Yasuke

The first African samurai in feudal Japan, breaking racial and cultural barriers in the 16th century.

Yasuke, an African man likely from Mozambique, arrived in Japan in 1579 as a servant to Jesuit missionaries. His towering stature and dark skin fascinated Oda Nobunaga, the warlord unifying Japan. Nobunaga granted Yasuke samurai status—a rare honor for a foreigner—after testing his strength and loyalty.

As a samurai, Yasuke fought in Nobunaga's army during the Sengoku period's brutal conflicts. He witnessed Nobunaga's forced suicide in 1582 and later served under his heir, Oda Nobutada. Historical records of Yasuke fade after 1582, but his legacy endures in pop culture, including the Netflix anime 《Yasuke》.

Yasuke's story challenges stereotypes about Japan's isolationist history. Recent scholarship, like 'African Samurai' by Thomas Lockley, explores his role as a cultural bridge between Africa and Asia. Monuments in Kyoto and Shizuoka now commemorate his extraordinary life.