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{{Era|Individuals|Assassins}}{{WP-REAL}}
{{Era|Individuals|Assassins}}{{WP-REAL}}
{{Spoilerhd|20 June 2025|[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]}}
{{Update|[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] and [[Claws of Awaji]]}}
{{Quote|You are still a frog in a well who knows nothing of the sea. The oceans fill with new ships, but they all come from the same river: greed, power, vengeance.|Yasuke to Fujibayashi Naoe|Assassin's Creed: Shadows|:File:Assassin's Creed Shadows- Official World Premiere Trailer}}
{{Quote|You are still a frog in a well who knows nothing of the sea. The oceans fill with new ships, but they all come from the same river: greed, power, vengeance.|Yasuke to Fujibayashi Naoe.|Assassin's Creed: Shadows|:File:Assassin's Creed Shadows- Official World Premiere Trailer}}
{{Character Infobox
{{Character Infobox
|native=ACSH Yasuke calligraphy.png
|native=ACSH Yasuke calligraphy.png
|name=Yasuke
|name=Yasuke
|image=AC Shadows Yasuke Render.png
|image=AC Shadows Yasuke Render.png
|birth=c. 1555<ref name="Birthdate">In the ''{{Wiki|Shinchō Kōki}}'', a chronicle of Oda Nobunaga, Yasuke was described as being roughly 26 years old when he met the warlord in 1581.</ref><br>{{Wiki|Portuguese Mozambique|Captaincy of Mozambique}}, [[Portuguese Empire]]<ref name="Rebellion">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[Database: Yasuke]]</ref>
|birth=c. 1555<ref name="Birthdate">In [[Ōta Gyūichi]]'s 1598 work ''{{Wiki|Shinchō Kōki}}'' ("The Chronicle of Nobunaga"), he describes Yasuke as being roughly 26 years old when he met the warlord in 1581.</ref><br>{{Wiki|Portuguese Mozambique|Captaincy of Mozambique}}, [[Portuguese Empire]]<ref name="Rebellion">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[Database: Yasuke]]</ref>
|death=
|death=
|species=[[Human]]
|species=[[Human]]
|database=[[Database: Yasuke|Yasuke]]
|database=[[Database: Yasuke|Yasuke (Rebellion)]]<br>[[Database: Yasuke (Shadows)|Yasuke (Shadows)]]
|affiliates=*[[Templars]]
|affiliates=*[[Templars]]
**[[Portuguese Rite of the Templar Order|Portuguese Rite]] {{c|unwillingly}}
**[[Portuguese Rite of the Templar Order|Portuguese Rite]] {{c|unwillingly}}
Line 18: Line 18:
**[[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']]  
**[[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']]  
}}
}}
'''Yasuke''' (弥助; born c. 1555),<ref name="Birthdate"/> also referred to by the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] under the {{wiki|baptismal name}} "'''{{Wiki|Diogo (name)|Diogo}}'''",<ref name="The Lord's Favor">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[The Lord's Favor]]</ref> was an [[Africa]]n [[samurai]] who served the [[Japan]]ese warlord [[Oda Nobunaga]]. In 1579, the Portuguese Jesuits brought him as a [[Slavery|slave]] to the port city of [[Sakai]],<ref name="The Lord's Favor"/> shortly following their rescue of him at sea.<ref name="Path He Walks">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[The Path He Walks]]</ref> By 1581, he had entered into Nobunaga's service after capturing his attention as the first African man he had ever met and impressing him with his strong stature and intelligence.<ref name="The Lord's Favor"/>  
'''Yasuke''' (弥助; born c. 1555),<ref name="Birthdate"/> known to the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] under the {{wiki|baptismal name}} "'''{{Wiki|Diogo (name)|Diogo}}'''", was an [[Africa]]n [[samurai]] who served the [[Japan]]ese warlord [[Oda Nobunaga]]. Born a [[slave]], he was brought with his [[Yasuke's mother|mother]] to Japan's coasts to work for the [[Portuguese Rite of the Templar Order|Portuguese Templars]]. After he escaped execution by jumping into the sea,<ref name="EndOfTheLine">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[End of the Line (Shadows)|End of the Line]]</ref> a group of [[Europe]]an Jesuits rescued him<ref name="The Lord's Favor">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[The Lord's Favor]]</ref><ref name="Path He Walks">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[The Path He Walks]]</ref> and made him serve the [[Roman Rite of the Templar Order|Italian Templar]] [[Alessandro Valignano]]. In 1579, they brought him to the port city of [[Sakai]],<ref name="trailer2">{{Youtube|Nszrx939ZVA|Assassin's Creed Shadows: Who Are Naoe and Yasuke?|Ubisoft|Ubisoft}}</ref><ref name="trailer3">{{Youtube|HhMOQowMjM8|Assassin's Creed Shadows Explained – Samurai, Shinobi, and Feudal Japan|Ubisoft|Ubisoft}}</ref> but by 1581, he had entered into Nobunaga's service after capturing his attention as the first African man he had ever met and impressing him with his strong stature and intelligence.<ref name="The Lord's Favor"/>  


