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Historic fantasy 'Assassin's Creed' sparks bitter debate over black samurai

86 Comments
By Kilian FICHOU and Caroline GARDIN

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86 Comments

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Just wait until those small-minded racists watch the movie "Ghost Dog"!

0 ( +13 / -13 )

The outfit blamed most of the uproar on "an American conservative moral crusade" waged by a hard core of "at least 728 interconnected accounts".

Ubisoft really thought they could shoehorn a "black samurai" into feudal Japan, and then try and shift the blame to people who object on "American conservatives"? NEWS FLASH: it was largely JAPANESE themselves who were the most annoyed, because why wouldn't they care about historical accuracy in depictions of their own culture? A petition with over 100,000 signatures from actual Japanese people wasn't enough for Ubisoft to reconsider, but some report claiming that 728 Twitter accounts from the U.S. were behind all the outrage? Now that's serious!

The best part is the historians themselves admit Yasuke wasn't even a real samurai. But since when did FACTS matter when there are culture war points to score?! And how's the hilarious contradiction from Ubisoft: "historical accuracy doesn’t matter" while somehow also claiming "this is a powerful moment of representation!"

Someone needs to send these clowns the memo: virtue signaling is so 2024. Back to the drawing board!

0 ( +21 / -21 )

Just wait until those small-minded racists watch the movie "Ghost Dog"!

Ah yes, how good - screech "RACISM" the moment anyone questions blatant historical revisionism and forcing modern identity politics into places where they don't belong.

Why do you do that?

6 ( +25 / -19 )

Losers upset about a video game. The Assassins Creed series is more Science Fiction than anything else. If you want historical accuracy read a book.

6 ( +21 / -15 )

Losers upset about a video game.

Super cool analysis Bobb. By that logic, why bother with any historical setting at all? Just throw aliens into Ancient Rome and call it a day. If the best defense of this virtue-signaling nonsense is dismissing criticism of if as "losers being mad," then maybe your argument was lost before it even started.

-4 ( +15 / -19 )

Just throw aliens into Ancient Rome and call it a day

You are upset about something you don’t understand. The Assassins Creed series is SF not history. The protagonist is inside the animus, a modern day virtual reality chamber. There are aliens in it.

5 ( +14 / -9 )

I think there are not many black samurai in Japan back in that time. So this is not right. But it's ok this is only video game.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

Bear in mind these are the same people who were angry Amazon filmed hobbits the wrong color. Seriously, get a life.

-2 ( +11 / -13 )

Ubisoft makes awful cookie-cutter games anyway. I don't understand the appeal of their games. Why buy this when you can play Sekiro or Ghost of Tsushima?

3 ( +10 / -7 )

The outfit blamed most of the uproar on "an American conservative moral crusade" waged by a hard core of "at least 728 interconnected accounts".

That group made up "only 0.8 percent of speakers on the topic of 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' in the US (but) account for 22.1 percent of all related coverage", the Observatory added.

This is the only significant information in this article. Just MAGA being MAGA. Getting loud and angry over a video game. (A very bland and formulaic video game series that has been going on for far too long, I might add.) In real life, few people really care about Assassin's Creed, and even less care about its hero.

 A petition with over 100,000 signatures from actual Japanese people

It's obvious that the vast majority of those signatures aren't from "actual Japanese people" at all. Rather from 4channers and other alt-right doofuses. Shadows is currently ranked as the third best-selling game on Amazon Japan and is also among the top-selling games on Rakuten, so japanese gamers don't seem really that angry with it. Unless they're hate-preordering.

0 ( +10 / -10 )

It's just a game. Although I would argue that if Ubisoft really wanted to try and insert race, then how about a black assassin in the Civil War? Then we can grab some popcorn and watch the spectacle unfold! Now that's entertainment!

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

guess what? I don't care.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Early reviews are that it is actually quite a good game to play. Its a real shame they decided to alienate a lot of potential players by using non-Japanese characters. This is nothing to do with the characters being black it is to do with it being ridiculous. There's grounded fantasy and then there's silly fantasy.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

Jay

Today 07:28 am JST

The outfit blamed most of the uproar on "an American conservative moral crusade" waged by a hard core of "at least 728 interconnected accounts".

