"Black Samurai" Discovered! - Ubisoft Meet Netflix

The video discusses Ubisoft's new game 'Assassin's Creed Shadows,' which features Yasuke, a historical figure of African descent who served in feudal Japan. The game diverges from historical accuracy by portraying Yasuke as a prominent samurai, a claim unsupported by historical evidence. The video critiques the game's cultural appropriation and the Western societal emphasis on diversity, suggesting that the game's portrayal of Yasuke is more about modern social fetishes than historical representation.

Takeaways

• 🎮 The Assassin's Creed franchise is known for its diverse settings and protagonists, with each game featuring a character from the game's location.
• 🌍 Ubisoft's latest game, Assassin's Creed Shadows, is set in feudal Japan and introduces a new protagonist based on Yasuke, a historical figure described as a 'black samurai'.
• 🤔 The game's portrayal of Yasuke as the 'greatest samurai' is controversial due to the lack of historical evidence supporting this claim.
• 📚 Historical records about Yasuke are scarce, with most information coming from letters by Jesuit missionaries, and there is no documentation of him being a samurai.
• 👑 Oda Nobunaga, a Japanese daimyo known for his unconventional tastes, took interest in Yasuke due to his distinct appearance and made him a retainer.
• 🗡️ Yasuke's portrayal in the game as a skilled warrior is not supported by historical accounts, which describe him more as a novelty to Nobunaga.
• 🇬🇧 In contrast, there is a well-documented case of William Adams, an Englishman who became a samurai and played a significant role in Japanese history.
• 🎭 The video emphasizes that Assassin's Creed Shadows is a work of entertainment and not a historical documentary, allowing for creative liberties with historical figures.
• 🌐 The choice to feature Yasuke over other historical figures like Adams may reflect current societal trends and the emphasis on diversity in Western media.
• 🤷‍♂️ The video raises the question of whether the game's portrayal of Japanese history and culture could be seen as cultural appropriation.
• 📖 The video encourages viewers to read the comments section of the game's trailer for additional perspectives and humor.

Q & A

What is the title of the video discussed in the transcript?

The title of the video is 'Black Samurai' Discovered! - Ubisoft Meet Netflix.

Which video game franchise is mentioned in the transcript?

The video game franchise mentioned is Assassin's Creed.

What is the name of the historical figure that Ubisoft has made into a character in their game?

The historical figure is Yasuke, the so-called African Samurai.

What is the main criticism of Ubisoft's portrayal of Yasuke in their game?

The main criticism is that there is no historical evidence supporting the notion that Yasuke was a Samurai, and his portrayal in the game is seen as an insertion of modern American social fetishes into Japanese history.

What is the duration of Yasuke's confirmed stay in Japan?

Yasuke's confirmed stay in Japan was about 3 years, from August 1579 to June 1582.

What is known about Yasuke's background from historical documents?

There are very few historical documents on Yasuke, with only fragmentary accounts in letters of the Jesuit missionaries. Nothing is known about his name, date of birth, place of birth, ethnicity, or native language.

Why did Oda Nobunaga take an interest in Yasuke?

Oda Nobunaga took an interest in Yasuke because of his remarkably different appearance, as Japan was characterized by its mono-ethnic makeup at the time. Nobunaga found it novel and kept Yasuke in his proximity.

What role did William Adams play in Japanese history?

William Adams, fictionalized as John Blackthorne in the book and TV drama Shogun, became a trusted retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu, played a crucial role in establishing the Shogun's Navy, and served as an adviser on all Western Affairs. He was granted the status of a samurai and became a high-ranking samurai in direct service to the Edo shogunate.

What is the main argument against the portrayal of Yasuke as the protagonist in Assassin's Creed Shadows?

The main argument is that it seems to be driven by a current societal focus on diversity and inclusion, rather than historical accuracy or the actual significance of the character in Japanese history.

What is the author's view on the concept of diversity as portrayed in the game?

The author suggests that the portrayal of diversity in the game may not align with historical facts and seems to be influenced by contemporary societal trends rather than a genuine representation of the historical context.

What is the author's stance on the use of creative liberties in video games?

The author acknowledges that video games are entertainment products that allow for creative liberties with the source material and are not meant to be historical accounts. However, the author also questions the cultural appropriation aspect of such portrayals.

How does the author suggest the game might be perceived in terms of cultural appropriation?

The author raises a question about whether the game and its characters could be seen as cultural appropriation, according to the standards and definitions set by those who critique such matters.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Historical Accuracy vs. Modern Social Agendas

The paragraph discusses Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise, highlighting its diverse settings and protagonists. It criticizes the upcoming game, Assassin's Creed Shadows, for its inaccurate portrayal of a historical figure, Yasuke, as a central African samurai in feudal Japan. The speaker points out that Yasuke was indeed in Japan for a short period, but there's no evidence supporting his status as a samurai. The paragraph also mentions the game's division into two protagonists, Nae and Yasuke, and humorously refers to public reactions to the game's trailer. It emphasizes the need to differentiate between entertainment and historical accuracy, especially given the game's modern take on history.

05:00

📚 The Myth of Yasuke: Fact vs. Fiction in Assassin's Creed Shadows

This paragraph delves into the historical accounts of Yasuke, a非洲 man who was in Japan during the 16th century. It clarifies that Yasuke was not a samurai, as he is portrayed in Assassin's Creed Shadows, but rather a retainer bestowed with status by Oda Nobunaga due to his novelty as a foreigner with dark skin. The paragraph also discusses the Hono-ji incident, where Yasuke's fate was spared, and contrasts Yasuke's historical obscurity with the prominence of William Adams, an Englishman who became a samurai and played a significant role in Japanese history. The speaker questions the game's choice of protagonist and the implications of cultural representation and appropriation in modern media.