In 1581, Yasuke and his lord invaded [[Iga|Iga Province]] as part of the [[Tenshō Iga War]], devastating the region.<ref name="trailer2">{{Youtube|Nszrx939ZVA|Assassin's Creed Shadows: Who Are Naoe and Yasuke?|Ubisoft|Ubisoft}}</ref><ref name="trailer3">{{Youtube|HhMOQowMjM8|Assassin's Creed Shadows Explained – Samurai, Shinobi, and Feudal Japan|Ubisoft|Ubisoft}}</ref> Despite having destroyed [[Fujibayashi Naoe]]'s home, Yasuke later allied himself with the young Igan ''[[Ninja|kunoichi]]'', joining her league, the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']]. As one of Naoe's most important allies, Yasuke often accompanied her on the field, assisting her in not just intelligence-gathering but also [[assassination]]s.<ref name="trailer1">{{Youtube|vovkzbtYBC8|Assassin's Creed Shadows: Official World Premiere Trailer|Ubisoft|Ubisoft}}</ref>
In 1581, Yasuke and his lord invaded [[Iga|Iga Province]] as part of the [[Tenshō Iga War]], devastating the region.<ref name="trailer2"/><ref name="trailer3"/> Despite having destroyed [[Fujibayashi Naoe]]'s home, Yasuke later allied himself with the young Igan ''[[Ninja|kunoichi]]'' and joined her league, the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']]. As one of Naoe's most important allies, Yasuke often accompanied her on the field, assisting her in intelligence-gathering and [[assassination]]s.<ref name="trailer1">{{Youtube|vovkzbtYBC8|Assassin's Creed Shadows: Official World Premiere Trailer|Ubisoft|Ubisoft}}</ref>


Together they tracked down and eliminated members of the [[Shinbakufu]], a secretive organization founded by the ousted ''[[shōgun]]'' [[Ashikaga Yoshiaki]] as a means to an end of getting back into power. The organization's and Yoshiaki's plans were foiled as Yasuke and Naoe toppled the group and directly led to their downfall.<ref name="Man Behind Mask">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[The Man Behind the Mask]]</ref> Yasuke also tracked down members of the [[Portuguese Rite of the Templar Order|Portuguese Rite]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] and, after killing their leader [[Nuno Caro]], effectively declared war on the Templars on behalf of the Kakushiba ''ikki''.<ref name="End of the Line">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[End of the Line (Shadows)|End of the Line]]</ref>
Together, they hunted and eliminated members of the [[Shinbakufu]], a secretive organization founded by the ousted ''[[shōgun]]'' [[Ashikaga Yoshiaki]] as a way to reestablish his position. His plans were foiled as Yasuke and Naoe systematically dismantled the group which directly brought about its downfall.<ref name="Man Behind Mask">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[The Man Behind the Mask]]</ref> Yasuke also tracked down the Portuguese Templars in the region, and after killing their [[Templar leader|leader]] [[Nuno Caro]], effectively declared war on the wider [[Templars]] on behalf of the ''ikki''.<ref name="EndOfTheLine"/>


