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| “ | I have found that people lie, most often deceiving themselves. Not so the dead... The dead are so very, very loud. And yet, lying is not in their nature. It is so... humbling - to listen to the dead speak. | „ |
| ~ Saburo before using Soulkiller on Johnny Silverhand. |
| “ | I knew this day would come. That sooner or later your impudence would cross the line. There is much for which I could forgive you, but for treason - no. I'm just glad your mother didn't live to see this. The heart should break but once. | „ |
| ~ Saburo confronting his son Yorinobu for betraying him, also his final words before his son strangles him to death. |
Saburo Arasaka (Japan: 荒坂 三郎) is the main antagonist of the science fiction franchise Cyberpunk.
He is the CEO of the Arasaka Corporation and one of the most powerful men in the world, who aims to take control of it through his company. He was seen as the corporate god of the 21st century and was aptly nicknamed "the Emperor" for his cunning and authority. A proud, greedy and power-hungry man, Saburo's vision for a new world order of his own design was opposed by many, including his own son Yorinobu who turned against him.
He is voiced by Masane Tsukayama in the video game, who also voiced Yaldabaoth.
Biography[]
Born in 1919, Saburo Arasaka was the heir to the Arasaka company. During World War II, he served as a pilot for the Imperial Navy, though was discharged after receiving critical injuries in a battle. After a failed attempt at seppuku, he realized he could rebuild Japan's influence through industrial and financial industries rather than military. After his father's death, Saburo became the CEO of the Arasaka Corporation, investing heavily in mechanical, financial and security industries.
After market crash in the 1990s, he began branching the company into Europe and NUSA, turning Arasaka into one of the most powerful companies in the world. Through developments made by his company, Saburo was also able to slow down his aging and expand his lifespan. Married multiple times, Saburo has had several children including Hanako and Yorinobu, whom he groomed to serve his heirs and puppets.
Soulkiller[]
The most heinous of Saburo's crimes was the development of the Soulkiller program, which could transfer a human consciousness into digital form. Soulkiller was used to kill netrunners who tried to hack into Arasaka systems, as well as Johnny Silverhand and other captured enemies of the Arasaka Corporation. This was described as the most horrible death imaginable, triggering all of the pain receptors in their nervous system at once. The victim's digitized consciousness (known as an engram) would then be imprisoned in the Mikoshi virtual reality server, where they would be tortured even further. Their mind would then be stripped for information, and their personality would be altered, transforming them into tools for Arasaka's use.
Later, Saburo commercialized the same technology in the form of the "Secure Your Soul" program. This was advertised as a way for people to achieve immortality by uploading their consciousness to a virtual paradise, in exchange for an exorbitant fee. The Arasaka Corporation made billions from wealthy celebrities, politicians, and corporate elites who signed up for the program. In truth, however, their engrams were imprisoned in Mikoshi and treated no differently from Soulkiller's victims.
By 2077, the company had plans to expand the Secure Your Soul program even further by creating a cheaper mass market version. According to Johnny Silverhand's speculation, Saburo ultimately hoped to use engram technology to gain absolute control over all of humanity, modifying people's thoughts and personalities as he saw fit.
In an attempt to gain immortality, Saburo focused on development of the Relic 2.0, a chip which could transfer engrams into new bodies. Unlike the Secure Your Soul program, he had no intention of selling this technology or sharing it with anyone, as it was purely designed for his own personal use.
Cyberpunk 2077[]
During the Fourth Corporate War, Saburo visited Night City after Araska's headquarters were attacked and destroyed by insurgents backed by their rival Militech. He oversaw the interrogation of Johnny Silverhand, a member of the group who'd been captured by their enforcer Adam Smasher. On his orders, Saburo had Silverhand turned into an engram, which they later used in testing the Relic program.
In the game's present-day, Saburo confronts Yorinobu at Night City after learning he stole a prototype of their Relic program. During the confrontation, his son strangles him to death in a fit of rage. Saburo's death is covered up as a poisoning, with Yorinobu taking control of Arasaka and using his influence to undo its corporate power. Unknown to all but his daughter Hanako, Saburo's consciousness had been copied as an engram prior to his death. This copy began plotting to retake the company from Yorinobu and even take control of his body.
If V allies with Hanako, Saburo is successful at taking control of his son's body. He then regains control over the corporation and rebuilds Arasaka's influence. His fate in the other endings is unknown, though it is probable that Alt Cunningham absorbed his engram into herself after V gave her access to Mikoshi.
Quotes[]
| “ | Saburo: Leave us. Takemura: Arasaka-sama,I still haven't done a full sweep. Saburo: This is my son. Takemura: Of course. Should I retrieve what we came here to...? Saburo: I will handle it. You may go. |
„ |
| ~ Saburo to Takemura. |
| “ | I hate America. I will bring them to their knees by supplying them with everything they want, and then strangling them with their own dependency. I will sell them the chain with which they will bind themselves to me. | „ |
| ~ Saburo expressing contempt for the USA and American culture |
Galery[]
Trivia[]
- Masane Tsukayama voices Saburo is all language dubs of Cyberpunk 2077, with the character exclusively speaking Japanese.
- If V's Cool level is high enough during "The Devil" ending, they can choose to flip off Saburo's engram on Johnny's behalf when Hanako introduces them to him; if done so, Saburo seems to be genuinely amused and impressed that V had the courage and audacity to do such a thing.
External Links[]
- Saburo Arasaka on the Cyberpunk Wiki
[]
 Villains
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Arasaka Corporation NUSA Gangs & Criminals The Valentinos The Maelstrom Voodoo Boys Tyger Claws Animals Moxes Scavengers BARGHEST Others | ||