Who would have thought that a video game trailer would become the center of a historical debate? That is the case with Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.
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It has been two days (as of writing) since the release of the official trailer for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. While we were in awe of Ubisoft’s incredible animation and life-like cinematics, most of the attention went to Yasuke, one of the game’s lead characters.
First off, the Japanese audience isn’t pleased with having a non-Japanese main character in a game set in 16th-century Japan. This era in Japanese culture was dominated by lords and samurais, titles almost exclusively given to those of Japanese bloodline. While there were special exceptions to this rule, Yasuke is a figure with a debatable factual basis for having earned or been given the title of ‘samurai.’
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A particular Wikipedia editor has come under intense scrutiny for repeatedly altering Yasuke’s samurai status without providing credible sources, in direct violation of Wikipedia’s policies. Critics accuse the editor of “altering history for a video game,” emphasizing the delicate balance between historical accuracy and popular media influence.
Was Yasuke a Samurai?
The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. There are good reasons to believe Yasuke might have been given that title, given his close association with Oda Nobunaga. There are also records of him carrying swords, a privilege exclusive to samurai.
However, many historians debate whether Yasuke actually underwent the training required to become a samurai. Some even speculate he carried swords solely as a bearer for Nobunaga. The truth remains unclear. Overall, most historians agree that Yasuke was more than just a servant to Nobunaga; at the very least, he served as a warrior.
