Kuroda Yoshitaka

"Yoshitaka Kuroda" redirects here. For the Japanese racing driver, see Yoshitaka Kuroda (racing driver).

In this Japanese name, the surname is Kuroda.

Kuroda Yoshitaka (黒田くろだ 孝高よしたか, December 22, 1546 – March 20, 1604), also known as Kuroda Kanbei (黒田くろだ 官兵衛かんべえ, or Kuroda Kambē), was a Japanese daimyō of the late Sengoku through early Edo periods. Renowned as a man of great ambition, he succeeded Takenaka Hanbei as a chief strategist and adviser to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Kuroda became a Christian when he was 38, and received "Simeon Josui" as a baptismal name (rekishijin). His quick wit, bravery, and loyalty were respected by his warriors.

Kuroda Yoshitaka
黒田くろだ 孝高よしたか
Head of Kuroda clan
In office 1567–1604
Preceded by	Kuroda Mototaka
Succeeded by	Kuroda Nagamasa
Personal details
Born	December 22, 1546 Himeji
Died	March 20, 1604(1604-03-20) (aged 57) Iizuka
Spouse	Kushihashi Teru
Parent	Kuroda Mototaka (father)
Nickname	"Kambē"
Military service
Allegiance	Oda clan Toyotomi clan Eastern Army Tokugawa shogunate
Rank	Daimyo
Unit	Kuroda clan
Battles/wars	Siege of Inabayama Chūgoku Campaign Siege of Miki Siege of Tottori Siege of Takamatsu Battle of Yamazaki Battle of Shizugatake Battle of Komaki-Nagakute Invasion of Shikoku Kyushu Campaign Battle of Ishigakibaru Siege of Yanagawa

Early life

Kuroda Yoshitaka was born in Himeji (姫路ひめじ) on December 22, 1546, as Mankichi (万吉まんきち), the son of Kuroda Mototaka. It is believed that the Kuroda originated from Ōmi Province. Yoshitaka's grandfather Shigetaka brought the family to Himeji and resided in Gochaku Castle (御ご着ちゃく城じょう), east of Himeji Castle.

Shigetaka served as a senior retainer of Kodera Masamoto, the lord of Himeji, and was so highly praised that Shigetaka's son Mototaka was allowed to marry Masamoto's adopted daughter (Akashi Masakaze’s daughter) and use the Kodera name. Yoshitaka became the head of the Kuroda family at the age of 21 when his father, Mototaka, retired.

Military life

Service under Nobunaga

In 1577, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi was spearheading the Oda clan's advance into the Chūgoku region, he pledged loyalty to the Oda. Yoshitaka, together with the sickly Takenaka Hanbei, served as Hideyoshi's strategists and assisted in the Chugoku campaign against the Mōri clan.

In 1578, Arioka/Itami Castle's lord, Araki Murashige, concluded an alliance with the Mōri to revolt against the Oda. An allied Kodera Masamoto also hatched a plot to cooperate with Araki. Then, Kuroda went to Arioka castle to prevail on Araki not to defect. Araki chose to imprison Yoshitaka instead. As a result, Nobunaga thought that Yoshitaka had defected to Araki's side and was furious. Yoshitaka's son, Shōjumaru (later Kuroda Nagamasa) was sentenced to death by Nobunaga, but was saved by Takenaka Hanbei.

Araki's revolt eventually concluded in 1579 at the Siege of Itami, culminating in Yoshitaka's rescue. Due to his long imprisonment (with lack of space for sleeping and sitting), Yoshitaka suffered a leg disorder and lost his eyesight in one eye for the rest of his life.

In 1582, he fought in the Siege of Takamatsu against the Mōri clan.

Service under Hideyoshi

He fought at the Battle of Yamazaki in 1582 under Hideyoshi, avenging the death of Oda Nobunaga.

He participated in the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583 and the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute in 1584. Also led Toyotomi forced in the campaign to conquer Shikoku in 1585.

Shortly before 1587, Yoshitaka was ordered by Hideyoshi to lead an attack into Siege of Kagoshima at Kyushu. Along with him was the Christian daimyō Takayama Ukon. After seeing the thriving Christian population of Kyushu, under Ukon's influence, Yoshitaka was baptized with the name ドン・シメオン (Dom Simeão = Don Simeon). After a visit to the Jesuit-controlled port of Nagasaki, Hideyoshi became fearful of the powerful influence that Jesuits and the Christian daimyōs wielded.

In 1587, he made his famous edict that expelled foreign missionaries and ordered all the Christian samurai under his rule to abandon their faith. While Ukon resisted the edict and lost his status, Yoshitaka gave up his new religion and adopted a monk's habit, calling himself Josui (如水じょすい). Like Naitō Joan (who took his name from Portuguese João), it is believed that Yoshitaka chose his new name from "Josué", the Portuguese version of "Joshua". His most prominent act during his short time as a Christian was his arrangement to save a Jesuit mission from Bungo when the Christian daimyō of that province, Ōtomo Sōrin, was under attack from the Shimazu clan.