==Personality and traits==
==Personality and traits==
Yasuke was a thoughtful and intelligent man, who was able to learn the Japanese people's language, customs, and martial arts quickly upon arriving in their country. His respect for the local culture enabled his adaptation to his new environment.<ref name="trailer2"/> These qualities, alongside his physical prowess and aptitude in combat, were what earned him Oda Nobunaga's respect.<ref name="trailer3"/> His down-to-earth sensibilities complemented the fiery and passionate temperament of his later ally Fujibayashi Naoe.<ref name="trailer2"/>
Yasuke was a thoughtful and intelligent man, who was able to learn the Japanese people's language, customs, and martial arts quickly upon arriving in their country. His respect for the local culture enabled his adaptation to his new environment.<ref name="trailer2"/> These qualities, alongside his physical prowess and aptitude in combat, were what earned him Nobunaga's respect.<ref name="trailer3"/> His down-to-earth sensibilities complemented the fiery and passionate temperament of his later ally, Naoe.<ref name="trailer2"/>


Having personally experienced societies worlds apart from another, Yasuke nonetheless observed that they all shared common features no matter their cultural differences. Whether it was the world of his homeland, that of his Portuguese slavers, or that of the Japanese warlords, self-interest, power politics, and violence seemed to be the universal language. It was Naoe who challenged him to discover through his own choices that a world not dictated by these features was possible.<ref name="trailer1" />
Having personally experienced societies worlds apart from another, Yasuke nonetheless observed that they all shared common features no matter their cultural differences. Whether it was the world of his homeland, that of his Portuguese slavers, or that of the Japanese warlords, they all knew the universal languages of self-interest, power politics, and violence, a reality he tried to impart to Naoe by paraphrasing the proverb "[[wikt:井の中の蛙大海を知らず|a frog in a well does not know the great ocean]]". It was Naoe who challenged him to discover through his own choices that a world not dictated by these features was possible.<ref name="trailer1" />


===Skills and equipment===
===Skills and equipment===
[[File:ACShadows Promotional Screenshot 2.jpeg|thumb|left|250px|Yasuke attacking a soldier with a ''kanabō'']]
[[File:ACShadows Promotional Screenshot 2.jpeg|thumb|left|250px|Yasuke attacking a soldier with a ''kanabō'']]
On the battlefield, Yasuke was a powerful warrior capable of slaying multiple enemies with ease. Apart from his mastery of the ''[[katana]]'', his great physical strength permitted his use of the ''[[kanabō]]'' while he was also skilled in the [[arquebus]].<ref name="trailer3"/><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Database: Teppo]]</ref> Yasuke could also wield a ''[[naginata]]'' to keep several enemies at bay at once and clear large spaces,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Database: Naginata]]</ref> and he demonstrated proficiency in the use of the [[Bow|''yumi'' bow]] in medium-range combat encounters.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Database: Yumi Bow]]</ref>
As a samurai, Yasuke was a practitioner of Sengoku-era ''{{Wiki|bushido}}'' (武士道, lit. "the warrior's way”), which placed more value on martial prowess over the formalized cultural refinement present in the subsequent {{Wiki|Edo period}}.<ref>{{WP|Bushido}}</ref> Accordingly, he was trained in ''{{Wiki|kenjutsu}}'' (剣術) and ''{{Wiki|iaijutsu}}'' (居合術) by the ''{{Wiki|Shinkage-ryū}}'' (新陰流, "new shadow school") founder [[Kamiizumi Nobutsuna]].<ref name="NobutsunaSensei">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Nobutsuna Sensei]]</ref> Apart from his mastery of the ''[[katana]]'', his great physical strength also permitted his use of the ''[[kanabō]]'', both of which made him a powerful warrior capable of easily slaying multiple enemies on the battlefield.<ref name="trailer3"/>


