Editing Takashi Kurita

{{Update Needed|[[Handbook: House Kurita]]}}
{{refimprove}}
{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Takashi Kurita BTLegends.jpg
| caption             = Takashi Kurita
| name                = Takashi Kurita
| birthdate           = 18 August [[2970]]<ref name=HKDCLS>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', foldout: "The Draconis Combine's Line of Succession and Partial Kurita Family Tree"</ref>
| died                = 15 September [[3054]]<ref>''Field Manual: Draconis Combine'', p. 9</ref>
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[House Kurita]]
| rank                = 
| title               = [[Duke of Luthien]]
| position            = [[Coordinator of Worlds]]
| profession          = Noble
| parents             = [[Hohiro Kurita (30th c.)|Hohiro Kurita]] (father)
| siblings            = [[Miyamoto Kurita]]
| spouse              = [[Jasmine Isu]]<ref name=HKDCp167>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 167</ref>
| children            = [[Theodore Kurita (31st c.)|Theodore Kurita]]
}}
'''Takashi Kurita''' was the [[Coordinator]] of the [[Draconis Combine]] and father of [[Theodore Kurita]].

==History==
===Early Life and Career===
Takashi was born premature in 2970 on [[Kagoshima]] at the home of his paternal aunt [[Florimel Kurita]].<ref name=HKDCp165>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 165: "Takashi Kurita"</ref> The son of Coordinator [[Hohiro Kurita (30th c.)|Hohiro Kurita]], he immediately became the heir to his father's throne. Two years after his birth, his mother gave birth to a brother, [[Miyamoto Kurita|Miyamoto]]. In his youth, he met a young [[Subhash Indrahar]] in the exclusive First School on Kagoshima, beginning a lifelong friendship. Takashi received his MechWarrior training at [[Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy]] through six years of standard MechWarrior training,<ref name=HKDCp165/> graduating with top marks, and finished his military training at the prestigious [[Wisdom of the Dragon]] school<ref>''Luthien ''</ref> where he earned the ''katana'' and ''wakizashi'' swords that he wears on all formal or ceremonial occasions.<ref name=HKDCp165/>

After graduation a young officer in the [[DCMS]], Takashi was assigned a lance command with the elite [[2nd Sword of Light|Second Sword of Light]] on [[Marlowe's Rift]]. Takashi rose to fame with his new unit, demonstrating his leadership and battlefield prowess and inspiring the already elite unit to even greater heights. Takashi was promoted to Captain in [[2995]] and eventually rose to command the regiment's heavy assault battalion. As of [[2997]] he held the rank of major.<ref name=HKDCp165/>

In May [[2988]]<ref name=LDc44>''Lost Destiny'', ch. 44</ref> he would visit [[New Samarkand]] on a military inspection, he naturally stayed as an honored guest of the [[House Isu|Isu family]], who provided a traditional banquet and entertainment. When [[Jasmine Isu|Jasmine]] and her sisters performed ''budo'' for the Dragon's Prince, her skill, beauty, and high birth enamored him, and he soon arranged a betrothal. The two would not see each other until years later on their wedding day.<ref name=HKDCp165/>

He was promoted to command the [[Otomo]] in [[3000]].<ref name="HKp85">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 85: "The New Millennium"</ref><ref>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 6</ref>

While he was the commander of the Otomo Takashi and Subhash Indrahar renewed their boyhood friendship as of that time Subhash was an aide to the Director of the ISF, in charge of coordinating the ISF's efforts with the Otomo. Soon both were again practicing the art of kendo swordsmanship, at which they were both highly skilled and evenly matched. It was also in this year that Takashi's only son, Theodore Kurita, was born.<ref name=HKDCp165/>

In [[3002]], his younger brother [[Miyamoto Kurita]] died in battle, a most honorable death for a son of the Kurita dynasty and he grieved him in private.<ref name=HKDCp165/>

