Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. Welcome to the Netflix Arc. When it comes to streaming platforms Netflix was one of the first and since then has gone on to become one of the biggest platforms out there. Over the years they’ve been dipping their fingers into anime. Whether it’s buying the streaming and licensing rights of popular animes or making their own anime. Netflix has something for all anime fans and throughout the month of August we’re going to be looking at some of their original anime. Starting with one of their first ones, Yasuke. For those of you who slept through History class, Yasuke was an African slave who was brought to Japan in 1579. The Japanese were fascinated by him as this was supposedly the first time they had ever seen an African before and thought his skin was painted. Oda Nobunaga famously had him strip in front of everyone and wash his body to show that his skin was in fact not painted and was his true skin color. Nobunaga took a liking to Yasuke, going as far as making him a retainer and sword-bearer. He even fought in a few battles on Nobunaga’s behalf. His death is a mystery as there are no records of what happened to him after 1582. Some say he was executed by Akechi Mitsuhide, others say Akechi didn’t see him as a samurai and instead an animal, so he sent him back to the Christians in Kyoto. Another rumor suggest he joined an interesting league of assassins. While not much is known about Yasuke his life does shine a light on one of Japan’s most unique rulers, so why not give this character a unique anime reimagining his life in Japan with magic and advanced technology? Released in 2021, Yasuke was created by LeSean Thomas who worked on a number of TV shows such as Black Dynamite, The Legend of Korra, and The Boondocks. Together with MAPPA handling the production and Flying Lotus handling the music many people got excited for this series. It was even nominated for Best Main Title in the Tv show/ Limited Series Category at The 12th Hollywood Music in Media Awards and Outstanding Animated Series for the 53rd NAACP Image Awards. While it didn’t win any rewards the fact that this short and small series that was on a limited platform got this kind of recognition was huge and showed everyone that Netflix could create original anime for all to enjoy. Let’s get ready to meet the original black samurai, this is Yasuke. Also, we’re looking at the dub.
Opening and Ending Theme
The opening is “Black Gold” by Flying Lotus and Thundercat. Oh yeah, this opening is vibe. The beat great and Thundercat’s low voice is just perfect for the song. The whole song just feels like something nujabes would make for Samurai Champloo. It’s that good. Actually, this is a full circle moment for anyone who’s followed Flying Lotus. This guy grew up watching anime on Adult Swim. When he got older, he went on to make beats for them. Now, he’s making music for anime. He’s come a long way.
The ending “Between Memories” was also made by Flying Lotus. This is awesome. It sounds like a beat you would hear on Adult Swim as they get ready to show the next anime. The drums are easily the best part of this ending. Once again, you can tell Lotus understood the mood of the anime and was passionate about what he was doing. Here’s hoping we hear his work in other anime.
Episodes 1-6
Okay, so the anime starts us off in 1582 at Oda Nobunaga’s final battle. We see them take a few liberties with actual events such as mechs and magic users on the battlefield (honestly, it makes the battle more interesting. If they added lightsabers, this would be the greatest battle of all time). Nobunaga’s forces are being annihilated by the Dark Army led by the daimyo. The only ones left are Nobunaga himself and Yasuke voiced by LaKeith Lee Stanfield. Nobunaga knows the battle is lost and thus he commits seppuku and orders Yasuke to cut off his head. We fast forward 20 years later where Yasuke somehow escaped and now lives his life working as a boatsman to some local villagers (and surprisingly nobody has ratted out the only African man in Japan to the daimyo). We focus on one villager named Ichiro who has an ill sister named Saki with mystic powers. The two are taken care of by Ichika, a singer at the local inn who decides to take Saki to the doctor, but it’s a week’s journey on foot (ah~ feudal Japan, where everything is an inconvenient journey). Ichiro suggests they get Yasuke to take them as it’ll take a day by boat. Yasuke says no as the journey would take them into the warring states which are dangerous and tells them to visit the local doctor to treat Saki. We then go back in time to 1579 when Yasuke first met Nobunaga. Yasuke protected a kid from a samurai where Nobunaga was impressed with his skills and decided to buy him from his owner (we even get the scene where they try to wash his body. Scene here: https://youtu.be/Y3ybewt7y2c?si=nsnFoOrFVu7kXgcd). Returning to the present, Yasuke shows up at Ichika’s house and agrees to take her and Saki up the river. They leave at night to avoid patrols only to get stopped by four assassins who have come for Saki (quite the colorful and diverse group. A Japanese woman, an African shaman, a werebear Russian woman, and a self-aware robot). Yasuke does his best to fight them off himself but the numbers catch up to him (and he’s out of practice. Old age is a bitch). Ichika steps in to help where she gets blasted by a laser and Saki unleashes her powers blasting everyone away to end the episode (scene here: https://youtu.be/opsH6a0O5WE?si=GHvV33CPuIGvJUgN).
In episode 2 we see Yasuke regain consciousness and swim to the shore (damn, black man can swim). We then get another flashback where 2 years have gone by and Yasuke has been welcomed into Nobunaga’s most trusted circle and earned everyone’s respect. Except for Akechi who doesn’t like Yasuke (Yin-Yang: It’s because he’s black isn’t it? (Nitsuj): Actually, yes. He even admits it. (Yin-Yang): Fucking racist) and was intimidated by him because of his relationship with Nobunaga (reminds me of my internship). In the end, Akechi was never truly onboard with Nobunaga’s idea of a better Japan. We get another cool fight scene where we see Yasuke fight against samurais of the Iga clan who refused to accept Nobunaga’s new ways where he easily slaughters them himself. Returning to the present, we see the four assassins named Ishikawa (the Japanese woman), Achoja (the shaman), Nikita (the Russian werebear), and Haruto (the robot) are working for a priest named Abraham. He wants to capture Saki, bring her back to Europe, and use her powers to conquer the continent and take control of the Church (that’s quite the goal). Yasuke finds Saki but Ichika is nowhere to be found. They return to the village where Yasuke breaks the news to Saki that Ichika is dead and she runs away crying. Abraham and his assassins show up where they want Saki but Yasuke won’t tell them anything. This results in a fight where despite Yasuke’s best efforts he gets defeated and captured to end the episode.
