The Japanese media Sankei Shimbun recently interviewed Yuichi Goza, a researcher at the Center for International Studies in Japan and a well-known historian, about the issue of Misuke caused by "Assassin's Creed: Shadow".
"There are very few historical records of Yasuke, so it's hard to say. The history of Yasuke has not been studied much, in part because the history of people is not the mainstream of historiography," said Kureza, "It is true that the Yasuke sword and house were given in the 15 volumes of the Nobunaga Kunishi included in the Kokeikaku Bunkoku, but in this manuscript of more than a dozen volumes, only the Nobunaga Biography has such a description, so it cannot be ruled out that it was added temporarily when it was written by later generations." ”
"And, even if Yasuke is a samurai, it's most likely just a 'formality'. For example, in the Edo period, feudal lords who loved sumo wrestling had their own private sumo wrestlers. Formally, they would be considered retainers or samurai, and would be allowed to wear swords. But when war came, these so-called 'retainers' and 'samurai' were not qualified to go to war. (The head of the house will not allow it)"
As for Oda Nobunaga and Yasuke, Kure said: "The Japan around Oda Nobunaga were very surprised by Yasuke's dark skin and seemed to be very interested in it. In a sense, it's a show...... In a sense, Oda Nobunaga can show off his 'power'. Therefore, I think the most important purpose is to show off to everyone...... According to the Jesuit historical record, Yasuke was very good at playing tricks. I think he was actually Oda Nobunaga's bodyguard and entertainer. ”
For Assassin's Creed: Shadows, Wu said that if the samurai culture is to be respected, the protagonist should be a Japan samurai, especially since he prides himself on being based on a true historical story: "So it would be more natural to have a famous swordsman/samurai like Miyamoto Musashi as the protagonist, rather than Yasuke, a real unidentified black man." ”
And in the so-called "other perspectives" of history, Wu Zuo cites the story of Gen Yoshijing as an example: "There was once a rare theory that Gen Yoshitsune did not die in Pingquan, but went to the mainland and became Genghis Khan. This was widely circulated before World War II, but was refuted by historians at the time as 'impossible'. ”
"And if the work of 'Genyoshi Khan becoming Genghis Khan' and fighting in the game spreads around the world, I think even if it is labeled as a 'fiction', there will still be problems - the Mongolians will be angry, because Genghis Khan is the greatest hero of Mongolia after all."
"Of course, I don't think all works based on history can be based on historical facts. But when they are introduced to the world, I think (the development team) should take into account that if the game is launched in a way that hurts the self-esteem of people in other countries, this could evolve into a diplomatic issue", he asserted.
Another example that has been praised by Kure himself is the American drama "Shogun," which was widely acclaimed in Europe and the United States earlier this year. This remastered TV series work starring well-known actor Hiroyuki Sanada, "Although the name of the protagonist has been changed (the character is based on Tokugawa Ieyasu), the events related to the Sekigahara Battle have been changed, and even the historical background including the buildings is questionable, I still felt the main creative team's respect and understanding of Japan culture." ”
He continued, "The United Kingdom, based on William · Adams (i.e., Miura Press), drifted to Japan and taught the protagonist how to sail a boat, use a cannon, etc. This alone makes it seem like a white man with an advanced civilization is teaching a stupid person of color, but that's not the case. The United Kingdom was confused and disgusted at first, but gradually became moved by the proud lifestyle of the Japanese samurai and depicted the process of understanding and respecting them. This is not a one-way relationship, but a story of mutual understanding. Fundamentally, it's about respecting and blending cultures. I think that's an important aspect of writing a historical-based novel. If you depict the history and culture of a foreign country, I think that if you understand these basic aspects correctly and respect them, such a problem will not occur. ”
And it's clear that Kure doesn't think Ubisoft and their game, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, respect Japan's history and culture.