Yasuke was also at least bilingual, fluent in both {{Wiki|Portuguese language|Portuguese}} and later {{Wiki|Japanese language|Japanese}}, with his fluency in the latter surprising many native speakers of the language.<ref name="The Lord's Favor"/> He could also read and translate {{Wiki|Latin language|Latin}},<ref name="Secrets of the Blade">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Secrets of the Blade]]</ref> however his grasp of the Portuguese written language was minimal at best.<ref name="Path He Walks"/>
After Nobunaga's death by ''[[seppuku]]'' during the [[Honnō-ji incident]],<ref name="TempleOfTheHorseman">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Temple of the Horseman]]</ref> Yasuke became a ''[[rōnin]]'' and embarked on a ''{{Wiki|musha shugyō}}'' (武者修行, lit. "warrior training"), expanding his weapons knowledge by travelling throughout Japan to duel Nobutsuna's past students<ref name="NobutsunaSensei"/><ref name="NobutsunasStudents">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Nobutsuna's Students]]</ref> and learn new ''[[kata]]'' from various ''{{Wiki|kobudō}}'' (古武道, lit. "old martial arts") masters who were willing to teach him. In this way, he learned ''{{Wiki|naginatajutsu}}'' (長刀術), ''{{Wiki|hōjutsu}}'' (砲術), ''{{Wiki|kyūjutsu}}'' (弓術), and its advanced [[Horse|mounted]] [[archer]]y form of ''{{Wiki|kasagake}}'' (笠懸, lit. "hat shooting"). By the end of his quest, Yasuke was fully proficient in the ''{{Wiki|jutsu}}s''{{'}}  respective weapons of the ''[[naginata]]'', the [[arquebus]], and the ''[[Bow|daikyū]]'' ([[wikt:大弓|大弓]]).<ref name="ACSH">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]''</ref>
 
Yasuke was at least bilingual, fluent in {{Wiki|Portuguese language|Portuguese}}. He quickly caught on to {{Wiki|Japanese language|Japanese}} after arriving in Sakai, though his initial knowledge of it was better than his speaking ability.<ref name="The Lord's Favor"/> In time, he became fluent in it as well,<ref name="TheLordsOfAzuchi">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Lords of Azuchi]]</ref> often surprising native speakers that a foreigner even knew their language;<ref name="The Lord's Favor"/> he furthered his knowledge of Japanese by learning its written form when Nobutsuna had him take {{Wiki|Japanese calligraphy|calligraphy}} lessons under Lady [[Nene]]<ref name="LadyOfWhispers">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Lady of Whispers]]</ref> before continuing them as part of his own curriculum.<ref name="NobutsunaSensei"/> Yasuke could also read and translate {{Wiki|Latin language|Latin}},<ref name="Secrets of the Blade">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Secrets of the Blade]]</ref> though his grasp of written Portuguese was minimal at best.<ref name="Path He Walks"/>


==Behind the scenes==
==Behind the scenes==
Yasuke is a historical figure who stars as one of the two protagonists in the 2025 video game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]''. He is portrayed by the {{Wiki|Zimbabwe}}an actor [[Tongayi Chirisa]].
Yasuke is a historical figure who stars as one of the two protagonists in the 2025 video game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]''. He is portrayed by the {{Wiki|Zimbabwe}}an actor [[Tongayi Chirisa]].


If choosing not to implement canon mode Yasuke can have four potential love interests: [[Hori Hidemasa]], [[Rin]], [[Oichi]], and [[Ibuki]]. However, he can only enter a relationship with either Rin or Ibuki.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.polygon.com/assassins-creed-shadows-guides/542414/romance-options-all-list-how-to-unlock| title=All romance options in Assassin’s Creed Shadows| publisher=Polygon| author=Kawanishi, Paulo| date=20 March 2025| accessdate=21 March 2025| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320020615/https://www.polygon.com/assassins-creed-shadows-guides/542414/romance-options-all-list-how-to-unlock| archivedate=20 March 2025}}</ref>
If choosing not to implement canon mode Yasuke can have four potential love interests in [[Hori Hidemasa]], [[Rin]], [[Oichi]], and [[Ibuki]]. However, he can only enter a relationship with either Rin or Ibuki.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.polygon.com/assassins-creed-shadows-guides/542414/romance-options-all-list-how-to-unlock| title=All romance options in Assassin’s Creed Shadows| publisher=Polygon| author=Kawanishi, Paulo| date=20 March 2025| accessdate=21 March 2025| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320020615/https://www.polygon.com/assassins-creed-shadows-guides/542414/romance-options-all-list-how-to-unlock| archivedate=20 March 2025}}</ref>


