You've spent hours in Kamurocho. You’ve mastered the art of the karaoke machine, you’ve beaten up countless thugs in gold suits, and you’ve finally started making real money in the Real Estate Royale. But then, you hit a wall. That wall is the Yakuza 0 Pleasure King.
He’s the third billionaire you have to take down. Honestly, he’s where the difficulty spike really starts to hurt. Up until this point, the Leisure King and the Electronics King were basically tutorials. They were warm-ups. The Pleasure King? He’s the guy who reminds you that Kiryu Kazuma isn't just a landlord; he’s a man fighting a shadow war for the future of the Empty Lot.
If you're struggling to take over his territory, don't worry. Most players do. It’s not just about the combat, though that’s certainly a part of it. It’s about the management, the timing, and knowing exactly when to stop being a "nice guy" and start being a tycoon.
The Pleasure King: More Than Just a Gaudy Suit
The Pleasure King represents the Pink Street area. If you know Kamurocho, you know this is the district of nightlife, soaplands, and questionable decisions. It’s fitting. His territory is dense.
He isn't just a boss; he’s a gatekeeper. Beating him unlocks the Rush Style mastery, which is arguably one of the most important upgrades for Kiryu if you prefer speed over raw power. But getting there is a slog. You have to claw your way through his 10% share increments, watching the bar crawl slowly toward that inevitable showdown.
Why his territory is harder to flip
Most people make the mistake of treating the Pleasure King’s area like the previous two. It doesn't work that way. The businesses in the Pink Street area are more expensive to upgrade and require better managers. If you’re still using the C-rank or B-rank managers you picked up at the start of the game, you’re going to get crushed during a Money Battle.
Money Battles are the "random encounters" of the real estate world. When the Pleasure King challenges you, he’s trying to drain your cash and stop your progress. If your manager’s "Financial" stat isn't high enough, you’ll lose millions in seconds.
Basically, you need to stop and recruit. Have you done the Miracle Johnson substories? If not, do them. Miracle (the Michael Jackson parody) is one of the best advisors in the game. You need him. You also need to look into the "Tax Lady" and other high-tier staff that only appear after you finish specific side quests. Without them, the Yakuza 0 Pleasure King will simply outspend you.
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The Infamous Telephone Club Battle
There is a specific moment in this arc that makes people want to throw their controllers. The minigame challenge.
Every King has a challenge. The Pleasure King’s choice? The Telephone Club.
If you aren't good at the "Riku, Ayame, and Mithuru" guessing game, you’re going to lose a massive chunk of territory share. It’s a high-pressure situation. You’re sitting there, trying to time your shots to pick up the phone, all while the Pleasure King mocks you.
Here is the thing: you don't have to win this to finish the game, but losing it means you have to spend several more cycles collecting profit to make up the lost percentage. It’s a massive time sink.
- Tip 1: Listen to the voice. Each girl has a distinct tone.
- Tip 2: The "Golden" girl isn't always the one you want.
- Tip 3: If you fail, don't reload your save unless you’re a perfectionist. Just grind the money back. It’s faster in the long run.
Combat: Facing the King Himself
Eventually, you'll hit 90% or more territory. This is when the talking stops. The Yakuza 0 Pleasure King will invite you to a final confrontation.
Unlike the Electronics King, who was kind of a pushover in a fight, the Pleasure King actually has some moves. He fights with a heavy, swinging style. He’s got reach. He uses his environment.
If you’ve been neglecting your Beast style, now is the time to level it up. While Rush is great for dodging his swings, Beast allows you to pick up the surrounding furniture and beat him at his own game.
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Actually, let’s talk about the "Brawler" style for a second. Most players forget it exists once they get the flashy stuff. But the Resolute Counter is your best friend here. If you can time it right, you can tank his heavy hits and deliver a crushing blow that ends the fight much faster than chipping away with light jabs.
The Grudge Match
Don't forget that these bosses often bring backup. It’s never a "fair" fight in the world of Yakuza. The Pleasure King's goons are there to interrupt your Heat Actions. Focus on the small fry first. It sounds basic, but in the heat of a King fight, it's easy to get tunnel vision and get poked in the back by a guy with a lead pipe.
Once the Pleasure King is down, the game shifts. You get a huge payout. We are talking billions of yen. This is where the game truly opens up. You go from "rich" to "obscene wealth."
Maximizing Your Profit in Pink Street
After you beat the Yakuza 0 Pleasure King, you still own the district. Now you need to make it pay.
Pink Street is unique because the businesses there have high growth potential but low base income. You need to invest heavily. Don't just dump money into one building. Spread it out. You want to get all those shops to S-rank as quickly as possible.
Why? Because the next King, the Media King, is a whole different beast. He requires an amount of capital that seems impossible if you haven't fully optimized the Pleasure King’s former turf.
Honestly, the Real Estate Royale is a loop.
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- Assign Managers.
- Collect money.
- Invest in properties.
- Fight off a King’s goons.
- Repeat.
It can feel grindy. I get that. But the reward—the "Legend" style (the Dragon of Dojima style)—is the most powerful move set in the game. You cannot get it without finishing this entire questline. The Pleasure King is the midpoint. He’s the hump you have to get over.
Common Misconceptions About the Pleasure King
I've seen people online saying you need to be level 20 in your styles to beat him. That’s overkill. You can beat him with basic upgrades as long as you understand the "Heat" system.
Another mistake? Ignoring the "Advisors." People try to save money by using cheap advisors. That’s a trap. Spending 100 million yen on a top-tier advisor to upgrade a building will make you 500 million yen more in the next three cycles. It’s basic math. You have to spend money to make money. The Yakuza 0 Pleasure King knows this. That’s why he’s rich. You have to think like him to beat him.
Real-world context (Sort of)
The Yakuza series is known for its "Real Estate Royale" being a parody of the Japanese asset price bubble of the late 1980s. Everything was inflated. Money didn't feel real. People were throwing millions of yen at simple problems. The Pleasure King embodies that excess. He’s dressed in loud colors, obsessed with "pleasure" and nightlife, and thinks his wallet is his shield.
When you beat him, you aren't just winning a street fight. You're popping his bubble.
Actionable Steps to Dominate the Pleasure King
If you're currently stuck or just starting the Pink Street takeover, follow this sequence. It works every time.
- Recruit the "Miracle" Advisor: Complete the side quest "Miracle in Maharaja." He is the best advisor for the high-end properties in the Pleasure King's district.
- Upgrade your Managers: If your manager doesn't have at least a 4-star rating in the current economy type, swap them out. You will lose more money in "Money Battles" than you save on wages.
- The 90% Threshold: Once you hit 90% share, stop. Make sure your health is full, your inventory is packed with Stamina Royale, and you've spent your current cash on character upgrades. The boss fight starts immediately after the cutscene.
- Target the Businesses First: Don't worry about the "King" himself until you've bought every available property in the area. The more properties you own, the less effective his "Money Battles" are against you.
- Use the "Beast" Style: During the actual boss fight, use the "Crates" and "Bicycles" scattered around. The Pleasure King has a lot of health, and environmental damage is the fastest way to chunk it down.
Beating the Yakuza 0 Pleasure King is a rite of passage. It signifies that you're no longer a small-time yakuza. You're a player in the Kamurocho underworld. Once he's out of the way, take a breath, head to the nearest sushi bar, and get ready. The Media King and the Gambling King are waiting, and they make the Pleasure King look like an amateur.
Start by checking your current property list. If you don't own the "Showboat" or "Pink Street My Home," go buy them now. They are the backbone of that district's income. Go get your money.