Words of the Samurai – Third Episode

Kuroda Kanbei – The Cold Logic of Strategy

Strategic genius has never had a colder face than that of Kuroda Kanbei, also known as Kuroda Yoshitaka.
A trusted advisor to Hideyoshi and a sharp mind of the Sengoku era, Kanbei not only saw what others failed to see, but demanded the same of those around him. In this episode, a phrase as sharp as a blade puts honor, loyalty… and opportunity to the test.

Kuroda Kanbei: “What was your left hand doing at that moment?”

Kuroda Kanbei was a military commander who served as strategist to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It is well known that, upon hearing the news “Oda Nobunaga has fallen at Honnōji,” Kanbei encouraged the confused Hideyoshi by saying: “This is your chance. Make the most of it.” From that moment, Hideyoshi reportedly began to see Kanbei as a man capable of dangerous ideas—someone not to be trusted lightly.

Indeed, Kanbei seems to have been just such a man, and the following episode further illustrates this side of him.

It happened when his son Nagamasa returned from the Battle of Sekigahara.

In that battle, Nagamasa had sided with the eastern army under Tokugawa’s command—because Kanbei had instructed him to do so. Thus, Nagamasa believed his father would be pleased with the eastern army’s victory.

But when Nagamasa came to report, saying,
“Lord Ieyasu was greatly pleased with the Kuroda forces. He took my hand and said…”
Kanbei asked:

“Did he take your right hand?”

When Nagamasa answered, “Yes, that’s correct,”
Kanbei, his face filled with anger, said:

“Then what was your left hand doing at that moment?”

Kanbei was reproaching Nagamasa for not using his free hand to strike down Ieyasu then and there.

Nagamasa is said to have been shocked by his father’s words—but this is Kuroda Kanbei at his purest.

Kanbei did not see war as a matter of partial victories or diplomatic honors. To him, every action was strategy, every opportunity a potential turning point. In an age ruled by the sword, even an idle hand was a fault.