For the next Assassin’s Creed in Japan, Ubisoft is inspired by historical figures and honors the country’s legends! The latest trailer confirms it, we will have the opportunity to follow the adventures of a famous 16th century samurai. Many don’t know him and yet he really existed… Discover the fascinating story of this slave who rose through the ranks!
Ubisoft recently revealed the first trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, offering a glimpse of the title’s plot and characters. Among these protagonists, two particularly stand out. On the one hand, Fujibayashi Naoe, a fictional shinobi created for the occasion, whose father is Fujibayashi Nagato, a real ninja master of the Iga clan, a major figure in Japanese history. On the other hand, a more emblematic and rather well-known character: Yasuke. While in recent days the web has been on fire on the networks, with players already shouting wokism, many are far from imagining that this figure really existed. Here’s a look back at the first black foreign samurai, who became a member of Japan’s elite warrior class.
Foreword:
Sources and information about Yasuke are very numerous and often contradictory, making it difficult to write a single, definitive story. The research below is based on a cross-referencing of multiple documents. To this day, some people still debate Yasuke’s samurai status, claiming that he was only a simple weapon bearer.
The birth name of the man we are interested in here is not known, however, the Japanese name given to him is “Yasuke”. He remains an enigma surrounded by legends. Major historical sources that mention it include, Ecclesiastical History of the Islands and Kingdoms of Japan by François Solier, the writings of the Jesuit missionary Luís Fróis and the memoirs of Oda Nobunaga, an important daimyo of the Sengoku period in Japan. These fragmentary documents offer a glimpse of the remarkable figure he was, the first black samurai believed to have served under Oda Nobunaga, during a tumultuous time in Japanese history.
Yasuke and Fujibayashi Naoe from Assassin’s Creed Shadow
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Who is Yasuke?
Imagined painting of Yasuke by artist Anthony Azekwoh
Arriving in Japan in 1579 (probably as a slave, but not all sources point to this) under the direction of the Jesuits, Yasuke is, according to historians, originally from Portuguese Mozambique. Other researchers believe it comes from Ethiopia or Nigeria. In any case, all accounts agree that he had impressive strength and size (approximately 1.88 m), as well as great intelligence since he quickly learned to master the language. Japanese. Suffice to say that in this landscape, it does not go unnoticed! Indeed, he attracted the crowd around him and ended up piqued the curiosity of Oda Nobunaga who reigned over these lands. It’s the “thunderbolt“, the lord is fascinated by this being whose strength would be “greater than that of ten men combined.“
A great friendship between the two men
Yasuke was taken under the warlord’s wing to become his weapons bearer. Serving this role with Japan’s most powerful military leader was an immense privilege. This title is granted to a trusted person, capable of keeping secrets, especially those concerning affairs outside the state. Through his hard work and diligence, Yasuke was quickly rewarded: within a few months, he was given a house in Azuchi Castle, located in the northeastern province of Kyoto. He also got a stipend and a katana sword, the iconic symbol of the samurai warrior. Historians believe that Yasuke became the first samurai of foreign origin. This period, called the Sengoku era, is characterized by major internal conflicts in which powerful warrior clans vied for power. Nobunaga was on the verge of unifying most of the Japanese archipelago when he encountered this African samurai.
The last story…
In June 1582, an intense battle pitted Nobunaga against the Mori clan, his long-time enemies. The warlord, accompanied by Yasuke and 29 other trusted men, led a large army. Before the confrontation, they stopped at the temple of Honno-Ji, the place where the distinguished samurai had met his new master fifteen months earlier. While they were resting, more than 13,000 soldiers led by Akechi Mitsuhide, a former general of Nobunaga who became his archenemy, attacked them before dawn. Nobunaga’s defenders were slaughtered, and the survivors executed…
As the battle intensified, Honno-Ji’s temple caught fire. Faced with the growing fire, Nobunaga began a ritual suicide, known as seppuku. According to legend, he made one last request to Yasuke: to prevent his enemy from taking his head. Yasuke managed to flee to join Oda Nobutada, the son of the late lord, appointed as the new leader of the clan. However, with only 200 men, Nobutada and his forces were quickly defeated by Akechi Mitsuhide’s troops, and the new master also committed suicide.
Original Japanese woodcut Nobukazu, Incident at Honno-ji, 1896
Yasuke was captured and presented to Akechi, who, instead of executing him, decided to spare him and hand him over to the Jesuits. It is from there that history loses its trace and its fate remains unknown, opening the doors to myths and imagination. Despite these rare historical mentions, the mystery remains surrounding Yasuke’s life.
Yasuke in a fantastic Japan!
The story of this protagonist strewn with unknowns is a playground for screenwriters and producers. Besides, Ubisoft is not left out! The studio thus seems to want to exploit a captivating part of Japanese history from the Sengoku era, by bringing this legendary character to life in the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadow. However, they are not the first to use this figure since it has inspired numerous fictions in recent years: music, animation, series, plays, manga… The biggest companies have attacked this character!
In 2021, Netflix unveiled on its platform an animated series called “Yasuke” inspired by the life of the famous eponymous samurai, presented in a fantastic and alternative context. Mappa is the animation studio in charge of the 6 episodes that make up the season, notably known for the latter parts of “Attack on Titan”, “Jujutsu Kaisen” as well as “Chainsaw Man”. The community was therefore waiting for this new story. It follows Yasuke, once a formidable warrior, who seeks to lead a peaceful life after abandoning his past as a fighter. However, his destiny changes when he finds himself involved in protecting a mysterious child with superhuman powers, hunted by evil forces. The series skillfully mixes historical facts with science fiction and fantasy elements, providing a gripping and fast-paced spectacle (despite mixed reviews). Furthermore, a more realistic live-action Netflix series of Yasuke’s story is reportedly in preparation. ”’The famous samurai should be played by Omar Sy.
Image from the anime “Yasuke” on Netflix
Several adaptations but above all a Source of inspiration!
The animated series “Afro Samurai”, available on Crunchyroll, is also inspired by Yasuke and presents a story mixing African-American and Japanese influences in a world of samurai and spectacular fights. The story follows Afro Samurai, a lone warrior with relentless determination, embarked on a quest for revenge against Justice, his father’s assassin who holds the legendary number one headband, a symbol of supreme power and status. This series is praised for its smooth, stylized animation, as well as its dark themes of violence, redemption, and honor. The whole thing even gave rise to a video game in 2009.
The anime “Afro Samurai” available on Crunchyroll
Even today, the story of Yasuke continues and does not seem ready to die out, particularly in Japan where he is even celebrated in children’s books. He is also the subject of various documentaries and works, and appears as a central character in a few comic books. His figure continues to inspire many people, particularly for his journey, and will soon be playable in Assassin’s Creed Shadow!
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