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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.

This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning Assassin's Creed: Shadows. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all.

This template should be removed from the article 20 June 2025.

Luís Fróis (1532 – 1597) was a Portuguese Catholic priest and missionary who was the Jesuits' historian during their mission in Japan. During the mission, Fróis sent lengthy reports about the country detailing the Jesuits' actions, Japan's internal politics, and the situation of local Christian communities.[1]

Biography[]

Early expedition to Japan[]

Though his superiors considered his writing too extensive, he continued sending annual reports of over 100 pages. Fróis, like fellow Jesuit Gaspar Vilela, adopted many Japanese customs to better integrate himself in the society he attempted to convert to Christianity. This effort was not seen kindly by the appointed heads of the Japan sector, Francisco Cabral and Gaspar Coelho, who were in favor of maintaining their European habits. Being open to a new culture, Fróis managed to ingratiate himself to Oda Nobunaga, who once invited him to visit Gifu Castle.[1]

Seeking passage from Nobunaga[]

On 8 March 1581, Fróis was part of an envoy led by Alessandro Valignano in Kyoto to meet with Nobunaga and seek free movement for the priests in Japan. Accompanied by their bodyguard Diogo, the envoy met with Nobunaga's general Akechi Mitsuhide and followed him to the meeting place at Honnō-ji, where they met Lady Nene and Mori Ranmaru, Nobunaga's wife and retainer respectively.[2]

ACSH The Lord's Favor 22

Fróis, Alessandro, and Diogo meeting with Oda Nobunaga

During the meeting with Nobunaga, Fróis remained silent while Valignano did most of the talking. He then bore witness to Nobunaga taking interest in Diogo due to his skin color, stature, and intelligence. Fróis, Valignano, and the rest of the retainers were then asked to leave the room so that Nobunaga could speak to Diogo alone. The Jesuits would remain a short while later, and were asked by Nobunaga to relinquish Diogo from their service and into his own.[2]

Reuniting with Yasuke[]

By September 1581, Diogo had spent over six months in Oda Nobunaga's service, during which time he became known as Yasuke.[3] Fróis briefly passed Yasuke on horseback while leaving the Oda castle and gave him a nod, acknowledging him as a samurai, before continuing on his way.[4]

By mid-1582, Fróis had relocated to the Jesuit Residences in Kyoto. It was here that he was again approached by Yasuke, who needed help translating a letter he could not fully understand. Fróis read the letter's contents and revealed that it was an oath to the Templar Order. At Yasuke's shock that Fróis knew of the Order, the priest revealed that he had heard much about them during his time in Italy before working for Valignano. The Pope and three great houses, including the House of Borgia, had been part of this conspiracy and nearly ruined Rome in their pursuit of power, until they were mysteriously eradicated by a secret organization.[5]

Continuing on with the letter, Fróis told Yasuke that it was addressed to Duarte de Melo, a name Yasuke knew all too well. Fróis then led Yasuke to the name Kimura Kei, a samurai gathering warriors in Kii on the orders of Nuno Caro. When questioned about Caro and the reveal that Yasuke had used to work for him before his association with the Jesuits, Fróis recalled how they had rescued him at sea holding onto a piece of driftwood. Fróis then tried to probe Yasuke for answers about his past though he was hardly forthcoming with his answers. With that, Fróis gave Yasuke a final surmising that de Melo and Caro were part of the Templar Order. Yasuke announced his plan to track them down by finding Kimura Kei first, and left after bidding Fróis farewell.[5]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

References[]

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