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“That's what differentiates us. I will not die… for Hideyoshi's sake.———
“The time has finally come… But not yet! I can’t die just yet! I still haven’t created a path for them! I need to act fast… Not much time is left for me… What is it that I can do? What is it that I… must do? Think… I need to think…! For Toyotomi… For Hideyoshi…! What can I leave behind during this limited time? Think… Think……….竹中半兵衛
TAKENAKA HANBEI
Takenaka Hanbei is a historical figure depicted in Sengoku BASARA as Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s right hand, second-in-command genius strategist that is often referred to as the “greatest mind of Sengoku.” In the Sengoku Jidai, different factions of armies are at war with one another to gain control of the country of Japan to see their personal ideals and dreams for the land flourish. Hanbei is essentially the brain of the Toyotomi, a superpower faction in these times whose might threatens to finally, truly conquer Japan. They are feared, esteemed, antagonized, obeyed and loathed for their power and the callous way that they execute it. As the head tactician for the Toyotomi army, Hanbei plays a pivotal, yet behind-the-scenes sort of role in the plot and often drives most of the events in the story, leaving many only to react and counter the lead of the Toyotomi. Hanbei is domineering in his tactics and with the leadership of Hideyoshi's ruthless rule, they are a heavy force in the story.
However, they are destined to fall apart.
Having ultimately established themselves as a villainous group, Hideyoshi is eventually defeated, while Hanbei’s life is cut short by the illness that plagues him throughout their reign. Despite this, their influence is strong and the remnants of their faction live on even after they have been killed and defeated.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
✾ HISTORY
✾ STORY ENDS
✾ RELATIONSHIPS
✾ ABILITIES
✾ APPEARANCE
✾ INVENTORY
HISTORY:
Hanbei’s past in the BASARA universe is almost never touched upon in the games, but scattered pieces of what his life was like before the Toyotomi can be found in drama CDs and other manga adaptations (official ones), all of which are based after Takenaka Hanbei's real, historical life. As it is relatively impossible to create a concise, consistent, chronological timeline of Hanbei's life in BASARA's many different story routes, I will be filling the blanks and taking from several different sources across BASARA canon, historical canon, and head canon. As this section is basically a rundown of what I prefer to play with regarding Hanbei's life events, this section is very much up for debate or discussion.
Hanbei's childhood is unknown and not touched on in any adaptation of his life but he seems to have no family to speak of. Or at least, none that ever enters his life or thoughts. His whole life, for the most part, seems to have been shaped by his meeting with Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Before Hideyoshi, Hanbei served the Saito clan as a samurai and strategist. Though their relationship is never touched upon directly, it can be inferred that Hanbei was very discontent in the Saito clan's service and likely didn't respect them as he should have. According to him, there is no one worthy to serve, as most warlords fight for petty reasons. Hanbei, out of this discontent, took Inabayama Castle from right under them, and was rumored to have done so with sixteen men and an ease that can only be managed by a genius. This feat attracted the attention of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who marched his way through the castle afterward—visiting, namely— with only himself as the main force, trumping Hanbei's record and simultaneously astounding him. It is here that Hideyoshi asked Hanbei to serve as his strategist. Hanbei, at this point in his life, was very jaded and not at all easily impressed. It is said that during this time, Hanbei lived as a recluse and didn't answer to much anyone. Historically, it is rumored that Hideyoshi visited Hanbei three separate times at Hanbei's home to win him over, but it only takes once for Hanbei to commit his life to Hideyoshi in the BASARA universe. Hideyoshi presented his ideas for the future and proclaimed that he would need a man of Hanbei's talent to get there. As Hanbei listens to Hideyoshi’s plans for the world he once saw as hopeless and barren, he becomes enthralled with his strength of mind, body and ideals. It is then that Hanbei begins to see Hideyoshi as the one and only man who could change these broken, turbulent times.
Hanbei decides then to serve Hideyoshi, as he wishes to help create the world that Hideyoshi envisions.
