Yasuke: Difference between revisions
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**[[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']] | **[[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']] | ||
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'''Yasuke''' (弥助; born c. 1555),<ref>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> 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"/> 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>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> 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"/> | ||
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 [[Assassins|Assassin]], joining 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">{{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 [[Assassins|Assassin]], joining 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> | ||
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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> | 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> | ||
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" | 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"/> | ||
==Behind the scenes== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
Revision as of 05:42, 6 April 2025
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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning Assassin's Creed: Shadows. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. |
Yasuke (弥助; born c. 1555),[2] also referred to by the Portuguese under the baptismal name "Diogo",[3] was an African samurai who served the Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga. In 1579, the Portuguese Jesuits brought him as a slave to the port city of Sakai,[3] shortly following their rescue of him at sea.[4] 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.[3]
In 1581, Yasuke and his lord invaded Iga Province as part of the Tenshō Iga War, devastating the region.[5][6] Despite having destroyed Fujibayashi Naoe's home, Yasuke later allied himself with the young Igan Assassin, joining the 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 assassinations.[7]
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.[8] Yasuke also tracked down members of the Portuguese Rite of the Templar Order and, after killing their leader Nuno Caro, effectively declared war on the Templars on behalf of the Kakushiba ikki.[9]
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.[5] These qualities, alongside his physical prowess and aptitude in combat, were what earned him Oda Nobunaga's respect.[6] His down-to-earth sensibilities complemented the fiery and passionate temperament of his later ally Fujibayashi Naoe.[5]
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.[7]
Skills and equipment
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.[6][10] Yasuke could also wield a naginata to keep several enemies at bay at once and clear large spaces,[11] and he demonstrated proficiency in the use of the yumi bow in medium-range combat encounters.[12]
Yasuke was also at least bilingual, fluent in both Portuguese and later Japanese, with his fluency in the latter surprising many native speakers of the language.[3] He could also read and translate Latin,[13] however his grasp of the Portuguese written language was minimal at best.[4]
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 Zimbabwean 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.[14]
Gallery
-
Concept art -
Concept art -
Promotional art -
Promotional art -
Closeup of Yasuke -
Alessandro Valignano, Luís Fróis, and Yasuke meeting Akechi Mitsuhide
-
Yasuke accompanying Nobunaga during the invasion of Iga -
Yasuke in his armor leading Oda clan soldiers -
Closeup of Yasuke during the attack on Iga
Appearances
- Echoes of History – Shadows (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed: Shadows (first appearance)
References
- ↑
Assassin's Creed Shadows Character Cosplay Guide on Ubisoft's official website (backup link)
- ↑ In the Shinchō Kōki, a chronicle of Oda Nobunaga, Yasuke was described as being roughly 26 years old when he met the warlord in 1581.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Lord's Favor
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Path He Walks
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2
Assassin's Creed Shadows: Who Are Naoe and Yasuke? on the Ubisoft YouTube channel
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Assassin's Creed Shadows Explained – Samurai, Shinobi, and Feudal Japan on the Ubisoft YouTube channel
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Assassin's Creed Shadows: Official World Premiere Trailer on the Ubisoft YouTube channel
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Man Behind the Mask
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – End of the Line
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Teppo
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Naginata
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Yumi Bow
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Secrets of the Blade
- ↑ 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.