===Transfer of Power===
In [[3004]], Hohiro Kurita was assassinated by an [[Otomo]] guard, [[Ingmar Sterenson]], a member of the [[Tyr Resistance Movement]] from the [[Rasalhague Military District]]. Takashi had Sterenson executed immediately and his body hung by his feet until his bones fell to the ground. The swift killing of the assassin before he could be interrogated, combined with his leadership of the Otomo at the time of the assassination, led to rumors that he was culpable in the murder. The [[ISF]] informed the new Coordinator who was enraged. He used the Otomo to round up those he suspected of undermining his credibility, bringing them to [[Unity Palace]]. Once they were gathered he accused them of undermining the state, and then immediately executed them on the grounds.<ref name="HKp86">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 86: "Takashi's 'Benevolence'"</ref><ref name="ER3052p68-69">''Era Report: 3052'', pp. 68–69: "Takashi Kurita" profile</ref>

Takashi did ease the harsh restrictions of his father, however, once his purge of opposition was completed, thus making life for the common citizenry more bearable. Nonetheless, the Coordinator always acted swiftly against any opposition to his rule, even nonviolent, in order to maintain his realm's internal harmony.<ref name="HKp87">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 87: "Takashi's 'Benevolence'"</ref><ref name="ER3052p68-69"/>

Given the failures of the military under his father's rule he made changes in the first years of his reign. He focused on making the military a competitive place, with each commander competing among themselves. One way that he encouraged this competition was by replacing the front commanders with a system of having each military district's [[Tai-shu|Warlord]] control the local forces. These changes all proved successful.<ref name="HKp87b">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 87: "Military Revival"</ref>

In the end of 3004 - start of [[3005]], the first of the nine attempts on his life occurred. A distant relative of a man executed during the courtyard purge rushed up with a knife raised to strike. Takashi, whose padded jersey absorbed the knife thrust, also managed to break his assailant’s neck. He ordered that the assassin's body be hung from the main gate of the Imperial Palace, along with that of every member of the Otomo group charged with guarding him that day.<ref name="HKp90">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 90: "Internal Squabbles"</ref>

===Third Succession War===
The Davion front was the primary focus of Takashi at the beginning of his rule. In [[3007]] he directed the DCMS to attack the Davion forces on [[Cylene]], [[Mara]], [[Galatia III]], [[Harrow's Sun]], [[Benet III]], and [[Crossing]]. All of these strikes succeeded, giving the Coordinator more confidence in the readiness of his troops.<ref name="HKp87b">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 87: "Military Revival"</ref>

When in [[3013]] during the Third Battle of [[Mallory's World]] ended with the death of [[First Prince]] [[Ian Davion]] and control of the Federated Suns passed to [[Hanse Davion]], Takashi's desire to know his future enemy grew into an odd friendship of sorts. When Hanse's father died, Takashi made an unprecedented, kind gesture of sending a note of condolence. Since then, each has taken a keen interest in the life and career of the other. Hanse Davion even sent a message expressing the wish that Takashi's wife [[Jasmine Kurita]] would recover from a serious illness that befell her in [[3019]].<ref name="HKp87c">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 87: "Attitudes Towards His Rivals"</ref>

In [[3014]], he personally ended leading the [[Second Sword of Light]] in the [[Battle of Halstead Station]].<ref name="HKp88">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 88: "The Halstead Station Affair"</ref>

The seventh assassination attempt occurred in [[3021]] when a bomb detonated in Takashi's [[DropShip]]. The Coordinator managed to escape in an [[aerospace fighter]].<ref name="HKp90"/>

In [[3023]], elements of the [[First Sword of Light]] accompanied Coordinator Takashi to the Davion world of [[Quentin]]. The Coordinator Takashi came to see his newly hired [[mercenary|mercenaries]], the famed [[Wolf's Dragoons]], in action on an objective raid. The Kuritan troops spearheaded the final push to secure the [[Independence Weaponry]] factory, though they lost some warriors during their charge.<ref>''Wolves on the Border'', p. 69</ref>

The eighth attempt on his life happened in 3023 when a courtesan pricked Takashi's finger with a poison-tipped needle hidden on her person. Though Takashi survived, he was deathly ill for two weeks and could no longer tolerate milk products because of reaction to the poison.<ref name="HKp90"/>

The ninth attempt happened in [[3024]], while Takashi was sparring in his ''BattleMaster'', and a microchip popped up from where it had been implanted in the 'Mech's coordination and guidance panel. It immediately began to send spurious signals into the Security Procedures panel. The controls of Takashi's 'Mech would no longer respond to his touch. Instead, the computer informed him that he was an intruder and had five minutes to vacate or else his 'Mech would self-destruct. The microchip had also latched the hatch to the ''BattleMaster'', trapping Takashi. He barely managed to escape by desperately yanking every computer board in his display, which shorted out the rogue system.<ref name="HKp90"/>

