– Saburo to Johnny Silverhand directly after the the nuclear detonation inside Night City's Arasaka Tower in the year 2023, Cyberpunk 2077
Saburo Arasaka (荒坂 三郎), also known as the Emperor, went from being an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Pilot to the corporate God of the 21st century. Born in Tokyo, Japan he made the Arasaka Corporation into one of the largest corporations of the world. Saburo is proud, honorable and, like the true Samurai Shogun he claims to be, he's power hungry.[3] Although he is ancient and physically decrepit, Saburo Arasaka remains the genius he always was in his younger years. Despite his age, Saburo never gave up his control over Arasaka. When his eldest son, Kei, became the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Saburo remained the chairman of the board and the true puppeteer behind all the major corporate decisions.[3]
Saburo, after decades of building up the Arasaka Corporation, focused his efforts towards bioengineering and mind preserving technology. He even made a copy of his person into an engram in Mikoshi at the Arasaka Headquarters in Tokyo. At the age of 158, he still reigned at the top of Arasaka in the year 2077, having built Arasaka into a great empire in his generation. He's proud, honorable, ruthless and more hungry for power than ever.[4]
Biography
– Saburo Arasaka, Cyberpunk 2077
1919 - 1945
Saburo Arasaka was born to Sasai and Yui Arasaka in Tokyo, Japan in 1919 - a family that could trace their lineage back to the noble samurai of old. His parents were rich and his father was a shrewd businessman and was the founder of the Arasaka company in 1915. He grew up in the Arasaka family estate located just outside of Tokyo and from a young age was involved in the family business. In the 1930s, as a young adult he displayed a good work ethic and natural talent needed to be an exceptional manager. This was before his career was interrupted by World War II.[5]
During this, Saburo enlisted as a pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy, or Nihon Kaigun (日本海軍). He quickly rose through the ranks and by the age of 23 he had already attained the rank of Lieutenant.[5] As a skilled flying ace he had over 20 confirmed kills and was said to have a fierce pride towards his country and undying loyalty to his Emperor.[3]
In 1942, Saburo was among the Zero pilots escorting a flight of Japanese G4M "Betty" bombers out of Rabaul island on a routine bombing run over Gualdcanal. When they were engaged by a number American Grumman F4F, the Zero fighters broke formation to engage them. In the subsequent pitched air battle, Saburo passed through an enemy's line of fire while weaving in pursuit of his second kill for the day. He wasn't vulnerable long enough to be shot down, but several bullets smashed through the canopy, shattering his left arm and driving splinters of perspex and metal into his left eye and skull. Barely conscious, he let his fighter plummet towards the ground fifteen thousand feet below. Precious seconds later Saburo struggled back to awareness only to see the ground rushing towards him. Despite the punishing pain and the loss of the use of one arm he pulled back on his stick, leveled his plane and regained control with only a scant 2000 feet to spare. Then, patching himself up as best he could, he began the long haul back to Rabaul, fully believing that he would die somewhere over the 560 miles of ocean he had to cross.
Despite his injuries, Saburo managed to land his plane and reported to his commander. After delivering his report he passed out and was transported back to Tokyo before he regained consciousness, where he discovered that due to his injuries he would never be able to fly again and he was also due to be medically discharged. His injuries were so severe that he was permanently blind in his left eye and that his left arm, although not amputated, was damaged beyond use. Saburo lamented over his injuries and wished he had died a dignified death over the skies of Guadalcanal, rather than face the humiliation of a cripple. He was summarily discharged from service and returned to the Arasaka family compound, where he spent his days brooding over his loss. Saburo saw how the Empire he defended suffered more and more defeats over the next few years.[5]
On August 15th 1945, the day of the Japanese surrender, as the Emperor addressed the people and made note of their surrender, Saburo was thunderstruck. He was on the verge of seppuku in the compound's cherry tree grove. Before the blade was able to puncture his stomach he had a moment of epiphany, and with it came a vision. Right at that moment, Saburo saw the wisdom of his father's actions. Sasai had foreseen Japan's loss in the war. He originally capitalized on wartime industry, but against Saburo's impassioned urging, he had made sure that the bulk of the Arasaka fortune was covertly protected in concealed overseas assets and accounts. As family scion, Saburo saw that the fortune would soon be his to control. He envisioned a Japan rising above the humiliation of losing the war, and becoming an economic powerhouse. A nation in a position of power from which it could dominate the world politically and economically. Saburo drew the half inch of dagger that had penetrated his abdominal muscles before the vision had stayed his hand and returned to the household.
