Why is Yami called a foreigner in Black Clover? Explained

Modified Oct 01, 2024 07:53 GMT

Why is Yami called a foreigner in Black Clover? Explained (Image via Studio Pierrot)

From the very beginning of mangaka Yuki Tabata’s original Black Clover series, one of its most distinct traits is the unique character designs it offers readers. However, Yami Sukehiro serves as an exception to this rule, boasting a relatively plain design that is largely differentiated by how different he looks relative to other Clover Kingdom citizens.

This is emphasized by the characters within Black Clover’s central setting themselves, who often refer to Yami as nothing more than a “foreigner” in the early stages of the series. However, this has led many to ask the question of “why is Yami called a foreigner” by his fellow Clover Kingdom citizens considering he himself is a Magic Knight Captain in the Kingdom.

Yami Sukehiro’s overseas origins explain his being branded as a foreigner in Black Clover

Expand Tweet

Yami Sukehiro is called a foreigner in Black Clover because he’s originally from Hino Country and one day washed up on the Clover Kingdom’s shores. Likewise, since he was alone in the country, he stood out immediately, which resulted in others calling him a foreigner and being shocked at his different looks. Hence, the answer to the question of “why is Yami called a foreigner” is because he is one.

Meanwhile, Yami is from Hino Country, a land that first appeared in the series' final arc. The land appeared after Lucius Zogratis (who once pretended to be Julius Novachrono) sent Asta there. Japan was the inspiration behind the country, which was shown to be different from the Clover Kingdom.

It’s implied that the two countries aren’t particularly aware of each other’s existence given Yami’s reception by general Clover Kingdom citizens and Asta’s by general Hino Country citizens.

It’s unclear exactly how far away Hino Country is from Black Clover’s main continent, where the Clover Kingdom is located, but it’s said to be an extremely great distance. This is further emphasized by how different the two nations are culturally, with Hino’s use of magic especially highlighting these distinctions. Whereas the Clover Kingdom citizens cast spells via Grimoires, citizens of Hino utilize scrolls to cast magic.

Why Yami left Hino country, explained

Expand Tweet

In Hino Country, Yami Sukehiro (whose first name is actually Sukehiro since the nation uses the Japanese naming style) was born to a clan known for their skill as assassins. Likewise, he was trained to be a magic swordsman by his father, who believed he had the potential to be the strongest in the clan. Sukehiro’s father is also a drunk, forcing him to protect his younger sister Ichika during their father’s fits of rage and violence.

When he was 13 years old, his father had enough of the clan’s peaceful ways, offering Sukehiro a secret drug that would essentially put him in a berserker-like state. However, Ichika intervened due to not wanting her brother to be forced into such a state. Unfortunately, her protests led to her father giving her the drug instead. This horrifyingly led to Ichika slaying everyone else in her clan besides her brother, collapsing from exhaustion after it wore off.

During this time, Sukehiro and friend Ryuya Ryudo (who is the current Shogun of the Hino Country in Black Clover's current events) decided to hide the truth from her. They decided that Sukehiro would be blamed for the massacre and flee the country. Ryuya, meanwhile, would stay behind and raise Ichika since Sukehiro obviously couldn’t do so.

This is the truth behind Yami Sukehiro’s leaving Hino Country and arriving in the Clover Kingdom, as opposed to his original story about getting lost while fishing. Likewise, it’s also the truth behind the question of “why is Yami called a foreigner,” with the Black Bulls Captain truly being a refuge of another country by all accounts.