Japan is an island country in East Asia.
The country uses the CERO rating system to rate all Grand Theft Auto releases, with all games in the series so far being rated Z (18+). Japan receives Grand Theft Auto releases at a much later time, as it has taken a long time for Rockstar Games to localize them, which is done by Rockstar Japan. Japanese releases of Grand Theft Auto games do not feature dialogue re-dubbed in the Japanese language and instead feature English voice acting and Japanese subtitles.
Published by Syscom Entertainment:
- Grand Theft Auto (August 27, 1998)
Published by Capcom:
- Grand Theft Auto III (September 25, 2003)
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (May 20, 2004)
- Grand Theft Auto Double Pack (July 29, 2004 Xbox version, February 27, 2007 PS2 version)
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (January 25, 2007)
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (July 26, 2007 PSP version, September 6, 2007 PS2 version)
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (December 6, 2007)
- Grand Theft Auto IV (October 30, 2008)
- Grand Theft Auto V (October 10, 2013)
Published by CyberFront:
- Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (October 29, 2009)
Published by Take-Two Interactive Japan:
- Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City (June 10, 2010)
- Grand Theft Auto V (October 10, 2013)
References in the Grand Theft Auto Series[]
2D Universe[]
- The Yakuza, a real-life criminal organization based in Japan, is featured in Grand Theft Auto and Grand Theft Auto 2.
- GTA 2 introduces the Zaibatsu Corporation, a mega-corporation and criminal organization named after the Japanese term for a type of business. Although it is later revealed in Grand Theft Auto III that Zaibatsu was founded in Liberty City (located in the United States of America), the organization's name still implies strong ties to Japan.
- In GTA 2, the host of Funami FM is a Japanese woman named Teriyaki-chan.
- Funabashi in GTA 2 is named after a real city in the Chiba Prefecture.
3D Universe[]
- The Yakuza also appears in GTA III, GTA Advance and GTA Liberty City Stories. Its members Asuka Kasen, Kenji Kasen, Kazuki Kasen and his wife Toshiko Kasen, and Asuka's niece Yuka are all of Japanese origin.
- The country capital, Tokyo, is mentioned in the Liberty Tree article Yakuza Operating With Impunity. It is also the setting for the push up contest in Push-Up - The Movie, which the movie's trailer incorrectly claims is in China.
- The Kuruma is a Japanese car, since it has some visual cues from Japanese sedans and 'kuruma' (くるま or 車) means 'car' in Japanese.
- Many other cars in the 3D Universe are also inspired by Japanese cars, however, the Kuruma is the only one with a Japanese name.
- There are also many Japanese manufacturers in the 3D Universe, such as Kakagawa appliances and the Maibatsu vehicles (Based on Mitsubishi).
- The game Space Monkey and its sequel Space Monkey 7 were originated in Japan, according to radio advertisement.
- Middle-aged Japanese tourists can be found around Ocean Beach and Washington Beach.
- Sushi Man is a Japanese sushi shop that appears in Willowfield, LS.
- The small restaurant chain Sayonara Restaurant from Commerce, which means 'goodbye restaurant' is a Japanese restaurant chain.
- The musical Wingding Sons of a Bitch Take Flight uses the Rising Sun Flag, which was used as the war flag for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
- There are two Japanese tourist pedestrians in GTA Vice City (marked as
JMOTO
andJFOTO
in the game files). - There is one Japanese businessman pedestrian in GTA San Andreas (marked as
OMORI
in the game files). - The Katana (かたな or 刀) is a Japanese weapon, which literally means 'sword'.
- The song "Japanese Boy" by Aneka is featured on Flash FM.
- The atomic bombings in Japan in 1945 are mentioned by Mike Toreno in the mission Verdant Meadows.
HD Universe[]
- Several automotive manufacturers are Japanese:
- The Warrener, while manufactured by the Swedish car manufacturer Vulcar, bears its overall, Japanese style to it, specifically the 1969 Nissan Skyline C10.
- The car manufacturer Nagasaki is the name of a Japanese prefecture, containing its capital city of the same name, which was hit by a nuclear bomb on August 9, 1945.
- A.M. Beer is a brand of Japanese beer (Based on Asahi Beer).
- Kisama Beer is another brand of Japanese beer.
- Fukaru is a Japanese tire company.
- ONO is a Japanese electronics company.
- Noel Katsuda and Shon Kikuchi are of Japanese origin.
- The Japanese flag is one of the flags displayed at the Los Santos Golf Club.
- The TV shows Princess Robot Bubblegum and Full Robo Hickey Hurry Mech Battlesuit are parodies of Japanese animes.
- Another TV show, Kung Fu Rainbow Lazerforce, is a parody of the Power Rangers franchise, which itself is the American adaption of the Japanese Super Sentai series.
- The mission Dragon Haul Z is an obvious nod to the Japanese anime Dragon Ball Z.
- The Uptown Riders, based on the real life Ruff Ryders, mostly ride Japanese bikes.
- The Elegy RH8 is metaphorically described as having been "born in the fires of Mt. Fuji".
- Mark Fostenburg's golf clubs are made in Japan.
- Nutsaki is a Japanese-like restaurant.
- Gozushi! is also a Japanese restaurant, named for one of Japan's most famous film series, Godzilla.
- The KOI Retreat & Spa is a Japanese-esque spa located in Puerto Del Sol, Los Santos.
- There are some Japanese-speaking pedestrians found in GTA IV.
- The San Andreas Flight School Update added a Japan flag Chute Bag in GTA Online.
- The Japan livery is one of the liveries on the Cheval Marshall.
- There is also a Japanese flag available on the roof of the Dukes.
- One of the currencies listed on www.iwillsurviveitall.com is the Japanese yen.
- During Chakra Attack, Ray De Angelo Harris talks about his koi fish and hibachi.
- The song "Raisins" by the Japanese composer Ryo Kawasaki is featured on Fusion FM.
- The Japanese flag can be added to the Kosatka in GTA Online.
- The F-160 Raiju is named after the Japanese folklore thunder creature of the same name.