- 14 Mar 2002
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Social media are boiling over the case of Thomas Lockley, an associate professor at Nihon University and co-author of "Yasuke: The Black Samurai ". Detractors claim that the story of Yasuke, sometimes referred to as the "first black samurai" or a "retainer" or "sword bearer" of Oda Nobunaga , was primarily made up by Lockley himself and not based on historical facts.
The book is available on Amazon, with an average rating of four stars, though most Japanese reviews are annihilating. I contemplated acquiring it a few years ago, but it appeared historically dodgy.
Last Thursday, Variety magazine revealed that choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter has been hired to direct the upcoming musical "Yasuke: The Black Samurai," which is (was?) expected to open in 2026.
Following this announcement, Mr Lockley faced mounting criticism and reportedly deleted his Facebook page on Friday.
The most significant backlash on social media has been against his claim that several feudal lords in Japan were happy to make use of enslaved Black people. There have been close to 200,000 posts on the subject. "The rumour that black slaves were popular among Japanese daimyo needs to be properly refuted and stamped out. Otherwise, it could cause big problems later," tweeted one user. There have also been allegations that Lockley edited Yasuke's (and his own) Wikipedia page under the handle Tottoritom as early as 2015.
Source: Anger Over Professor's Claim of 'Black Slaves' in Japan
Meanwhile, Mr Lockley's resume has been removed from the Nihon University staff list, and his NHK television program has also been delisted.
Yasuke had already been subject to controversy earlier this year when it was revealed that he would be a protagonist in Ubisoft's game "Assassin's Creed Shadows," a title to be released in November 2024 that received flak for its portrayal of feudal Japan and the historical figure of Yasuke. Ubisoft has defended the game, but the controversies continue. Recently, an alleged group of Japanese gamers petitioned to cancel the title, deeming it offensive. Conservative politicians echoed the complaints and expressed concern about how the game represents the culture and history of Japan.
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So, is this just a storm in an academic teacup, cultural appropriation, or a scandal of political proportions? Who knows? I am glad I didn't buy the book and wonder what will happen to Mr Lockley.
The book is available on Amazon, with an average rating of four stars, though most Japanese reviews are annihilating. I contemplated acquiring it a few years ago, but it appeared historically dodgy.
Last Thursday, Variety magazine revealed that choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter has been hired to direct the upcoming musical "Yasuke: The Black Samurai," which is (was?) expected to open in 2026.
Following this announcement, Mr Lockley faced mounting criticism and reportedly deleted his Facebook page on Friday.
The most significant backlash on social media has been against his claim that several feudal lords in Japan were happy to make use of enslaved Black people. There have been close to 200,000 posts on the subject. "The rumour that black slaves were popular among Japanese daimyo needs to be properly refuted and stamped out. Otherwise, it could cause big problems later," tweeted one user. There have also been allegations that Lockley edited Yasuke's (and his own) Wikipedia page under the handle Tottoritom as early as 2015.
Source: Anger Over Professor's Claim of 'Black Slaves' in Japan
Meanwhile, Mr Lockley's resume has been removed from the Nihon University staff list, and his NHK television program has also been delisted.
Yasuke had already been subject to controversy earlier this year when it was revealed that he would be a protagonist in Ubisoft's game "Assassin's Creed Shadows," a title to be released in November 2024 that received flak for its portrayal of feudal Japan and the historical figure of Yasuke. Ubisoft has defended the game, but the controversies continue. Recently, an alleged group of Japanese gamers petitioned to cancel the title, deeming it offensive. Conservative politicians echoed the complaints and expressed concern about how the game represents the culture and history of Japan.
'Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Called ‘Woke’ For Black Protagonist In Feudal Japan
One of the two protagonists of the upcoming game “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” is based on Yasuke, who some historians have called the “first Black samurai.”
www.forbes.com
"It’s cultural appropriation”: complaints about Assassin’s Creed Shadows reach the Japanese government | LEVEL UP
Politicians are concerned about the way their history and culture are represented
So, is this just a storm in an academic teacup, cultural appropriation, or a scandal of political proportions? Who knows? I am glad I didn't buy the book and wonder what will happen to Mr Lockley.
