going to give back the love Ryoma showed him in his cooking in full! After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out. Talk to the man again and you receive a Love-Hungry Man's Bento. You can receive one of these every time you speak to him (after leaving and then coming back).

Careless Wife

After completing the "The Careless Wife" substory, you can continue giving her vegetables to increase the gauge. You can get vegetables from farming in Another Life, or from shops such as the Greengrocer in Fushimi. Note that you have to leave the area and come back later before you can give her more (go into a building somewhere and then leave and go back to her).

After giving her another vegetable, she rewards Ryoma with a Frenzy Pill.

After giving her another vegetable, Ryoma asks if her purse has been found yet. She says her name and address are on some paper inside the purse, so if it was it would have found its way back here. Ryoma points out that not everyone would be so kind - there are guys who would just take it for themselves. She also mentions she's lost her cat as well - she hasn't seen it for a while! So that's another thing she needs to look out for. She gives Ryoma an All-Purpose Pill.

After giving her another vegetable, Ryoma asks if her purse and cat have been found. Then, suddenly, her cat shows up! What's more, the cat is carrying her lost purse! Apparently the cat went out looking for her purse, which is why the cat was no where to be seen for that time. She thanks Ryoma for always giving her vegetables and rewards him with 3 Ryo. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You can continue coming back to her and give her vegetables even after maxing out the friendship gauge for more Dharma if you like.

Barking Dog

After completing the "The Barking Dog" substory, you can continue giving the dog a bone to build the friendship gauge. Note that you have to leave the area and come back later before you can give it another bone (go into a building somewhere and then leave and go back to the dog).

When you are close to maxing out the gauge, Ryoma sees 3 women standing near the dog. Ryoma asks what's going on and they tell him the time has come to put the dog down. Ryoma points out that, with the bones, he's not barking much anymore so there's no need to put it down. They say the dog may not be barking all the time like before, but they never know when it will start again. Ryoma asks them to think about it more seriously - after all, a dog is still a living being; they can't just go ahead and kill it so easily. The women tell Ryoma to take the dog away then - they just want it gone, so if Ryoma takes it then they won't need to kill it. Ryoma agrees to take the dog with him.

You can now name the dog. If you don't read Japanese, you can just stick with its default name - "Barking Dog".

After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You now have the dog as a pet at your house in Another Life.

Beckoning Cat

After completing the "The Beckoning Cat" substory, you can continue giving the cat money to build the friendship gauge. Note that you have to leave the area and come back later before you can give it more (go into a building somewhere and then leave and go back to the cat).

When you interact with the cat for the first time after completing the substory, you give it 2000 Mon. The cat brings back a Sobering Pill for Ryoma.

When you next interact with the cat, you give it 3000 Mon. The cat brings back Shunga (Edo-period erotic art) for Ryoma.

When you next interact with the cat, you give it 5000 Mon. The cat brings back 4000 Mon for Ryoma.

When you next interact with the cat, you give it 1 Ryo. This time, Ryoma runs after the cat. He overhears a couple of guys talking about how much money they're getting today. Then Ryoma spots the cat. The men see him and ask if they heard what they were just talking about - they say they can't let him live. It turns out the cat is theirs and the cat has been bringing the money back to them and they've been giving the cat items to take back to the people who give it money.

After the fight, they give Ryoma 5 Ryo. The cat now joins up with Ryoma and you can name it (default name: "Lucky").

After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You now have the cat as a pet at your house in Another Life.

Mysterious Merchant

After completing the "The Mysterious Merchant" substory, you can come back to him and get item requests. When you give him the items he asks for, the friendship gauge builds up. Note that you have to leave the area and then come back before you can get another item request (go into a building somewhere then leave and come back).

The first item he asks for after completing the substory is a Fundoshi. If you don't have one, you can get one at the Arms Dealer in Mukurogai. When you give him the item, you are paid 2 Ryo.

