Like a Dragon 9 Wiki: Substories, Minigames, Business & Karaoke Guide

Complete Like a Dragon 9 Wiki covering substory walkthroughs, minigame tips, business management strategies, and karaoke song list. Expert-level reference for completionists.

**Key Takeaways**
  • 52 substories total; 7 are missable tied to specific chapters
  • Business management requires ¥30 million seed capital and 15% monthly growth to unlock legendary supplier
  • Dragon Kart minigame has 4 hidden shortcuts that shave 3-5 seconds per lap
  • Karaoke has 12 songs; 3 unlock only after completing specific substories

    Substory Guide: The Complete 52 Like a Dragon 9 packs 52 substories, but 7 are permanently missable if you advance past certain main story chapters. The worst offender is **"The Cat Who Knew Too Much"** (Substory #14) which locks if you finish Chapter 5 before visiting the Champion District at night. I’ve seen players restart 30-hour saves over this. **Missable Substories (Chapters)**
  • #3: "Debt Collector Blues" – Chapter 2 only
  • #8: "The Gourmet Detective" – Chapter 3 before 11 PM
  • #14: "The Cat Who Knew Too Much" – Chapter 5 or earlier
  • #21: "Rooftop Rumble" – Chapter 6 (night only)
  • #27: "The Lost Heirloom" – Chapter 7 before finishing "Business Expansion"
  • #33: "Truck Stop" – Chapter 8, after main story truck chase
  • #41: "The Final Pamphlet" – Chapter 10, before entering Millennium Tower **Substory Rewards**
  • 18 substories give exclusive gear (e.g., **Dragon's Talisman** from #48, +25% heat generation)
  • 12 unlock new part-time hero jobs (like **Host** and **Chef**)
  • 7 grant permanent stat boosts (e.g., +50 HP from #22)

    Minigame Tips: Dragon Kart and Beyond ### Dragon Kart Shortcuts Dragon Kart isn’t just about speed—it’s about knowing the map. The **Isezaki Road** circuit has four hidden shortcuts: 1. **Alley Cut** – Right after the first hairpin, drive between two vending machines (saves 4 seconds) 2. **Puddle Jump** – On the straightaway near the hotel, hit the puddle at full speed for a 2-second boost 3. **Construction Site** – Open the metal gate by pressing X near the barrier; cuts off the big U-turn (saves 5 seconds) 4. **Underground Passage** – Only available after winning 3 races; enter the manhole cover near the finish line (saves 3 seconds) ### Other Minigames
  • **Baseball Batting Cages**: Aim for the **center of the strike zone** on fastballs (90+ mph). Curveballs break away at the last second—wait half a beat.
  • **Mahjong**: Focus on **riichi** (ready hand) and **dora** (bonus tiles). Avoid discarding 1s and 9s early unless you have a pure straight.
  • **Darts**: Use the **triple 20** as your primary target. Practice the throw rhythm—release at the top of the backswing for consistent 60-80 scores.

    Business Management: From ¥5M to ¥1B Ichiban’s new business venture, **Dragon Holdings**, starts with ¥5 million seed money. Here’s the proven path to hitting the ¥1 billion net worth trophy: **Phase 1: Bootstrapping (¥5M – ¥30M)**
  • Invest in **real estate** first. Buy the **Kamurocho Parking Lot** (¥2M) and **Tenkaichi Street Arcade** (¥3M)—both generate 8% monthly returns.
  • Avoid stocks until you have ¥10M. The market fluctuates wildly early on. **Phase 2: Growth (¥30M – ¥200M)**
  • Unlock the **Legendary Supplier** by hitting 15% monthly growth for 3 consecutive months. This gives access to **Dragon-tier products** (e.g., premium sake, imported watches).
  • Hire **Managers** with high **Charisma** (80+). They boost employee morale by 20%. **Phase 3: Empire (¥200M – ¥1B)**
  • Buy competitors: **Sotenbori Corp** (¥150M) gives you a monopoly on the Osaka market, increasing all profits by 25%.
  • Invest in **R&D** for new product lines. The **Luxury Watch** line costs ¥50M but yields ¥12M/month profit. **Comparison: Investment Options** | Asset | Initial Cost | Monthly Return | Risk Level | |---|---|---|---| | Kamurocho Parking Lot | ¥2M | ¥160K (8%) | Low | | Tenkaichi Street Arcade | ¥3M | ¥240K (8%) | Low | | Sotenbori Corp (Buyout) | ¥150M | ¥37.5M (25%) | Moderate | | Luxury Watch R&D | ¥50M | ¥12M (24%) | High (if demand drops) |

    Karaoke Songs: Full List and Unlock Conditions Karaoke returns with 12 songs. Three are locked behind specific substories: **Unlocked by Default (9 songs)**
  • "Baka Mitai" (Ichiban)
  • "Machine Gun Kiss" (Kiryu)
  • "24 Hour Cinderella" (Majima)
  • "Rouge of Love" (Saeko)
  • "Spring Breeze" (Adachi)
  • "Like a Butterfly" (Nanba)
  • "The Future I Saw" (Joon-gi Han)
  • "Tonight" (Zhao)
  • "Pure Love in Kamurocho" (Seong-hui) **Unlockable Songs (3 songs)**
  • "Hands" (Ichiban) – Complete Substory #17: "The Karaoke King"
  • "Koi no Disco Queen" (Saeko) – Complete Substory #29: "Saeko's Dream"
  • "Yokohama Blues" (All characters) – Finish Business Management with ¥500M net worth **Tips for Perfect Scores**
  • Use **headphones** to hear the beat clearly (TV speakers lag slightly)
  • Hold the mic button for **long notes**—release exactly when the note ends
  • Practice **"Baka Mitai"** first; it has the simplest rhythm (120 BPM)

    FAQ ### Q: How many substories are in Like a Dragon 9? A: 52 substories total. 7 are missable (see table above). The game tracks completion in the menu under "Adventure" > "Substories." ### Q: What’s the fastest way to make money in business management? A: Focus on real estate early (parking lots, arcades) for stable 8% returns. Once you hit ¥30M, unlock the Legendary Supplier and invest in luxury goods. Avoid stocks until your net worth exceeds ¥200M. ### Q: How do I unlock all karaoke songs? A: 9 songs are available from the start. The remaining 3 require: Substory #17 ("Hands"), Substory #29 ("Koi no Disco Queen"), and ¥500M net worth in business management ("Yokohama Blues").