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Born in 1526 into a local strongman family in Owari Province. As leader of the Kawanami-shu — a group of river warriors and water transport operators based along the Kiso and Nagara rivers — he commanded independent power. Around 1558 he met the young Kinoshita Tokichiro (later Hideyoshi) and the two hit it off immediately, becoming lifelong allies. When Nobunaga subdued Owari in 1566 both men entered his service, and the legend of the overnight construction of Sunomata Castle in 1567 tells that Koroku led the Kawanami-shu in rapidly gathering lumber and materials. He continued fighting alongside Hideyoshi through campaigns in Harima, Tajima, and western Japan. He sought no daimyo domain for himself, content to have his son Iemasa inherit Awa Province. His selfless chivalry was a quality Hideyoshi deeply trusted. He died of illness in 1586 at age 61, before Hideyoshi completed national unification.

A bold and loyal bandit chief. He valued his friendship with Hideyoshi above all, caring little for personal advancement—a selfless man who prized bonds over glory.

His son Iemasa became lord of Awa-Tokushima domain, which lasted until the Bakumatsu. As Hideyoshi's first companion in his rags-to-riches story, Koroku appears in countless tales as a beloved supporting character.