Somewhere between Hanbei agreeing to serve Hideyoshi and their present endeavours, Hanbei met Maeda Keiji and Nene, both of whom were Hideyoshi's very close friends. It is unclear exactly what sort of relationship Hanbei had with these two during this time, aside from a cold distance and impersonal friendliness where Hideyoshi cared very much for these two. That is, until Hideyoshi met one Matsunaga Hisahide and was utterly humiliated by him— this event caused Hideyoshi to curse weakness, and all the forms of weakness he perceived... including love. He killed Nene, the woman who loved him because he couldn't bear the thought of being "weighed down." Keiji, a peace-loving man and friend of both, was obviously devastated and confused, lamenting both the death of the woman he loved and the decline of character in his best friend. They fought, and split ways. Hanbei, hardly a friend of either Keiji or Nene (and by this time, already fiercely disliked Keiji) followed Hideyoshi even then. Although it seems Hanbei held no personal value in either Nene or Keiji, Keiji comments much later about Hanbei's decision not to stop Hideyoshi from killing Nene, to which Hanbei hesitates, and admits to.
Once they split ways, Hideyoshi and Hanbei began building their army, and formulating their plans to rise from the reign of Oda Nobunaga.
HANBEI DEATH COUNT AND METHOD:
i did this because hanbei dies a ludicrous amount of times in the basara universe and i wanted to see how many times exactly
GAMES
- SB2: Does he die at all in SB2? It’s a part of Mitsuhide’s story in the game but that’s probably even less canon than most of the others.
- SB3: Presumably died before or during the Siege of Odawara of TB, where Ieyasu killed Hideyoshi.
- SB4A: He dies in both of his story routes. In his normal route he dies from TB after successfully seeing/helping Hideyoshi unite the country.
- SB4B: Dies after his desperate, reckless flurry to ensure that everything was prepared for a secure future for Hideyoshi and the Toyotomi. He attacks Mitsunari to teach him a lesson in leadership, and Mitsunari kills him, though his life was already fading from disease.
- SB4C: Is dead in Hideyoshi’s drama route. Assumed to take place after his own normal route, however.
- SB4D: Dies during Hisahide’s invasion of the Toyotomi army in Ieyasu’s drama route. Presumably killed by Kotaro Fuuma or the Tokugawa army before Hideyoshi is taken out by Hisahide. Hisahide kills himself in the process.
- SB4E: Hideyoshi and Hanbei are killed by Ieyasu in Sakon’s drama route.
ANIME
- Nii: In the second season of the anime, Kojuurou kills Hanbei before he can make it to the Siege of Odawara, where Hideyoshi fights Date and loses.
- Judge End: Following the third game, Hanbei dies at the Siege of Odawara after Hideyoshi is killed by Ieyasu. In this version, he sees Hideyoshi has died and collapses.
MANGA
- Samurai Legends: Takes after the anime, except instead of Hanbei facing off against Kojuurou, he dies trying to take out Yukimura before he can meet Hideyoshi, who is fighting Date at Odawara.
- Roar of Dragon: Hanbei dies alone at Osaka Castle from TB while Hideyoshi is killed by Ieyasu at the Siege of Odawara.
- Bloody Angel: Literally the worst of them all. Hanbei dies long after Hideyoshi does at the hands of Ieyasu at Odawara. He spends weeks alive, deranged and tied up for his own safety. Mitsunari eventually mercy kills him after seeing how far gone he is.
DRAMA CDS
- SB2 Hyakka Ryouran Odawara No Eki: Dies in a similar fashion that he does in the IG anime in that he faces off against Kojuurou while Hideyoshi fights Masamune. He is stabbed by Kojuurou versus falling off a cliff.
STAGE PLAYS AND AT LEAST ONE OTHER MANGA ADAPTATION UNACCOUNTED FOR.
TRAITS:
cool, collected, enigmatic, driven, devoted, calculating, perceptive, secretive, impersonal, adaptable, advantageous, authoritarian, unyielding, self-righteous, egotistic, dexterous, efficient, proficient, sharp
RELATIONSHIPS:
Just about all of Hanbei's relationships are focused on the Toyotomi in some way. Every person he meets is valued based on how much they can further Hideyoshi's future. Because of this, he attempts to, or does, get along with people he likely wouldn't normally. (Say, if his life weren't considerably shortened by tuberculosis.)
