Looks really cool- I'll be checking it out. Based on a real historical figure, Yasuke, an African in Japan during the Nobunuga period YASUKE - New Anime Series From Netflix - Gets Its First Full Trailer & New Artwork! Netflix has released the first full trailer and new key art for Yasuke, the new anime based on the black Samurai, ahead of its launch later this week! Netflix has released new key art and the first full trailer for Yasuke, their upcoming anime series based upon the "Black Samurai." The trailer is sure to excite anime fans, especially those fond of decapitations... I've included both below for your viewing pleasure! Netflix also confirmed additional talent that are joining LaKeith Stanfield - Takehiro Hira, Maya Tanida, Ming-Na Wen, Paul Nakauchi, Darren Criss, Julie Marcus, William Christopher Stephens, Dia Frampton, Don Donahue, Amy Hill and Noshi Dalal. Yasuke is set in a wor-torn feudal Japan that is filled with mechs and magic. The greatest Ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. When a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword once again and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords. Yasuke is created by LeSean Thomas (Cannon Busters), who also serves as the executive producer and director, Japanese animation studio MAPPA (Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Jujutsu Kaisen), with director and animator Takeshi Koike (Lupin the Thrid: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine) being responsible for character design. Music is by none other than Grammy Award-nominated artist Flying Lotus and award-winning actor LaKeith Stanfield serving as both executive producer and the voice of Yasuke. In a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords.
Documented life in Japan[edit] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuke Oda Nobunaga Yasuke arrived in Japan in 1579 in service of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano, who had been appointed the Visitor (inspector) of the Jesuit missions in the Indies (which at that time meant East Africa, South, Southeast, and East Asia). He accompanied Valignano when the latter came to the capital area in March 1581 and his appearance caused a lot of interest with the local people.[20] When Yasuke was presented to Oda Nobunaga, the Japanese Daimyō thought that his skin must have been coloured with black ink. Nobunaga had him strip from the waist up and made him scrub his skin.[21] These events are recorded in a 1581 letter of the Jesuit Luís Fróis to Lourenço Mexia, and in the 1582 Annual Report of the Jesuit Mission in Japan, also by Fróis. These were published in Cartas que os padres e irmãos da Companhia de Jesus escreverão dos reynos de Japão e China II (1598), normally known simply as Cartas.[22] When Nobunaga realized that the African's skin was indeed black, he took an interest in him. The Lord Nobunaga Chronicle (信長公記 Shinchō Kōki) corroborates Fróis's account. It describes the meeting thus: "On the 23rd of the 2nd month [23 March 1581], a black page (黒坊主 kuro-bōzu) came from the Christian countries. The man was healthy with a good demeanour and Nobunaga praised Yasuke's strength. Nobunaga's nephew gave him a sum of money at this first meeting."[23] On 14 May, Yasuke departed for Echizen Province with Fróis and the other Christians. During this trip, they met local warlords such as Shibata Katsutoyo, Hashiba Hidekatsu, and Shibata Katsuie.[24] They returned to Kyoto on 30 May.[25] At some point, although when is not clear, Yasuke entered Nobunaga's service. It is likely that Yasuke could speak or was taught Japanese, perhaps due to Valignano's efforts to ensure his missionaries adapted well to the local culture.[26] Nobunaga enjoyed talking with him (there is no indication that Nobunaga spoke Portuguese, and it is unlikely that Yasuke would have been able to communicate in classical Chinese, the Asian lingua franca of the time). He was perhaps the only non-Japanese retainer that Nobunaga had in his service, which could explain Nobunaga's interest in him.[26] Yasuke was mentioned in the prototype of Shinchō ki owned by Sonkeikaku Bunko (尊経閣文庫), the archives of the Maeda clan. According to this, the black man named Yasuke (弥助) was given his own residence and a short, ceremonial katana by Nobunaga. Nobunaga also assigned him the duty of weapon bearer.[27] After the Battle of Tenmokuzan, Nobunaga led his force, including Yasuke, and inspected the former territory of the Takeda clan. On his way back, he met Tokugawa Ieyasu. Matsudaira Ietada, the retainer of Ieyasu described Yasuke as "6 shaku 2 sun (6 ft. 2 in., or 188 cm.). He was black, and his skin was like charcoal." Matsudaira stated that he was named Yasuke (弥介).[28] In June 1582, Nobunaga was attacked and forced to commit seppuku in Honnō-ji in Kyoto by the army of Akechi Mitsuhide. Yasuke was there at the time and helped fight the Akechi forces. Immediately after Nobunaga's death, Yasuke went to join Nobunaga's heir Oda Nobutada who was trying to rally the Oda forces at Nijō Castle. Yasuke fought alongside the Nobutada forces but was eventually captured. When Yasuke was presented to Akechi, the warlord allegedly said that the black man was an animal as well as not Japanese and should thus not be killed, but taken to the Christian church in Kyoto, the Nanbanji (南蛮寺).[21][4] However, there is some doubt regarding the credibility of this fate.[29] There is no further written information about him after this.
The interesting thing to me was when I went to a museum in Japan, information on Yasuke was a part of the normal tour. I had always thought he was just someone black kids into anime talked about.
Hollywood was really about to give every historical black role to Chadwick and call it a day. I wonder what they will do now.
There's a book called Yasuke: The True Story of the Legendary African Samurai I read a couple of years ago. It's a mixture of factual information, and a fictional narrative (as there isn't a lot of evidence left of his existence). Definitely recommend it.
Anthony mackie is not a good actor, a terrible talk show interview, seems conceited af and has a very punchable face.