"Black Samurai" Discovered! - Ubisoft Meet Netflix

Black Pigeon Speaks
16 May 202410:19

TLDRThe video discusses Ubisoft's latest 'Assassin's Creed' game, which features Yasuke, a historical African samurai in feudal Japan. It critiques the game's portrayal of Yasuke as the main character, arguing that it's a modern social fetish rather than historical accuracy. The video highlights the lack of evidence supporting Yasuke's status as a samurai and contrasts his story with that of William Adams, an Englishman who became a high-ranking samurai in Japan. The critique extends to the broader issue of cultural appropriation and the Western societal emphasis on diversity in entertainment.

Takeaways

  • 🎮 The Assassin's Creed franchise is known for setting games in various historical locations with diverse protagonists.
  • 📚 Ubisoft's new game, Assassin's Creed Shadows, is set in feudal Japan and features two protagonists: Nae and Yasuke.
  • 📡 Yasuke is portrayed as a historical black samurai, a character choice that has been criticized for modern social fetishes being inserted into Japanese history.
  • 📬 Ubisoft's game is based on the real-life figure of Yasuke, an African man who was in Japan during the 16th century, serving Oda Nobunaga.
  • 🕵️ Yasuke's historical presence in Japan was short, from August 1579 to June 1582, and there are few detailed records about him.
  • 👑 Oda Nobunaga was known for his interest in the unconventional and novel, which is why Yasuke, with his distinct appearance, was kept close as a novelty.
  • 🗡️ Yasuke was given the status of a retainer by Nobunaga, but there is no historical evidence that he was ever a samurai or held that title.
  • 🗡️ The game's portrayal of Yasuke's samurai prowess is not supported by historical records, which describe him as a strong man who could perform tricks.
  • 🗡️ During the Honno-ji incident in 1582, Yasuke was not killed but placed in the custody of the Cathedral of the Padre of India, and he then vanishes from history.
  • 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮 William Adams, an English sailor, became a significant figure in Japanese history, unlike Yasuke, and was officially granted samurai status by Tokugawa Ieyasu.
  • 🤔 The video raises the question of cultural appropriation and the portrayal of Yasuke as the main character in a game set in feudal Japan, reflecting current societal trends.

Q & A

  • What is the main theme of the video script discussing?

    -The main theme of the video script is the critique of Ubisoft's decision to create a game character based on Yasuke, a historical figure of African descent in feudal Japan, in their Assassin's Creed franchise.

  • What is Assassin's Creed Shadows?

    -Assassin's Creed Shadows is a new game in the Assassin's Creed franchise by Ubisoft, which is said to feature two protagonists, Nae and Yasuke, with Yasuke being portrayed as a historical black samurai.

  • What is the controversy surrounding Yasuke's portrayal in Assassin's Creed Shadows?

    -The controversy lies in the historical accuracy of Yasuke's portrayal as a samurai. The script suggests that there is no historical evidence to support Yasuke being a samurai, and the portrayal is seen as an insertion of modern American social fetishes into Japanese history.

  • What is the historical background of Yasuke?

    -Yasuke was an African man who arrived in Japan in August 1579 and stayed until June 1582. He was noticed by Oda Nobunaga for his distinct appearance and became a retainer due to logistical challenges of having a commoner in close quarters with a person of high status.

  • Why was Yasuke given the status of a retainer by Oda Nobunaga?

    -Oda Nobunaga gave Yasuke the status of a retainer to address the logistical challenges of having a commoner in close proximity to a person of high status, as Yasuke's presence was considered a novelty.

  • What happened during the Honno-ji incident involving Yasuke?

    -During the Honno-ji incident in 1582, when Nobunaga was betrayed by Akechi Mitsuhide, Yasuke was told by a vassel not to be afraid and to give him his sword. The vassel then decided not to kill Yasuke, considering him a black slave who knew nothing and was not Japanese, and placed him in the custody of the Cathedral of the Padre of India.

  • How does the video script describe the historical documentation of Yasuke?

    -The script describes the historical documentation of Yasuke as very limited, with only fragmentary accounts in letters by Jesuit missionaries and no evidence supporting him being a samurai or being referred to as such in any historical writings.

  • Who is William Adams and how does his story relate to Yasuke's?

    -William Adams was an English sailor who became a trusted retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu and played a significant role in Japanese history. He was granted the status of a samurai and is a known historical figure in Japan, unlike Yasuke, whose story is less recognized.

  • What is the video creator's stance on the portrayal of Yasuke in Assassin's Creed Shadows?

    -The video creator criticizes the portrayal of Yasuke as a samurai in Assassin's Creed Shadows, arguing that it lacks historical accuracy and is an example of modern societal influences being inserted into historical settings.

  • What is the broader context of the discussion in the video script?

    -The broader context is the debate around cultural appropriation and the portrayal of historical figures in modern media, particularly in video games, and how it reflects current societal trends and values.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Ubisoft's Controversial Casting in Assassin's Creed Shadows

The first paragraph discusses the Assassin's Creed franchise's history of diverse settings and protagonists. It criticizes Ubisoft's decision to cast a sub-Saharan African as the historical figure Yasuke, a samurai in feudal Japan, in the upcoming game 'Assassin's Creed Shadows.' The narrator suggests this choice is an attempt to appease modern social fetishes and increase diversity, rather than an accurate historical representation. The paragraph also mentions the game's division into two protagonists: Nae, an agile Shinobi, and Yasuke. It humorously references the backlash seen in the comment section of the game's trailer and emphasizes that the game is an entertainment product, not a historical documentary.