In a [[Assassin's Creed (series)|series]] first, his [[database]] entry in the 2018 mobile game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' is taken word-for-word from his character summary in the official reference guide released as part of the promotions for ''Shadows''.<ref name="Reference Guide">{{Ubisoft|url=/J3yJr34U2pZ2Ieem48Dwy9uqj5PNUQTn/3bGKVyFkHiabZ5a2SjO7pi/83bf1e6260dcaac48d453399bd573306/ACRED_CharacterReference_Full_FINAL.pdf|subdomain=staticctf|text=Assassin's Creed Shadows: Character Reference Guide|archivedate=20240601091703}}</ref>
In a [[Assassin's Creed (series)|series]] first, his [[database]] entry in the 2018 mobile game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' is taken verbatim from his character summary in the official reference guide released as part of the promotions for ''Shadows''.<ref name="Reference Guide">{{Ubisoft|url=/J3yJr34U2pZ2Ieem48Dwy9uqj5PNUQTn/3bGKVyFkHiabZ5a2SjO7pi/83bf1e6260dcaac48d453399bd573306/ACRED_CharacterReference_Full_FINAL.pdf|subdomain=staticctf|text=Assassin's Creed Shadows: Character Reference Guide|archivedate=20240601091703}}</ref>


===Etymology===
===Etymology===
[[wikt:Diogo|Diogo]] is a Portuguese masculine given name, equivalent to the Spanish name [[wikt:Diego|Diego]], of which they are both related to the {{Wiki|Galician-Portuguese|Old Galician-Portuguese}} [[wikt:Diago|Diago]]. The roots of all three names is derived from the {{Wiki|Latin}} ''[[wikt:Didacus|Didacus]]''. A pin-pointed origin of the name is uncertain, with possible explanations including a masculine form derived from the Greek [[wikt:διδαχή|διδαχή]] (''didakhḗ'') "teaching", a blend with [[wikt:διάδοχος|διάδοχος]] (''diádokhos'') "successor", or connections to {{Wiki|Basques|Basque}}, [[Celts|Celtic]], or {{Wiki|Celtiberians|Celtiberian}} roots.
[[wikt:Diogo|Diogo]] is a Portuguese masculine given name, equivalent to the Spanish name [[wikt:Diego|Diego]], of which they are both related to the {{Wiki|Galician-Portuguese|Old Galician-Portuguese}} [[wikt:Diago|Diago]]. The roots of all three names is derived from the {{Wiki|Latin}} ''[[wikt:Didacus|Didacus]]''. A pin-pointed origin of the name is uncertain, with possible explanations including a masculine form derived from the Greek [[wikt:διδαχή|διδαχή]] (''didakhḗ'') "teaching", a blend with [[wikt:διάδοχος|διάδοχος]] (''diádokhos'') "successor", or connections to {{Wiki|Basques|Basque}}, [[Celts|Celtic]], or {{Wiki|Celtiberians|Celtiberian}} roots.


Yasuke is a Japanese masculine given name, written with the kanji [[wikt:弥#Japanese|弥]], meaning "increase" or "long-lasting," and [[wikt:助#Japanese|助]], meaning "help" or "assist." The historical origin of this name bestowed by Oda Nobunaga is unknown.<ref>{{WP|Yasuke}}</ref>
Yasuke is a Japanese masculine given name, written with the kanji [[wikt:弥#Japanese|弥]], meaning "increase" or "long-lasting," and [[wikt:助#Japanese|助]], meaning "help" or "assist." The historical origin of this name bestowed by Nobunaga is unknown.<ref>{{WP|Yasuke}}</ref>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
Line 58: Line 60:
ACShadows CGI Trailer Stills 02.jpg|Yasuke in his armor leading [[Oda clan]] soldiers
ACShadows CGI Trailer Stills 02.jpg|Yasuke in his armor leading [[Oda clan]] soldiers
ACShadows CGI Trailer Stills 04.jpg|Close-up of Yasuke during the attack on Iga
ACShadows CGI Trailer Stills 04.jpg|Close-up of Yasuke during the attack on Iga
ACReb - Yasuke render.png|Yasuke as he appears in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion|Rebellion]]''
ACRebellion Profile - Yasuke.png|Yasuke's avatar in ''Rebellion''{{'}}s character menu
</gallery>
</gallery>


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*''[[Echoes of History]] – Shadows'' {{1stm}}
*''[[Echoes of History]] – Shadows'' {{1stm}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Story Drops]]''
**''[[Claws of Awaji]]''
**''[[Claws of Awaji]]''


Latest revision as of 02:58, 16 December 2025

Patience, brothers. Soon we will reveal the secrets of Assassin's Creed: Shadows and Claws of Awaji.

