Warning: This guide contain spoiler for Yasuke Simulator. It is highly recommend for you to play the game first, before you start reading.

https://psteamproxy.yuanyoumao.com/app/3272300/Yasuke_Simulator/

Or alternatively, If you don't want to play this for whatever reason, You should at least go watch the full gameplay video first. and come back here later.

Hello to everyone reading this guide.

After I watch a YouTube video from the channel DashBlue called:
The Assassin's Creed Shadows KILLER [Drunk Japanese HYPER ANALYZE]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1niI6urejY

In the video, there's a part that say "Takatenjin Castle is a real place". This make me curious about the historical accuracy and references in this game.

After some research (more like google search). I come to realized that, This game have Surprising amount of reference and detail about real history. With that, I made this guide to share my finding, as an easy to access version of everything I found for everyone curious about real history in this game.

And finally, even though this is a more serious guide discussing a real history, I want everyone to keep in mind that this is just for fun. I'm not a historian, just an average gamer who like playing historical videogames. This is not a reliable source for historical research and more of a something for entertainment. Anyway, I hope everyone enjoy reading this and learn something about Japanese history after reading my guide. (I bought the game just to write this guide)

Let's see that do HistoryAccurateDevelopers live up to their name..?

The game start with text "Japan 1579"



1579 is the year that "Yasuke", a man of African origin (And our main protagonist) arrived in Japan.

Yasuke later taken into service of the daimyo Oda Nobunaga. In reality, Yasuke was more likely served Nobunaga as a retainer/weapon carrier. According to various historical record, He might not officially a samurai, but his position can maybe considered as samurai too.

As mentioned before, Takatenjin castle is actually a real castle from the Sengoku period. The castle was built on the mountain with a very steep slopes. Even without stone walls, Takatenjin castle is considered to be almost impregnable.

Drawing depicting the map of Takatenjin Castle during Sengoku era on the sign board at real location of Takatenjin castle rune

Picture from the real Takatenjin Castle rune


The origins of Takatenjin Castle is unknown. We didn't known exactly when or who build the castle. but it likely was built by minor local clan who were retainers to Imagawa Clan. Later the castle was ruled by Osawara clan as a retainer to Imagawa.

After the defeat of Imagawa Clan by Tokugawa-Oda Alliance. The Osawara joined with Tokugawa. Takatenjin castle now under the control of Tokugawa Clan in 1570.

In 1571. Takeda Clan under the leadership of Takeda Shingen laid siege to the castle, but unsuccessful in taking the castle. Later in 1574 Takeda Katsuyori, son of Takeda Shingen. manage to capture the castle and take it under the control of Takeda Clan.

And this bring us to the in game event in 1579.

Tokaido Shinkansen (Japanese: 東海道新幹線,  'East coast route, new main line') is an actual Japanese high-speed railway line running between Tokyo station and Shin-Osaka station. Opening in 1964. It was the world's first high-speed rail line.

Being the train line that run pass 3 largest cities in Japan (Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka), making it one of the world's busiest railway line.


The model of the train appear at the end of the chapter 1 is the E6 Series Shinkansen[en.wikipedia.org]. Which is the real Japanese high speed train model, But It never was service on the Tokaido Shinkansen line.


In the chapter 2 that took place inside the train, on the way to Takatenjin Castle. According to the credit of the game. The model of the train interior is actually the Taiwan THSR 700T.[en.wikipedia.org] which are derived from Japanese 700 series Shinkansen. The 700 series train was actually service on Tokaido Shinkansen line since 1999 until 2020. Making this somewhat accurate to the real Tokaido Shinkansen.



Another interesting detail from this level is in the next station sign that say:
"掛川駅 Kakegawa Station". (picture above)

The station, as the name imply, is in the city of Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture. Which is one of the station on Tokaido Shinkansen line.

Not only that...Kakegawa City is also the location of Takatenjin Castle rune. So, if you want to visit Takatenjin Castle in real life, You can actually take a Tokaido Shinkansen train ride from Kyoto to Kakegawa, similar to what Yasuke did in the game!






I'm sure this one can count as history too. A Giant Enemy Crab is an internet meme originated from the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) event of 2006. During the Sony press conference presenting the videogame: "Genji: Days of the Blade" (being referred to as "Genji 2" during the event).

In the presentation. The producer of the game, Bill Ritch claimed that "Genji 2 is an action game that is based on Japanese history. The stages of the game will also be based on famous battle that actually took place in ancient Japan".

Then, around 2 minute after he said that, the gameplay footage showed a boss battle against a giant crab. Follow by comment from him, said: "So here's this Giant Enemy Crab". (Clip below)


Giant Enemy Crab become a meme that often being associated with Japanese History.


And finally, something funny, but might be unrelated to the game:

In the old Japanese period drama "Hissatsu Chushingura". There is a scene that featured the Shinkansen on screen as a dramatic effect. (Or it is a mistake in filming, I'm not sure) thank you for Steam user: SUNAPPOI for this interesting information. (Clip below. Around 00:16 time mark)

It is likely that story and setting of Yasuke Simulator is based on Siege of Takatenjin (1580-1581) Also known as "The second siege of Takatenjin".