> Ubisoft really thought they could shoehorn a "black samurai" into feudal Japan, and then try and shift the blame to people who object on "American conservatives"?

Was the outfit referred above Ubisoft?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Irritation that an African character was depicted with the rank of samurai prompted a Japanese petition against the move, receiving more than 100,000 signatures.

And if you look at those signatures you can see how little this is representative of the Japanese gaming community, and how close it is to the american conservative moral crusade already identified.

Ubisoft really thought they could shoehorn a "black samurai" into feudal Japan, and then try and shift the blame to people who object on "American conservatives"? 

Ubisoft as every other gaming company can do whatever they want with their games, that is their right and this is not even an outlier. Also, ubisoft is not the one that identified the campaign of american conservatives, your claim is false.

Super cool analysis Bobb. By that logic, why bother with any historical setting at all? 

Because players find that amusing and interesting, Ghost of Tsujima took a huge lot of liberties as well and impossible things happened all the time, yet players were very happy with it.

Wokeism has landed Japan

What part of diversity, equity or inclusion you find negative?

Simply incredible mental gymnastics to ignore the actual cultural criticism from the country in question

Not from the country in question.

Its a real shame they decided to alienate a lot of potential players by using non-Japanese characters.

It appears the vocal minority are not really a target worth trying to keep happy, the argument that the decision could have inspired more people to play the game even without special interest to the period than those that decided to boycott the game.

There's grounded fantasy and then there's silly fantasy.

Have you playet the other Assassin's Creed games? none can be said to be accurate and they take a lot of liberties with historical events.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

Explain the already solid sale figures then.

Probably the same people who think watching anime makes them samurai and call themselves "Ronin" on Reddit... and/or history-averse, white-guilt-stricken Uber "Progressives" desperately trying to rewrite the past so they can feel better about themselves.

-8 ( +10 / -18 )

a blacklist

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Probably the same people who think watching anime makes them samurai and call themselves "Ronin" on Reddit... and/or history-averse

So your explanation is a list of prejudices and misrepresentations about the people that like the games, yet you also want people to believe you understand exactly how these people feel about the game and why they are rejecting it by buying it in masse? None of this makes any sense.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

The previous Viking themed installment in the series has generated over a billion dollars in revenue. The video game industry makes more money than music, film and tv combined.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Jay

Today 08:36 am JST

Explain the already solid sale figures then.

> Probably the same people who think watching anime makes them samurai and call themselves "Ronin" on Reddit... and/or history-averse, white-guilt-stricken Uber "Progressives" desperately trying to rewrite the past so they can feel better about themselves.

Mental gymnastics should really be an Olympic event. Would be really good for you lol

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

The game is a work of fiction and not fact,so….

7 ( +11 / -4 )

What part of diversity, equity or inclusion you find negative?

Not sure if serious. But here you go - the part where it prioritizes superficial identity markers over merit, competence, and ACTUAL equality. The part where it lowers standards to meet quotas instead of raising people up. The part where it creates division by forcing everything through the lens of race, gender, and grievance instead of treating people as individuals.

You asked - there's your answer, champ.

-11 ( +6 / -17 )

Yasuke arrived in Japan, as a slave well into his mid twenties; a bit old to learn the Bokken properly.

He remained in Japan for 2 years only.

Far too short a time for him to master the Katana, Naginata, the Yumi, Kenjutsu and then proceed to fight and defeat REAL Samurai who usually started training aged 3!

To regard Yasuke as a Samurai is a travesty.

The Japanese have all the reason to be pissed off.

Simples.

-3 ( +11 / -14 )

You are upset about something you don’t understand. The Assassins Creed series is SF not history. The protagonist is inside the animus, a modern day virtual reality chamber. There are aliens in it.

Exactly, never seen a pope waltzing around with magic powers and spells, as video games are supposed to be fantasy. People literally went out of their way to express their racism but they don't say anything about a white ronin in a movie that takes place in the same era or if they made up some story about a founding father instead of Yasuke all the loudest people would be silent and have zero cares to give

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Probably the same people who think watching anime makes them samurai and call themselves "Ronin" on Reddit... and/or history-averse, white-guilt-stricken Uber "Progressives" desperately trying to rewrite the past so they can feel better about themselves.