This article has been identified as being out of date. Please update the article to reflect recent releases and then remove this template once done.

"You are still a frog in a well who knows nothing of the sea. The oceans fill with new ships, but they all come from the same river: greed, power, vengeance."
―Yasuke to Fujibayashi Naoe.[src]-[m]

Yasuke (弥助; born c. 1555),[1] known to the Portuguese under the baptismal name "Diogo", was an African samurai who served the Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga. Born a slave, he was brought with his mother to Japan's coasts to work for the Portuguese Templars. After he escaped execution by jumping into the sea,[3] a group of European Jesuits rescued him[4][5] and made him serve the Italian Templar Alessandro Valignano. In 1579, they brought him to the port city of Sakai,[6][7] but by 1581, he had entered into Nobunaga's service after capturing his attention as the first African man he had ever met and impressing him with his strong stature and intelligence.[4]

In 1581, Yasuke and his lord invaded Iga Province as part of the Tenshō Iga War, devastating the region.[6][7] Despite having destroyed Fujibayashi Naoe's home, Yasuke later allied himself with the young Igan kunoichi and joined her league, the Kakushiba ikki. As one of Naoe's most important allies, Yasuke often accompanied her on the field, assisting her in intelligence-gathering and assassinations.[8]

Together, they hunted and eliminated members of the Shinbakufu, a secretive organization founded by the ousted shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiaki as a way to reestablish his position. His plans were foiled as Yasuke and Naoe systematically dismantled the group which directly brought about its downfall.[9] Yasuke also tracked down the Portuguese Templars in the region, and after killing their leader Nuno Caro, effectively declared war on the wider Templars on behalf of the ikki.[3]

Personality and traits[edit | edit source]

Yasuke was a thoughtful and intelligent man, who was able to learn the Japanese people's language, customs, and martial arts quickly upon arriving in their country. His respect for the local culture enabled his adaptation to his new environment.[6] These qualities, alongside his physical prowess and aptitude in combat, were what earned him Nobunaga's respect.[7] His down-to-earth sensibilities complemented the fiery and passionate temperament of his later ally, Naoe.[6]

Having personally experienced societies worlds apart from another, Yasuke nonetheless observed that they all shared common features no matter their cultural differences. Whether it was the world of his homeland, that of his Portuguese slavers, or that of the Japanese warlords, they all knew the universal languages of self-interest, power politics, and violence, a reality he tried to impart to Naoe by paraphrasing the proverb "a frog in a well does not know the great ocean". It was Naoe who challenged him to discover through his own choices that a world not dictated by these features was possible.[8]

Skills and equipment[edit | edit source]

Yasuke attacking a soldier with a kanabō

As a samurai, Yasuke was a practitioner of Sengoku-era bushido (武士道, lit. "the warrior's way”), which placed more value on martial prowess over the formalized cultural refinement present in the subsequent Edo period.[10] Accordingly, he was trained in kenjutsu (剣術) and iaijutsu (居合術) by the Shinkage-ryū (新陰流, "new shadow school") founder Kamiizumi Nobutsuna.[11] Apart from his mastery of the katana, his great physical strength also permitted his use of the kanabō, both of which made him a powerful warrior capable of easily slaying multiple enemies on the battlefield.[7]

After Nobunaga's death by seppuku during the Honnō-ji incident,[12] Yasuke became a rōnin and embarked on a musha shugyō (武者修行, lit. "warrior training"), expanding his weapons knowledge by travelling throughout Japan to duel Nobutsuna's past students[11][13] and learn new kata from various kobudō (古武道, lit. "old martial arts") masters who were willing to teach him. In this way, he learned naginatajutsu (長刀術), hōjutsu (砲術), kyūjutsu (弓術), and its advanced mounted archery form of kasagake (笠懸, lit. "hat shooting"). By the end of his quest, Yasuke was fully proficient in the jutsus' respective weapons of the naginata, the arquebus, and the daikyū (大弓).[14]