05:00

📜 The Historical Yasuke: Myth vs. Reality

This paragraph delves into the historical background of Yasuke, a非洲 man who was in Japan for a brief period from 1579 to 1582. It points out the lack of concrete historical evidence regarding Yasuke's background, including his name, birth date, ethnicity, and language. The narrative focuses on Oda Nobunaga's fascination with Yasuke due to his unconventional appearance in a mono-ethnic Japan. Yasuke was given the status of a retainer by Nobunaga, but there is no historical documentation supporting the claim that he was a samurai. The paragraph contrasts Yasuke's story with that of William Adams, an Englishman who became a significant figure in Japanese history and was officially recognized as a samurai, unlike Yasuke.

10:00

🤔 Cultural Appropriation and the Impact of Societal Zeitgeist on Video Games

The final paragraph contemplates the implications of the game's character choices, questioning whether casting an African character as a samurai in feudal Japan constitutes cultural appropriation. It reflects on the current societal emphasis on diversity and the potential cultural enrichment that such games might bring to Japanese audiences. The narrator also expresses concern about the potential for the game to be seen as not diverse enough, despite featuring Japanese characters and a minor role for Yasuke. The paragraph concludes with a rhetorical question about the standards and definitions set by those who critique such cultural representations, and a reminder to subscribe to the channel, which has been affected by YouTube's algorithmic changes.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Assassin's Creed franchise

The Assassin's Creed franchise is a series of action-adventure video games developed by Ubisoft. It is known for its historical settings and the blend of real historical events and characters with fictional narratives. In the video, it is mentioned that the franchise has a long list of titles set in various locations and featuring characters from different nationalities, which is a central theme in the discussion about the game's approach to diversity and historical accuracy.

💡Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a French video game company that is one of the largest and most influential in the industry. It is the developer of the Assassin's Creed franchise. The video script discusses Ubisoft's decision to create a game featuring a subsaharan African character in feudal Japan, which is a significant departure from historical accuracy and reflects modern societal values on diversity.

💡Samurai

A samurai refers to a class of warriors in feudal Japan known for their martial skills, loyalty, and adherence to a strict moral code called bushido. In the context of the video, the term 'Samurai' is used to describe Yasuke, a historical figure who was given the status of a retainer by Oda Nobunaga but there is no historical evidence that he was ever a samurai, which is a point of contention in the video.

💡Feudal Japan

Feudal Japan refers to the historical period in Japan from the 12th to the 19th century, characterized by a social and political system based on land ownership and military service. The video discusses Ubisoft's game set in this era, highlighting the contrast between the historical context and the game's creative liberties with the setting.

💡Yasuke

Yasuke was an African man who served Oda Nobunaga in 16th-century Japan. He is known for being one of the few Africans recorded in Japan's history. The video script explores the limited historical information available about Yasuke and criticizes the portrayal of him as a samurai in the Assassin's Creed game, which is not supported by historical evidence.

💡Cultural appropriation

Cultural appropriation is a concept that refers to the adoption of elements of one culture by members of another culture, often in a way that is seen as disrespectful or misrepresentative. The video raises the question of whether the portrayal of Yasuke in the game constitutes cultural appropriation, given the lack of historical basis for his character as a samurai.

💡Diversity

Diversity in this context refers to the inclusion of different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds in media and entertainment. The video discusses the game's emphasis on diversity by featuring Yasuke, an African character, in feudal Japan, which is seen as a reflection of current Western societal values rather than historical accuracy.

💡Historical accuracy

Historical accuracy is the degree to which a representation of the past corresponds with historical facts and events. The video script critiques the game for its lack of historical accuracy in portraying Yasuke as a samurai and suggests that the game prioritizes modern social values over historical facts.

💡Oda Nobunaga

Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period known for his efforts to unify Japan. In the video, he is mentioned as the figure who took an interest in Yasuke due to his unique appearance and made him a retainer, but there is no evidence that he bestowed the title of samurai upon him.

💡William Adams

William Adams was an Englishman who became a significant figure in Japanese history during the same period as Yasuke. Unlike Yasuke, Adams was officially granted the status of a samurai by Tokugawa Ieyasu and played a crucial role in establishing the shogunate's navy. The video contrasts Adams' historical significance with Yasuke's limited historical record to highlight the game's selective portrayal of history.

Highlights

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise is known for its diverse settings and protagonists.

The new game features a game set in feudal Japan with a Sub-Saharan African protagonist.

The game is criticized for inserting modern American social issues into Japanese history.

Yasuke, the historical figure the game is based on, was in Japan for only about three years.

There is little historical documentation on Yasuke, including his name, ethnicity, and native language.

Oda Nobunaga, a Japanese daimyo, took interest in Yasuke due to his unique appearance.

Yasuke was given the status of a retainer by Nobunaga, but there is no evidence he was a samurai.

The game's portrayal of Yasuke as a samurai is not supported by historical evidence.

Yasuke's life is primarily known through accounts by Jesuit missionaries and local sources.

The game Assassin's Creed Shadows is splitting Assassin's Creed's two disciplines into two protagonists.

The historical account of Yasuke's encounter with Akechi Mitsuhide shows he was not a warrior.

William Adams, an English sailor, became a significant figure in Japanese history and was granted samurai status.

The game is an entertainment product and not an historical account.

The choice of Yasuke as the protagonist may reflect current Western societal trends rather than historical accuracy.

The game's approach to diversity and cultural representation has been questioned.

The video discusses the potential cultural appropriation in the game's portrayal of Japanese history.