500 years ago, a mysterious 6-foot-tall black man named Yasuke emerged in the land of the Samurai – Japan. Yasuke was an African warrior in the employ of Nobunaga, a powerful feudal lord known as the “Great Unifier,” during Japan’s Sengoku period.
Source – Wikimedia
Yasuke in historical sources
While there are no records of Yasuke’s date or country of birth, most historians believe he originated from the country of Africa and subsequently became the first foreign-born man to achieve the status of a samurai warrior in Japan.
His height was approximately 6ft 2 inches, and his skin was black like charcoal, as described by a fellow samurai Matsudaira Ietada, in his diary in 1579. He harboured excellent conversational skills and a fascinating fluency in Japanese, which helped him establish powerful contacts in Japan with lords like Nobunaga Oda.
Yasuke’s life in Japan
Nobunaga Oda was one of those who was impressed by Yasuke’s ability to speak Japanese fluently and thought that his strength and fighting prowess could be helpful to warring Japan at that time. According to reports, He later on took the responsibility of Yasuke and employed him under himself, subsequently keeping him as his bodyguard. He was given his own servant, house and stipend for his immense support to Oda. Yasuke fought by Oda’s side in a myriad of perilous wars and battles, strengthening their relationship.
When one of Oda’s employees, Mitsuhide Akechi or Yasuke’s samurai general, turned against him, Yasuke still hadn’t left Oda’s side showing his intense loyalty to his master. Being hemmed in by Mitsuhide’s forces, Oda chose to sacrifice himself instead of being captured by his deceptive employee. Yasuke was charged to deliver Oda’s cut-off head to his son and heir.
What happened to Yasuke?
With great fearlessness, The first black samurai Yasuke tried escaping with Oda’s remaining Army but was soon collared by General Mitsubide. Not falling under the general’s jurisdiction, he had to release Yasuke into Jesuit custody as he was not Japanese. Gradually, he lost his status as a samurai and fought wars under the Jesuits until 1592. After 1592, He disappeared into thin air from all verifiable records.
The deceit of a fellow general resulted in a saddening consequence, the fall of a great warrior, the first black samurai, Yasuke.