The next item he asks for is a Tissue. If you don't have one, you are almost guarenteed to get one as a prize from playing the lottery in Fushimi a few times. You can also find them in pots. When you give him the item, you are paid 1 Ryo.

The next item he asks for is Natto. You can get this at the Tsukemono Shop or Rice Shop in Rakunai. When you give him the item, you are paid 3 Ryo.

When you next speak to him, he talks about how he's being hunted down and he needs stuff to give to this organisation to save his life.

The next item he asks for is Ginseng. You can grow this in Another Life (it takes an insanely long time for them to grow, even with a max level field and constant use of manure) or you can buy them at Yorozuya in Rakunai. When you give him the item, he says he's going to head over to the organisation to try to save himself.

When you next come back here, the man thanks Ryoma, saying his worries are over thanks to him. He says since he was exiled from the organisation, he's been making a living as a merchant. It turns out he sells some items, materials and equipment!

After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You can now purchase items, materials and equipment from him at this location.

Starving Cat

After completing the "The Starving Cat" substory, you can continue giving the cat fish to build the friendship gauge. Note that you have to leave the area and come back later before you can give it another fish (go into a building somewhere and then leave and go back to the cat).

When you get the gauge to about 70%ish full, Ryoma says he has to give the cat a Red Seabream fish (rather than any random fish). Choose the top option to give the cat a Red Seabream fish.

The next time you talk to the cat, you have to give it a Tuna fish. Choose the top option to give the cat tuna. The cat then wants to live with Ryoma. You can now name the cat - default name is "Tuna".

After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You now have the cat as a pet at your house in Another Life.

Man Who Collects Junk

After completing the "The Man Who Collects Junk" substory from Chapter 4, you can continue giving him any old junk you don't need (just like with the "Junk-Child". Again, I just kept giving him Scrap Metal, lol). Note that you have to leave the area and then come back before you can give him more junk (go into a building somewhere then leave and come back).

When you get the gauge to about 75-80%ish full, the man mentions one of the items he has is an Okiku doll - or "Doll with growing hair", as he calls it (an allegedly haunted doll. According to legend, the doll is possessed by the spirit of a young girl and the doll's hair always grows - google it if you're curious about it. Not sure why it's in the game though, because the legend didn't show up until the 20th century, while this game takes place in the 19th century, but oh well). He says he wants to get rid of it, but can't find a buyer for something like that!

When you have almost maxed out the gauge, Ryoma notices the man is unwell. He tells Ryoma he's been feeling this way since he got rid of the Okiku doll. Ryoma suggests he might be cursed, because of the haunted doll! He asks the man what he did with the doll. The man tells Ryoma he burned the doll, then sold the ashes - because he couldn't sell it as it was. Ryoma tells him he needs an exorcism, saying he knows a priest who could exorcise him.

Ryoma goes over to the priest and tells him he knows a guy who is cursed and asks him to exorcise him. Ryoma leads him to the man, who is now on the ground. The preist then performs an exorcism. However, the man is still in pain. The preist supposes it's not a curse after all, then gives him medicine to treat a cold. The man is now well again - turns out it was just a cold! He thanks Ryoma for his help. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You can continue giving him junk you don't need even after maxing out the gauge for Dharma if you want.

Injured Dog

After completing the "The Injured Dog" substory from Chapter 4, you can continue giving the dog recovery items to build up the friendship gauge. Note that you have to leave the area and come back later before you can give it another item (go into a building somewhere and then leave and go back to the dog).

When you get the gauge to a bit over half way, Ryoma sees a couple of guys by the dog when he next returns. After they leave, Ryoma sees the dog is injured again and wonders if those guys were the ones who hurt it. You do not have to give the dog a recovery item this time.

When you leave and go back again, Ryoma sees the 2 guys again - this time he catches them injuring it! The 2 of them are competing with each other to see who can get the dog to cry the loudest. Ryoma steps in to stop them. A fight against the 2 guys begins.

After the fight, the guys run away. To ensure the dog remains safe, Ryoma decides to keep it. You can now name the dog - default name is "Naotaro".

