In Like a Dragon: Ishin, you can complete various substories for rewards and virtue points. This guide covers the 22 Fushimi substories!
Death of the Author
Obtained: Enter the inn and make your way up the stairs. Head right, passing your room and follow the hallway. Enter the room at the end where a man is shouting.
For this substory, you’ll be asked to choose between a cat, underdog or a pig. Choose “cat”!
You’ll then be kicked out of the room as he has become inspired! Check back on him after some time passes. Natsumi will give you a reward for the success of his novel! This time he’ll ask you for the nickname of his schoolteacher character. Choose “Botch-chan”!
Once again you’ll leave then wait for some time to pass then tie in with him. He had another runaway success! You’ll receive another reward! For the next idea, he’ll ask you to come up with the title for the book. Choose “Heart”!
Yet again, wait for some time to pass then check back on the author. He’ll give you another reward and the substory will complete.
Reward: Broken Compass, Fine Silk Fabric, European Fabric
A Clean Streak
Obtained: Approach the bathhouse across the street from Fukufuku Pub
Agree to head inside the bathhouse. When you’re done with your soak, you’ll find your clothes stolen! Chase after the thief and capture him. Due to a misunderstanding, you’ll need to run back to the bathhouse without being captured yourself! Do so to complete the substory.
Reward: Crystal
A Man and His Sack
Obtained: Look at the people lined up for sushi across the street from General Goods
Wait in line to see what’s so great about the inari sushi. It will sell out before it’s your turn so wait some time then return. Again a line will have formed. Wait in it again. When it finally reaches your turn, they’ll have sold out again! NOOOOO!!! Once again, wait for some time to pass then check back. Wait in line when you’re able. You’ll finally receive your sushi sack!! Unfortunately a thief has other plans for it. Chase after and capture him. He’s a bit tricky to snag. You must time it when you press X (your sprint button)! Once you capture him, the substory will finally complete!
All in the Hips
Obtained: Purchase food at Umai Udon. Afterwards, speak with the shop owner and order udon.
Once you begin this substory, you’ll partake in a minigame. When you complete the game, the substory will end.
Reward: 10% of sales you earned
Invasion of the Black Ships?
Obtained: During Chapter 6, approach the pair on the dock in the southern part of the area
When you approach the pair, you’ll learn about black ships that are causing absolute chaos. Leave then return to the spot to find some commotion occurring at the dock. When you learn the man from the black boat is seasick, speak with the onlooker wearing a blue top. Afterwards, speak with the man from the black ship and give him sake. Since that idea didn’t work, speak with the woman onlooker near the waterwheel. She’ll suggest exercising the seasick man. Return to the man from the black ship and help him sweat it out. For this, you’ll need to defeat him in battle. For the next suggestion from an onlooker, head east and speak with the old man. He’ll suggest umeboshi as the cure for seasickness. If you don’t have any on you, you can head to the Ichikura General Goods store in Fushimi and purchase some for 800 mon. Return to the man from the boat and give him the umeboshi. Finally something that worked!! During the long cutscene, you’ll need to fight a group of extremists that show up. Once you do, the substory will complete.
Reward: Precise Machinery
It’s a Long Story
Obtained: Approach the two women standing on the west side of Hanako
When you’re ready, speak with Sakiko and agree to hear her out. The answers to her quiz are as follows:
- Bamboo shoots
- Outside a tea shop
- Of course – it’s Sakiko
Once you answer all the questions, the substory will complete!
Reward: Gold Seal
It’s a Long Story: The Final Chapter
Obtained: Speak with Sakiko standing on the west side of Hanako
Once you speak with her, she’ll begin talking again. The answers to her quiz are as follows:
- Red, white, and green
- Amazake
- Sumire
When you answer all the questions, the substory will complete!
Reward: Tear of the Dragon
It’s a Long Story: Epilogue
Obtained: Speak with Sakiko standing on the west side of Hanako
Once you speak with her, she’ll begin talking again. The answers to her quiz are as follows:
- A scarecrow
- Pickled daikon
- A tuna
When you answer all the questions, the substory will complete!
Reward: Golden Medicine Case
Scented Water
Obtained: Speak with the Lovestruck Woman next to the ferryman south of Komaki Dojo
Offer to purchase the perfume in her steed. She’ll thank you and give you 3 ryo for the perfume. Travel to Mukurogai. Once there, head to the southeastern side of the upper level to trigger a cutscene where you find a man who could potentially be the merchant who sells the perfume. Speak with him then defeat him in battle. Afterwards, you’ll be given the perfume for free but will need to run away!! Follow the pink dots on the minimap until you make your way all the way back to the woman. If you get nabbed, follow the prompts to break free! When you reach the woman, the substory will complete!
Reward: 3 ryo
Ee Ja Nai Ka
Obtained: Approach the large group of dancers outside of Ebisu Pawn Fushimi
When you approach the social protestors, a cutscene will trigger followed by a fight against the Troublesome Men, Nakamura and Maeda. Defeating them will complete the substory!
