HIGHLIGHTS
- Yasuke’s journey from Africa to Japan and his rise to the rank of samurai showcases racial and social barriers in the Sengoku period.
- The game sparks debate over historical accuracy and identity, as Yasuke’s role as a kosho, a term traditionally meaning a servant or attendant.
- Yasuke’s relationship with Naoe evolves from enemies to allies, contributing their unique skills and perspectives towards a unified mission.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows features Yasuke and his journey from the shores of Africa to the heart of the Sengoku period.
Yasuke broke social and racial barriers as the first known individual of African heritage to become a samurai.
But Yasuke’s existence in 16th-century Japan, as a kosho to the renowoned daimyo Oda Nobunaga, upends ideas about history and identity.
Yasuke As Kosho In Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The addition of Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows raises controversy as players think the Japanese-themed game should have Japanese Origin Characters.
Many players feel the protagonist is not native to the game’s setting, and some say that it is historically incorrect to label him a samurai.
Some, however, use Yasuke’s status as a kosho in order to defend the game’s choice.
Significantly, Kosho is a samurai since, traditionally, he served as the general’s or lord’s personal servant or bodyguard.
Therefore, because of his close relationship to Nobunaga and his participation in battles, people occasionally mistake Yasuke’s job as a kosho for that of a warrior.
According to the conventional interpretation, Yasuke was not a samurai; rather, as a kosho, he performed the duties of a page or attendant.
However, because of particular circumstances, Yasuke was acknowledged as a samurai.
Yasuke Achieved Samurai Status Despite Being Kosho
Historical records indicate that Yasuke did indeed achieve the rank of a samurai. The debate arises because the term kosho does not immediately represent samurai status.
However, in Yasuke’s case, his close service under Nobunaga and his handling of military affairs gave him the status of samurai in practice despite his title of kosho.
This distinction is very important in discussing historical representation since it stresses the flexibility and diversity of feudal Japan’s social status.
Yasuke’s case is one of the striking arguments that confirm the changes in these statuses and how a person, even a foreigner, gains rank and is recognized as a samurai.
Connection Between Naoe And Kosho In Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Naoe is a fictional character in the game, and developers portray her as a shinobi or ninja.
Her father is the real-life historical figure Fujibayashi Nagato, a renowned ninja from the Sengoku period.
In the game, Yasuke, who serves as a kosho (a page or an attendant) to Oda Nobunaga, eventually becomes friend with Naoe.
Their relationship in the game’s plot is based on their friendship, and historical details are integrated into the Assassin’s Creed fictitious world.
At first, Yasuke and Naoe were enemies. But as the game progresses, they have a connection and mutual objectives with a common mission.
Their relationship transforms from enemies to companions, with each character sharing their special abilities and ideas to a common goal.
The combination of Naoe’s intelligence and ninja skills with Yasuke’s strength and honor as a samurai makes them powerful in the game’s plot.