After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You now have the dog as a pet at your house in Another Life.

Waiting Dog

After completing the "The Waiting Dog" substory from Chapter 4, you can continue to give the dog food to build the friendship gauge. Note that you have to leave the area and come back later before you can give it more food (go into a building somewhere and then leave and go back to the dog).

When you are close to maxing out the gauge, a woman arrives and explains to Ryoma why the dog just sits there all the time, never moving from that spot - the dog's owner died. The dog always waited at this exact spot every day to greet its owner when he returned from work. But the other day the man died in an accident while working. She says the dog doesn't understand that, which is why it is still sat there waiting for its owner to return. Ryoma tells the dog its owner is dead and that it'll starve to death just waiting there. Then, as Ryoma leaves, the dog finally moves! Ryoma then tells it he will look after it, in place of its former owner. You can now name the dog - it's default name is "Mame".

(is it just me, or is Ryoma like some kind of Japanese Doctor Dolittle in this game? All the animals understand what he says and he understands everything the animals say...)

After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You now have the dog as a pet at your house in Another Life.

Filthy Cat

After completing the "The Filthy Cat" substory from Chapter 4, you can continue washing the cat to build the friendship gauge. Note that you have to leave the area and come back later before you can wash it again (go into a building somewhere and then leave and go back to the cat).

After you get the gauge to about 75%ish full, when you next come back Ryoma notices the cat is not there. Head a little further east of where the cat usually is and Ryoma sees some people standing over the cat. Ryoma tells them this is his cat, then washes it at the bathhouse again. To ensure it doesn't happen again, Ryoma keeps the cat. You can now name it - default name is "Ochoko".

After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You now have the cat as a pet at your house in Another Life.

Revolutionary Chef

After completing the "The Revolutionary Chef" substory from Chapter 4, you can continue giving him home made meals to build up the friendship gauge.

When you get the gauge to about 80%, he tells Ryoma that thanks to his meals, he's getting the inspiration for the revolutionary Japanese cooking he's aiming for. He heads off to get to work.

Leave the area and then come back to him (leave Gion, then go back in). He gives Ryoma his new dish - "Revolutionary Rolled Fried Bean Curd" - and says he wants Ryoma to be the first to try this revolutionary new dish. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You can now create the "Revolutionary Rolled Fried Bean Curd" meal in Another Life.

Fascinating Wife

After completing the "The Fascinating Wife" substory from Chapter 4, leave the area then go back and talk to her. She tells Ryoma the cucumber her gave her was great - "It was delicious and I enjoyed it many times over". She then tells Ryoma there's another thing she really wants - a carrot. Again, after giving her the item she wants she says "That length... That thickness... This is exactly what I wanted" (with the unnecessary sound effects again). She rewards Ryoma with a Frenzy Pill. She runs off, saying she wants to go and enjoy it.

When you next speak to her, she again tells Ryoma about how she enjoyed it. Again, she says there's another thing she really wants - an eggplant. When you give her the eggplant, yet again we get "That length... That thickness... This is exactly what I wanted". She rewards Ryoma with an All-Purpose Pill. She runs off, saying she wants to go and enjoy it.

When you next speak to her, she talks about how much she enjoyed the eggplant. Again, she says there's another thing she really wants - a white radish. When you give her the daikon, yet again we get "That length... That thickness... This is exactly what I wanted"... She rewards Ryoma with a Vitality Pill - High Quality. She tells Ryoma her husband is working away from home, in a place far away - apparently he's been gone a year. She says having her favourite vegetables takes her mind off the loneliness. Ryoma then thinks to himself ("she uses vegetables to distract her from her loneliness... Don't tell me she...?...No, that can't be it... But..."). She said while she was standing out here thinking about how badly she wanted to see her husband, she saw Ryoma. She says Ryoma reminds her of her husband and she called out to him giving him strange requests for vegetables, so she could distract herself from her loneliness and she apologises to Ryoma. She then leaves, saying she wants to go and enjoy the white radish Ryoma gave her.

