The transatlantic slave trade engaged in by Europeans during the 16th century is supposed to have given Japan its first black man, who went on to become the nation’s first black Samurai and go down in history.
Yasuke, as he was known, is assumed to have been born in or around 1555 in Mozambique. He worked as a slave for Alessandro Valignano, an Italian Jesuit.
Yasuke arrived to Japan in 1579 with Valignano, who was in head of the Jesuit missions, an educated religious order of the Catholic Church founded in sixteenth-century Spain.
The presence of the black guy, who was taller than the average Japanese and was said to have the strength of ten men, generated a stir and earned Yasuke a meeting with the Japanese hegemon and warlord Oda Nobunaga.
Yasuke was delivered to Nobunaga, who feared his skin was stained with black ink, according to a 1581 letter written by Jesuit Lus Fróis to Lourenço Mexia.
To back up his allegation, he had him strip and scrub his skin. This was also included in the Jesuit Mission in Japan’s 1582 Annual Report.
Nobunaga became fascinated with Yasuke after becoming convinced that his skin was black. According to several Japanese publications, he included him to his servants and enjoyed interacting with him.
According to the chronicles of the Japanese Maeda Samurai clan, “Nobunaga gave the black man his own residence and a short, ceremonial katana [Samurai sword].” Nobunaga also gave him the role of weapon carrier.”
at 1582, Yasuke fought alongside Nobunaga’s soldiers at the Battle of Tenmokuzan, a tribal battle. After being attacked, Nobunaga was forced to commit seppuku [Japanese ritual suicide].
After Nobunaga’s death, Yasuke was seized by the enemy clan, who described him as an animal rather than a Japanese. His life was saved, and he was reunited with the Jesuits.
There is no mention of the rest of Yasuke’s life or how he died. He has, however, been featured in several artworks by 16th-century Japanese artists who painted him in service as well as sumo wrestling events.
Yasuke was also included in Yoshio Kurusu ‘s 1968 Japanese children’s historical fiction book, movies, novels, and publications.
In March 2017, a film written by Gregory Widen about Yasuke was announced to be made by Lionsgate Films and Michael De Luca.