Sekigahara campaign

See also: Sekigahara campaign

Before the outbreak of Sekigahara conflict between Tokugawa Ieyasu with Ishida Mitsunari, Yoshitaka and his son, Kuroda Nagamasa, made contact with Ii Naomasa, a Tokugawa general, and forming a pact of alliance. through the Kuroda clan, Naomasa successfully swayed the other military commanders to support the Tokugawa clan. It was recorded that Yoshitaka and his son, Nagamasa, bore grudge towards Mitsunari due to their personal conflict with him and alleged mismanagements during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598).

In 1600, Yoshitaka was seemingly on the Tokugawa side during the Sekigahara campaign, having clashed against Ōtomo Yoshimune at the Battle of Ishigakibaru and also, having participated at the Siege of Yanagawa. It was recorded that the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi participated in Ishigakibaru battle under the command of Yoshitaka.

There is theory that Yoshitaka instead aimed to conquer the entire region of Kyūshū for his own during the major commotion of the Sekigahara campaign, even momentarily conquering seven of the island's provinces, a feat which ended in failure, however, due to Tokugawa Ieyasu's victory in the Battle of Sekigahara.

Death

After moving to Chikuzen Province which today is part of Fukuoka Prefecture, the Kuroda built a new castle near Hakata-ku, and named it Fukuoka Castle also known as Maizuru Castle or Seki Castle which was completed in the early Edo period for tozama daimyō Kuroda Nagamasa.

After his son Kuroda Nagamasa succeeded him, Yoshitaka died on April 19, 1604. His grave is in the Namazuta area of Iizuka, Fukuoka, near the original site of Namazuta Castle.

Family

• Father: Kuroda Mototaka
• Mother: Akashi Masakaze's daughter (1532–1560)
• Wife: Kushihashi Teru (1553–1627)
• Sons (all by Kushihashi Teru):
  • Kuroda Nagamasa (known as Shoujumaru in childhood)
  • Kuroda Kumanosuke (1582–1597)
• Adopted sons:
  • Kuroda Kazushige (1571–1656)

Human Relations

As depicted in historical writings and contemporary television, it is suggested that Kuroda was simultaneously feared by Hideyoshi, despite his attempts to hide his intelligence and influence. It is alleged that Hideyoshi's fear was due to his overwhelming debt to Yoshitaka, having helped him reign over the whole country as his shadow strategist, with Hideyoshi even believing that the Kuroda might overthrow him eventually. In addition, Kuroda deepened a friendship with Sen no Rikyū, known as the founder of the Japanese tea ceremony "wabi-cha", and who was later put to death by Hideyoshi himself.

Personality

Kuroda was a frugal person, and he sold used military equipment and personal belongings to his vassals. He saved enough money to pay mercenaries in the Sekigahara War due to his thrifty mind. His last words were, "Do not try to gain other people's favor and do not wish for wealth." He was also involved in the project to build principal castles: Himeji castle, Nagoya castle, Osaka castle, and Hiroshima castle under the reign of the Toyotomis.

Popular culture

• In the Sengoku Basara games and anime, he is seen with chains attached to a metal ball around his hands, and running gags occur when he is near unlocking his chains.
• He is a playable character in the Samurai Warriors 3 & Samurai Warriors 4 video games, he is seen with pale skin and a jade orb as his weapons.

See also

• People of the Sengoku period in popular culture for more information on Kuroda Yoshitaka .
• Eiji Yoshikawa, historical fiction
• Gunshi Kanbei, the 2014 NHK taiga drama

Appendix

Bibliography

• Noda, Hiroko (2007). "徳川とくがわ家康いえやす天下てんか掌握しょうあく過程かていにおける井伊いい直政なおまさの役割やくわり" [The role of Ii Naomasa in the process of Tokugawa Ieyasu taking control of the country]. 彦根城ひこねじょう博物館はくぶつかん研究けんきゅう紀要きよう. 18. Hikone Castle Museum.
• Ryōtarō Shiba Harimanada monogatari 播磨灘はりまなだ物語ものがたり, 1975 vol1~4 Kodansha ISBN 978-4062739320~ISBN 978-4062739351
• Andō Hideo 安藤あんどう英男ひでお. Shiden Kuroda Josui 史伝しでん黒田くろだ如水じょすい. Tokyo: Nichibō Shuppansha, 1975.
• Harada Tanemasa 原田はらだ種たね眞しん. Kuroda Josui 黒田くろだ如水じょすい. Tokyo: Benseisha 勉つとむ誠まこと社しゃ, 1996.
• Kaneko Kentarō 金子かねこ堅太郎けんたろう. Kuroda Josui den 黒田くろだ如水じょすい伝でん. Tokyo: Bunken Shuppan 文献ぶんけん出版しゅっぱん, 1976.
• Motoyama Kazuki 本山もとやま一城かずき. Jitsuroku Takenaka Hanbei to Kuroda Kanbei 実錄じつろく竹中たけなか半兵衛はんべえと黒田くろだ官兵衛かんべえ. Tokyo: Murata Shoten 村田むらた書店しょてん, 1988.
• Yoshikawa, Eiji. (1989) Yoshikawa Eiji Rekishi Jidai Bunko (Eiji Yoshikawa's Historical Fiction), Vol. 44: Kuroda Yoshitaka (黒田くろだ如水じょすい). Tokyo: Kodansha. ISBN 978-4-06-196577-5

External links

• Kuroda Kanbei Biography at Samurai-Archives.com