I seriously doubt the pretty good sales figures in Japan are due to... foreign anime otakus. Try again.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

A petition with over 100,000 signatures from actual Japanese people

It's obvious that the vast majority of those signatures aren't from "actual Japanese people" at all.

What does it mean these are not actual Japanese people? Many Japanese people don't agree with idea of black samurai. Why are they not actual?

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Not sure if serious. But here you go - the part where it prioritizes superficial identity markers over meritcompetence, and ACTUAL equality

So you find negative the misrepresentations done by conservative propaganda groups that do NOT apply to actual efforts to promote diversity equity and inclusion?

The solution for that would be for you to stop getting your information from those biases sources and switch to much more trust worthy ones.

When your answer is just a repetition of debunked claims that does not make the answer more valid, it just explains why you choose to use that invalid answer.

To regard Yasuke as a Samurai is a travesty.

It seems the concept of videogames is new for you, all of them have "travesties" all over the place, it is made for fun.

The Japanese have all the reason to be pissed off.

The Japanese are not pissed off, a group of conservative intransigent extremist outside the country are.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Tried it, yeah seems theres

Yeah because the racists who don't understand what the word means are the same people trying to use it as a slur

0 ( +6 / -6 )

But here you go - the part where it prioritizes superficial identity markers over meritcompetence, and ACTUAL equality

Define equality because a whole bunch of people like Twitter users for example don't know what it means

3 ( +8 / -5 )

What does it mean these are not actual Japanese people? Many Japanese people don't agree with idea of black samurai. Why are they not actual

How many? based on what? sales? because that would say the opposite. And this is from a market that is not really that strong for Ubisoft games. That the petition is not being signed by Japanese has been long reported, with most comments written in English or unnatural Japanese.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

While some people are upset about this they are likely in a minority. Most likely don't care too much or accept that this a fantasy game.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

"It seems the concept of videogames is new for you, all of them have "travesties" all over the place, it is made for fun."

And it seems to me that the power of fantasy and how the imaginary shapes many people's perception of reality escapes you.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

And it seems to me that the power of fantasy and how the imaginary shapes many people's perception of reality escapes you.

You are the one saying that the "power of fantasy" is nothing and people should not enjoy something just because it is not fully, absolutely, 100% based on historical facts. That was you.

For most people this is perfectly inside of what is enjoyable as a fantasy.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Conservatives: A VR-based sci-fi game where you travel in time and fist-fight the Pope, and can survive 200ft falls because there is some straw in a cart? Yes, this checks out, fine, very history. I especially liked in the one set in 19th Century London where Karl Marx was an ardent capitalist.

Also conservatives: A black person in a videogame? muh realism!!!!!

2 ( +8 / -6 )

So you find negative the misrepresentations done by conservative propaganda groups that do NOT apply to actual efforts to promote diversity equity and inclusion?

All you have done there is prove you can't refute a single point.

What you're doing is desperately trying to justify the elimination of MERITOCRACY, while trying to shift the blame to something that doesn't exist, attempting to gaslight anyone who calls it out.

If DEI were truly about fairness, you wouldn't need to twist yourself into knots to defend it. But the reality is, again, it simply replaces merit-based systems with ideological quotas and preferential treatment. The very antithesis of fairness.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

Had the lead character been an English samurai the world have been an equal amount of upset from the Japanese, although the American conservatives world probably have kept quiet. Others might have commented on the "white saviour" issue.

I feel that it is a Japanese story set in Japan loosely based on Japanese history - why not keep all of the characters Japanese? I suspect Unisoft feel that having a non-Japanese character would be more appealing to the wider gaming community.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

From the internet:

Fiction, in its simplest form, refers to imaginary or invented stories, characters, or events, as opposed to factual or real-world accounts. It's a creative and imaginative form of storytelling, often used for entertainment or to explore different perspectives and ideas. 

