Shintaro Kazama

Shintaro Kazama is a major protagonist in the first game of the Yakuza video game series and in its remaster Yakuza Kiwami. He is also a major protagonist in the game's prequel Yakuza 0.

Background
Kazama was initially a hitman working for the Dojima Family. He is known to have murdered a lot of people. Kazama set up the Sunflower Orphanage to raise the children of all the people he had killed as a way of making amends for what he had done. Three of the orphans were Kazuma Kiryu, Akira Nishikiyama and Yumi Susanara who Kazama grew a strong bond with especially the first.

Over time Kazama became the Captain of the Dojima Family and was no longer an assassin.

Yakuza 0
Prior to the events of the game Kazama ran a gambling ring and was ratted out by another yakuza. As a result Kazama was put into prison.

Kiryu is framed for a murder which puts Kazama in danger of losing his position as captain of the Dojima Family and his life. Kiryu begins a mission to clear his name and save himself and Kazama.

Tachibana manages to persuade Kiryu to join his company and help him find the empty lot by telling him that it is Kazama's wish for him to do so.

Kiryu meets a man named Yamanoi who runs a real estate buisiness. He requests that Kiryu take over as CEO of the company and that it is Kazama's plan for him to do so. Kiryu agrees.

When Kiryu returns from Sotenbori and meets with Tachibana the latter reveals that Kazama was responsible for the creation of his company Tachibana Real Estate. Upon learning that the Dojima Family intended to buy a vacant lot from his sister Tachibana went to visit Kazama and negotiate for his sister's safety. Kazama instructed Tachibana to set up the company and purhcase the empty lot from his sister so that the Dojima Family would no longer have any reason to target her. Kazama's intentions were to prevent the Dojima Family from selling the part of Kamurocho the lot was apart of and becoming so rich that their patriach Sohei Dojima would have a secured position as the next chairman of the Tojo Clan.

Kiryu later meets with Sera in Little Asia after Tachibana dies who reveals that Kazama's plan for the lot once Tachibana bought it was for him to give it to the Nikkyo Consortium so that Sera would be the chairman instead of Sohei.

Near the end of the game Kiryu meets Kazama in jail who apologises for the troubles he has put him through.