>>716046041>he was still a real yakuza member, in the gamesDuring nearly all of 1 he wasn't. The only time he was a "real Yakuza member" was in the tutorial intro when he collects from Peace Finance and from that point on was kicked out of it. Then he becomes the Fourth Chairman in the ending which he's only there specifically for the ceremonial stuff to instate him and immediately transfer his power to Terada which took all of three days if I remember right.
Same deal with 0, he's only a Yakuza member in the immediate start when he's shaking down the guy in the Empty Lot. The instant he goes to meet Kuze he's not an official member anymore and only becomes one again after Tachibana pays the Chairman.
Then there's the ending of 4 where he joins up with the Jimas only for Dead Souls and 5 to immediately forget that ever happened.
Kiryu's only ever really been a Yakuza member off screen in that interim between 0 and 1. Majima has been an official member of the Yakuza for longer than Kiryu ever has on screen.