The game is fiction, not a documentary, I do not know what all the fuss is about.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Define equality 

Well Kenneth, I'll tell you what it ISN'T - equity, which seeks equal outcomes, not equal opportunities. That means it's all about policies that artificially boost some groups while disadvantaging others, even if they worked harder or achieved more. Is that clear enough?

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

I have been a Shotokan practitioner from a very young age; never heard of any traditional black sensei in ancient Japan.

Recently, quite a few people I know have started lecturing me about black influence in Japanese traditional fighting arts, because of this "Samurai" called Yasuke!!!

Tell a lie a few times.....!

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

All you have done there is prove you can't refute a single point.

Not at all, it was very easy, all your points are propaganda from intolerant groups that like to misrepresent diversity, equity and diversity efforts and you made exactly zero arguments defending them, zero. Just repeat that they are correct because you said so, that is not an argument, is recognizing you have no arguments.

What you're doing is desperately trying to justify the elimination of MERITOCRACY

Not at all, because that is irrelevant. Of course when your first principle is that some groups of people are inherently inferior, so it is impossible for them to reach the same level as "superior" races and groups then it makes total sense, of course it is wrong and false, but this intolerant segregationist line of thought is unfortunately what makes people thing diversity equity and inclusion can only happen by giving the same chance to people with "lower" abilities.

If DEI were truly about fairness, you wouldn't need to twist yourself into knots to defend it

The one trying to twist and turn ideas to justify it are those that base their arguments in racism but want to pretend it is not. For the rest of the world this is simple and straight forward.

equity, which seeks equal outcomes, not equal opportunities.

That is yet another misrepresentation.

https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/resources/equity-vs-equality/

Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.

Recognizing inequalities that are unfair is not wrong. Just because you give a car to a blind person that does not make it "giving the same opportunities".

Tell a lie a few times.....!

For example that people should not enjoy anything if it is not absolutely and perfectly in line with historical facts. Or that you can use appeals to authority and hearsay from anonymous accounts as arguments. A kendo practitioner of 80 years that have never heard about black influence on Japanese martial arts said so.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

I like how any time the Japanese seem to say something the west and far left claim it isn't the Japanese but some fictional right wing conspiracy.

When the protest by 99% non Japanese Asian and white Americans at the Boston museum over White people putting on a kimono in an event sponsored by the Japanese government and kimono association, the western news and protesters claimed that all those supporting the event on social media were right wing Americans faking being Japanese, when in fact a group of Japanese artists of which my daughter was part of were blocked calling them " fake Japanese and white right Wing".

The same thing happened with ghost in the shell, again the Japanese had no problem and said so, but again we were told it was fake Japanese and actually "white right Wing" now the Japanese actually have a problem with something and again the west says they aren't actually Japanese but again white right Wing faking to be Japanese.

It is amazing how anytime the Japanese seem to speak up and not say what the western far left like, they are dismissed and their views are said to be those of "western right wing groups" despite evidence showing otherwise.

News flash, the Japanese actually do have opinions and despite rarely going public with those options, when they do it is because it is something they feel is important to say.

I have two adult mixed children, one is a big gamer and he is of the opinion that if they put that much effort to historical accuracy in the weapons the temples scenery etc... then they should do the same for the characters.

He isn't upset, he doesn't really care, he expects what he calls " western ignorance" but he does know others that are not happy about this.

-4 ( +9 / -13 )

If this would have happened in a MARVEL universe, for example, nobody would have bat an eye about it.

But in the no-so-popular AC Universe, everybody loses their minds.

Next I want to see a Black or an Asian Dracula game and/or movie!! Let's go!

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

I like how any time the Japanese seem to say something the west and far left claim it isn't the Japanese but some fictional right wing conspiracy.

Well, it makes sense when you see most of the comments on a petition just repeating the same points the conservative american groups use all the time, or bad japanese translations based on them.

Much more when you see sales do not in any way represent those comments and instead go quite well, after all a "conspiracy" to make thousands of comments for free anonymously is not really that much of a burden. A conspiracy to make a game sell very well in a country where the gamers are supposedly boycotting that game stretches much more the credibility.

