Koji Shimazu

*"Have you given any thought to where this ends? The Table will never stop. You know this. It only takes life and only gives death."*
—Koji Shimazu to John Wick[src]

**Koji Shimazu** (Kanji: **島津浩司**) was the manager of the Osaka branch of the Continental Hotel, the late father of Akira Shimazu, and a good friend/brother-in-arms of John Wick.

## Biography

### Early Life

*"Koji: "You want to die? That's your choice. A good death only comes after a good life."
John: "You and I left a good life behind a long time ago, my friend."*
—Koji Shimazu and John Wick[src]
*To be added*

### *John Wick: Chapter 4*

*"Fools talk, cowards are silent, but wise men listen."*
—Koji Shimazu to Chidi[src]
Shimazu was first seen confronting his daughter and concierge of the Osaka Continental, Akira, for one of their newest guests having brought a dog to their hotel, prompting Akira to explain that Mr. Nobody made it clear that the dog was his "emotional support partner." Akira continued by reminding her father of his appointments with Mr. Suzuki and the Tarasovs before reminding him of their dinner at 8.

As they walked through the training room, Akira divulged the news of the destruction of the New York Continental and warned her father that his friendship with now-excommunicado John Wick could put them at odds with the High Table, going so far as to say that everything the hitman touches dies. In response, Koji angrily scolds Akira in Japanese for disrespecting a man that he had known for decades and Akira apologizes before getting back to work.

After reaching the rooftop, Koji finds John at the edge of the roof and offered him some tea. Koji informed John of the demolition of the New York Continental and while Winston Scott was spared, Charon was executed by the Marquis de Gramont, now the most powerful member of the Table, leaving John in grief and guilt. The Continental soon received the visit of Chidi and dozens of other High Table members working for the Marquis.

Koji was surprised to see his old friend Caine standing by the side of the High Table and asked over the well-being of Caine's daughter Mia, whom Caine insists was doing well. Caine begged Koji not to make things more difficult as no one is above the Table and Koji confronted Caine for forgetting the meaning of the term "brotherhood." Chidi declared the Osaka Continental "deconsecrated," which meant blood could be spilled without problem.

*"As you are well aware, no business, Not even your kind of business may be conducted on Continental grounds."*
—Koji to Chidi[src]

When Koji denied Chidi's request of an inspection of the hotel and Chidi and his fellow men refuse to put away their weapons, the Osaka Continental manager turns off the lights, allowing dozens of his men to point arrows at Caine, Chidi and the others as a warning. Despite Caine's best efforts to talk Koji down, a fight breaks out between groups. Koji managed to dispatch several men and briefly fought with Chidi before backing down and ordering the High Table enforcers to leave. When they did not comply, Koji and the others retreat.

Akira and John eventually join the fray and eliminate several of the Marquis' goons until Akira sustains a gunshot wound in her side. Koji dispatched more of his enemies with his katana and rushes to Akira to help her stand to her feet. Koji tells John to head to the back garden and escape through there and asks him to kill as many of their enemies as possible.

Akira ultimately has to lay down and noticed Koji had been slightly wounded during the struggle but he assured his daughter that he was alright. They are interrupted by Caine, who questions Koji over his persistence to protect John out of good faith when he had no Marker that binded them to an unbreakable blood oath, with Shimazu responding that there were other debts rather than just those from Markers. Caine still tries to talk Koji out of a fight but the latter refuses to let Caine reach John, resulting in a sword fight between the two of them.

*"Caine: Even the blind man knows you have lost
 Koji: And Caine, you don't eyes to see the right path."*
—Koji and Caine[src]
    Though they initially manage to fight on even terms, Caine quickly manages to wound his old friend in the side and instructs him to look at him. Caine insists that even a blind man could see Koji had already lost and begins walking away. Koji continues to try to fight but Caine puts a definitive end to their fight by driving his blade through Koji's chest, much to Akira's horror. Even though she initially wished to kill Caine, a dying Koji begged her to run for her life before succumbing to his wounds. Before leaving, Caine told Akira that she would be waiting for her in case she decided to seek revenge for her father's murder.

Shortly after the death of the Marquis as well as the presumed death of John, Akira tracked Caine down and revealed a blade before lunging for him with the intention of avenging her father. It remained a mystery whether she succeeded in the task or not.

## Personality

*"Friendship means little when it's convenient."*
—Koji Shimazu to John Wick[src]

A warrior with morality and wisdom, Koji Shimazu lives with honor and loyalty above all else. Though strict in regards to the Continental's rules and High Table tradition, Koji holds brotherhood and friendship above High Table tradition of which he was bound to. Koji is a man of with a *Bushidō* spirit. This is demonstrated in his willingness to harbour John Wick at the Osaka Continental despite John's excommunication and his dismissal of Akira's criticism of John. This is further demonstrated when Shimazu greeted first and outright attacked the Marquis' operatives and High Table representatives without question and died in a bravely battle with Caine in order to buy time for Akira and John to escape the High Table's forces. It is also implied in a conversation between Caine and Koji that he owes John some kind of debt far greater than a blood marker.

## Abilities

*"Caine: Just tell me where John is and get out of here.
 Koji: You know I won't."*
—Koji and Caine[src]
* **Master Martial Artist**: Despite being in his late 50s or early 60s, Shimazu was a dangerous and extremely-skilled hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist.
	+ **Master Swordsman**:      Shimazu demonstrated incredible skill in the art of swordsmanship, as shown by his ability to kill dozens of High Table members during the invasion of the Osaka Continental. He was even able to fight on equal terms against Caine in a sword fight, but the latter's level of skill ultimately proved to be superior as he managed to severely wound Shimazu before ending the fight by driving his blade through his chest, though Shimazu was already wounded before their duel.

* **Expert Marksman**: Alongside his sword, Shimazu can also skillfully wield a handgun during combat. This can be seen during his fight against the High Table's forces at the Osaka Continental.
* **Multlingualism**: Shimazu was capable of fluently speaking English as well as his native Japanese language. He also understood when Chidi spoke in Spanish.

## Equipment

* **Bulletproof Haori**: Koji's robes are presumably bulletproof. Bullets can be briefly seen bouncing off his robes during the Osaka Continental assault.

### Weapons

* **Katana**: Koji mainly uses a katana in combat and keeps it sheathed within his robes. He briefly fought Caine with his katana before being defeated.
* **Glock 17**: Koji is seen using a Glock 17 during the Osaka Continental assault. He fires on several Marquis operatives and at Chidi.

## Trivia

* Koji possibly follows the *Bushidō* code, the samurai class in feudal Japan followed a code of principles. This proves when he showed Respect to his enemies when he greeted Chidi and the Myrmidons, he showed Courage when he fights bravely until his death killed by Caine, he showed Compassion towards John, he showed Honor to his friends as a brother and to his fellow men and being Loyal to her daughter Akira and his friend John.
* The name **Koji** (浩司) means "prosperous officer" and the surname **Shimazu** (島津) means "island haven" in Japanese.
* The Shimazu clan (島津氏) were one of the powerful warrior clans that ruled the southern tip of Japan's Kyushu island from the 12th to the 19th centuries.

## Gallery

Shimazu alongside Akira.Koji and CaineShimazu and John Wick reconnecting.Koji and Caine having a sword duel.Koji Shimazu character card in the John Wick 4 Steelbook.Koji Shimazu tarot card