Kanbei Kuroda

Kanbei Kuroda is one of the new characters introduced in Samurai Warriors 3. He is a high-classed general from a rich family history and one of the prominent figures of his clan. He is also Nagamasa Kuroda's father and one of Hideyoshi's trusted strategists. Although he supposedly didn't have the ambition, the Three Unifiers feared Kanbei as the man who could easily take the land for his own.

His height in Samurai Warriors 3 is 185 cm (a little short of 6'1"). He is symbolized by the characters "scheme" (謀) and "cut" (絶). He also shares a character duet with Hanbei that is titled Kaze to Kumo no Okite.

Samurai Warriors
Kanbei is one of Hideyoshi's generals who follows him in many of his campaigns. In Samurai Warriors 2, Kanbei arrives with an engineer team during the western siege of Odawara Castle. If he is safely escorted to the makeshift castle in the middle of the map, the foundations for the castle can be built at a quicker rate. He will also serve in Hideyoshi's army during the conquest of Kyushu and, in Hanzo and Kotaro's story mode, he will defend Osaka Castle. The Xtreme Legends expansion has Kanbei serving the Oda and Toyotomi armies as reinforcements at Shikoku.

He starts as one of the two talented strategists at Nagashino in Samurai Warriors 3. He is responsible for ensuring the enemy's complete elimination while Hanbei blocks the Takeda's escape path. Both he and Hanbei use their talents once more when Motonari raises an uprising at Kizugawa. They win the conflict, but Hanbei tires from the effort and soon collapses. Kanbei visits his bedside and Hanbei assures that he will always be the "light" for his friend. Hanbei eventually dies but Kanbei acts unaffected by the loss, stating that an obstacle in the path for peace has just been eliminated.

Hideyoshi suppresses the Mōri family after the conflict, but Nobunaga is soon assassinated at Honnoji. At first, Hideyoshi denies his lord's death and doesn't seem intent to take action. However, Kanbei goads for Hideyoshi to take Nobunaga's ambition for himself as there are no other in the land who could stop him. Stating that the flames at Honnoji have merely opened the gates for Hideyoshi's ambitions, Kanbei's words convince Hideyoshi to march against Mitsuhide at Yamazaki. Though Hideyoshi achieves his dreams, he passes away due to illness and power shifts to Ieyasu's favor. Kanbei decides to serve Ieyasu for the land's peace and faces the Tachibana and Motochika at Ishigakibaru.

Suppressing the Western army at Ishigakibaru, Kanbei is unimpressed by Kiyomasa and the remaining Toyotomi officers and sees their survival as the last "flame of chaos" that needs to be extinguished. He therefore continues to serve under Ieyasu during the siege of Osaka Castle, facing Kiyomasa in battle and defeats him. After Ieyasu's victory, Kanbei inspects Kiyomasa's body, states that the Toyotomi are now finished, and walks away. Kiyomasa, who was playing dead when Kanbei had his attention to him, uses the last of his strength to strike down the strategist. Although he tries to make a snide remark about Kiyomasa's effort, Kanbei figures that he possibly stands as the greatest threat to peace and accepts his fate to die with the rest of the Toyotomis.

Kessen
In Kessen, Kanbei is known under one of his other historical names, Josui. He is an ambitious and scheming war veteran who desires his own stake of power. In spite of his son's allegiance to Ieyasu, Josui acts as a sympathizer for the Toyotomi cause. After he tries to conquer Kyushu, he convinces Kiyomasa and several others to serve him. Should Mitsunari win at Sekigahara, Josui is an unpredictable ally who could switch his loyalties at any time during the Battle of Harima.

Josui will act as the leading commander for the Toyotomi forces if Mitsunari is defeated at Sekigahara. His independent and capricious mindset, however, continues to make him a distrustful ally to the remaining Toyotomi forces. Despite his previous claim that he would have no mercy on the field, Josui will retreat his army if they clash with his son. In both scenarios, whether he is victorious or defeated, he dies due to illness or battle wounds. In the latter scenario for the Toyotomi side, he pleads Yukimura to take his place before he passes away.