ON DATE MASAMUNE:
Too cocky than Hanbei knows how to deal with. He's a free spirit that under no circumstances would Hanbei be able to break, and this generally leaves Hanbei with the opinion that Masamune should be eliminated instead of recruited. Masamune’s recklessness almost makes Hanbei feel sorry for Kojuurou.
ON KATAKURA KOJUUROU:
A shame, to say the least. Hanbei sees Kojuurou's abilities as a proud, wise strategist and feels as though his abilities are being squandered by his current lord, Date Masamune. Hanbei seeks to recruit Kojuurou as a tactician for Hideyoshi, and sees him as a perfect candidate to take his own role once he’s gone. Kojuurou is, to Hanbei, a long term investment he finds worth trying for, despite Kojuurou’s stubborn, loyal refusal to consider the offer.
ON ISHIDA MITSUNARI:
Hideyoshi's successor and the figurehead of Toyotomi's future. Hideyoshi and Hanbei picked Mitsunari up when he was younger and directionless, gave him a home, and trained him to be a brilliant soldier.
Hanbei sees great flaws in Mitsunari's general personality; as too hot-headed, emotional and prone to getting caught up in the moment. It's a flaw that, though Mitsunari is almost dear to Hanbei, he considered Tokugawa Ieyasu as a successor before he chose Mitsunari. Ultimately, however, it is Mitsunari's straight-forward, honest, devoted spirit that Hanbei chooses.
also hanbei totally cries out loud when mitsunari is killed in-game stages and it’s monumental that he does?
ON OTANI YOSHITSUGU:
Retainer of Ishida Mitsunari, another soldier who ranks below Hanbei. Serves as a tactician. A vital part of the Toyotomi, Hanbei not only absolutely acknowledges Yoshitsugu's abilities as a strategist but greatly values him as Mitsunari's right hand and best friend. Hanbei personally assigns Yoshitsugu the task of "taking care of Mitsunari" with confidence.
On more than one occasion has Hanbei been thwarted by Yoshitsugu's insight— perhaps one of the few who can do such a thing and put Hanbei in an uncomfortable position regarding the secrets that he keeps. It's fortunate then that Yoshitsugu greatly respects Hanbei, referring to him as 'Wise Man,' and doesn't indulge in spreading around the flaws he sees in him; namely, the fatal disease that Hanbei keeps a secret from most everyone.
ON SHIMA SAKON:
Retainer of Ishida Mitsunari. As Sakon has only joined the Toyotomi very recently, he is not quite the full fledged member that Yoshitsugu or Mitsunari are, but Hanbei sees Sakon as an important asset nevertheless. After Ieyasu defected from the Toyotomi army and left Mitsunari feeling rather disquieted, Hanbei saw the way Sakon's reckless, carefree behavior grounded Mitsunari as more level-headed of the two and realized Sakon was just what Mitsunari needed to make him a better leader. He is an important factor in Mitsunari's life, and therefore he is to Hanbei.
There is a slight chance Sakon's past as a vagabond and general behavior remind Hanbei of Maeda Keiji. Though this is not touched upon in full, it would make for interesting interactions between the two.
ON TOKUGAWA IEYASU:
Worked directly under Hideyoshi and Hanbei. For a time. Ieyasu is someone Hanbei and Hideyoshi forced to submit to their services, and while very many armies and factions did the same, Ieyasu earned a special place in the Toyotomi as a fine leader. Although ultimately, Ieyasu’s ideals differ greatly from the Toyotomi’s, Hanbei recognized his skill and how loved he was by his people. Ieyasu is a strong individual, and though both Hanbei and Hideyoshi have called him naive in the past, Hanbei has confessed that he believed Ieyasu “truly understood what strength was to be used for.” It’s a heavy acknowledgement, especially considering what odds they are at with each other.
Ultimately, Ieyasu believes strongly in ending the wars, and doesn’t cooperate where Hideyoshi and Hanbei wish to.
ON MOURI MOTONARI:
An enemy general. Hanbei's general opinion of Mouri is rather shallow. Though Mouri is a hailed strategist in their time, Hanbei sees great weakness in the way Mouri treats his men like nothing more than pawns, and doesn’t take him very seriously. He is as much a threat to Hanbei and his plans as anyone else— he won't underestimate him, should the time come, but he's fairly certain Mouri cannot stop the Toyotomi.
