Part 4/9:
Critics and historians have raised questions about the authenticity of portraying a black samurai in feudal Japan. Yuk is often hailed as the "first black samurai," a title based on a highly disputed and historically dubious story. The real historical figure, a retainer or servant named Yagū, was not a samurai but a man credited with being the first recorded non-Japanese to serve in a notable capacity, with his skin's dark complexion apparently grabbing the fascination of Japanese warlords. However, no concrete evidence supports the notion that he was an armored warrior or a samurai in the traditional sense.