A younger Kanbei returns in Kessen III. He voluntarily joins Hideyoshi when he separated from Nobunaga's army. When Murashige Araki betrays Nobunaga, Kanbei acts as a mediator to ask Murashige's reasons for his treachery. In Murashige's residence, he is quickly held hostage and discovers that his former ally was consorting with the shogunate from the start. After he is rescued, Kanbei returns to assist Hideyoshi.

Personality
Kanbei is a level headed man who personifies the words "cold and calculating". He acts as though he feels nothing for human sympathy and ethics, believing that absolute power is the one truth in the world. While his blunt and unconventional honesty may not make him popular among other Toyotomi officers like Kiyomasa and Mitsunari, Kanbei's keen intellect and tactics are what earns him bitter-sweet respect with others. Showing no mercy to his foes and believing that every instance is predestined, Kanbei ultimately wants to achieve a true land of peace by serving the absolute power and eliminating all that resists it. He talks with an archaic nobleman's dialect and addresses his opponents by recognizing their rank as an officer (卿, kei).

The closest Kanbei has to a friend is his fellow strategiest Hanbei Takenaka. He trusts Hanbei's abilities to support him and speaks fondly of the fellow strategist's memory. While he doesn't mind Hanbei's company, Kanbei gets grumpy when the youth tries to make him bond with others.

Voice Actors

 * Richard Newman - Kessen (English)
 * Masaya Takatsuka - Samurai Warriors 2~3 (Japanese)
 * Osamu Saka - Kessen (Japanese)
 * Fumihiko Tachiki - Kessen III (Japanese)

Quotes

 * "I shall extinguish the flames of war that envelope this land!"
 * "Resist me and you will be reduced to ashes."
 * "Know the futility of your struggle."
 * "My inevitable triumph awaits."
 * "It will take more than this to satisfy me."
 * "Relax. You really had no hope of preventing my victory."
 * "It is time for you to face reality, you purveyors of meaningless conflict. Only oblivion awaits you."
 * Kanbei taunting the Takeda Cavalry; Samurai Warriors 3


 * "The mighty Takeda Cavalry, charging foolishly to destruction. Shingen must be turning in his grave."
 * "To throw away your life for someone who is already dead... I have never heard of such foolishness."
 * Kanbei before fighting Yukimura at Nagahsino; Samurai Warriors


 * "That very spirit has stolen more innocent lives than you are aware. So take pride in your spirit if you must, but know that your are as guilty as any of us."
 * "Your very existence is a crime. You may make amends by giving up your life."
 * Before fighting Katsuyori; Samurai Warriors 3


 * "Lord Ieyasu, I have just been to see Mitsunari; we were discussing how to defeat you! Mitsunari was beside himself -oh, so delighted!- like a child with a shiny, new toy!"
 * "What?!"
 * "Father!"
 * "Don't be so hasty. I am not fond of a man who acts as if it is his right to command. No, I do not like Mitsunari Ishida what so ever. So, Ieyasu Tokugawa, tell me! What are your thoughts concerning that I, Josui Kuroda, am here to switch my allegiance to the East?"
 * Presenting himself before the Eastern generals; Kessen


 * "Well now, Lord Mitsunari. After I help you destroy Tokugawa, I was wondering if you would present me with a suitably just reward. Kyushu, say, six provinces for me and two for Lord Kiyomasa here. What do you think?"
 * "We have gathered here to see justice prevail. We do not ask for rewards. Besides, that decision would fall to our Lord Toyotomi's discretion. When this is finished, you can make your request!"
 * "Hahahaha, still the same man, Mitsunari. We'll take our leave of you now. Good day, my lord!"
 * Bargaining with Mitsunari; Kessen


 * "We're friends, aren't we? I will explain things to Lord Nobunaga. Now put down your spears."
 * Bargaining with Murashige; Kessen III