From the day Saburo nearly took his own life, he refused to speak of his wartime experience.[5] Saburo devoted his complete attention to his work. He began intense studies into the fields of politics, economics and history to become a worthy successor to his father and to ensure that Arasaka would one day dominate the political and economic climate.[3]
1960 - 1990s
In 1960, Sasai Arasaka passed away and Saburo took his father's place as the new CEO of Arasaka at the age of 41. He branched out from the simple manufacturing company that it started as and started the Arasaka Bank division. In 1970, he then created the Arasaka Security division of the the family business. Saburo also began shaping the development of the Arasaka Corporation to his own ideals. He was not content with the power that came from purely financial and commercial strength. If his vision of Japan as the world economic superpower was to be realized he would have to exert unseen political control in Japan and across the world. Despite it being a long, arduous task, he believed he was the man to do it. Banking and Security along with Manufacturing were now the three pillars of the Arasaka Corporation.
Being such a dedicated worker, Saburo was late in actually marrying or having children that could continue his legacy after he passed. In 1980, Saburo and his then wife had their first child Kei, a boy he groomed to eventually take over the corporation. Saburo's first wife had passed away at some point and he later remarried.
In 1990, because of his direction the Arasaka Corporation emerged on the global 500 list. During the 1990s, Saburo kept busy as he was able to foresee the world market Crash of '94 and the subsequent US collapse of 1996, using these events to his advantage. This made the Arasaka Corporation one of the few that benefited from the crash, gaining the number two spot on the global 500. He also became more involved in politics, backing politicians in the Japanese Government to further benefit his interests.[6] However, many other Japanese corporations did not agree with Saburo and his ideals, and soon after a group was formed to oppose Arasaka. Even with taking a loss against FACS, Saburo still continued to lead a thriving corporation whose influence was immense.[7]
Saburo even elevated the Defense Agency of Japan into the Ministry of defense under his influence, which in turn benefited his corporation. During this he also attempted to reduce the power of the civilian police, which were controlled by other competitors of Arasaka. This reduction of police power became a very lucrative opportunity for Arasaka Police to grow, which became one of the services offered by Arasaka Security. Major cities in Japan became under the protection of the Arasaka policing services, except for Tokyo.
Saburo became a man of the people, known for being a huge contributor to the development of country. He was also well-known overseas providing thousands of Americans with reliable work, often visiting the people in factories or the streets.[5] He manage to secure much wealth with the Arasaka European Group, when its headquarters were constructed in Paris, France.
Saburo also remarried in the early 1990s, to his third wife Michiko Arasaka, while together they had two children, Yorinobu and Hanako. Michiko passed away shortly after having Hanako due to complications during birth, leaving Saburo to raise them. Hanako became the "apple of his eye" and he wished to protect her from the dangers of the outside world. Yorinobu was put through to the best schools in Tokyo, while Hanako was home-schooled by people Saburo trusted.[3]
2000s
During the time after he sustained injuries, Saburo had undergone numerous surgeries to implant various cybernetics as well as a new eye and right arm for the ones he lost in World War 2. However, by 2020, at 101 years of age, he handed the reins of the company to his eldest son Kei. He remained an influential figure in the corporation and would still attend board meetings.
During Yorinobu's graduation from Todai, Saburo brought his son to his office during the ceremony and told him everything about the family corporation, explaining it's success and their long term goals. Yorinobu, however, did not share his father's ideals and left that same night. Months later he discovered Yorinobu had started a bosozoku gang to rebel and fight against his corporation. This deeply saddened Saburo - as a result, Hanako was never told this truth and instead was kept inside the family compound. Kei was upset at his brother's betrayal and told his father that he needed to be destroyed as he was a risk to their operations. Saburo reluctantly agreed knowing that Kei was right.
Saburo still participated in Japanese politics and would soon found a foothold, allowing him to achieve some political influence. Despite Kei becoming the CEO, Saburo still ran the company from behind the scenes, having the final say over project they needed done.[6]
In 2013, as the Arasaka Corporation was building their new headquarters in Night City. Saburo discovered a netrunner named Alt Cunningham who had been working for ITS. He found out about a program called Soulkiller that she had designed for ITS, believing this was a valuable resource for Arasaka he ordered Toshiro, the American division CEO, to find Alt and have her recreate the Soulkiller for them. As a result the Arasaka American branch suffered from an assault which resulted in the death of Toshiro. Saburo had Kei fill in his position as the new CEO of the Arasaka American branch as Saburo ran things from Tokyo. Now in posession of the Soulkiller program, Saburo began funding projects for new versions of it.