In this case the Japanese people have apparently no trouble with the game, yet you choose to be on the side of the right wing americans faking being Japanese. The available evidence clearly support a lack of widespread rejection of the game, yet you choose to ignore this and believe one single source with very clear indication of foreign participation as representative of what the Japanese supposedly think.

Nobody says everybody is happy with the game, there are exactly zero games that do that, what the article and the evidence point out is that most gamers don't feel strongly against the character, and the vocal ones against it are a tiny minority that appear to be non-Japanese according to the evidence.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

Do they lose it if a female character beats up a man on a video game or in a film?

Yes. Luke Skywalker using the force to destroy a giant space station after about 30 minutes of training? Normal, realistic, cool. Rey defeating a badly injured man who was actively trying not to hurt her? DEI, terrible, the end of the west.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Because some Japanese people don't agree with black samurai idea doesn't mean they are racist. Just they don't agree because it is not historical correct.

It's a video game. Not an encyclopedia. I haven't seen any outrage or petitions against the historical innacuracies in Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin! or Ghost of Tsushima. Why?

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

It's just a fantasy video game.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Express sisterToday  09:10 am JST

Conservatives: A VR-based sci-fi game where you travel in time and fist-fight the Pope, and can survive 200ft falls because there is some straw in a cart? Yes, this checks out, fine, very history. I especially liked in the one set in 19th Century London where Karl Marx was an ardent capitalist.

Also conservatives: A black person in a videogame? muh realism!!!!!

Why time travel? Seems fun

Why 200ft jumps? entertaining

Fight against a Magic pope? again, entertaining

Lets stick in a different ethnicity - Now what would be the "reason" for this?.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Peeping_TomToday 08:44 am JST

Yasuke arrived in Japan, as a slave well into his mid twenties; a bit old to learn the Bokken properly.

Yasuke did NOT arrive in Japan "as a slave". He traveled from India to Japan in 1579 with Alessandro Valignano, an Italian Jesuit missionary essentially serving as Valignano’s bodyguard, employed as muscle because missionaries weren’t allowed to have weapons.

He remained in Japan for 2 years only.

Far too short a time for him to master the Katana, Naginata, the Yumi, Kenjutsu and then proceed to fight and defeat REAL Samurai who usually started training aged 3!

To regard Yasuke as a Samurai is a travesty.

In 16th-century Japan, the title of samurai spoke to rank and was loosely defined as a warrior in the service of a lord or another warrior. Nobunaga employed thousands of samurai—yet Yasuke was the first foreign-born warrior to enter their ranks. He belonged to a very small entourage around Nobunaga, which was probably around 30 to 50 warriors and was by Nobunaga's side when he performed seppuku on June 21, 1582.

The Japanese have all the reason to be pissed off.

and why would that be, that a warrior of African descent ascended to the title of Samurai?

It's always wise to research before sticking ones' foot in ones' mouth ;)

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Of course when your first principle is that some groups of people are inherently inferior, so it is impossible for them to reach the same level as "superior" races and groups then it makes total sense

Haha what?! That is exactly what it sounds like you're suggesting - that certain races are inherently inferior and need DEI as a crutch? That's pretty insulting. Imagine telling an entire group of people that they can't succeed without artificial handouts from "benevolent" elites. That's not progress - that's just a soft bigotry wrapped in self-righteousness.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

Lets stick in a different ethnicity - Now what would be the "reason" for this?.

We're talking about historical realism. If you're talking about things being fun and cool, I agree. And Yasuke's inclusion doesn't make things less fun or less cool. So who cares?

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Lets stick in a different ethnicity - Now what would be the "reason" for this?.

again, entertaining

Haha what?!

That is your argument, when all groups are equally capable of reaching the same point, but minorities don't that speaks of systematic inequalities causing this.

That is exactly what it sounds like you're suggesting - that certain races are inherently inferior and need DEI as a crutch?

The opposite, all "races" are equally capable of reaching the same points, but obviously this is not the case and should be corrected because it is not based on capacity. You on the other hand expect those groups to be inherently inferior, so any effort to correct the inequality can only be successful by elevating poeple out of their inferior position to the same level as those that you like to consider superior.

Without this prejudice it becomes obvious that efforts to correct inequalities in no way depend on unqualified or less capable people to do any job.