ON SANADA YUKIMURA:
Young successor to the Takeda, an enemy faction. Between Sanada Yukimura and the Takeda clan in general, Hanbei finds much potential and perhaps similar ideas. While Yukimura’s naive outlook on war and reckless devotion to his lord without criticism irks Hanbei, he thinks those very same traits might spur something in Mitsunari, and that the two could become good friends.
ON MAEDA KEIJI:
Successor to the Maeda, an enemy faction, but he chooses to live as a vagabond, pledging loyalty to no clan despite often loitering around the Uesugi. Not much is seen of the interactions Keiji and Hanbei had prior to Hideyoshi killing Nene, but as Keiji has accused Hanbei of not stopping the act when he could have, the four of them were all likely together at some point. In their own words, Hanbei and Keiji both seem to be of the opinion that they had nothing to do with one another, and only dealt with each other as extensions of Hideyoshi. Though they have, the Maeda’s, spectators in the trio’s development, have asked Hanbei to try to reconcile himself with Keiji, and be his friend “again.” The two’s discontent with one another runs so deep they act as though they hated each other from the beginning, when there is clearly something to be reconciled.
ON MATSUNAGA HISAHIDE:
A mysterious man who wanders about collecting treasured items and causing trouble for people. Used to serve the Oda.
QUOTES:
SENGOKU BASARA 2
Hanbei: Tokugawa Ieyasu..the jealousy towards the one who carries the future in hand. Might this be the darkness I hold..?
-
Ieyasu: Your personal dream, that you entrusted Hideyoshi with… the one lost in it is you, Hanbei..
Hanbei: I don’t dislike you at all, you know… But this and that are completely different topics.
-
Matsu: Lord Takenaka, after all Keiji is a good-willed man… Please, do try to reconcile yourself with him…
Hanbei: You must have been who raised that good-willed man…
-
Hisahide: The pain in your heart is quite natural, so be at ease. He does not perceive your dream as a burden, sir… or so I think.
Hanbei: I do not wish to talk with you.. My weakness would be exposed to the point of making me feel sick...
-
SENGOKU BASARA 4
Maria: I really don't want to hurt you, you know? Especially not your face♪
Hanbei: Sigh. When you've never even seen me unmasked?
-
Hideyoshi: About the other day… Did you see the way*, Hanbei? (*Note: "way" here means a figurative road, actions to be taken in order to succeed.)
Hanbei: Clearly… Isn’t it okay, Hideyoshi?
Hanbei: The bloodline by itself won’t be able to tie the souls* of your people. You need to look for a person with enough power, a comrade you can trust. (*Note: By "tying souls", Hanbei means "to make them attached" to the ruling system and society of the newborn nation.)
Hanbei: Your leadership will be maintained, but a distribution of power is the best idea… Even if the rebuild of society becomes a necessity, with at least two people I believe it’s possible. Peace will be restored.
Hideyoshi: Leadership… comrades…
Hanbei: While full of willpower in one part… while full of strength... It’s useless when the lonely heart lacks what it needs the most… a friend.
Hanbei: Hideyoshi, you will surely find them, your own comrades… Then, you and your household will rule and protect Hinomoto for eternity.
Hideyoshi: …...............
Hideyoshi: Hanbei, you told me… That the bond with the souls of the people came from the bloodline….
Hanbei: Yes… and from your leadership, and comrades.
Hideyoshi: I don’t know the boundaries of the power entrusted and received through the bloodline. However, my right hand… The second* in my heart, my one and only comrade, that person is… (*Note: here, "the second in my heart" means his friend, his comrade, because his country and his people come first.)
Hanbei: I… I’ve been chosen?
Hideyoshi: Hmph… Who else could it be?
Hideyoshi: The distant future of an unified nation, a wealthy and strong country ruled by hierarchy. You, Hanbei, are worthy of belonging to the first generation of rulers as my comrade.
Hanbei: Hideyoshi… Thank you. Hearing those words coming from you, my human existence… has found meaning.
-
SENGOKU BASARA 4 皇
Hanbei: Fufu…! I see. It could be that I was being manipulated as well!