10:00

📽️ Reflections on Cultural Representation and the Role of Media

The final paragraph reflects on the broader implications of cultural representation in Assassin's Creed Shadows and other media. It raises questions about the motives behind the portrayal of Yasuke as a central character instead of a more historically significant figure like William Adams. The speaker ponders the concept of diversity and cultural appropriation, suggesting that the game's approach may not align with the standards set by those who advocate for such issues. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to support the channel and a note on the challenges faced by content creators in the current algorithmic landscape of YouTube.

Keywords

Assassin's Creed franchise

The Assassin's Creed franchise is a series of action-adventure video games developed by Ubisoft. The games are known for their historical settings and the blend of real historical events with fictional narratives. In the video script, it is mentioned that the franchise has a long list of titles and locations, indicating the variety of settings and characters players can experience throughout the series.

Samurai

A samurai is a member of the military nobility of medieval and early-modern Japan. They were known for their martial skills, loyalty, and adherence to the code of Bushido. In the context of the video, the term 'Samurai' is used to describe Yasuke, a historical figure who was given this title in the game 'Assassin's Creed Shadows', despite the lack of historical evidence supporting his status as a samurai.

Yasuke

Yasuke was an African man who served the Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga in the late 16th century. He is known for being one of the first Africans to set foot in Japan. The video script discusses Yasuke's historical background and Ubisoft's portrayal of him in the game, which has been criticized for historical inaccuracy and cultural appropriation.

Cultural appropriation

Cultural appropriation refers to the adoption of elements of one culture by members of another culture, often without understanding or respecting the original culture's history and traditions. The video script critiques Ubisoft's portrayal of Yasuke as a samurai as an example of cultural appropriation, suggesting that it is an attempt to insert modern social issues into a historical Japanese setting.

Diversity

Diversity in the context of the video refers to the inclusion of different racial, ethnic, or cultural backgrounds in media and entertainment. The script mentions that some African-Americans were upset about the lack of diversity in the TV show 'Shogun' and that Ubisoft's decision to make Yasuke a central character in 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' could be seen as a response to calls for greater diversity in video games.

Feudal Japan

Feudal Japan refers to the historical period in Japan characterized by a feudal system of governance, where power was held by regional lords known as daimyo. The video discusses Ubisoft's portrayal of this era in the game 'Assassin's Creed Shadows', particularly the depiction of Yasuke as a samurai, which is historically questionable.

Oda Nobunaga

Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, known for his efforts to unify Japan. In the video script, he is mentioned as the figure who took Yasuke into his service due to his novelty as an African man in a predominantly mono-ethnic society. Nobunaga's interest in Yasuke is used to illustrate the historical context of Yasuke's presence in Japan.

Historical accuracy

Historical accuracy refers to the faithful representation of historical events, people, and contexts. The video script questions the historical accuracy of Ubisoft's portrayal of Yasuke, pointing out the lack of evidence supporting his status as a samurai and suggesting that the game's narrative is more about modern social issues than historical facts.

Video game

A video game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a screen. The video script emphasizes that 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' is a video game and should be treated as an entertainment product rather than a historical documentary, highlighting the creative liberties taken with the source material.

Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist refers to the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time. The video script uses the term to discuss the current Western societal emphasis on diversity and representation, suggesting that this has influenced the decision to feature Yasuke as a central character in the game.

Highlights

Ubisoft's new game 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' features a subsaharan African protagonist in feudal Japan.

The game separates Assassin's Creed's two disciplines into two protagonists: Nae, an agile Shinobi, and Yasuke, the historical black samurai.

Yasuke was an African man who served Oda Nobunaga in Japan for a short period from 1579 to 1582.

There is little historical documentation on Yasuke, with most information coming from Jesuit missionary letters.

Oda Nobunaga was known for his interest in the unconventional and novel, which may have contributed to his keeping Yasuke close.

Yasuke's skin color was considered a novelty by Nobunaga, who had him wash to see if it would come off.

Nobunaga bestowed upon Yasuke the status of a retainer to address logistical challenges of having a commoner in close quarters with a person of high status.

Contrary to popular belief and portrayals, there is no historical evidence that Yasuke was ever bestowed with the rank or title of Samurai.

The game 'Shadows' portrays Yasuke as a heroic figure, despite the lack of evidence for his Samurai prowess.

The Honno-ji incident in 1582 saw Yasuke's master, Nobunaga, betrayed and Yasuke's fate remains unclear after this event.

William Adams, an English sailor, became a significant figure in Japanese history and was granted the status of a samurai by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Adams was declared 'meura Anin', a samurai, and was granted land, servants, and the prestigious title of 'hatamoto'.

The video discusses the concept of cultural appropriation and the portrayal of Yasuke in 'Assassin's Creed Shadows'.

The speaker questions why a game featuring Japanese characters and a few missionaries with Yasuke as a side character isn't considered diverse enough.

The video emphasizes that 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' is an entertainment product and not a historical documentary.

The speaker suggests that the game's portrayal of Yasuke may be influenced by current Western societal trends and the concept of diversity.

The video encourages viewers to subscribe and support the channel, as it has been affected by YouTube's algorithmic changes.