The efforts are not to make up a lack of capacity as you misrepresent, they are done to correct a situation where people are left with less chances to reach their potential because of invalid, unjustified bias.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

First world problems right here. Dont like it, dont play it. No need to cry, its just a game.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

It's just a game, so I'm also looking forward to the day when we get a Chinese / Japanese Black Panther and nobody will complain.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The opposite, all "races" are equally capable of reaching the same points, but obviously this is not the case and should be corrected because it is not based on capacity.

No, what you just said is that some races can't succeed on their own and need DEI to artificially boost them. That's a very twisted, racist view. Instead of admitting that different outcomes can come from individual effort, you assume certain groups are helpless without your intervention. That's not equality - that's just dressed-up condescension. Really disappointing stuff from you.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

How many "White ninja movies" we had to endure in the 1980s?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Who cares? Its a video game where even when you win, you are a loser.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

@dantekh

Next I want to see a Black or an Asian Dracula game and/or movie!! Let's go!

Then you should check out 'Blackula' and any other myriad of movies from the blackspoitation era of cinema. It's not a new concept.

As for assassin's creed, the game is a fantasy and although being set in a historical setting obviously makes a lot of changes so it is fun and a video game.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Jay

Today 11:37 am JST

No, what you just said is that some races can't succeed on their own and need DEI to artificially boost them

No it doesn't sound like what he said.

Are you going to say, that in medieval Japan a non Japanese could arrive here and be treated the same and even better than a commoner Japanese?

Let's be real here, even the "peasant" Japanese were basically bared from becoming samurai, it was like the knights in Europe, reserved for the upper class.

We are not talking about the 21st century!

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

How many "White ninja movies" we had to endure in the 1980s?

True, those were shockingly awful. Loved them,lol.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Lets stick in a different ethnicity - Now what would be the "reason" for this?.

again, entertaining

Lol sorry no - why would it be entertaining to play another race? One that conspicuously doesn't fit historically in the role ?

Ive never heard people complain about not being able to relate to characters in Sangokumuso/chinese history/Samurai games because of their ethnicity- so this sticks out like a sore thumb. If it was a white dude it would be equally silly. If it was a half asian mix of some sort, then maybe there is something believable there.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Well one thing is for sure. This game is getting a ton of free press, and gamers who love the game will still pick it up. I guess they could also add a microtransaction to download and play as another character. (if they wanted to)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Dave Fair

Today 10:07 am JST

Yasuke did NOT arrive in Japan "as a slave". He traveled from India to Japan in 1579 with Alessandro Valignano, an Italian Jesuit missionary essentially serving as Valignano’s bodyguard, employed as muscle because missionaries weren’t allowed to have weapons.

Nice try to rewrite history!

Nearly all Japanese historians are clear he was also slave and a gift to Nobunaga.

Plus we have this little tidbit

Lúcio de Sousa's research demonstrates that Jesuits were complicit in the Portuguese slave trade from Japan from the 1560s to 1598, with Jesuit priests supplying "ballots" for Portuguese slavers legitimating their purchases.

And you are trying to tell us he was free and worked (paid) as a bodyguard!?

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

travelbangaijin

Today 12:06 pm JST

How many "White ninja movies" we had to endure in the 1980s?

Yes and what is the reaction today about them?

They have been since condemned as cultural appropriation, many of the actors have apologized for their roles in that sad faze.

And you inadvertently made a good point!

Mistakes were made in the past, people have pointed them out, many have apologized and are ashamed of what they did or participated in.

So one would think with these inappropriate actions of the past, the present generation wouldn't repeat those mistakes.

Now had the game maker created a white samurai, then 99% of all those making up excuses to support the game maker, would be in outrage mode now.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

How many "White ninja movies" we had to endure in the 1980s?

and

Yes and what is the reaction today about them?

They have been since condemned as cultural appropriation, many of the actors have apologized for their roles in that sad faze.

I disagree. You wanna make a white man ninja movie? Or a game with a black samurai? Knock yourself out. But be prepared for poor sales and people hating on your project.