====The Concord of Kapteyn====
In 3024, in direct response to the [[FedCom Accords]] (and with the assistance of [[ComStar]]), Takashi brought together unlikely allies [[Maximilian Liao]] and [[Janos Marik]] to sign the [[Concord of Kapteyn]]. This was an agreement of mutual support against their common enemies, House Davion and House Steiner. Though some back and forth raids would continue between the Confederation and the [[Free Worlds League]], the agreement held in principle. As policy, however, it would prove ineffective during the [[Fourth Succession War]], due primarily to incompetent maneuvering by the [[FWLM]].

====The Galtor Campaign====
When news of the [[Star League]] depot found at [[Galtor]] arrived to him via [[ISF]], and though he was skeptical, he finally allowed several regiments of the [[DCMS]] to attack it.<ref name=TGCp11>''The Galtor Campaign'', p. 11: "The Dragon Moves"</ref>

It seems Takashi Kurita did not trust [[Grieg Samsonov]] entirely as after a brief visit from him, Takashi ordered the entire palace swept for electronic bugs.<ref name=TGCp55>''The Galtor Campaign'', p. 55: "5th Galedon Regulars"</ref>

====Wolf's Dragoons====
When the famed [[Wolf's Dragoons]] mercenaries worked for the Combine from [[3022]] onwards, relations between the Coordinator and the Dragoons' commander [[Jaime Wolf]] were mutually respectful, with Takashi even ordering a new DCMS unit, the ''[[Ryuken]]'', created specifically to imitate the Dragoons' fighting style.<ref name="WotB108">''Wolves on the Border'', p. 108</ref> The machinations of Warlord Grieg Samsonov, acting without Takashi's knowledge to keep the Dragoons employed by the Combine, permanently soured the relationship between Takashi Kurita and the Dragoons. Samsonov's failed attempt to prevent the Dragoons from leaving resulted in a [[Battle of Misery (3028)|confrontation]] which damaged the Dragoons but left them powerful enough to be a serious enemy of the Combine.

The resulting ''seppuku'' of Jaime Wolf's friend and ''Ryuken'' commander [[Minobu Tetsuhara]] led to Wolf's subsequent verbal confrontation with Takashi Kurita on [[Terra]] just prior to [[Hanse Davion]] and [[Melissa Steiner|Melissa Steiner's]] wedding. The direct result of these events was an infamous feud between the two men and their respective factions, which would affect events in the Inner Sphere in subsequent years.<ref>''Wolves on the Border'', Epilogue (PDF version)</ref><ref name="ER3052p68-69"/>

===Fourth Succession War===
Takashi Kurita's leadership during the [[Fourth Succession War]], coupled with a notable increase in irrational raging and paranoia, proved to be disastrous to his realm. His anger towards Jaime Wolf and the Dragoons became a personal obsession, with Wolf goading him into fixating upon the three Federated Suns worlds where the Dragoons had been stationed. As a result, by attracting the lion's share of DCMS attention along that front, the Dragoons were able to prevent the Combine from making any major territorial gains at the Suns' expense while the bulk of the Federated Suns military was focused upon crushing the Capellan Confederation.<ref name="ER3052p68-69"/><ref>''Operational Turning Points: Death to Mercenaries'', pp. 8–9</ref>

Takashi's focus upon the Dragoons resulted in even worse damage along the Lyran border, as the Coordinator's neglect of the Lyran front contributed to the loss of over fifty worlds to House Steiner's [[Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG|enormously successful offensive]]. Only the actions of his son Theodore, who managed to stall the LCAF incursion into the [[Dieron Military District]], averted further losses.<ref name="HBHKp65">''Handbook: House Kurita'', p. 65: "The Rise of Theodore"</ref>

Finally [[Constance Kurita]], as [[Keeper of the House Honor]], ordered Takashi to undergo medical examination. It was discovered that a stroke sometime in the two years prior had resulted in impaired mental functioning, and that another inevitable stroke would do even worse unless surgery was undertaken. Nonetheless, the damage had been done. Partly due to Takashi's impaired leadership, the Fourth Succession War had cost the Draconis Combine fifty-three worlds and ruined several elite regiments, against the paltry gain of the [[Galtor Thumb]] and a few other minor Federated Suns' systems near the [[Periphery]].<ref name="HBHKp65"/><ref>''Heir to the Dragon'', ch. 36 (PDF version)</ref>