Episode 3 sees Yasuke falsely accused of killing Saki and Ichika before he’s dragged away to be interrogated by Abraham and the assassins. While Abraham beats up Yasuke and reveals his mutant powers, Nikita and Haruto go to search for Saki. They do manage to find Saki but she escapes via fish carriage (oh I cannot imagine the smell). We do see her powers continue to grow and even remembers that she’s the one responsible for Ichika’s death (https://youtu.be/nDqcNwmky6E?si=0seylpe2XcIlSIRJ&t=4). Back with Yasuke, Achoja sees enough and stops the torture saying that he knows nothing (in his defense he really doesn’t). We get another flashback where we see Yasuke forced to kill his best friend Natsumaru. Next to Nobunaga she was the only one who showed him any amount of respect and kindness (and was even hinted to have romantic feelings for him). However, Yasuke discovered that she was a spy of the Iga clan and was forced to kill her in battle. Returning back to the present, Saki uses her powers to capture Nikita and Haruto to find Abraham and she uses her powers to fight him. For a short while, she has the upper hand, but Abraham soon gains the advantage and tries to kill her (as he becomes more grotesque). Yasuke is able to break his chains and uses them to snap Abraham’s neck but that’s not enough to stop him. However, a cross falling and impaling him in the chest is (the Lord truly does work in mysterious ways). With Abraham dead the other assassins take their leave and allow Yasuke and Saki to go (no point in killing someone if you’re getting paid).
Episode 4 starts with us seeing the daimyo (ah~, it’s hideous). She too is after Saki as it was prophesized that Saki would be the one to kill her and end her reign. Back in the village, Yasuke wakes up to the sight of Saki who wants to go see the doctor, Morisuke a man that Yasuke once knew. Much like Yasuke he served Nobunaga and had powers similar to Saki. Yasuke agrees to take Saki to the doctor, however, they’ll be traveling by land and through the woods to avoid the daimyo’s men. After a quick haircut (looking good my man), Yaskue and Saki leave the village where they walk for days. Eventually, they come to another village being held hostage by the daimyo’s men. Yasuke springs into action to save villagers and then fights against Kurosaka a captain of the daimyo. They have a good fight where Yasuke strikes her vitals but the daimyo’s magic allows her to survive (scene here: https://youtu.be/nDqcNwmky6E?si=0seylpe2XcIlSIRJ&t=4). Saki comes in to save Yasuke which forces Kurosaka to retreat. She would later be killed by the daimyo. Yasuke and Saki find Morisuke where we see he’s been secretly building in army to battle the daimyo. He welcomes Saki into their ranks and even invites Yasuke to join them but he says no. He tries to take his leave but it looks like the daimyo’s army won’t give him a choice in the matter.
Episode 5 begins with Morisuke and what little samurais he has preparing a battle plan. Most of the resistance is still students so they’re not prepared to fight (it’s a resistance in progress) and Yasuke gets forced to stick around and fight. The daimyo is led by the dark general who acts as a conduit for the daimyo trying to invade Saki’s mind. We find out that the daimyo wants to use Saki’s powers to live forever. Morisuke uses his powers to dive into the astral plane and help her fight off the daimyo, while Yasuke leads the troops into battle. He calls out the dark general for a one-on-one battle (we’ll settle this like in the old days) where we find out the dark general is none other than Akechi (you racist traitor). While Yasuke is the better fighter, Akechi’s dark powers give him the edge in their fight until Yasuke’s forces flank him and his troops. Back in the astral plane, Saki thanks to Morisuke’s guidance, gets out of her helpless kid Gohan phase and master’s her powers. She’s able to push the daimyo back and even removes the dark powers from Akechi’s body. She also calls in Achoja and the others for backup. Yasuke is able to defeat Akechi and everyone takes a sigh of relief believing they’ve won for now, but nope, the daimyo sends more troops. Ishikawa gets killed with an arrow to the dead, Haruto sacrifices himself to avenge her, and Nikita gets ripped in half by shamans (goddamn). Using a secret passage, Yasuke and Saki go to face the daimyo while everyone else stays behind to fight.
In the final episode, Yasuke and Saki fight their way past the daimyo’s army and reach her castle. She does brainwash Yasuke into seeing Nobunaga again and kill Saki, but he’s able to regain his senses thanks to Saki. With their combined powers they manage to defeat the daimyo and stop her army once and for all, but at the cost of Yasuke (it never fails. The black man always dies at the end). As Saki weeps, her powers manage to heal him and bring him back to life (our happy ending will not be denied). With the daimyo defeated and captured, Yasuke and Saki return home where the village welcomes them back with open arms.
Final Thoughts
Not much to say about this anime. Overall, it’s good. The story is basic but straightforward. I do like the flashbacks of Yasuke and how he never lost his code of honor. I do think Akechi would have worked out better as the main villain instead of the daimyo as we don’t learn that much about her or her powers. The animation is good, the fight scenes well shot, and the music phenomenal. Seriously, the music in this anime is really good.
Final Score
The final score for Yasuke is a 7/10. It’s a good and short anime that’s worth checking out on Netflix. While I wouldn’t call it the best, you can tell there was a lot of passion behind the show. Everyone working on it gave it their all and I’m happy to say that they succeeded. Definitely check this series out if you haven’t already. Thanks for reading. I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj as the Netflix arc continues.