How to say "mastermind" in Japanese

• 黒幕くろまくCommon
  nounCovers 'mastermind' as a hidden operator who secretly pulls strings behind the scenes — a wirepuller or éminence grise. Typical of politics, organizations, or scandals where the real controller stays out of sight.
  私は誰だれが黒幕くろまくか知しっている。↗

  I know who is pulling the strings.
• 首謀しゅぼうCommon
  nounCovers 'mastermind' as the ringleader of a plot — the person who plans and leads a scheme, typically a crime or conspiracy. It points to the head of the plot itself rather than a hidden string-puller.

Use 黒幕 for a mastermind who secretly pulls strings from behind the scenes, and 首謀 for the mastermind who plans and leads a plot; the former stresses covert manipulation, the latter heading the scheme itself.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 英傑えいけつgreat person
• 首魁しゅかいringleader
• 首謀者しゅぼうしゃringleader
• 黒幕くろまくwirepuller
• 首謀しゅぼうringleader
• 操るあやつるto manipulate (a person, public opinion, etc.)