===The Dragon and the Heir===
In the aftermath of the [[War of 3039|War of '39]], the Coordinator was forced to acknowledge his son's military policies had been successful, bringing honor and glory to what had been a demoralized DCMS.<ref name=HTTD>''Heir to the Dragon''</ref> Encouraging this may been a medical procedure Takashi had underwent to relieve abnormal blood pressure on his brain.{{cn}} His approach gradually became more relaxed and diplomatic, though he continued to adhere strictly to ''bushido''.<ref>''20 Year Update'', p. 84</ref> He would reconcile with Theodore, both publicly and privately.<ref name=HTTD /> Takashi would eventually even privately acknowledge that his son was now the driving force, having usurped his military authority and no small amount of his political power.<ref name=WP>''Wolf Pack''</ref> The years from [[3040]] to [[3049]] were, in many ways, a golden era for the Combine. For the first time in years, the leadership was at least somewhat united, and the military was growing stronger and more united than it had been in decades with Theodore's new policies, and there was relative peace on the Combine's borders. With the assistance of [[ComStar]], technological breakthroughs began, hearkening to the era of the [[Star League]].

Then came the [[Clan Invasion|Clans]].

===Clan Invasion===
{{quote|''It is not enough that you leave Luthien for nine months to consult with our enemy, but now you bring him here! Then I find you turning over to him responsibility for the safety of Imperial City! Maximilian Liao was fortunate in his child. At least Romano had the mercy to assassinate him before destroying his nation!''|}}
{{quote|''If that is truly your mind, shall I get a gun and shoot you?''|Takashi and Theodore Kurita}}

When Clan Smoke Jaguar came smashing into the Combine in [[3050]], Takashi remained effectively in the background, leaving the fighting of the war in the hands of his son. The DCMS managed some level of successful resistance, particularly by units trained in the fashion of the Ryuken and Genyosha, trained and equipped based on the Wolf's Dragoons and Kell Hounds models respectfully, the Combine suffered many early blows in the war. Most grievous was the capture of Takashi's grandson Hohiro on Turtle Bay, and the subsequent orbital bombardment of the world in revenge for the later rescue of Hohiro by [[Shin Yodama]] and the [[Yakuza]].

Takashi appeared content to remain in the background during the war, letting his son, in his capacity as the ''[[Gunji-no-Kanrei]]'', manage the war as he saw fit without interference, even to the point of not refusing his son permission to consult with the leaders of the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere and about the invasion for an extended period of time.

However, Takashi would not remain in the shadows forever. He made a most dramatic reentry to the Combine's political and military landscape as the Smoke Jaguars and Nova Cats prepared to attack no less a target then Luthien itself. Hanse Davion, having seen the direct strategic threat a collapse of the Combine would mean, yet bound by his promise to Theodore to not send any AFFC troops into the Combine while the Inner Sphere grappled with the Clans came upon an inspired political and strategic masterstroke; he would send Wolf's Dragoons and the Kell Hounds, neither technically AFFC troops but mercenaries, to back up Theodore's defense of his capital world. Welcomed warmly by Theodore and Hohiro, the ''Kanrei''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s attempts to keep the news from his father proved futile, with the enraged Takashi storming into Theodore's briefing session and for the first time since Hanse Davion's wedding where the two had all but declared war on each other, came face to face with Colonel Jaime Wolf.

Berating his son for "emasculating" the Combine by placing its fate into the hands of mercenaries, the Coordinator bitterly declared that at least Max Liao had been fortunate in having his daughter kill him so he would never see what she would do to his nation. Theodore's dry rebuttal that if this was truly his wish, he would go and get his gun right now only refueled his father's anger, but his father would in no way risk his nation by relieving its best General from command at this hour. Theodore then pointed out that the DCMS was entirely manning the front line, that the Dragoons and Kell Hounds were deployed as the reserve force directly protecting the Capital if they fell, because there was no other unit to be deployed in its defense.