When you next speak to her, she again talks about how much she enjoyed the white radish. Then she says her husband is apparently returning soon and so there's something she really wants - a pumpkin. She wants to enjoy it with her husband when he returns. When you give her the pumpkin, she says "This size... This weight!... It's amazing!"... She rewards Ryoma with a Gold Plate. She tells Ryoma it'll be perfect for the meal. Ryoma seems surprised that she's going to eat it, but then the woman says "What are you talking about? Vegetables are for eating, aren't they?". She tells Ryoma she's made some delicious meals with the vegetables he's given her thus far. She then leaves, saying she has to get the meal ready for when her husband returns. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You can continue coming back to her and giving her any vegetables even after maxing out the friendship gauge to get Dharma, if you want.

Boy Who Loves Vegetables

After completing the "The Boy Who Loves Vegetables" substory from chapter 4, you can continue giving the boy vegetables to build up the friendship gauge. Note that you have to leave the area and then come back before you can give him another vegetable (leave Mibu, back to Rakunai, then come back).

When you get the gauge to about 75%ish, the boy tells Ryoma he loves all the vegetables Ryoma is giving him, but this is a secret he's keeping from his mother and it feels like he's lying to her. He wants to try and get her to make vegetable meals, but his mother hates vegetables so how can he convince her? Ryoma suggests that if she eats a delicious vegetable meal, it could change her opinion on vegetables. Ryoma says he'll make a vegetable meal for the boy's mother to try.

After this, go back to your house in Another Life and do cooking. Ryoma says he should make Aemono. When you have a max level kitchen, this is the 12th item on the meal list. You need to have at least the "Cooking-Lovers Kitchen" upgrade for this meal to appear on the list.

When you have the meal, return to the boy. Choose the top option to give the meal to the mother. She notices it has vegetables and say she can't eat it. Ryoma tries to tell her that if she tries it, she might change her mind about vegetables, but she says there's no way vegetables can taste nice. Ryoma manages to convince her to try it, by explaining the boy is considering leaving home because he can't have vegetables here and that though she hates vegetables herself, she should be more thoughtful of her child. She tries it and thinks it's delicious! She asks Ryoma if he'll show her how to make meals like that. After that, she goes off to the greengrocer with her son to get vegetables.

When you next speak to the boy, he complains about how the mother does nothing but make vegetable meals - morning, day and night they have nothing but vegetables (there's no pleasing some people...). He says he loves vegetables, but he's getting sick of so much of them. Now he says he wants to eat fish instead. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

You can continue coming here and giving the boy fish even after maxing out the gauge for Dharma, if you want.

Man Who Can't Remember

After completing the "The Man Who Can't Remember" substory from chapter 4, you can continue giving him recovery items to build up the friendship gauge. Note that you have to leave the area and then come back before you can give him another item (go into a building somewhere then leave and come back).

When you first come back to him after completing the substory, you'll need to give him multiple recovery items until the orange gauge above him fills up (you'll see it when you give him an item). The better quality Vitality Pills (/All-Purpose Pills) fill the gauge faster. Although you can give him Frenzy Pills, they don't have any effect on the gauge.

When you fill the orange gauge, the man gets up. Ryoma again asks what happened, but he can't remember. He thanks Ryoma for his help and rewards him with a Good Quality Wood.

When you next come back, you again have to fill up the orange gauge by giving him Vitality Pills (/All-Purpose Pills).

When you fill the orange gauge, the man gets up. Again, he can't remember what happened. He rewards Ryoma with a Robust Wood.

When you next enter the area, Ryoma hears the man fall and rushes over. Keep giving him recovery items to fill the orange gauge.

