Tanzo Kubo

Overview

Gallery

Tanzo Kubo
Nicknames	Gramps (by Fret) Snorty (by Fret)
Age	31 (apparent age)
Birthday	August 15
Gender	Male
Height	Around 174cm (5'9")
Rank	Executor
Classification	Angel
Affiliations	Shinjuku Reapers Angels
Status	Unknown (exorcised by Hazuki)
Voice Actor(s)	Taisuke Nakano (Japanese) Xander Mobus (English)

"So fight like your lives're on the line. Figuratively speakin', seein' as you're already dead... Nyeheh!"

— Kubo to Rindo and Fret

Tanzo Kubo (久網 旦蔵, Kubō Tanzō) is a major character in NEO: The World Ends with You, and is one of the elite Shinjuku Reapers. His role is monitoring work, and he is in charge of handling details such as certification of the Players' defeats.

In truth, Kubo is an Angel sent to erase Shinjuku as "the Executor." Through manipulating Shiba Miyakaze, he succeeded, and then decided to inflict the same fate on Shibuya.

He is also a Noise Master, possessing a special ability to manipulate and control Noise.

Appearance

Kubo has an olive complexion, sideswept dark hair and brown eyes. He has a large nose and a small goatee. He wears a light grey suit jacket over a white v-neck shirt, textured dark grey pants, and black shoes with gold buckles. He seems to wear either a bracelet or wristwatch on his left wrist. Kubo often carries a light black clutch purse in his left hand as well.

Personality

Kubo is cocky, condescending and mocking towards almost everyone, even the other Reapers, making him much disliked. The only person he respects is Shiba Miyakaze and even that is questionable. He is mentioned to be a bit of an overachiever, and so he wanted to purify other cities from existence, which also suggests he is an uncaring misanthrope. In the Japanese version of the same dialogue, Hazuki Mikagi mentions that Kubo may have tried to purify Shibuya so that he could be praised by him, indicating he may crave approval from his superiors. He takes great pride and enjoyment from his work and seems amused when other people tell him how despicable he is (though he dislikes it when the younger characters refer to him as old in rude manner.)

Story

Background

Kubo was initially recruited by Hazuki to "cleanse" Shinjuku. To this end, Kubo was planted among the Shinjuku Reapers and manipulated them into bringing about an Inversion, particularly by granting special powers to Shiba Miyakaze and flattering him into believing he was the Executor.

After the Shinjuku Reapers moved to Shibuya, Kubo decided to "cleanse" that city as well. Kubo then started a clandestine Game with Yoshiya "Joshua" Kiryu for the fate of Shibuya.

NEO: The World Ends with You

Week One

Kubo first appears to Rindo and Fret on their second day of the Reapers' Game to see the new team. He mocks them for not understanding the mission, and condescendingly explains the format of the Reapers' Game. He reveals they're dead, but Rindo and Fret don't realize it. When he leaves, Fret hopes that not all Reapers are like him.

When Rindo suggests throwing away his Reaper Pin to quit the Game during REAL(eyes/ize/lies) (Week 1, Day 4), Kubo explains the nature of the Reaper Pins. He describes them as a way to save time when introducing Players into the Game and warns them that throwing away their pins would corrupt their player data. This is false: Kubo engineered the Reaper Pin to lure living people with potential Imagination into the Game. If they disposed of the Reaper Pin, they would immediately return to the RG as the Wicked Twisters were brought in without dying, but Kubo lied they would erase Players to keep them playing the Game.

After Fuya is erased in GamE thEorY (Week 1, Day 7), Kubo takes over from Shiba to ask Susukichi what the Ruinbringers's wish is for winning the week's Game in absence of their leader. He asks out of formality, as the Ruinbringers always ask to play again, every time they win. Kubo sarcastically remarks it's a "shocker" before leaving. After, Shiba, Kubo, and Ayano have a meeting concerning the legendary Player on the run (Shiba believes it is Neku Sakuraba, but it is actually Daisukenojo "Beat" Bito) where Kubo tells Shiba he'll track the Player down in exchange for having free rein over him. He remarks he'll give "Shiba's special guest" the "VIP treatment".

Week Two

At the beginning of New Game (Week 2, Day 1) Kubo comes in when the Wicked Twisters wonder if they can recruit the legendary player and says they can try and is unsurprised "Neku" has piqued their curiosity. He asks if the Twisters can survive without their powerful teammate Sho Minamimoto and sardonically wishes them luck without Minamimoto. He tells them it's a shame and ask them to be entertaining to watch, then leaves.

