Learn how to use Ichiban's Demolish skill in Yakuza: Like a Dragon to break open hidden shops and find valuable items, including Gold Keys for safes.
Alright, let's talk about a couple of things that seem small but can really open up the world in Yakuza: Like a Dragon: the Demolish skill and those pesky Gold Keys. Think of Demolish as your special tool for exploration, and Gold Keys as your ticket to some seriously good loot.
What is Demolish?
Demolish is Ichiban's first special skill learned as part of the Wrecker job. It's not for fighting, but for interacting with the environment, kind of like the Freeter job's 'Search for Goods' action. You'll use it to smash through barricades in dungeons or break open boarded-up shop entrances scattered around Ijincho.
To get this skill, Ichiban needs to be at least level 1 and have a Cheer stat of level 3. Head over to Hello Work and switch his job to Wrecker. Once you change jobs, the game usually gives you a quick rundown on the Demolish action. If you prefer Ichiban in a different job later on, just remember to switch back to Wrecker if you want to use Demolish.
How and When to Use Demolish
Once you've got Demolish, you'll see prompts appear when you get close to certain things. This includes barricades you'll find in dungeons, and boarded-up shop entrances. For barricades, just get near the middle of them and look for the button prompt. It's your cue to smash through!
The Deal with Gold Keys
The game hands you a silver safe key early on, which is pretty handy as one key opens all silver safes. But for those shiny gold safes? You'll need Gold Keys, and these aren't just lying around. You'll have to buy them from specific shops or go through a bit of a grind to get them for free. Each Gold Key costs a hefty 10,000 Yen, and you need one for every gold safe you want to open. Yeah, it took me a while to realize they weren't given out during the story – you gotta seek 'em out!
Hidden Shop Locations
It's kinda wild how these shopkeepers just wait behind locked doors, but hey, that's Ijincho for ya! Using Demolish is how you'll get into these hidden spots.
- Fumie: Head south from Hamako's shop or Ichiban's first residence, near the area's border. You'll spot a shop with a boarded-up door and a red awning that says 'ふみえ' in rounded letters. Use Demolish here! Inside, the shopkeeper sells Golden Safe Keys for 10,000 Yen each, along with other useful items.
| Item | Price | Job | Special Effect |
| Golden Safe Key | 10,000 | ||
| Smoke Bomb | 1,000 | ||
| Hades Token: Purple 7 | 20,000 | ||
| Souten Token: Deathmatch | 15,000 | ||
| Iron Gloves | 198,000 | Hitman | |
| Vintage Notebook | 80,000 | Detective | Boosts the amount of job EXP that can be obtained from enemies |
| Worldly Cigar | 80,000 | Gangster | Boosts the amount of job EXP that can be obtained from enemies |
| Rising Dragon Belt | 80,000 | Matriarch | Boosts the amount of job EXP that can be obtained from enemies |
| Fancy Business Card | 80,000 | Host | Boosts the amount of job EXP that can be obtained from enemies |
| Dice of Disaster | 80,000 | Fortuneteller | Boosts the amount of job EXP that can be obtained from enemies |
| Dreamy Signature | 80,000 | Idol | Boosts the amount of job EXP that can be obtained from enemies |
| Gambler's Tie | 80,000 | Dealer | Boosts the amount of job EXP that can be obtained from enemies |
- Black Market Merchant: You'll pass this spot twice during the main story. It's in an alleyway that leads towards Zhao's restaurant. From the movie theater area, go past the weapon shop and up the stairs into the alley. Look for the first opening that seems like a seating area, then go down a narrow passage. Before you head down any stairs, turn your camera around – you'll see a boarded-up door. The shopkeeper here also sells Golden Keys for 10,000 Yen each.
| Item | Price |
| Incendiary Grenade | 10,000 |
| Lamp Stand | 5,000 |
| Alcoholic Gas Ball | 2,500 |
| Fear Gas Ball | 2,500 |
| Power Ring | 8,000 |
| Superpower Ring | 20,000 |
| Fluorite Bracelet | 7,900 |
| Silver Bracelet | 19,900 |
| Designer Earrings | 7,700 |
| Pearl Earrings | 19,700 |
| Chainmail | 8,300 |
| Sengoku Armor | 20,300 |
| Athletic Insoles | 8,000 |
| Military Insoles | 20,000 |
| Work Gloves | 8,300 |
| Expert Gloves | 20,300 |
| Gold Safe Key | 10,000 |
- Mangekyo: This shop doesn't sell Gold Keys, but it's worth knowing about. You'll find it in the Snack District. Go to the north end of that long, curved row of buildings (where Bar Rodriguez is) and take the stairs up to the second floor. It's the first boarded-up door you see.
| Item | Price |
| Hardball | 5,000 |
| Throwing Knife | 5,000 |
| Hand Grenade | 3,000 |
| Incendiary Grenade | 10,000 |
| Sleeping Gas Ball | 2,500 |
| Rage Gas Ball | 2,500 |
| Binding | 2,800 |
| Luxurious Belt | 3,200 |
| Health Ring | 3,000 |
| Toy Bracelet | 2,900 |
| Simple Earrings | 2,700 |
| Rusted Chainmail | 3,300 |
| Economy Insoles | 3,000 |
| Cotton Gloves | 3,300 |
But You Don't Want to Pay for a Key?
Look, 10,000 Yen is pretty small change once you get into the swing of things, especially with how fast you can rake in millions from company management. But if you're really trying to save every penny, there's a free way to snag a Gold Key. It's a bit of a hassle, though!
After you've finished Chapter 6, head over to the Korean Town area. Go to the second floor of 'THE Building' (the one with Mahjong Citron and the Sujimon Professor). You'll find a guy hiding in the stairwell. Talk to him repeatedly – he'll initially tell you to leave him alone. Keep mashing that talk button (I honestly lost count, but it's probably around 40-50 times). If you're persistent enough, he'll eventually reward you with a Gold Key! He'll then tell you to come back later for more. His dialogue doesn't change much after the first reward, so you might have to leave, come back, and repeat the whole button-mashing process for each subsequent key. I haven't personally gone back for a second one yet, but that's the method!
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