At some point in 2020 the Eel, an Arasaka Cargo Submarine, and its crew including Captain Hyung Mitsumoto sunk in the North Pacific. Shintaro Takayama informed Saburo of the loss, and that the sub was carrying "Project Five." Because of the lack of units in the area, Saburo ordered the acquisition of IDA (International Defense Alliance), an independent organization that was then put under the Arasaka subsidiary, Sato Commercial Shipping. A covert IDA team was dispatched to the Bonin trench to bring the sub to the surface, which allowed a few dozen Arasaka warships enough time to reach the sub before any other entity could reach it. The operation was a success, and allowed Saburo to protect his corporate assets.[8]
2022 - 2023
During the Fourth Corporate War, the Arasaka Corporation faced off against Militech, a corporation Saburo grew to hate due to its CEO Donald Lundee reminding him of the American pilot who shot his plane down in the war.[9] Lundee had put himself and Militech up against Arasaka for years, as Saburo grew tired of him. However, Saburo gave full control over to his son Kei, as he ran the war effort from Night City. Yorinobu, unbeknownst to his father, worked with the Japanese Government to nationalize Arasaka, which soon cut off Saburo from Kei, costing them the war.[10]
In the immediate aftermath of the nuclear bomb detonation in Arasaka Night City Towers, Saburo seemingly met with the terrorist behind the bombing: Johnny Silverhand, based on the recollection of an engram. Silverhand had been apparently captured by Adam Smasher during his escape from the Tower, and was evacuated before the nuke went off. In an attempt for interrogation Saburo had Silverhand's mind copied with Soulkiller, seemingly killing him--in reality Silverhand was killed by Smasher on the spot, and his engram was soulkilled by the netrunner Spider Murphy. For reasons unknown, the engram wound up in Mikoshi and the true identities of the perpetrators of the bombing were left unknown for decades.[4]
Saburo later attended a funeral for his son Kei, while mourning his loss he was reunited with Yorinobu. With the aid of Hanako, Saburo and Yorinobu reconciled and the family was brought together again.
2030s - 2060s
After the death of his son, Kei, the Arasaka Corporation became under the nominal control of Saburo once again, although he kept the face of corporation under his eldest daughter Hanako Arasaka. As of the 2040s, there were three major factions struggling to achieve control of the company, hoping that the aging Saburo, at 126, would eventually hand the crown over to them. The factions at hand were: The Kiji 雉 faction led by Hanako (though controlled by Saburo), The Taka 鷹 faction led by Yorinobu, and finally the Hato 鳩 faction centered on Michiko (Kei's daughter and Saburo's granddaughter). Despite speculation over who would reign as the next leader of Arasaka, Saburo was hellbent on remaining in control.[11]
During this time, Saburo spent much of his time in med tanks designed to regenerate organic tissue. He also invested heavily into bioengineering and mind preserving technology. This would be his answer to eternal life. The Relic project began with the director of the project Anders Hellman being it's lead designer. Saburo got to know Anders well during this and even began a personal project of the Relic that would house the engram of a person and be able to transfer it into a new body.
2077
In 2077, Saburo at the age of 158, remained in firm control of Arasaka as its CEO. He had been working on a Relic prototype as he took much interest in the project. His son, Yorinobu, stole the Relic from one of his laboratories because of his long-term rebellion against him. Saburo was later notified by Anders Hellman of his son's betrayal. He then set sail with his daughter Hanako on the Kujira for Night City to confront Yorinobu. Hanako was the only one who knew of his reasons for leaving Tokyo. During the trip Hanako tried convincing Saburo that she should be the one to speak to her brother or at least accompany him. After declining her she asked what he intended to do, a question Saburo himself did not have an answer to.[12]
Saburo finally arrived at Yorinobu's suite in Konpeki Plaza on the same night that the mercenaries V and Jackie Welles infiltrated the hotel to steal the Relic for Evelyn Parker. With the two thieves looking on in secret from a concealed location, Saburo spoke with his son, but Yorinobu snapped and strangled him to death. In a few short moments, the long life of the man renowned and feared around the world as "the Emperor" ended.[4]
Yorinobu moved quickly to consolidate control of Arasaka, and blamed Saburo's murder on Takemura, Saburo's bodyguard. Word of Saburo's death reached the public within minutes; officially, Arasaka claimed his unexpected demise was attributed to natural causes.[4]
Saburo Arasaka after his death his engram was activated and he met with Hanako at some point after her kidnapping. Hanako had told him of V, a mercenary that might be willing to help them expose Yorinobu of his crimes. Saburo informed his daughter that they should offer V help in exchange for them helping them. He also wished to meet with V before they began their plans.