At this, Takashi revealed that there was indeed one last Combine unit to be deployed; the Dragon's Claws. Formed in secret by Takashi as a hedge against a coup d'état by his son, they would form the final line of defense under his personal command.<ref>''Era Report: 3062, p. 37, 'Izanagi Warriors'</ref>

===The Battle of Luthien and the Kado-guchi Valley===
{{quote|''I warn you, I will not tolerate being ordered by one of my son's hoodlums. To him, you may be special, but to me you are Yakuza! I've dealt with your kind before and I can do it still. I demand you release my 'Mech!|Takashi Kurita}}

The Battle of Luthien started well for the Combine. The elite of the DCMS under Theodore Kurita's personal command drew the Smoke Jaguars into a well prepared trap which turned into a killing ground for the Clan Warriors, until the Nova Cats managed to break past the fierce fighting, running straight into the reserve Dragoon and Kell Hound units just behind the front line.

Anxious to join the fighting, Takashi and his Regiment were rather rudely surprised to find out that Theodore had programmed their BattleMechs with a "lock" code, freezing them in place in their assembly area. As his sole strategic reserve, the ''Kanrei'' had positioned the Dragon's Claws in a valley that would allow them to rapidly shift position to halt any breach in the front line and needed to hold his father's unit back until needed. Correctly guessing that his Father would simply take his troops and charge into the battle as soon as he powered up his BattleMech however, Theodore had placed the code to ensure that they would only be released when ''he'' wanted them to. Knowing also that the Coordinator would easily be able to order any subordinate in the DCMS to unlock his unit, Theodore sent as the "liaison" officer the one man on planet who would not bow to Takashi's demands; Shin Yodama. A Yakuza fanatically loyal to Theodore above all, Shin refused the enraged Takashi's demands to release him, declaring he would gladly commit ''seppuku'' to atone for the grievous dishonor to his Liege, ''after'' the battle, for he would not release his men until Theodore gave the order. While his technicians were able to figure out the override code soon enough, Takashi's hand was again stayed with Shin revealing that his son had, again, correctly guessed his father's actions, and equipped his unit with a ''second'' code that would instantly self-destruct their 'Mechs and leave Imperial City completely open to attack.

Aghast at the seeming insanity of his son, Takashi was only mollified when Shin informed him that a single person had refused to evacuate the city with the rest of its people; he and his men were the only force standing between his Granddaughter Omi Kurita and the Clans and Theodore would do whatever it took to ensure her Grandfather remained in position to protect her.

Annoyed but finally accepting his place in the battle, Takashi moved his unit according to Theodore's instructions into a blocking position, staying always between the raging battle and the Imperial City until finally, the Nova Cats main force broke through. Given the order to advance and hold the Clan force until the DCMS and Mercenary units could regroup and close a box around the final Clan forces, Takashi and Shin together led a storied full-speed charge into the Kado-guchi Valley, smashing into the surprised Clan unit and checking their momentum in a vicious, glorious, close range brawl. 
At one moment, Takashi found himself alongside the mercenary unit's [[Crescent Hawks]] commander, [[Jason Youngblood]]. Despite that unit being a traditional enemy of the Combine, Takashi respectfully bowed to him. Jason, impressed by his gesture, returned it and fought beside Takashi.<ref>''Yesterday's Enemy'' </ref>

Although heavily outnumbered, they succeeded in buying time and soon the Kell Hounds, Dragoons, First Sword, Otomo and Second Legion of Vega arrived, closing the other three sides of the "box" the remains of the Clan Invasion force suddenly found itself trapped in. Predictably, the Nova Cats reoriented on the Dragon's Claws, the weakest side of the trap, and threw themselves in desperation at Takashi and his warriors in a last-ditch attempt to break out. The Nova Cats failed and were subsequently annihilated, albeit at a horrific cost to the Dragon's Claws, with only three of his unit's BattleMechs still operational by the time the guns fell silent.

===Reconciliation and the Dragon United===
{{quote|''This House, though divided against itself, has defeated the Clans twice. Imagine their distress when they learn we now devote all our energies to fighting them, together!|Takashi Kurita}}

In the aftermath of the epic battle, Takashi strove to make peace with his family. He admitted that his son had been correct to place Shin Yodama as a "brake" on his willingness to fight for glory above all else, and admitted that his son's reforms had indeed proven their worth in the most spectacular fashion. Further, while not going so far as to "bury the hatchet" with Jaime Wolf, he was willing to go so far as to "agree to disagree" and acknowledge that their help, and by extension Hanse Davion's, had proven critical to defending his Homeworld and realm from the Clans.