Reward: Exquisite Cogwheel
The Way of the Sammerai
Obtained: Approach the men in front of the Dojo in Yashikimachi
You’ll find Tom, an American, who wants to learn the way of the samurai. Agree to train him then beat him up! Tom decides that he truly does want to become a samurai so check back with him after some time passes to see how he has progressed with his training. When he appears in front of the Dojo, speak with him and agree to train. Once again, defeat him in combat then wait awhile and return to check on Tom. Some kids will be making fun of him but he’s still ready to train so spar with him. Doubt will creep back up in Tom and says he won’t return for awhile. Head to the southern part of Fushimi near the fish market to find a samurai harassing a group of children. Tom will jump in to save them. A horde of troublemakers will back up the child-hating samurai so we’ll cut in to even the odds. Dispatch of the men to complete the substory
Last Stand of the Panthers
Obtained: Approach the Black Panther standing on the southern side of Teradaya
Just like all the other substories of this questline, you’ll need to complete the deliveries before the Black Panther. Do so to complete the substory.
Reward: Great Serpent Skin
The Desperate Fisherman
Obtained: Approach the Fisherman by the water south of Teradaya
This poor guy made a promise to his wife that he’d stop fishing if he didn’t bring anything home. To help him, you can either purchase a fish from the fish market or fish for one yourself. Once you’ve gotten one, hand it over to complete the substory.
Reward: Bond with Desperate Fisherman
The Junk Boy
Obtained: Approach the boy talking to himself on Kuramachi Street just north of Teradaya during Chapter 4
The boy will ask you for something he can have to exchange with his friends for the spinning top. Agree to hand something over and you’ll be able to select an items from your inventory. We gave him a Konpeito as it is a sugar candy that is quite popular among children. He was extremely happy then ran off to show his friends and the substory ended.
Reward: Bond with Junk Boy
The Wood Cutter
Obtained: Interact with the old man sitting by the wood chopping station
Agree to help the old man out with chopping wood. You’ll only need to chop 20 wood in the minigame, however, there are Diligence Records for doing more (100 & 300)! Whenever you’re ready to stop, press O. The substory will then complete!
Reward: Bond with Wood Cutter
The Frequently Lost Courier
Obtained: Speak with the man standing next to the jizo statue south of Komaki Dojo
This courier was looking for directions to Fushimi Ichibangai. After instructing him on how to get there, he’ll run off. Wait some time then return to this spot. He’ll be back so speak with him to learn that he got lost again. You’ll instruct him again. Wait awhile then come back to this spot to check up on the courier. He made it thankfully but is worried about all the other packages he has to deliver. To help him avoid damaging his family’s reputation, we agree to assist with the deliveries. You’ll receive the Courier’s Parcel and will be instructed to deliver the package to Kankichi in Yashikimachi. The substory will then complete!
If you deliver the package to the man, you’ll receive 5,000 mon as a reward! He can be found by the jizo statue just north of Hanako. After delivering the package, make sure to report back to the courier.
You’ll receive another package. This time, it’ll be going to Yakichi in North Umekojicho in Rakugai. You can find Yakichi just east of the Uji Tea Parlor. Hand him the parcel to receive 6,000 mon. Just like before, report back to the courier when you’re done!
Once again, you’ll have another delivery to make. This time it’s to Hatsutaro in Umekojicho. He can be found at the Shady Bar in Rakugai. Hand him the parcel to receive 6,000 mon. As always, report back to the courier when you’re done!
For the next delivery, you’ll need to find Kimi in Sannocho. She can be found on the east side of the Scarecrow Chateau in Rakugai. Hand her the parcel to receive 8,000 mon. Report back to the courier when you’re able.
For this delivery, travel to the second floor of Mukurogai and look for Kyuzo. He can be found standing south of the Tachibanagumi HQ. Hand him the parcel to receive 1 ryo. Report back to the courier when you’re done!
This next delivery will have you traveling along the riverside in Mukurogai. You can find Sadakichi standing next to the river on the first level of Mukurogai near the cannon guy. Hand him the parcel to receive 7000 mon. Report back to the courier when you’re done! Afterwards, the bond will max out. You will not receive any additional items.
Reward: Bond with Frequently Lost Courier
The Patient Dog
Obtained: Interact with the dog lying down just south of the Dojo
After you interact with the dog, feed it. If you don’t have anything on you, head to the General Store nearby and pick up a dish. After feeding the dog, the substory will complete.
Reward: Bond with Patient Dog
The Filthy Cat
Obtained: Look at the white cat sitting on the dock next to the boat in the southwestern corner of Fushimi that takes you to Ryoma’s villa
After interacting with the cat, the substory will end.
Reward: Bond with Filthy Cat
The Captain and the Curious
Obtained: Approach the Carefree Foreigner just northeast of the Umai Udon restaurant
For this substory, agree to have a drink. You’ll be introduced to Ernest Satow during the long cutscene that follows. When the cutscene completes, you’ll have to fight Kawakami Gensai. Once you defeat him, Satow will give you the Writings of an Amateur Historian. He’ll then ask us to find him memoirs, journals, etc.