Anyone who has played Ghost of Tsushima, would know the details of what ends up happening to Jin Sakai and how his life choices lead to the game’s ending. However, along the way, gamers are given a front-row seat to his life as a samurai warrior in feudal Japan.
Nevertheless, while there is a lot we find out about Jin and his past, there is still a lot we don’t know. For a more in-depth look into this warrior’s history, take a look at ten things you didn’t know about Jin’s past.
10 He And Masako Probably Knew One Another
Masako’s husband was a leader of the Adachi Clan and was a retainer for Lord Shimura. He and Masako would have had access to elites like Lord Shimura and Jin.
While the two may not have been best friends, they likely ran in the same circles and would probably recognize each other outside of the main storyline. The same cannot be said for Yuna, but Masako would be in close proximity to Jin.
9 Jin Would Have Defended Territories
During the Heian period ( 794 to 1185 CE), samurai were basically meant to be protection for feudal lords in land disputes. So, while Jin would have eventually risen to prominence because of his family’s stature, he would have been expected to fight for private citizens as a samurai.
So, Jin would have had some fighting under his belt in regards to local disputes in the area.
8 He Was Raised By His Nanny
Jin faced much tragedy as he grew into adulthood. At the age of seven, he lost his mother, while he saw his father die in front of him as a teenager. Lord Shimura took him in as his ward, but much of the childrearing was likely left up to Yuriko, his nanny.
One could almost say that Jin was an orphan. This situation might have led to how strong he clung toward his samurai-inspired beliefs to feel like he still had a community or family.
7 Jin’s Samurai Principles Were In The Early Stages
While the samurai had established the protocol of facing enemies head-on and building good reputations, the actual Bushido principles were not set in stone until the Edo period, four to five hundred years later.
Consequently, Jin would have had some general principles about respect and loyalty in his past, but the fleshed out codes would have come much later down the line.
6 He Likely Practiced Buddhism
The teachings of Buddhism align with the samurai code and culture. Most samurai were known to believe in and practice the teachings of Buddhism. This likely would have been important to Jin before he began to take on the characteristics of the “Ghost.”
Jin would have been drawn to the ethics and emphasis on the respect that comes with this form of religion. It’s hard to say if he would still engage in the teachings, but it probably would have been something he did before.
5 Jin’s Training Started Before Age 10
Going by the historical context of how samurai were trained, it is highly likely that Jin would have started training to be a samurai very early. Many times, the preparation to become a victorious samurai warrior started at age 10, or even earlier.
So, Jin’s incredible finesse and expertise are from years of development. Therefore, while many of you were playing video games or enjoying recess with friends in the fifth grade, Jin was putting his katana to work at the same age. How wild is that?
4 Jin Held His Clan’s Status Alone
Five clans lead Tsushima. One of those groups was the Sakai clan. As a result of Jin’s father’s death, Jin is the only person representing this family. This event probably put much pressure on Jin and made him want to hold to the samurai code even more than others. This feeing is on display throughout the game as he is torn between taking on the “Ghost” tactics and staying true to what he knows.
Knowing that he is the last surviving member of his clan would have significantly impacted how he fought, interacted with others, and his dedication to Lord Shimura.
3 His Bow Would Have Been The First Weapon He Learned About
During the earliest periods that samurai existed (which would have been around the time of this game), samurai were first trained on bows and arrows. This, in addition to horsemanship, would have comprised some of Jin’s first lessons.
Again, it is true that the Ghost of Tsushima takes liberties with the history of the game, which is why Jin’s primary weapon of choice was his sword. But in his past, the bow would have been the weapon Jin has the most experience with.
2 Jin Was A Nobleman
While Jin would have been protecting his island and even could have been offering protection services to other landowners, Jin was also a nobleman himself. In the game, the townspeople address him as Lord Sakai, showing that he held a prominent community position.
Typically lords hired samurai to defend their land, but in this situation, Jin was a lord (someone who owned land), and a samurai. Therefore, he was skilled enough to defend his own property.
1 Jin Could Have Had His First Battle Within His Teenage Years
Again, Jin would have started training for battle very early on. While there is no set time that young men went into action while training as a samurai, there are cases of young men fighting in wars at 15 and even 14.
Jin would have been experienced in battle and understood the high stakes of the first battle in the game. Again, there is no set age, but there is a high probability that Jin would have gotten his first attempts at battling others as a young teenager in Tsushima.
NEXT: The 10 Best Side Quests in Ghost of Tsushima