Yasuke was at least bilingual, fluent in Portuguese. He quickly caught on to Japanese after arriving in Sakai, though his initial knowledge of it was better than his speaking ability.[4] In time, he became fluent in it as well,[15] often surprising native speakers that a foreigner even knew their language;[4] he furthered his knowledge of Japanese by learning its written form when Nobutsuna had him take calligraphy lessons under Lady Nene[16] before continuing them as part of his own curriculum.[11] Yasuke could also read and translate Latin,[17] though his grasp of written Portuguese was minimal at best.[5]

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

Yasuke is a historical figure who stars as one of the two protagonists in the 2025 video game Assassin's Creed: Shadows. He is portrayed by the Zimbabwean actor Tongayi Chirisa.

If choosing not to implement canon mode Yasuke can have four potential love interests in Hori Hidemasa, Rin, Oichi, and Ibuki. However, he can only enter a relationship with either Rin or Ibuki.[18]

In a series first, his database entry in the 2018 mobile game Assassin's Creed: Rebellion is taken verbatim from his character summary in the official reference guide released as part of the promotions for Shadows.[19]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Diogo is a Portuguese masculine given name, equivalent to the Spanish name Diego, of which they are both related to the Old Galician-Portuguese Diago. The roots of all three names is derived from the Latin Didacus. A pin-pointed origin of the name is uncertain, with possible explanations including a masculine form derived from the Greek διδαχή (didakhḗ) "teaching", a blend with διάδοχος (diádokhos) "successor", or connections to Basque, Celtic, or Celtiberian roots.

Yasuke is a Japanese masculine given name, written with the kanji 弥, meaning "increase" or "long-lasting," and 助, meaning "help" or "assist." The historical origin of this name bestowed by Nobunaga is unknown.[20]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Concept art
    Concept art
  • Concept art
    Concept art
  • Promotional art
    Promotional art
  • Promotional art
    Promotional art
  • Close-up of Yasuke
    Close-up of Yasuke
  • Alessandro Valignano, Luís Fróis, and Yasuke meeting Akechi Mitsuhide
    Alessandro Valignano, Luís Fróis, and Yasuke meeting Akechi Mitsuhide
  • Yasuke accompanying Oda Nobunaga during the invasion of Iga
    Yasuke accompanying Oda Nobunaga during the invasion of Iga
  • Yasuke in his armor leading Oda clan soldiers
    Yasuke in his armor leading Oda clan soldiers
  • Close-up of Yasuke during the attack on Iga
    Close-up of Yasuke during the attack on Iga
  • Yasuke as he appears in Rebellion
    Yasuke as he appears in Rebellion
  • Yasuke's avatar in Rebellion's character menu
    Yasuke's avatar in Rebellion's character menu

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 In Ōta Gyūichi's 1598 work Shinchō Kōki ("The Chronicle of Nobunaga"), he describes Yasuke as being roughly 26 years old when he met the warlord in 1581.
  2. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – Database: Yasuke
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – End of the Line
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Lord's Favor
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Path He Walks
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Assassin's Creed Shadows: Who Are Naoe and Yasuke? on the Ubisoft YouTube channel
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Assassin's Creed Shadows Explained – Samurai, Shinobi, and Feudal Japan on the Ubisoft YouTube channel
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Assassin's Creed Shadows: Official World Premiere Trailer on the Ubisoft YouTube channel
  9. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Man Behind the Mask
  10. ↑ Bushido on Wikipedia
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Nobutsuna Sensei
  12. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Temple of the Horseman
  13. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Nobutsuna's Students
  14. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows
  15. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Lords of Azuchi
  16. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Lady of Whispers
  17. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Secrets of the Blade
  18. ↑ Kawanishi, Paulo (20 March 2025). All romance options in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Polygon. Archived from the original on 20 March 2025. Retrieved on 21 March 2025.
  19. ↑  Assassin's Creed Shadows: Character Reference Guide on Ubisoft's official website (backup link)
  20. ↑ Yasuke on Wikipedia

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