In 1589, Yoshitaka transferred the headship of the family to his heir Nagamasa KURODA and went into retirement thereafter referring himself to as Josuiken (hereinafter Yoshitaka will be referred to as Josui).
天正17年（1589年）、家督を嫡男の黒田長政に譲って隠居し、如水軒と号した（※これ以降は如水と記述する）。