Striving to work with Theodore rather then against him from this point on, the two Kurita's opened up a new chapter in their relationship. A matter of months later, when Hohiro became trapped behind enemy lines with no line units available to be deployed to get his grandson back home, Takashi was a vocal supporter of his granddaughter's plan to ask Victor Steiner Davion to help, noting with a great deal of amusement to his son who was somewhat aghast at his daughter's presumption, that as a father he would learn as he did that he would win the occasional battle against his children, but never the war.

===Death and Afterward===
In [[3054]], he had a challenge delivered to [[Jaime Wolf]] on [[Outreach]], offering to settle their grievances once and for all in a BattleMech duel to the death. Wolf accepted. However, on the morning of the 15th of September<ref>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 12, 'Timeline of Events: 3053-3062</ref> - the day of the battle - [[Michi Noketsuna]], former aide to [[Minobu Tetsuhara]], managed to corner the Coordinator seeking revenge for the treachery of [[Misery]]. Takashi calmly explained his version of events, causing Noketsuna to doubt the honor of his actions. At that point, [[Subhash Indrahar]] arrived with a team of [[ISF]] commandos. Takashi at first greeted his old friend as a rescuer, but was soon enlightened. Subhash recognized that a duel to the death between Takashi Kurita and Jaime Wolf would have devastating consequences for the Combine. If Kurita won, Wolf's Dragoons would claim vengeance and would attack the Combine, weakening it against the Clans. If Wolf won, House Kurita would be forced to attack the Dragoons, likewise leaving it weakened. The ISF was there to ensure Takashi Kurita's death before the duel could be fought. Indrahar promptly gave Noketsuna permission to continue.<ref name=WP />

Noketsuna, recognizing that to attack Takashi Kurita under such circumstances would be dishonorable, instead charged the ISF Commandos and was promptly shot down. (Though he would survive.) Indrahar then had his commandos attack Takashi with swords, as gunfire would put a lie to his assassination cover story. Despite his advanced age, Takashi defeated two of his attackers before the alarm was sounded. Indrahar and his men departed, though not before reminding Takashi of the consequences of his prideful actions.<ref name=WP />

Meeting with his son Theodore, Takashi realized that Indrahar had been right. With no other means to avoid the duel honorably, he committed ''seppuku'' with Theodore standing as his second. Theodore Kurita would then assume the throne as Coordinator of the Draconis Combine, later reaching a peace with Jaime Wolf. (Officially, however, Takashi Kurita was reported to have died in his sleep.)<ref name=WP />

===Marriage and Children===
Takashi married his third cousin [[Jasmine Isu]]. His only child was [[Theodore Kurita]].

==Philosophy and Traits==
Becoming Coordinator after his father's assassination in [[3004]], Takashi was a strict conservative samurai and a firm believer in the [[Dictum Honorium]]. His manner during much of his life was severe, even with his wife and child. Ruthlessly cunning, he more than once would replace a successful commander if he felt the commander's popularity might threaten him. Though some might consider such policies as signs of paranoia, they successfully helped him survive nine assassination attempts and two coup attempts by members of his own family. Despite all of this, he was considered extraordinarily skilled in military affairs, with the iron will needed to rule a [[Successor State]].<ref>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)''</ref>

The Fourth Succession War, however, and the feud with Jaime Wolf seemed to have broken something within the Coordinator, making him reactionary and paranoid.<ref>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 19</ref> He strongly resisted his son Theodore's political and military reforms, but eventually accepted them when Theodore succeeded in repulsing the [[Federated Commonwealth]] assault in [[3039]]. He adopted more a diplomatic approach to his rule, though he remained a lifelong believer of ''bushido''. Takashi eventually even accepted [[Shin Yodama]], a ''yakuza'', as the new commander of his [[Izanagi Warriors|Dragon's Claws]], recognizing the young officer's service and ability.