After several failed attempts to take the castle by Tokugawa-Oda Alliance. Despite the difficulty for Takeda clan in maintaining supply line toward the castle after their defeat at Battle of Nagashino (1575). The castle defenders continue to put up a stubborn resistance. Resulting in Tokugawa-Oda alliance given up attempt to launching assault on the castle.

Instead, they built 6 fortresses around the castle to cut off the castle supply and keep the castle isolated.

This historical detail was referenced in the game in the Chapter 3. Where Yasuke have to deliver tofu to 6 camps while driving his way up the mountain to Takatenjin Castle.








Okabe Motonobu (岡部 元信), who is the final boss of the game. It should not be surprise for you now that he is actually a real person.

He is a samurai formerly in service of the Imagawa Clan, but after the defeat of the Imagawa, he switched his allegence to the Takeda Clan. He was assigned as the defender of Takatenjin Castle.

When the defenders run out of supplies in 1581. Okabe Motonobu led around 680 to 700 remaining defenders of Taketenjin Castle on the charge toward Oda lines in an attempt to break the siege. All of the Takeda men include Okabe Motonobu were killed in this battle.

Two things that is accurate about Okabe Motonobu is this game:

• He die in the battle to defend Takatenjin Castle.

• He die fighting Oda's force (Yasuke is Oda Nobunaga's Samurai in this game)

*Again, this one not something historical, but an interesting reference to Japanese culture that worth pointing out.

Chapter 7 Featured an obstacle course with some trucks driving on "the road?" in the way that Yasuke have to cross. What are those trucks? You can guess it...They are of course, from Japan.



Those Japanese mini trucks are called "Kei-Tora" (軽トラ) or Kei Truck

This type of vehicle was introduced in Japan back in 1959. They are very common among the Japanese small business owners due to affordability, reliability, lower tax and insurance rates. The vehicle in this class, called "kei-jidōsha, (軽自動車)" are also exempt from Japanese car ownership law that require parking space ownership in order to buy a motor vehicle.
All of that making the Kei truck an ideal vehicle for many people from different demographics, due to their affordability and ease of use.


In the game, If Yasuke got hit by the truck and die. You will get the achievement called: "Isekai"


Isekai (異世界) can be translated to 'another World' or 'different world' is a sub-genre of fiction. often present in novels, light novels. films, manga, anime and video game. It revolve around a person or people who are transported to another world, such as fantasy world, videogame or parallel universe.

One common trope of the Isekai story is to have the protagonists reincarnated after death. The character getting hit and killed by a truck is very common among Isekai stories. Spawning a meme called "Truck-kun". given as a nickname for truck in those isekai story as a character with a sole purpose of sending main character to another world (By killing them).






This is probably the main reason for the appearance of the Kei truck and the boss at the end of this level, called "Kei Man". They are a reference to this Japanese culture related meme.






And also, might not be unrelated. Steam user: SUNAPPOI point out in the comment that, Kei-Tora sound similar to "Kai-no-Tora" (Tiger of Kai Province). one of the nickname of Takeda Shingen The famous Diamyo who was the head of Takeda clan. This maybe just a funny coincident.

Other small details worth pointing out. most of these are more like a cultural than historical details, so...I'm putting them here.

• The Mon (紋) or kamon (家紋) which are Japanese emblems of (in this case) Samurai clans for Oda clan and Takeda clan that appear in the levels and on enemies model (Takeda) are actually real emblems for both clans.

• Yasuke in this game fight using 2 swords. There is also a real dual wielding sword fighting style in the traditional Japanese martial arts. This dual sword fighting style is called Nitoryu (二刀流). This style is known for it use by Miyamoto Musashi[en.wikipedia.org] a famous Japanese sword fighter.

• For anyone wondering why in the chapter 3, out of all the supply for the 6 camps, Why Yasuke have to deliver Tofu specifically? That's because this is actually a reference to a Manga/Anime about street racing, called Initial D.[en.wikipedia.org] With the story focus on illegal Japanese street racing, where all the actions took place in the mountain passes. In the story, Takumi Fujiwara who is The main character, help out his father as a delivery driver for his father's tofu store. Using the family car. Toyota AE86[en.wikipedia.org]
  (That is also a drivable vehicle in the game).
  
  The Anime adaptation is known for its extensive usage of Eurobeat music[en.wikipedia.org]. Making driving to eurobeat music itself become a meme too. The same type of music can be heard in the background music of this level.

• In chapter 5. The obstacle course giving off a similar feeling to a famous Japanese TV show Takeshi's Castle. Thank to Steam user: Iny for pointing this out in the comment.

• In chapter 6. During the "squid game" section, you can hear the voice saying: "Daruma-san ga koronda" (Japanese: 達磨さんが転んだ, literally translate to: "The Daruma Fell Over"). This is the Japanese version of Red Light, Green Light play. This version of play is also appear in psychological thriller manga: As the Gods Will[en.wikipedia.org]. And it's 2014 film adaptation.

From what I found about all the details and references to real history presented in this game. We can say that: even though Yasuke Simulator is meant to be a parody game, The developer actually care and do some level of research about the history they based their game on. Maybe this level of attention to detail is even better than some videogame by a company that shall not be named.

Thank you for checking out my guide and read it to the end. If there's anything I miss or any suggestion about more historical details that is not presented here, feel free to tell me about it in the comment.

Now you can proudly say that you learn something about Japanese History from this Joke Masterpiece of a game.