Kubo is with Tsugumi Matsunae at the Scramble Crossing when she captures the legendary player in LiVing LeGend (Week 2, Day 2). He mocks him for being so easy to capture and orders Tsugumi to erase him. Rindo uses Replay to locate the Player and save him, revealing he is not Neku but Beat. Kubo invites Beat back into the Game, saying that it's different but like riding a skateboard. When Kubo leaves, Beat tells him to not come back.

In Sound♪Surfer (Week 2, Day 3), Kubo explains to the Wicked Twisters that since defeating both Susukichi and Tsugumi their team is considered a powerful threat, and that the Ruinbringer has three members - the leader is absent. He questions if the Wicked Twisters have enough skill to match their reputation. Beat retorts and mentions he also used to be a Reaper, and Kubo complains about the tone Beat has with his "elders". At the end of the day he sees Shoka leaving Kaie's fortune-telling shop at Spain Hill, and remarks that other Reapers have been anxious about the future as well. He suggests it's related to the Wicked Twisters.

Beat confronts Kubo at the 104 Building in Noisrevni (Week 2, Day 5) and asks why the Reapers are bringing living people into the Game using Reaper Pins. He admits that he expected an ex-Player to notice but says the finer details are "above [his] pay grade". He suggests Shiba uses them to find high-potential Players and use their psychic powers to transfer them to the Underground. He tells them to stop thinking about the Game Master or why they're in the Game and to focus on winning, like they've been told before.

After Motoi Anazawa, who has been reporting against Shoka to both Ayano and Kubo in hopes of becoming a Reaper, is defeated by both Shoka and the Wicked Twisters in DesireDestination (Week 2, Day 6) Kubo arrives to reject him. He warns Shoka that she should beg Shiba for forgiveness. He suggests Motoi tries again the next day or week - Motoi protests his team is in last place and is likely to be erased at the end of the week. Kubo is unsympathetic.

In CHECKMATE! (Week 2, Day 7) Kubo arrives shortly after the Wicked Twisters defeat Grus Cantus and Shiba reveals himself as Ruinbringers leader to urge them to end the Game. Shiba announces a rigged victory for the Ruinbringers, and Kubo routinely asks him what they wish for. Routinely, Shiba asks to play again.

Week Three

Kubo's Plague Noise infects Kariya in Come🡒🡐back (Week 3, Day 4). After the Wicked Twisters save Kariya from the Plague Noise, Kariya warns them that he's a lot tougher than he lets on, and suggests they find him at Tipsy Tose Hall. When they reach there, Kubo goes past a Reaper wall into Udagawa. By erasing multiplying Plague Noise in Miyashita Park and doing a Dive on an infected Reaper for Hishima Sakazuki, they are able to let down the wall and go into Udagawa. There, Kubo attacks them with hordes of people suffering from Shibuya Syndrome. Rindo time travels using Replay to destroy the source of the Noise in Miyashita Park, meaning much less Shibuya Syndrome-causing Reverb affects people and means Kubo does not have enough sufferers to attack the Wicked Twisters with. He tries to attack them using Kariya, but Uzuki fights off the Plague Noise before it can re-infect him. Kubo states he has to list both Uzuki and Kariya as traitors to the Reapers: Uzuki argues their loyalty is to Shibuya and not him, and leaves with Kariya. Kubo attacks the Twisters with his Plague Noise. They defeat it, but before he can send more, Sho Minamimoto attacks and incapacitates Kubo.

After the erasure of Shiba in S • B • Y (Week 3, Day 7), Kubo emerges and heralds the emergence of the Soul Pulvis from Rindo's Player Pin. He reveals that he is an Angel and the Executor, and that he engineered the creation of the Soul Pulvis as a backup plan should Shiba fail to destroy Shibuya. Rindo thinks about travelling back in time, but Kubo warns him that it will inevitably spawn more Noise. However, Rindo ultimately decides to turn back time when he sees Shoka erased. In the second iteration of these events, Rindo and Hishima convince Shiba to call off the game and unite against Kubo. The Soul Pulvis again destroys Shibuya and devours every Player but Rindo. Kubo destroys Rindo's pin so that he cannot rewind time any longer. At this point, though, Hazuki Mikagi decides to "exorcise" Kubo, expunging him so fully from the UG that he ceases to exist on that plane even if time is rewound and is even wiped from everyone's memories. Kubo is exorcised by a blast of holy light that disintegrates him, releasing his presence from the Underground. The exact nature of the exorcism, however, is ultimately unknown, as conflicting details suggest that Kubo was "exorcised from the UG", even though it may appear to Players and Reapers that he was erased from memory and history.