In the epilogues where Arasaka is hurt and Yorinobu is successful sabotaging the corporation:
- Saburo's engram would become a part of the rogue AI Alt Cunningham, following the destruction of Mikoshi.
If V asked Hanako for help in Nocturne Op55N1:
- Saburo met with V before they confronted the members of the board in Arasaka Tower, he informed them of what Arasaka was hoping to accomplish with the Relic and they had unintentionally became apart of the process. He told V that they would be compensated appropriately for their efforts. After the meeting, Saburo told Hanako he was ready as she brought his engram within a container to the meeting of the Board leaders and faction leaders. It was here Saburo confronted them of their cowardice saying they willingly let Yorinobu take control. He then ordered everyone to listen to Hanako as if it was him giving the orders himself.
- Hanako confronted her brother had his consciousness overwritten with Saburo's engram, who then lived on to revert all changes by his son while he was acting CEO. The Arasaka Corporation under the control of Saburo resolved all conflicts with Militech as both corporations work for a lasting peace. President Meyers agreed to meet with Saburo as they secured the future. Saburo and Meyers became allies, with a lasting peace with the New United States. The Relic project also became a success, with the Arasaka Corporation becoming even more powerful then ever before, both politically and economically.
- However many protestors began to fight back against Arasaka as they did not wish to live in a world where the rich could live forever. Saburo went on record saying his son gave his life for him and that Arasaka would not give into threats.
- If V did not take the deal in Where is My Mind?:
- Hanako contacted V after they had refused the deal and asked if they would be interested in more work with her and Saburo.
- If V did not take the deal in Where is My Mind?:
Database Entry (2077)
CEO of the Arasaka Corporation. After elevating his father's Japanese company out of relative obscurity to become a global powerhouse, Saburo is now widely regarded as the founder of the Arasaka empire. This former Japanese Imperial Navy pilot transformed into the ruthless buisnessman who now stands at the helm of the world's largest arms manufacturer. He is a man who, for decades, has been rumored to be able to force even the most cold-blooded assassins to commit suicide at his command, which may say as much about his virtually absolute rule as it does his extraordinarily prolonged lifespan.[4]
Ambitions
– Saburo, surveillance tape stolen by Rache Bartmoss, Cyberpunk
Saburo is megalomaniacal and obsessed. He is highly arrogant and considers himself the most adept man that has and will ever exist, and sees it as his duty to elevate Japan to what he believes to be its former glory. He works tirelessly to see this ideal come true. His family believes his dedication to his work is the thing that keeps him alive. Saburo concentrated so hard on building his Empire that he did not even begin having children until he was in his 60s. He firmly believes in the traditional Japanese values and enforces them rigidly at the family compound. He also maintains a classical décor inside the compound, dismissing any non-functional modern appointing.[3]
In spite of being a cold and dangerous, Saburo always believed himself to be a good person because he had a very elevated goal in mind: restoring the glory of his country and ensuring the happiness and security of his family, he wasn't looking for glory for himself. Saburo was also a very religious man and practices the traditions of the Shinto faith.
Saburo by 2020 held the unofficial title of the most powerful man on the planet. The Arasaka lineage consisted of noble samurai, and because of this Saburo is incredibly proud and honorable, and after Imperial Japan's humiliating defeat in WW2 he vowed to restore his honor by seppuku. His unsuccessful attempt on August 15th 1945, during Emperor Hirohito's surrender speech to the nation, made him realize that Japan would never become the militaristic power it once was, but rather it could evolve into an economic and commercial power that could rule East Asia once again and possibly the world. Saburo began to study to one day take control over his father's company and to use his vast amounts of wealth to catapult the Arasaka Corporation onto the world stage.[3]
Saburo strived for perfection and studied at the top University of Tokyo, Todai, he graduated with expertise in economics, business, politics, and various others. He is one of the most intelligent men on the planet. Saburo is also very nationalistic, having a contemptful view of foreign countries and cultures, rarely setting foot outside of Japan. More specifically, Saburo harbors a deep hatred towards the United States for humiliating his country during the war. Saburo uses three key areas of his company as tools to further his plans: the security division, the bank and the secretive black operations.
