Summary
Leaks and rumors have suggested that the long-awaitedAssassin’s Creed Redwill star an African samurai called Yasuke, which would mark the first instance of the series featuring a real historical figure as a playable protagonist. Many of the same sources alleging the inclusion of Yasuke have also pointed to asecondary protagonist inAssassin’s Creed Red, a woman named Naoe Fujibayashi, though this rumored character is not based on a real-world figure.
Though the series has put extra emphasis on supernatural elements in recent entries,Assassin’s Creedhas always been rooted in real-world history. After all, the setting is essentially the main hook of each entry, withAssassin’s Creed Redperhaps being the best example of this: fans have been clamoring for anAssassin’s Creedgame set in feudal Japan for years, virtually since the series established its anthology formula withAssassin’s Creed 2. Although the franchise has generally been cautious when it comes to involving real historical figures and events in its plot, it doesn’t abstain from the practice entirely, as previous games have connected individuals like Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, and Charles Lee to the story of the Assassins and Templars.
Yasuke: The African Samurai Who May Be At the Heart of Assassin’s Creed Red
AssumingYasuke is indeed a hero ofAssassin’s Creed Red, it’s safe to say that the game will take a good amount of creative liberties with his story. In and of itself, this isn’t likely to ruffle too many feathers, as the real historical record surrounding Yasuke’s life is fairly hazy as it is.
Yasuke’s Arrival In Japan
Yasuke first came to Japan in 1579, with the leading theory positing that he was accompanying Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano as a paid mercenary. Due to travel restrictions and customs of the time, Valignano had to ask thepowerful Japanese warlord Oda Nobunagafor permission to leave the country in 1581, introducing the powerful lord to Yasuke for the first time.
According to biographer Ota Gyuichi’s firsthand descriptions, Yasuke was in his mid-twenties in 1581, possessing a “good demeanor” and the strength of ten men. Other accounts describe him as intelligent, physically imposing, and popular with the locals, who may have been intrigued by his dark skin and foreign appearance, as Nobunaga reportedly was. As a mercenary,Yasuke was likely a lethal warrior by 1581, which was probably what led to his employment in Nobunaga’s samurai army.
Yasuke’s Samurai Career and Death
Yasuke began to work as a samurai for Nobunaga shortly after their first meeting, though the title was a bit more loosely defined during this time; essentially, anyone who was a skilled enough warrior to be hired as a soldier by a feudal lord could have been considered a samurai. At any rate, Yasuke is believed to have had a close relationship with Nobunaga, as he was one of only a select few men to have been seen dining with the famous warlord. Nobunaga’s bloody campaign was one of unification, as he believed that sacrificing hundreds or even thousands of lives in the goal of ultimate peace was justified. Yasuke was reportedly instrumental in the later stages of this campaign.
In 1582, just a few months afterYasuke joined Nobunaga’s war effort, the latter was betrayed and ambushed by one of his generals, Akechi Mitsuhide, sparking an event known as the Honnoji Incident. Surrounded and greatly outnumbered, Nobunaga performed seppuku in a temple, which was witnessed by Yasuke and Mori Ranmaru, the warlord’s attendant and lover. Yasuke then stole away with Nobunaga’s head with the goal of keeping it out of enemy hands.
Yasuke’s ultimate fate remains unknown, though it’s clear that he did survive the Honnoji Incident, as he was last seen being escorted to a Jesuit mission by Mitsuhide’s troops. With the man’s story being so open-ended,Assassin’s Creed Redmay end up providing an explanation for what exactly happened to him after the Honnoji Incident, though this shouldn’t be taken as fact.
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as a cunning young street thief seeking answers in this majestic Middle Eastern open world. Experience the home of the original Assassins in this exciting new narrative-driven, open world adventure. 15 years since the first Assassin’s Creed redefined adventure, experience the franchises' trademark parkour and stealth like never before - in Assasin’s Creed Mirage. In this smaller scale, back to basics Assassin’s caper, you play Basim, a young street thief seeking answers. Roam the richly-detailed, reactive and vibrant streets of 9th century Baghdad, uncovering the mysteries of the past as you fight to secure your future. Stalk the shadows. Become the ultimate assassin.