On Final Day'', Hazuki convinces Rindo to give him a tour of Shibuya. At Udagawa, he apologizes for Kubo's actions and explains the circumstances surrounding Kubo. Hazuki gives Rindo the opportunity to use Replay one final time and travel back to the start of the Final Day again, creating a third iteration. In this one, while there is no memory of Kubo, the consequences of his actions still exist. The Wicked Twisters defeat an amalgamation of Soul Pulvis, Phoenix Cantus, to save Shibuya.

Etymology

久網 Kubō uses the kanji for long time and network.

旦蔵 Tanzou is daybreak + ownership.

Quotes

• "Here's an idea: did youse try reading it for starters?"
• "Gramps? Ouch! Guess Mommy never taught you to respect your elders."
• "Nyeheh! Not bad! You've got moxie, kid."
• "Nyeheh. Maybe youse missed the memo, but this is s'posed to be a team game."'
• "That said, if youse really want out, there is one way. I told youse how teams compete to earn the most points, right? Well, if ya top the table, then we'll grant you whatever you wish for. All youse gotta do is win. So aim for the stars, my would-be winners!"
• "Although, word to the wise here: youse might wanna bolster your ranks first. After all, ya won't get much done as a duo!"
• "... Anyways. Try not to fall too far behind the pack. And worse comes to worst, youse can go down in a blaze of glory. So gimme somethin' fun to watch this week, will ya?"'
• "Awww, givin' up so soon? Go on. Pitch 'em and see what happens... Nyeheh."
• "Here's what I will tell ya, kid: those pins youse got are special. They're your Player IDs." - Kubo about Reaper Pins
• "And who do youse think put 'em there in the first place? Normally, we give 'em out when people die, but if everyone's already got 'em, it saves us the work later on. And when they do kick the bucket, they can jump right into the Game. Pretty slick, eh?"
• "So youse can go ahead and try throwin' 'em away if ya want. But youse know what happens when ya force-quit in the middle of a game, don't ya? Your data gets corrupted. Even erased entirely sometimes."
• "What if youse start buggin' out? What if ya lose all your powers? You'd be helpless against the hordes of Noise... ...Hypothetically speakin', of course. So whaddya say? Gonna throw in the towel and throw away your pins?"
• "Nyeheh. Attaboy. I knew you'd make the right choice, kid."
• "Well, I'm sure youse know you've gotta do better than just "tough it out." Unless youse wanna get stuck playin' the Game forever, that is."
• "There's no "deal," kid. Life ain't fair, and the afterlife sure as hell ain't, either. Ya just gotta suck it up and play the Game."
• "Oh, I see, all right. I see everything."
• "But hey, ya do what ya gotta do to get ahead, am I right? Can't fault ya for that. Of course. As long as you're tryin' to earn points, who am I to judge? Let's just hope youse earn enough before it's too late. Nyeheh."
• "Next is... Susukichi! Your leader ain't here. Again. Which leaves it up to you to pick your prize. So what'll it be? The usual? I know it is, but I still gotta ask."
• "Hoo boy. What a shocker."
• "Ouch. Do ya really have to put it like that? You're makin' it sound like it's our fault the kid's some kinda prodigy. I'll track him down for you, boss. But I want free rein to do whatever I want with 'im once I got 'im."
• "Nyeheh! He's Shiba's special guest, right? The star of the show! I'm gonna give 'im the real VIP treatment, of course."
• "Ya could try, but there ain't no guarantee he'd accept your offer. Sounds like Neku's piqued your curiosities, too. Can't blame ya. City wouldn't be standing here today if it weren't for him."
• ""Candyman"? Ohhh, you mean Kariya—wit the lollipops. Kid's pretty proud of his city. Wouldn't surprise me if he started throwin' around big and fancy words like "legend.""
• "...Anyways, best of luck wit today's mission. I've got a feelin' you three are gonna need it. Gonna be tough wit no one around to pick up your slack anymore!"
• "It's a real shame, though, after youse made it this far. Oh, it's almost enough to make a grown Reaper cry! I'll be watchin' you three, so keep things entertaining for me, will ya? Nyeheh!"
• "You gotta be kiddin' me! Is that all ya got, kid? After all that trouble you put us through... you ain't even worth half the time it took to find ya! "Legend"? Pah! More like a bedtime story. You're puttin' me to sleep here! Y'know what? Forget it. I've seen all I need to see." - to Beat
