Yasuke: African Slave to Japan's First Black Samurai - Ms. Otelia's Corner

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   The story of Yasuke the first African samurai in Japan is remarkable and inspiring. It is believed he was born in the 1550s, although the details of his birthplace and early life, including his birthplace, remain vague, with speculations pointing to regions like Ethiopia, Mozambique, or South Sudan​. He arrived in Japan in 1579 as part of Alessandro Valignano, the Italian Jesuit's missionary entourage, most likely as his bodyguard.
2. Oda Nobunaga, a powerful daimyo known as the "Great Unifier" during Japan's Sengoku period, played an important role in Yasuke's transformation into a samurai. Nobunaga was captivated by Yasuke's physical stature—he stood at 6 feet 2 inches—and his distinctive black skin. Initially, Nobunaga was so astonished by Yasuke's appearance that he ordered him to strip to his waist and scrub his body to prove his skin tone was real. Despite the language barrier, Yasuke impressed Nobunaga, who enjoyed conversing with him​.

3. By 1581, Yasuke had integrated into Nobunaga's inner circle and was granted the samurai title, becoming the first foreign-born warrior to enter their ranks​. He was given the Japanese name Yasuke, a short sword, a house, and was sometimes tasked with carrying Nobunaga's tools​.

   Yasuke's loyalty to Nobunaga was tested during the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582, where Nobunaga was betrayed and attacked by his senior vassal, Akechi Mitsuhide. In this tumultuous event, Yasuke fought bravely alongside Nobunaga. When Nobunaga realized defeat was imminent, he committed seppuku, a form of ritual suicide. Before his death, Nobunaga entrusted Yasuke with the task of decapitating him and delivering his head to his son, a sign of immense trust​.

   After Nobunaga's death, Yasuke attempted to serve Nobunaga’s heir, Oda Nobutada but faced defeat at the hands of Mitsuhide's forces. Eventually, Yasuke surrendered and was exiled to the Nanban-dera, or “The Temple of the Southern Barbarians”​.

   Yasuke's story, while not widely recorded in historical texts, has gained popularity and inspired various creative works. His life has been depicted in books, manga, t-shirts, anime, and toys he is even reported to be the subject of upcoming Hollywood films.

   Yasuke's journey from possibly being an enslaved mercenary to a respected samurai in Japan's feudal society is a testament to his strength, resilience, and remarkable capacity to transcend cultural and racial barriers of the time.

   1. References:

      • Who Was Yasuke, Japan's First Black Samurai?

      • Wikipedia - Yasuke

      • All That's Interesting - Yasuke

      • Tokyo Weekender - Yasuke

      • Historyen - Yasuke

      • History Hustle - Yasuke

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