Mouri: …… Why do you laugh?
Hanbei: Well… When you think you’re the one who is ahead, just to realize someone else is already ahead of you… Isn’t that funny?
ABILITIES:
As Sengoku BASARA is a video game where your goal is to essentially trample hoards of enemies with only one character, each character (who are all of high rank in their respective militaries) is superhuman in terms of strength, speed, durability and ability. These abilities include what could be considered magic, as most characters emit a type of personal aura that they can launch at foes in some way. These strange, supernatural abilities remain unexplained in the world-building, and are often left out of the more realistic adaptations of the franchise. It is of my personal opinion that the aura-like skills are essential for playing the games but are not something that can be explained realistically as there is no distinct line between what is normal and what would be considered magic in the BASARA world. Because of this, I will not be playing Hanbei with any ability that cannot be explained as strong, masterful swordsmanship, and will somewhat tone down or detail his abilities to be more realistic.
- STRENGTH: Hanbei is stronger than the average human being, as he can reel and toss the weight of a person around (with the help of his sword). He is certainly not one of the strongest characters or people, though.
- SPEED: A strong point. As a practiced samurai, Hanbei’s reflexes are above average as well, but he is also considered one of the faster characters in the series.
- DURABILITY: He sees war on a daily basis, and can take a few good hits as well as last in battle quite awhile— however, not nearly as long as his fellow warriors. Hanbei suffers from tuberculosis.
- INTELLECT: Definitely his strongest point. He is described as Sengoku’s greatest strategist, and has duped practically everyone in-series in the matter of war tactics. Hanbei is very intuitive about the minds of others and often understands another’s behavior better than they do. His ability to read others, along with his calm and cool-headedness attribute to the way he always seems to be one step ahead of everyone else.
- SWORDSMANSHIP: Hanbei’s sword is jointed and can extend significantly, resembling a whip made of metal wire, with pieces of the blade distributed along it. Because of this, Hanbei has two different forms of attack. While the sword is in its regular form, Hanbei strikes quickly and gracefully, with broad, forward strikes. When the sword is extended, Hanbei’s swings are considerably slower, but his range is extremely wide. He can grab or cut enemies from afar with it, as well as reel them in or simply create a huge radius of swung attacks.
SWORD:
A very special tsurugi type sword. Hanbei’s weapon is extremely unique, as is his style of fighting. His sword in its default form resembles a double-edged straight sword and his base stances and moves are derived from the straight sword style. He strikes in jabs and directs himself with his pointed fingers. While typically the tsurugi/jian sword isn’t made for clashing, Hanbei’s sword and subsequently his style deviates from the standard likely due to the true range of its whip and its added weight. The normally circular range of the straight sword is extended ten fold with a metal wire that splits it into a whip nearly three meters long. Hanbei is able to shorten or lengthen the range as he pleases, and it has been surmised that he does so with a button or switch somewhere on the handle.
APPEARANCE:
Ghostly but elegant might be one way to describe Hanbei’s outward appearance; clad in purple and mostly white, with a head of silver hair to match, his face has also been described as pale due to his disease. Most notably, he sports an X-shaped mask across his face, concealing his cheeks and the general area around his eyes. Hanbei is smaller compared to most of the warriors in the BASARA universe, and looks very, very small compared to his friend Toyotomi Hideyoshi. His hair is short but full and slightly wavy, giving it a longer, more flowing feel.
INVENTORY:
- ARMOR: Includes a large metal shoulder guard as well as two arm guards and two shin guards. He is not as well-clad as his peers, to be honest.
- SWORD: A jointed sword that can be used like a bladed whip as well as a regular sword. It is in its sheath on a belt around his waist.
STATS:
FACTION: Toyotomi
CREST: Kyumai Sasa (nine-leaf bamboo) Maru ni Kyumai Sasa
ELEMENT: Darkness
WEAPON: Jointed sword
NAME: 凛刀 「」卦
TYPE: Tsurugi (Straight sword)
HEIGHT: 5’ 7” / 171cm
WEIGHT: ~135lbs
AGE: 27
GENDER: Male
DOB: September 27th
“Strong, indeed… the will to live, that is…