• "'Ey, you. Ruinbringer. Kid's all yours. What—don't you want the points for takin' 'im out? He ain't a Player, and he ain't a Reaper. He's fair game. Ain't against the rules or nothin' to erase him. Just think of 'im as some kinda Noise and let 'im have it." - persuading Tsugumi to execute Beat
• "Can't believe we was trackin' the wrong guy this whole time. And here I thought we finally had 'im... What a laugh!" - finding out "Neku" is actually Beat
• "I was just thinkin', seein' as you ain't the UG's most wanted anymore... How's about you join in the Game all proper-like—y'know, as a Player?"
• "Welcome to the Reapers' Game, kid. Or should I say, "welcome back"? It's been, what—three years? Time really flies, don't it!?"
• "Things is a little different this time around, but you'll be fine. It's like ridin' a skateboard! And once you find yourself a team, all ya gotta do is win! Easy, right? Nyeheh!"
• "Seems like our esteemed Game Master's taken quite a shinin' to you kids. Nyeheh. Just wanted to see if youse noticed people lookin' at youse differently?"
• "Well, first youse beat big, bad Susukichi—albeit with some outside interference, and then youse laid waste to that little powerhouse Tsugumi. And when ya topple two of the top Players in the Game, people start to talk. Sayin' that you're goin' after the head honcho next. Nyeheh. But of course! Don't tell me youse didn't know? Susukichi and Tsugumi just do all the dirty work on their boss's behalf. That's one reason—and now that nasty beatin' youse gave 'em is another!"
• "The mere mention of your name's got the other teams shakin' in their sneakers. Although ya can only go so far on reputation alone. The real question is: do youse got the skill to go all the way? Nyeheh."
• "That ain't the tone to take with your elders, kid. So, ya think ya know it all 'cause this is your second time at the rodeo? Hmph. Kids these days, I'm tellin' ya. You'd all be long gone by now if youse didn't have each other."
• "Whoa whoa whoa, easy there, Tiger! Ain't exactly fair if I ain't allowed to fight back, is it? A word to the wise, though: youse could have an entire team of ex-Reapers, and it still wouldn't stop the Ruinbringers from comin' out on top. Anyways, I'll let youse get back to pretendin' like you've got a shot at winnin'. Nyeheheh!"
• "Ooh, little kitty's gettin' her fortune told! Nyeheh." - to Shoka
• "Nothin'. Just that all the other Reapers seem anxious about the future, too. Somethin' about those tricky Twisters must be settin' 'em off."
• "Nyeheh? Well, well, if it ain't the Wicked Twisters. Must be even sweeter runnin' your mouth against somebody who ain't allowed to fight back. Just know that if they let me have a go, youse wouldn't last a second. Nyeheh!"
• "Shoulda figured an ex-Player like you would notice somethin' was up. But unfortunately... ...the finer details are above my pay grade."
• "Easy there, kid! Don't shoot the delivery guy. No, but I got my suspicions. Y'see, a hothead like Shiba's gonna get bored if all the Players are pipsqueaks. Ah, but one tough team does not an interesting Game make. And that's to say nothin' of the fact we ain't even seen their leader in action yet. So instead of sittin' around waitin' for stronger Players to show up... ...why not scatter some special pins around the RG and shorten the wait?"
• "Hah! Like you'd be able to understand even if I told youse. My advice? Don't go stickin' your noses where they don't belong and let the GM do what he does best. All you kids gotta worry about is gettin' results. And with that, I'm outta here! Nyeheh!"
• "The best-laid plans of mice and Motoi, eh? And here I was, all set to congratulate you and welcome you into our ranks. But not if you can't hold your own against a fellow Reaper. Nyeheh."
• "Ah-ah-ah! I'd watch your mouth if I was you, dollface. Wouldn't wanna make the boss any angrier." - to Shoka
• "I'da thought that target on your back was enough to make you realize the severity of your situation... Let's just hope it ain't too late to get on your knees an' beg for forgiveness. But hey, I ain't here to tell you what to do, though."
• "Oh, but look who's the one in grave danger now. That a problem? If ya ain't up to the task, then I think we're done here."
• "Knock, knock! Nyeheh. Day's comin' to an end here, boss. Gonna need ya to wrap things up pretty quick."
• "Well, congratulations, yada yada yada. So what're ya wishin' for this time?"