What were the white ninja movies anyway?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Weird move by Ubisoft but not that crazy, and weird they doubled down when their fans clearly showed a dislike to it. On the flip side it is just a game and if you dont like it dont buy it. The company will learn the lesson the hard way. Also everyone in these comments needs to touch grass.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

All the people here and online crying about this game with a actual black figure that may or may not have been a samurai, but was at the very least close to the shogun in reality.... but when there is a white samurai like "the shogun" they win awards and it's called a masterpiece.... and that is completely made up with no historical significance, which shows how hypocritical you racist losers are. I bet same people crying about a video game, has "The Shogun" saved as their favorites list on netflix.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

OK, I just spent way too long listening to my 2 adult children one intense gamer one in the tech side of things trying to explain everything being said here in Japan about this game.

The "Black" objection seems to be the game company trying to deflect a load of criticism by claiming it is all about the "Black samurai".

As far as I understand, the Japanese have multiple complaints about the game all based on cultural issues.

They are fine with Yasuke being part of the game because the creators claimed historical game/accuracy they take issue to several things about the character, he was a soldier but never a samurai first issue, then apparently in the game he becomes a Ninja with powers the second issue they have, the list of inaccuracies is far too long but for the game maker to try and claim it is a race issue and a right wing group faking the complaints is just them trying do deflect from a multitude of complaints by Japanese gamers including the game isn't technically very well done.

So before believing what AFP and the company are trying to push, go find some Japanese gamers and ask them what is being said online in Japan within the Japanese gaming community.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

...but when there is a white samurai like "the shogun" they win awards and it's called a masterpiece....

Oh! Totally forgot about that! Is it worth watching?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Yasuke was a real samurai. Chadwick Boseman was set to play Yasuke before his passing. I believe that project is still on a shelf somewhere. I think it's great to put Yasuke in the game. Nobunaga would be proud.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Nilkin Fannie

Today 01:22 pm JST

but when there is a white samurai like "the shogun" they win awards and it's called a masterpiece..

Ah can you tell use who this "white samurai" is?

Apparently you did watch the show or read the book.

He was never made a Samurai, not in the TV series not in the book nore was the historical figure the character is based on.

He was given a high class/position but he was never called Samurai.

The same with Yasuke in history, he was given a certain level in society but never Samurai.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

No, what you just said is that some races can't succeed on their own and need DEI to artificially boost them. 

Still wrong, I know because I already corrected you twise, some groups of people can't success because they are being held down unjustifiably. Yours is the argument that they deserve it because by default you consider them having less capacity, so it is natural they can't succeed, that is false.

Lol sorry no - why would it be entertaining to play another race? One that conspicuously doesn't fit historically in the role ?

Lack of imagination is a terribly bad argument. People can find very interesting playing the role of the outlier, precisely because it is not the same as the rest of the characters. They are treated differently, have extra difficulties, oppressed characters identify with them, etc. etc. etc. This can explain why the game is selling so well.

If it was a white dude it would be equally silly

So if, for example, a series had a main character being a white dude in the middle of political struggle with shoguns and samurais it would be an obvious failure, right? How about if it takes a lot of historical liberties and only barely represents actual events?

2 ( +8 / -6 )

idk why i can't reply to people. didn't watch the show, but he did in fact become a samurai based on wiki, the books, google and everythign else. unless everything else i see is wrong. im not watching either way, but I'm fairly sure he became a samurai. in fact a high-ranking one "hatamoto" this is just from several articles i've read throughout the year and everywhere i searched. so I guess those are all wrong?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Nilkin Fannie

Today 01:38 pm JST

idk why i can't reply to people. didn't watch the show, but he did in fact become a samurai based on wiki, the books, google and everythign else. unless everything else i see is wrong. im not watching either way, but I'm fairly sure he became a samurai. in fact a high-ranking one "hatamoto" this is just from several articles i've read throughout the year and everywhere i searched. so I guess those are all wrong

In 1605, Ieyasu further granted Adams the status of samurai and the name Miura Anjin. Ieyasu also appointed him as jikatatori hatamoto

Now Japanese historians are not in agreement on the level as to wether he has "Samurai" status, but he was a vassal in the court of the shōgun which lead some to say that means he was a samurai.

So if so then the TV series is correct.

