{"id":36056,"date":"2024-05-17T14:50:49","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T12:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/?p=93889"},"modified":"2024-05-17T16:32:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T14:32:55","slug":"who-is-yasuke-the-true-story-of-the-african-who-became-japans-first-black-samurai","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/rss_feed\/who-is-yasuke-the-true-story-of-the-african-who-became-japans-first-black-samurai\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Yasuke? The true story of the African who became Japan\u2019s first black samurai"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a land wracked with conflict, the arrival of an imposing black man caused uproar. Thomas Lockley explores the Japanese sojourn of the first African samurai… <\/p>

By Thomas Lockley\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 17 May 2024 at 12:50 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Yasuke was a man of African origin who arrived in Japan in the late 16th century, and is widely held to have been the first and only black samurai (though not the only foreign samurai, lest we forget William Adams, the inspiration for Sh\u014dgun<\/em><\/a>\u2018s John Blackthorne<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now Yasuke is set to be one of the playable characters of Assassin\u2019s Creed: Shadows<\/em>, with the upcoming installment of the time-hopping series taking us to feudal Japan. Unlike most Assassin\u2019s Creed<\/em> protagonists, Yasuke is a real historical figure<\/a>. Here, historian Thomas Lockley explores the African samurai\u2019s life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Who was Yasuke?<\/h2>\n<p>This man known to history as Yasuke (possibly a Japanese corruption of Isaac) was most likely a member of the Jaang (Dinka) people, of what\u2019s now South Sudan, who had been trafficked to India as a boy.<\/p>\n<p>There he entered the service of the chief Jesuit in Asia, Alessandro Valignano, who was on an inspection tour of the Indies. Valignano\u2019s ultimate destination was Japan, home of the most successful mission in Asia, where he arrived in 1579 with his bodyguard and valet, Yasuke.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\"> <div class=\"col-10 offset-1\"> <div class=\"embed\"> <div class=\"template-article__pullquote mt-md mb-md\"> <blockquote class=\"pullquote heading-4\"> <span class=\"pullquote__icon pullquote__icon--left icon-pullquote\" data-grunticon-embed=\"\"\/>He was not only the first African they had seen but was, by Japanese measures, a \u2018giant\u2019 \u2013 188cm tall \u2013 good looking, intelligent and entertaining, with the strength of 10 men<span class=\"pullquote__icon pullquote__icon--right icon-pullquote\" data-grunticon-embed=\"\"\/> <\/blockquote> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div> <p>The first record of Yasuke in Japan describes a 1581 visit to Kyoto, then the country\u2019s capital. En route the Jesuit\u2019s party passed the port city of Sakai, where huge crowds clamoured for a glimpse of the African; buildings collapsed under the weight of spectators, and the Jesuit procession was severely disrupted. In order to escape, Yasuke had to ride a horse through the throng of enthralled locals.<\/p>\n<p>He was not only the first African they had seen but was, by Japanese measures, a \u2018giant\u2019 \u2013 188cm tall \u2013 good looking, intelligent and entertaining, with the strength of 10 men.<\/p>\n<p>And, because the Buddha was often portrayed with black skin, many saw him as a divine visitor.<\/p>\n<p>That raucous reception was repeated in Kyoto, where thousands turned out to witness his arrival. He took refuge in the Jesuit church but the mob broke down the doors, demanding to see him; some spectators were even crushed to death.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How did Yasuke become Oda Nobunaga\u2019s samurai?<br\/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The most powerful warlord in Japan, Oda Nobunaga, was holding court in the Honno-ji temple nearby. He demanded to know who was disturbing his peace and, when he heard about Yasuke, ordered an immediate audience.<\/p>\n<p>By that time Yasuke had learned quite a lot of Japanese, so was able to engage in conversation. The fascinated warlord had the African strip from the waist up, and scrubbed his skin to see if the dark hue was real. Finding it was, the delighted warlord threw a party for this astounding guest, and bestowed on Yasuke a large gift of cash, making him instantly rich.<\/p>\n<p>A few days later, Nobunaga asked Valignano if he could take Yasuke into his service; Yasuke became Nobunaga\u2019s weapon bearer \u2013 a position of great honour \u2013 and confidant about overseas matters.<\/p>\n<p>Within months he received a stipend, a residence in Azuchi Castle, north-east of Kyoto, servants and a <em>katana<\/em> sword. The <em>katana<\/em> is the symbol of a samurai warrior, so it is traditionally understood in Japan that Yasuke was the first documented non-Japanese samurai.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Read more | <a href=\"\/period\/medieval\/what-is-a-shogun-first-shogunate\/\">In Japanese history, what was a Sh\u014dgunate?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Did Yasuke fight for Oda Nobunaga?<\/h2>\n<p>Over the course of the next year, Yasuke accompanied Nobunaga in battle at least once. They were conquering the territories just north of Mount Fuji, long held by the Takeda clan, the Oda\u2019s mortal enemies. Yasuke was observed by a Japanese diarist just south of the holy mountain on the journey back to Azuchi.<\/p>\n<p>In June 1582, Nobunaga launched a major campaign against his long-time enemies to the west, the Mori clan. A large army was already in the field, and he set out for the front with around 30 men, Yasuke among them.<\/p>\n<p>In Kyoto they slept in Honno-ji, the temple where Yasuke had met Nobunaga 15 months earlier. In the hour before dawn on 21 June they were attacked by the 13,000-strong army of Akechi Mitsuhide, formerly one of Nobunaga\u2019s most trusted generals, who stormed the compound.<\/p>\n<p>Most of the defenders were dispatched with gunfire, the survivors finished off by hand.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>During the fighting, the temple caught fire. As flames swept through the temple, Nobunaga performed <em>seppuku<\/em> (ritual suicide). According to legend, his last order was issued to Yasuke, telling the African to keep his head from falling into enemy hands.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Read more |<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"\/period\/medieval\/brief-history-samurai-warfare-battles-armour-myths-facts\/\">A brief history of samurai warfare<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What happened to Yasuke after Nobunaga\u2019s death?<\/h2>\n<p>Yasuke fled to the new head of the clan, Nobunaga\u2019s son and heir, Oda Nobutada; however, he commanded only about 200 men, who were swiftly dispatched by the rebels, and he, too, was forced to take his own life. Yasuke was brought before Akechi, who ordered him to be returned to the Jesuits.<\/p>\n<p>That is the last definitive historical mention of Yasuke. Records include sightings of similar men in Japan, but it is impossible to be sure whether or not they were Yasuke. There is evidence to suggest that he was remembered in Japan for another century before his story was forgotten.<\/p>\n<p>Today, the African samurai has been reborn as a character in computer games, anime, manga comics, films, books and theatre.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Read more | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/modern\/britain-japan-relationship-through-history-key-moments\/\">The lion and the rising sun: Britain and Japan\u2019s 400-year relationship<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Thomas Lockley is associate professor at Nihon University College of Law, Tokyo, and co-author with Geoffrey Girard of <em>African Samurai<\/em> (2019, Hanover Square; published in the UK by Sphere as <em>Yasuke<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>This content first appeared in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/magazine-issue\/issue-18-october-november-2019\/\">October\/November 2019 issue of BBC World Histories Magazine<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> In a land wracked with conflict, the arrival of an imposing black man caused uproar. 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