When you fill the orange gauge, the man gets up. Again, he can't remember, but this time Ryoma tries to force him to remember, telling him someone might be out to kill him. The man tells Ryoma he saw a cat, then went to follow it and he says he felt there was someone behind him. Then he turned around and didn't see anyone, so he thought he was imagining things, then he turned back around again... but can't remember any more than that. He rewards Ryoma with a 1000 Year Old Tree Branch.

When you next enter the area and approach the man's location, Ryoma notices the man is fine. He then says he should stand by and watch what happens, just in case he falls again. A cat shows up, then leaves. The man wonders if he has some kind of disease, which is why he keeps collapsing and that he should perhaps see a doctor, but then the man spots Ryoma and asks him what he's up to. Ryoma tells him he was going to watch what happens to him, in case he fell again. Then the man goes to walk forward and slips on the banana peel. Turns out that's what has been making him fall over all this time! The man rewards Ryoma with a Sacred Tree Wood. After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

Sumo Wrestler

After completing the "The Hungry Sumo Wrestler" substory from chapter 5, you can continue giving him food to build up the friendship gauge. Note that you have to leave the area and then come back before you can give him more food (go into a building somewhere then leave and come back).

When you next speak to him (after completing the substory), he thanks Ryoma for giving him food, saying he went on to win his match and has now gone up a rank! Give him another food item, then he runs off to his next match. Every time you come back to him after giving him food, he tells Ryoma he's gone up a rank.

When you get the gauge to about 80%, he tells Ryoma he's close to reaching the highest rank (Yokozuna). Again, give him a food item, then he runs off to his next match.

(wait a minute... He's the second highest rank in sumo wrestling, surely he gets paid well enough to buy his own food? Why Ryoma is still giving him stuff is a mystery to me...)

When you next speak to him, he tells Ryoma he's done it - he's become a Yokozuna!

After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

Leave the area, then come back and speak to him once more and Ryoma gets a Super Rare Medical Soldier Card.

Injured Man

After completing the "The Injured Man With a Sense of Justice" substory from chapter 5, you can continue giving him recovery medicine items to build up the friendship gauge.

Just like with the "Man Who Can't Remember" friendship story, you have to build up an orange gauge by giving recovery medicine items each time you return to him.

When you get the gauge to about 75%, the man complains that despite his efforts nothing is changing - he wanted there to be no people in danger anymore and no bad guys, but even after going through all this pain, things are the same. He says he's thinking of taking a break from his mission to save people.

Next time you come back, Ryoma sees the man with a woman - the same woman we saw in the substory. She apologises for not thanking him properly for saving her. She was apparently on her way to her mother because she was unwell, but was stopped by those guys on the way, so after the guy saved her she hurried on. She tells him that he essentially saved her mother because she got her to a doctor and her life was saved. After she leaves, Ryoma points out to him that he really is making a difference saving people. The man says he definitely will take a break from saving people now - he'll go to a dojo and train to become strong, so he can save more people.

After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.

Speak to him once more and Ryoma gets a Super Rare Support Soldier Card.

Akari

Go to the shrine in Rakunai after being introduced to the Another Life part of the game. A girl will talk to Ryoma, asking if he is Saito Hajime. She introduces herself to him as Akari, a Miko (shrine maiden) at this shrine.

The friendship gauge with her begins.

Leave the area and come back and talk to her. This builds up the gauge some more. Keep leaving then coming back and talking to her to build the gauge.

When you talk to her after getting the gauge above half way, she tells Ryoma she's not feeling well. Ryoma says he'll get some medicine for her. Talk to her again and give her any recovery medicine item. She thanks Ryoma, saying she feels better now.

When you are close to maxing out the gauge, the priest speaks to you as you enter the shrine area, asking how he's getting on with Haruka. Akari then rushes over asking if he has a minute to talk, but she can't do it there. She walks out with Ryoma and asks him what his relationship with Haruka is - she asks what does Ryoma think of Haruka. You have 3 options to choose from, but what you pick makes no difference at all. After picking an option, she apologises for asking a question like that, then gives Ryoma Akari's Rice Ball.

After that, the friendship gauge is maxed out.