Kuroda Kanbei, also recognized as Kuroda Yoshitaka and later in life as Kuroda Josui, emerged as a military strategist and daimyo during the late Sengoku period. Regarded for his keen strategic mind, courage, and unwavering loyalty, he left an indelible mark as a respected warrior.
Born in Himeji in 1546, Kuroda Kanbei assumed leadership of the Kuroda family at the age of 21 following the passing of his father, Mototaka, who served as a senior retainer to the Kodera clan of Himeji. Recognizing the ascendancy of Oda Nobunaga, Kanbei proposed to his lord, Kodera Masamoto, the idea of aligning with the Oda forces. Despite Kodera's inclination to support the Mori clan, which opposed the Oda, Kanbei, reaching out to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, secured a direct audience with Nobunaga. His strategic counsel contributed to the successful capture of Himeji, leading to the Kodera's surrender. Pledging allegiance to the Oda clan, Kanbei and strategist Takenaka Hanbei served as advisors to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
In 1577, Kanbei faced accusations of espionage from Nobunaga, resulting in the abduction of his nine-year-old son, Nagamasa, as a hostage. Fortunately, Takenaka Hanbei intervened, rescuing the boy. A year later, during a diplomatic mission to Itami Castle, Kanbei was captured but managed to escape, sustaining an injury that left him with a lasting limp.
Throughout the Sengoku period's later stages, Kuroda Kanbei, along with his son, continued to serve Toyotomi Hideyoshi. They played crucial roles in campaigns, including the invasion of the Chugoku region and the Shikoku Campaign of 1585. During the Kyushu mission, Kanbei, influenced by Christian daimyo Takayama Ukon, briefly embraced Christianity, adopting the name Don Simeon. However, due to rising concerns about foreign influence, he renounced Christianity and assumed the Buddhist name Josui.
As Chief Advisor to Hideyoshi's nephew, Kobayakawa Hideaki, during the Second Korean Campaign, Kanbei developed a close relationship with Hideyoshi. Following Hideyoshi's demise, the Kuroda shifted their allegiance to the Tokugawa camp, aligning against Western loyalist leader Ishida Mitsunari. In 1600, they fought alongside Kato Kiyomasa at the Battle of Sekigahara. Post-Sekigahara, Kanbei declined a position within the Tokugawa government but used his influence to spare the Shimazu clan's lands and Otomo Yoshimune's life.
Kuroda Kanbei's involvement in pivotal Sengoku period events and his strategic acumen significantly influenced Japanese history. His sage advice contributed to Hideyoshi's successes, showcasing not only military prowess but also a potential sense of humor, exemplified by his distinctive choice of wearing an owan bowl as a helmet.
See also
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Uesugi Kagetora
Uesugi Kagetora (1552 – April 19, 1579) was the seventh son of Hojo Ujiyasu and was originally known as Hojo Saburo. He was adopted by Uesugi Kenshin and intended to be Kenshin's heir. However, in 1578, he was attacked in his Otate Castle by Uesugi Kagekatsu, his brother-in-law, and was ultimately defeated. Kagetora committed suicide the following year at Samegao Castle.
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Hojo Ujinao
Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.
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Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – April 3, 1582) was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, renowned as the head of the Takeda clan and successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was also the son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu. Katsuyori was born to Shingen and the daughter of Suwa Yorishige, known posthumously as Suwa-goryonin and by her real name, Koihime. His children included Takeda Nobukatsu and Takeda Katsuchika.
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Yasuke
Yasuke, an African page, arrived in Japan in 1579 as the attendant of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Before the arrival of the Englishman William Adams, it is thought that Yasuke was possibly the inaugural non-Japanese samurai, arriving about twenty years earlier.
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Yamanami Keisuke
Yamanami Keisuke, the second in command of the Shinsengumi, a special police force during the late Edo period, shocked many when he performed seppuku on March 20, 1865, at the age of 32.
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Yamamoto Kansuke
Yamamoto Kansuke, renowned as a samurai strategist and one of Takeda Shingen's esteemed 24 Generals, hailed from the Mikawa region, known for breeding formidable warriors. Despite physical challenges—blindness in one eye, lameness in one leg, and a malformed hand—Kansuke embarked on a warrior's pilgrimage in his twenties. Traveling across the land, he honed his skills in strategy, tactics, castle construction, and warfare, engaging in various swordsmanship schools and forms.
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Yamaga Soko
Yamaga Soko was a multifaceted figure in Japanese history, renowned as a strategist, philosopher, and scholar. Later in life, he became a ronin, leaving a significant mark on the understanding of the Tokugawa period samurai.
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William Adams - Miura Anjin
William Adams, also known as Miura Anjin, holds the distinction of being one of the few non-Japanese individuals granted samurai status. Born in Gillingham, Kent, England in 1564, Adams embarked on a remarkable journey that led him to become an influential figure in Japanese history.