• "Who d'ya think you're calling "old"? Nyeh! I knew you'd show your ugly mugs around here sooner or later. Hope you're ready for the party Shiba's throwin' for youse. It's gonna be a real banger... Nyeheh. Awww, youse could at least try an' enjoy yourselves. After all, we're rollin' out the red carpet for youse! Nyeheheheheh!"
• "Y'see now? I'm on a whole 'nother level from you chumps. Nyeheh! Let's get this party started!"
• "Although... I gotta say, it ain't quite as lively as I was hopin' it'd be. ...You did somethin', didn'tcha? Mr. Rindo Kanade."
• "I think that earns you a visit from a very special guest. He's just dyin' to meetcha."
• "Well, ain't that a bummer. I mean, I knew the guy was powerful and all. But I didn't think he'd be able to shake the Noise and come to his senses so easy. That puts me in a bit of a bind... ...Ah, well. Uzuki Yashiro. Koki Kariya. I'm gonna have to mark both of youse down as traitors to the Reapers. Nyeheh! Whatever you say, sweetheart. Either way, you're about to see what I'm really made of. Witness the true power of the Noise Master!"
• "You punks're in for a surprise if ya think I'm goin' down easy. I ain't like the flunkeys youse fought before."
• "Like I always say, ya gotta expect the unexpected. Be prepared for a future ya didn't see comin'."
• "And that future arrives forty-four minutes and forty-four seconds past four PM. Nyeheh! And now, it's showtime."
• "Devour it all! The barrier! The Reapers! The Players! Everything! This whole city's gettin' cleansed."
• "Preciate the help, kid! I really owe ya one. Sure ya did! Every single time ya turned back the clock. Couldn't've made all this Noise without ya. And since Shiba screwed the pooch so badly, I got to put my backup plan into action."
• "Plot twist, kid! Believe it or not, I'm an Angel from a much higher plane than this here UG."
• "Yeesh. In other words, I nudge a few Game pieces in the right direction, and lead the city toward its inevitable destruction. Nyeheh! Now you're gettin' it! Brought ya into the Underground, too. You're welcome for that. We Angels ain't allowed to interfere with the planes ourselves, y'see. So we gotta appoint someone else to do the dirty work for us."
• "What- ya think goin' back in time'll save the city? Well, I hate to break it to ya, kid, but as long as you've got that pin, my Noise are inevitable! They'll devour Shibuya all over again, just like they did this time."
• "You mighta noticed, but I'll spell it out for ya just in case: use your powers again, and you'll spawn even more Noise! And I just so happen to be the Noise Master! Hahahaha! Meaning I can make 'em do whatever I want—whatever it takes to get the job done. And there ain't a damn thing you can do about it."
• "Well, well. You kids're on your best behavior, I see. Nyeheh. Took a little extra time to get ready, eh, Rindo? And look at you, Shiba, listenin' to your new master. I always appreciated your obedience. Made things real easy for me."
• "Oh, it's too late for that. Youse already lost. Your fate was sealed the second this pipsqueak turned back time. Y'see, that Noise is born from temporal distortion. Distortion created when ya turn a what-if hypothetical into will-be history. And all the cognitive energy from the woulda-been history... ...gets replaced with a brand-new set of thoughts. Nyeheh! But y'see, now that old cognitive energy's got nowhere to go. It's just waste. Waste that multiplies every single time ya turn back the clock. Heheh! If ya thought that Noise gave youse a good beatin' the last time around, just wait 'til ya see it now. You kids're in for a whole world a' hurt."

Trivia

• Tetsuya Nomura on Kubo: "Kubo is a character that wasn't in the original scenario. Around the middle of development, I requested that a character like him be included, and that's how he came to be. To tell you the truth, I wanted to add two characters, but the scenario writer had a troubled look on their face, so I decided Kubo would be enough. The reason I wanted to add Kubo is because last time, we had a strong villain like Kitaniji among the Reapers. This time there was no one like that, and the characters were all very clean-cut, so I asked them to include a character with strong vices like Kubo. Even though I forced him into the game, Kubo still wound up with a surprisingly large role. When I asked the staff about it later, they seemed pretty excited about writing the scenario."
• Kubo speaks in a sort of New York accent, often making use of the word “youse” which was believed to be coined by Italian-Americans, of Boston New York.