Assassin's Creed Shadows is under fire for featuring a Black samurai protagonist, but let's not pretend we suddenly care deeply about Asian representation.
Subtitled Shadows, it follows dual protagonists – a ninja named Naoe and a samurai based on the historical Black samurai Yasuke.
Oh that’s cool. I don’t think I’ve seen much media focus on this figure.
The main grievance I have as an Asian American in games in regards to representation isn’t the lack of it — as evidenced by the Wikipedia page full of Asian fighters and ninjas and samurais — but rather is the lack of diversity therein.
Yeah, that makes sense. Type-casting, essentially. It’s not really representation if it’s so pigeon-holed.
Irish pirate turned samurai as the main character.
I wonder if that’s based on the real life William Adams (John Blackthorn from Shogun) or based on another real-world figure or just made up.
Let’s not pretend historical accuracy or Asian representation is the problem
Yeah, I’m expecting a much different issue as you noted. But the article takes a different angle and is defending the choice and saying that it’s not an issue not to have an asian samurai as the main character. And that asian people need more diverse representation. I assume because the writer didn’t want to address the more obvious expected outcry or felt knowledgeable enough.
You are correct, the protagonist of Nioh is based on William Adams.
Basically have eliminated every argument against the use of Yasuke in historical fiction so the only option left is that the vitriol directed at him is racially motivated.
I swear if the protagonist is Tom Cruise…
Oh that’s cool. I don’t think I’ve seen much media focus on this figure.
Yeah, that makes sense. Type-casting, essentially. It’s not really representation if it’s so pigeon-holed.
He isn’t the focus but he is a boss in Team Ninja’s Nioh, a game that features an Irish pirate turned samurai as the main character.
Let’s not pretend historical accuracy or Asian representation is the problem, just the same problem Bayek another AC protagonist had to face.
I wonder if that’s based on the real life William Adams (John Blackthorn from Shogun) or based on another real-world figure or just made up.
Yeah, I’m expecting a much different issue as you noted. But the article takes a different angle and is defending the choice and saying that it’s not an issue not to have an asian samurai as the main character. And that asian people need more diverse representation. I assume because the writer didn’t want to address the more obvious expected outcry or felt knowledgeable enough.
You are correct, the protagonist of Nioh is based on William Adams.
Basically have eliminated every argument against the use of Yasuke in historical fiction so the only option left is that the vitriol directed at him is racially motivated.