Within a month of his father's passing, black operations such as blackmail, bribery, extortion, assassination and abduction were already underway. These black operations usually uncovered compromising material on important figures such as politicians, celebrities and other corporate types, which Saburo uses against them—never for money—but for influence and information. As well as these black operations the company uses its security division to steal information from its own clients, who it had sworn to protect. The corporation has never been caught and the data stolen is not sold on for profit, but rather for Saburo to use the trends in the data to influence business decisions for the most profitable outcome. The bank is primarily used as a bargaining tool against other corporations that may be failing and need a previous load to stay afloat, but it has been known to be used for money laundering between Arasaka and the dummy corporations it owns.[3]
Equipment
| Type | Products |
|---|---|
| Cyberware | Basic processor, chipware socket, data-term link, nanosurgeons, basic cyberoptic, Times Square Marquee, basic cyberarm, cyberaudio, phonesplice, scrambler, bug detector. Relies on powered wheelchair.[3] |
| Armaments | None |
| Type | Products |
|---|---|
| Outfit | Saburo's Dog Tag[4] |
| Weapons | , |
Notes
- Saburo speaks Japanese no matter the language being spoken, this was a mandate by CDPR that he must be speaking Japanese in every version of the game. Because of this, Saburo is the only main character that doesn't have more than one voice actor attached to him in Cyberpunk 2077.
Trivia
- Saburo was first shown to be in Cyberpunk 2077 during the Grimes concert at the 2019 Game Awards but his identity was later confirmed.[13]
- Saburo Arasaka's military fighter pilot career appears to be based on Saburō Sakai, a renowned fighter ace during World War II, and both share an incident where a stray bullet from a fighter engagement had permanently affected the vision of their left eye.
- Saburo's personal diary is found in his AV next to his katana the Satori on the rooftop of Konpeki Plaza. Before Patch 1.2 the shard was glitched and can only be picked up after completing the The Heist and returning to the hotel by glitching through the walls.
- Saburo was originally bedridden and confined to a wheelchair in Cyberpunk 2020. A nurse would attend to him in the Family Compound and he was unable to leave. This however was changed later in Cyberpunk 2077, having him physically able to walk and leave Tokyo more often.
- Saburo Arasaka is considered a war hero of World War II.
- Saburo's name means third born son.[14]
- Specifically, his name contains the Nanori reading for "three, third" (三, sabu) and the Kan-on reading for "son, male child" (郎, ro).
- Saburo originally looked the same in Love Like Fire as he did in The Heist, though Patch 1.5 gave him a younger-looking model during the flashback sequence.
Gallery
References
- ↑ Where is My Mind?
- ↑ Youtube Video
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 MOSS, W. Corporation Report 2020 Volume 1. 1st ed., Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1991.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 CD Projekt RED. Cyberpunk 2077. Video Game, Multi-Platform. Poland, CD Projekt S.A., 2020.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Saburo Arasaka A Giant's Life Documentary in Cyberpunk 2077
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 PASQUARETTE, C. Pacific Rim Sourcebook. 1st ed., Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1994.
- ↑ TANAKA, N. Nippon Sourcebook. 1st ed., Japan, Yellow Submarine, 1994.
- ↑ ERIC HEISSERER, Cyberpunk The Bonin Horse, Atlas Games 1993
- ↑ Sevile, A. Firestorm Stormfront. 1st ed. Berkeley CA; R.Talsorian Games Inc, 1997.
- ↑ ACKERMAN GREY, D. Firestorm Shockwave. 1st ed. Berkeley CA; R.Talsorian Games Inc, 1997.
- ↑ PONDSMITH, M. Cyberpunk RED Corebook. 1st ed., Kenmore, WA, R. Talsorian Games, 2020.
- ↑ Diary (117-121/77) shard in Cyberpunk 2077
- ↑ Reddit post
- ↑ https://babynames.com/name/saburo#:~:text=The%20name%20Saburo%20is%20primarily,that%20means%20Third%2Dborn%20Son.