In his later years, he seemed to have grown sentimental regarding his enemies. After the death of Hanse Davion, he was said to have declared there were "no more worthy enemies left to fight".<ref>''Lost Destiny''</ref> Later, he had an ''[[Archer]]'' posted outside of his palace painted in [[Wolf's Dragoons]] colors, a clear tribute to Jaime Wolf. When asked about it, he whispered. "The Fox is gone now. All I have left is the Wolf." He later challenged Wolf to a duel on Luthien, launching a series of events ending in his death.<ref name=WP />

==BattleMechs==
Early in his career, he favored a ''[[BattleMaster]]''.<ref>''Wolves on the Border''</ref> Later, with the rediscovery of [[Star League]] technology, he piloted a ''[[Grand Dragon]]''.<ref>''Luthien''</ref> Takashi's great-great-granddaughter, [[Coordinator]] [[Yori Kurita]], took Takashi's BattleMaster as her personal BattleMech as a way to reiterate her connection to the ruling family line.<ref>''BattleTech: Legends'', p. 37</ref>

==Notes==
* Takashi was a master at kendo, the art of fencing, having achieved tenth degree mastery, or ''judan''.<ref name=HKDCp165/>

==Quotes==
{{Quote|''It's not enough to run here and there to strike at the enemy. Guile and cunning are required tools of a warrior, too.''|General Takashi Kurita, commander of the Imperial Palace Guards, [[3002]]<ref name="HK(TDC)p85">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 85: "The New Millennium"</ref>}}

{{Quote|''I could never understand my father's harsh attitude toward the people. You would not give constant whippings to a horse you must ride every day. The beast would either throw you off or die. That's no way to treat a horse or a realm.''|Coordinator Takashi Kurita to [[Precentor]] Ambassador [[Isabel Sephran]], [[3005]]<ref name="HK(TDC)p86">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 86: "Takashi's Benevolence"</ref>}}

{{Quote|''I'm a firm believer that history, and perhaps Buddha himself, judges people not by their friend, but by their enemies.''|Coordinator Takashi Kurita, from a speech to the graduating class of the [[Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy|Sun Zhang]] MechWarriors Academy, [[3014]]<ref name="HK(TDC)p87">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 87: "Attitudes Towards His Rivals"</ref>}}

{{Quote|''Of all my enemies, and there are many, I see the most honor in Prince Hanse Davion. His is a mind capable of seeing the advantages to be won from disaster.''|Coordinator Takashi Kurita in an overheard conversation with [[Subhash Indrahar]], [[3019]]<ref name="HK(TDC)p88">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 88: "The Halstead Station Affair"</ref>}}

==Portrait Gallery==
<gallery>
Takashi Kurita HKTDC.jpg|Takashi Kurita in 3025
Takashi Kurita 25YAF.jpg|Takashi from ''[[25 Years of Art and Fiction]]''
Takashi Kurita BTLegends.jpg|Takashi from ''[[BattleTech: Legends|BT:Legends]]''
Takashi Kurita HistBrushWars.jpg|Takashi at age 64 in 3034 from ''[[Historical: Brush Wars|Brush Wars]]''
Takashi Kurita HWo3039.jpg|Takashi at age 69 in 3039 from ''[[Historical: War of 3039|War of 3039]]''
Takashi Kurita ER3052.jpg|Takashi at age 80 in 3050 from ''[[Era Report: 3052|ER:3052]]''
Takashi Kurita Luthien.jpg|Takashi at age 82 in 3052 during the [[Battle of Luthien (3052)|Battle of Luthien]]
Takashi luthien.jpg|Mounting his 'Mech at the Battle of Luthien
BattleMaster (Takashi Kurita) BTLegends.jpg|Takashi's BLR-1G ''BattleMaster'' from ''BT:Legends''
BattleMaster-Takashi Kurita Shrapnel010.jpg|Takashi Kurita leading the Otomo from his ''BattleMaster''
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Era Report: 3052]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3062]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Kurita]]''
* ''[[Heir to the Dragon]]'' (novel)
* ''[[House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)]]''
* ''[[BattleTech Legends|Legends]]''
* ''[[Lost Destiny]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Luthien (scenario pack)|Luthien]]''
* ''[[Operational Turning Points: Death to Mercenaries]]''
* ''[[Wolves on the Border]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Yesterday's Enemy]]'' (short story)


[[Category:Draconis Combine Characters|Kurita, Takashi]]
[[Category:Coordinators|Kurita, Takashi]]
[[Category:Notable BattleMaster Pilots|Kurita, Takashi]]