8. Tokyo, Japan
As the capital of Japan, Tokyo is the centrepiece of a country that is, externally at least, fascinating to most Westerners as a result of both its technological prowess and its unique cultural quirks, the seediest of which would be open to parody left, right and centre in the event of a GTA game being set there. Much like China and its triads, Japan is home to a unique criminal organisation in the form of the Yakuza, who operate semi-legitimately in a number of industries and services in tandem with their operations in areas such as human trafficking, racketeering and illegal gambling. There are three principal Yakuza families and though the largest and most prominent of these, the Yamaguchi-gumi, is headquartered in Kobe, the group has been expanding into Tokyo since the ascension of Shinobu Tsusaka to the role of Oyabun (equivalent to a Mafia Don) in 2005. This is traditionally the territory of the smaller Inagawa-kai group, and a conflict between fictionalised versions of the two could easily be the focus of a Vice City/San Andreas style gang/business empire-building storyline with an Asian twist. Much like Hong Kong, however, Tokyo could be ruled out as a location on the basis that Segas Yakuza series has made extensive use of the city as a setting. Unlike Sleeping Dogs, however, not every Yakuza game has seen a wide release in the West, meaning that the majority of gamers will be unfamiliar with the city as a game setting.