Assassin's Creed: Shadows - Historical Figures Who Could Appear

With the announcement of Assassin's Creed: Shadows, Ubisoft has finally unveiled a game set in feudal Japan, an era many fans have considered ideal for the franchise. Since the game will center around a real historical figure, Yasuke, it gives us a definitive period in which the game is to take place.

Given that Yasuke was only in Japan for around a year, we can guess at some of the important and influential figures who may appear in the game alongside him. It is already known that Yasuke was a servant to Oda Nobunaga, but perhaps less known is the fact that the game's other protagonist, Naoe, is the daughter of Fujibayashi Nagato, a famous and very well-connected jōnin (elite ninja). This could also introduce a range of other historical figures from different backgrounds into the story. Japan in the late 16th century was undergoing a range of social transformations from the arrival of Christian missionaries from Portugal to the infamous Honnō-ji incident. As a result, it seems inevitable that several key figures will make an appearance, as seen previously with Leonardo Da Vinci in Assassin's Creed 2, the pirate Blackbeard in Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, and even Queen Victoria in Assassin's Creed: Syndicate, among others. However, Ubisoft has increasingly departed from the historical authenticity of earlier games in recent entries, so it remains to be seen exactly who might be involved in the story of Assassin's Creed: Shadows until further information is released.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Japan's First Shogun Was a Close Ally to Oda Nobunaga

The Tokugawa clan is among the most famous and highly regarded in all of Japanese history. Ieyasu, who would later become Japan's first shogun, was one of Oda Nobunaga's closest allies during the campaigns of 1570-82 against the Takeda clan. While Tokugawa would likely play more of a peripheral figure in the story of Assassin's Creed: Shadows, his inclusion would represent a great deal for many fans of Japanese history due to the great reputation of his clan. Like many figures of the time, many historical records indicate that he was as involved in espionage and subterfuge as any one of his other contemporaries.

Hattori Hanzō

This Legendary Samurai Continues to Live On in Pop Culture Today

Arguably the most famous samurai of the Sengoku period was Hattori Hanzō. As one of the Tokugawa clan's top generals, he played an instrumental role in the rise of the Tokugawa clan, as well as the military campaigns that followed the death of Oda Nobunaga. Legends surrounding Hanzō suggest he even commanded supernatural abilities, so it seems more than plausible that Ubisoft could use him as a way to weave in some of the more mystical elements that have been present in recent titles such as Assassin's Creed: Origins and Assassin's Creed: Odyssey.

Ishikawa Goemon

The 'Japanese Robin Hood' Inscribed Himself As a Folk Legend For His Many Daring Exploits

Ishikawa Goemon was a legendary ninja of the Sengoku period and a Robin Hood-type figure in Japanese folklore. Having attempted to assassinate Oda Nobunaga and his successor using poison, Goemon was among the leading figures in the resistance of the Iga ninjas. Though Goemon ultimately suffered an unspeakably torturous end which perhaps elevated him to mythical status, he was most certainly considered a very skillful outlaw and would fit into the narrative of Assassin's Creed: Shadows perfectly as an enemy to the Oda clan.

Alessandro Valignano

The Renowned Christian Missionary Originally Brought Yasuke to Japan

The very few references to Yasuke in the writings of Jesuit scribe Luis Frois mention that he first arrived in Japan in the company of Alessandro Valignano, one of the most influential Christian missionaries in the history of Asia. Valignano sold Yasuke to Oda Nobunaga and, interestingly enough, it was Frois who helped Yasuke depart Japan safely after the death of Nobunaga the following year. While there are many ways in which the Christian missionaries of Europe could find their way into the story of Assassin's Creed: Shadows, it seems unlikely that the entirety of this story will be covered in the game. However, the connection to Valignano and Frois could be a fantastic way to link the title to previous entries in the series and the "outside world." Alessandro Valignano was included in Assassin's Creed: Memories.

Takeda Katsuyori

The Successor to One of Japan's Strongest Clans Was a Rival to Oda Nobunaga

Son of the legendary samurai Takeda Shingen, Katsuyori was the last leader of the great Takeda clan until it was destroyed by Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Tenmokuzan. As a result, he represents the arch-nemesis of Nobunaga during the exact period the game is expected to be set. While the historical record indicates that Katsuyori and his wife both committed ritual suicide after their sons were killed in the battle, it does leave an opportunity for players to become involved in a feud that cost the lives of many prominent figures.

Akechi Mitsuhide

The "Nine-Day Shogun" Was Responsible for Killing Oda Nobunaga

Perhaps best known as the man who organized the assassination of Oda Nobunaga, Akechi Mitsuhide played a central role during the Honnō-ji incident and the subsequent Battle of Yamazaki in which he was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. As a former servant to Nobunaga himself, there seems to be fertile ground for Ubisoft to weave a very interesting and polarizing character in Mitsuhide. It remains uncertain what role Mitsuhide may play in the overall story, where he may be an enemy or an ally, but it seems more than likely that he will play a central role in the game's story, and could even bridge the gap between the samurai culture of 16th century Japan with the existing lore of the 'Hidden Ones'.