Daisaku Kuze

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I'll let you in on a little something. The yakuza game, it's not like boxing. The man who gets beat down isn't the loser. The guy who can't tough it out to the end, he's the one who loses. Eh? Don't ya think?

— Kuze

Daisaku Kuze was one of the three Dojima junior lieutenants, including Hiroki Awano and Keiji Shibusawa in 1988.

Voiced by: Ozawa Hitoshi

Yakuza 0

Kuze watches Kiryu hit one of Dojima's men

Due to Kazama being arrested, all 3 lieutenants strove to claim the rank of captain. As Dojima wanted to have a land deal regarding a small lot, in an attempt to increase his chances of being promoted, tried to force Kiryu to betray Kazama by becoming an informant. Kiryu refuses the offer and later decides to quit the yakuza in an attempt to help Kazama's position. When he proposes his intention to Kuze, Kiryu is forced to fight multiple yakuza led by Yoneda, Kuze's right hand man. After reaching Kuze, who warns Kiryu not to underestimate the Dojima family, Kiryu is forced to fight Kuze. After losing the fight against Kiryu, Sohei Dojima appears with Shibusawa and Awano. He then demotes Kuze below Shibusawa and Awano, and demands him to perform yubitsume to ask for forgiveness. After this confrontation, Kuze is fought four more times throughout the game, dedicated to defeating Kiryu.

Kuze is later encountered in the sewers as part of the manhunt to find and kill Kiryu, this time armed with a pipe and a motorcycle. After doing a running pass on Kiryu, he crashes and has a short speech about his dedication to the Yakuza, vowing to climb as long as he's alive. He then reveals a new disgust of people who quit the yakuza and proceeds to fight Kiryu only to lose for the second time.

The next time Kuze is fought is after being cornered in the streets by the Dojima family. Even with the aid of yakuza and brass knuckles, Kuze loses again.

Kuze's left cheek got hit by Kiryu's anger fist

Sometime later, after Tachinaba's captures at the hands of Lao Gui, a Chinese assassin, Tachibana is tortured by Kuze and his men regarding the plot of land. After Tachibana says that killing him will get them nothing, Kuze admits his point and prepares to move him. Whilst doing so, his subordinate becomes agitated with Tachibana smirking at him and strikes him in the temple with a sledgehammer, prompting Kuze to slam him to the ground headfirst, killing him. Kiryu then bursts in, and after seeing the dazed Tachibana he strikes Kuze and they engage in a fight once more, resulting in another loss for Kuze.

Kuze watches Kiryu leaving after he is defeated

Later in the game, Kuze receives orders from Shibusawa to plant bombs in the Kazama Family HQ, but he is interrupted by Kiryu. They fight one last time. After the fight, Kuze tells Kiryu to never give up on something, even if you know you will fail. Later he gets arrested along with Shibusawa.

Appearance

Kuze is an older man likely in his 50's. His standard attire consists of a light grey suit, an unbuttoned white shirt, matching snakeskin belt and shoes and gold rimmed sunglasses. Despite his (assumed) age, Kuze is a muscular individual with an irezumi depicting Enma, the God of Hell on his back while the guardians of Hell Gozu (Ox-Head) and Mezu (Horse-Face) adorn his left and right upper arms respectively.

Personality

Kuze is a forward and sometimes thuggish individual. In contrast to this, he has a certain form of honor. Throughout the game, he is also shown to be a very determined and resilient individual who does not give up easily. He has repeatedly engaged Kiryu in battle despite his defeats and regardless in what state he is in, shown especially when he continues to fight Kiryu despite his demotion and the loss of the first knuckle of his left little finger via yubitsume. As the game progresses, Kuze becomes more and more impressed by Kiryu's skills in battle and undergoes a personality change. This is evident by the fact that he attempted to stop his men from torturing Tetsu Tachibana and in the end with helping Kiryu find where Keiji Shibusawa is located.

Fighting Style

His fighting style is primarily boxing along with rare kick attacks.

In the 2nd fight, he uses a pipe with attacks breaking guard.

The last fight has him start off with his heat mode

Gallery

Trivia

Daisaku Kuze is voiced by Japanese actor Hitoshi Ozawa.
Kuze's tattoo represents Enma, the judge and ruler of the underworld, which is ironic because Kuze keeps fighting and judging Kiryu and that Kuze is the only obstacle in Kiryu's path that keeps him in the hell of the Yakuza.
Kuze's blood brothers Awano and Shibusawa have genuine respect for Kuze, being the most senior member and keeping respect and honor as his main path.
Kiryu dislikes Awano and Shibusawa, but seems to have respect for Kuze for never taking the easy way out and always coming back.
Kuze is a true Yakuza by heart as he stated this multiple times.