Now what is 100% certain is Yasuke was never given any such status, he was made a soldier and given certain privileges but he was never given the level of recognition that Adams was.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

So before believing what AFP and the company are trying to push, go find some Japanese gamers and ask them what is being said online in Japan within the Japanese gaming community.

Again, the game is pre-selling pretty well in Japan, so most Japanese gamers provably don't care at all.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

funny how it's 100% certain yasuke wasn't. which isn't true. it's argued. but when it's the white man. it's sure proof he was. not gonna keep going back and forth with obvious racists. especially over a video game. also blackthorne isn't a real person and only based loosely on a real person. only issue you people crying have is it's a black character. if they had a white samurai in their in yasuke's place this convo wouldn't be taking place. argue with your mom.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

in fact. I don't hear any complaints about "Nioh" which is already a 'classic' game about a white samurai. loved with no complaints the main character is white. argue that.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I'veSeenFootage

Today 01:47 pm JST

Again, the game is pre-selling pretty well in Japan, so most Japanese gamers provably don't care at all.

Most of the sales were preorders.

I did notice the Amazon Japan seems to have disabled the review section on this game.

Other game show reviewscl and Stars but not this one, why no reviews or stars?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

1) Assasin Creed was never such a big franchise in Japan.

2) Most japanese people/gamers don't care about the Yasuke dude much, but it made a buzz since outside Japan was making a buzz.

3) Because of the above, many japanese gamers begun to see in detail this game, and begun to find several foults that go far beyond "just a glitch".

4) This tittle of Assasin Creed could have focuesed in stealth play but apparently it isn't. Japan has already have many games that compete in the same area such as Onimusha, Nioh and Tenchu, not to mentioned newer games liket Gohst of Tsushima (made by a foreign developer). So it was going to be compared and excrutinized no matter what.

as a side note: Last week when i mentioned this game with my co-workers I got smirks and a comments in the line of "that game is death on arrival", which I agree.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Yours is the argument that they deserve it because by default you consider them having less capacity, so it is natural they can't succeed, that is false.

Again, no, that's literally what you're arguing - that entire groups of people are helpless victims who need special treatment to function, while pretending it's everyone else who lacks faith in their abilities. What you're attempting to justify is condescending nonsense wrapped in self-righteous delusion.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Lack of imagination is a terribly bad argument. People can find very interesting playing the role of the outlier, precisely because it is not the same as the rest of the characters

Contradicting yourself. If like you say its terribly interesting, then the Shogun series should be no prob for you. (ignoring the obvious like, he wasnt a "samurai" etc, he is just the "main character").

I didnt like Shogun either. It wasn't too ridiculous though (a la Last Samurai which was very ridiculous), as the main protagonist was a foreigner who very unapologetically remained so till the end, which was kinda the point.

Commercial success? irrelevant. I don't believe we were discussing "failure" or successes based on popularity. Well I wasn't anyway. Im not going on a gish gallop.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Now.

Instead of reading all the very recent rewrites of history by western sources claiming Yasuke was a Samurai etc...

At least try reading the Japanese accounts which none not even Wiki say he was.

To be exact his time in service to Nobunaga was extremely short 15 months.

https://ja.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BC%A5%E5%8A%A9

Yes I know the western version is way more appealing but the reality is what it is.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

hey are treated differently, have extra difficulties, oppressed characters identify with them, etc. etc. etc. This can explain why the game is selling so well.

Lol this is the biggest nonsense I Have ever heard regarding gaming.

It is identity politics. Infamously not popular in the gaming community.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Ah yes the old " review bombing" trope

Unfortunately, online reviews and social media in general attracts the trash. Ridiculous, dishonest and hysterical people spamming the living daylights out of what could be useful information.

It is a problem.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

I did notice the Amazon Japan seems to have disabled the review section on this game.

It’s not released in Japan yet. You can’t leave a review on preorders.

Another conspiracy bubble burst.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I'm more pissed about Ubisoft's lack of creativity and long tedious gameplay.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Also, why is everyone complaining about historical accuracy? Let's also complain about how the protagonist can climb a 10 story building and jump safely into a pile of hay.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

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