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video. The Sengoku Jidai: The warring states of Feudal
Japan. This era invokes many romantic images of great castles, spectacular battles, and
stoic Samurai adorned in their elegant kimonos and top-knotted hair, wielding their iconic
Katanas. What if we told you that among the ranks of this ancient warrior-order was a
black man from East Africa? This is the tale of Yasuke, the first man from outside Japan
to don the dual Katanas, and the only African to do so. To begin the tale of the African Samurai,
we must first establish the context: in the early 15th century, the Portuguese Empire
had a scattering of trade outposts across the Asian Pacific. In the year 1543, they
reached southern Japan. The Japanese relied heavily on the import of silk from Ming China,
and as the relations between two states were icy, and trade between the two was forbidden
by the Ming Emperor, the Portuguese established a niche trade by buying silks in China and
bringing them to Japan. These European merchants grew very rich as intermediaries between the
two Asian heavyweights. The Portuguese were allowed to build a trading
port at Nagasaki, which quickly became a large hub for commerce. And where the Europeans
went, their priests would soon follow. The Catholic society of Jesus, also known as the
Jesuits, established a significant presence in southern Japan. Their mission was to convert
all Japan to Christianity, spearheaded by Priests like Francis Xavier. At the height
of their influence, several Daimyo lords, and over 200,000 Japanese were Christian,
mostly in the Kyushu region. Of course, the Portuguese and their Jesuit
compatriots were spreading their influence on other continents as well. By the 1500s
they had established a foothold in Africa, in what is now Mozambique. Here they became
enthusiastic participants in the local slave trade, acquiring many poor souls from local
chiefs, who they would in turn ship out for labour across their Maritime Empire.
That a dark-skinned man from Africa became a Samurai in feudal Japan is considered a
fact. However, we know very little about him. Details on his country of origin, early life,
and even his original name are muddy at best. We know only the name given to him by the
Japanese: Yasuke. The story we’ve chosen to depict here is our personal interpretation
of the few pieces of information we have about his life.
We have only theories for the origins of this mysterious man. Some say he was born around
the year 1555 in Mozambique, which at the time was being colonized by the Portuguese.
He was most likely of the Makua peoples, a Bantu tribe. Although some claim that he was
from Ethiopia, and belonged to the Habshi people.
Either way, the saga of this East African man began in his childhood, where he was most
likely enslaved and given to the local Jesuits. He was taught the Christian religion, and
the Catholic lifestyle, and brought up to believe in the proselytizing ways of the Jesuit
order. After some time, Yasuke was given to the Jesuit inspector Alessandro Valignano.
Valignano’s mission was to audit Jesuit activity in Japan, so he sailed east with
his servants and slaves in tow. Thus, in the year 1579, the as yet unnamed man of East
Africa first step foot on Japanese soil, behind the coat-tails of his Jesuit master.
It is here we should briefly explain the Japan that he stepped into. The warring states period,
known as the Sengoku Jidai, was nearing its climax. Japan had been divided into many independent
little fiefdoms in 1467. By 1579 however, most of these fiefdoms had been conquered
by the ambitious Daimyo Oda Nobunaga of the Oda clan, and his vassal Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
In 1581, Valignano brought his African servant into Kyoto, the beating heart of Japanese
civilization and seat of Oda Nobunaga. The Bantu man had likely never seen a metropolis
of such size and bustle, nor had the people of Kyoto ever seen anyone like him. When rumours
spread of a giant man with skin like charcoal, the local Kyotans grew so curious that they
broke down the door of the Jesuit Church just to get a look at him. The African quickly
achieved status as a local celebrity, for the common folk were astonished not only by
his dark skin, but his size and height, as he stood a solid foot taller than the average
Japanese man. The growing fame of this enigmatic foreigner
eventually piqued the curiosity of Lord Nobunaga, who ordered the Jesuits to present the African
to him. When they came face to face, Nobunaga was astonished. The warlord did not believe
such a man could exist, and was convinced he was actually a Portuguese man who had his
skin dyed with black ink. He had the African strip from the waist up, and be thoroughly
scrubbed. This of course proved that his skin was naturally dark. Upon realizing this, Nobunaga
took a genuine interest in the man, and it was at around then that he finally received
his Japanese name: Yasuke. Yasuke soon became more than just a novelty
to Lord Nobunaga. The Daimyo came to appreciate the man’s personal integrity, and his physical
prowess. He declared that Yasuke possessed the strength of ten men. In the summer of
1581, Nobunaga’s admiration of this strange foreigner had become undeniable, and thus
he formally requested that Yasuke enter his service. It was official now: the man of humble
Bantu origins was a Samurai. Yasuke was afforded all the privileges any
other Samurai would receive. He was granted a piece of land and a household upon it, Japanese
garments, and a ceremonial Short Katana. It can be assumed that he was taught the Bushido
code, and how to fight as a Samurai. Yasuke became one of Nobunaga’s favourite servants,
and was one of the few people afforded the privilege of dining with the great Daimyo.
Yasuke soon joined his new lord in his mission to conquer all Japan. He likely saw combat
at the Battle of Tenmokuzan, fighting fiercely alongside Nobunaga forces to destroy the Takeda
clan. It was the first time any Japanese warrior had encountered an African in combat, and
the strength and ferocity of Nobunaga’s newest soldier was a thing to behold.
After the engagement, Yasuke rode at Nobunaga’s side as the lord surveyed his newly conquered
lands, and one can only imagine the wonder that many would have felt, seeing such a giant
of a foreigner riding in such a position of prestige at their liege lord’s side. On
their way back to Kyoto, he rubbed shoulders with many of Nobunaga’s powerful allies,
names we consider larger than life. One such man was Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man who, in time,
would conquer all Japan. In June of 1582, Yasuke and Nobunaga arrived
back in Kyoto. Nobunaga split his army and sent them forth to conquer the lands of the
Mori, Uesegi and Hojo clans. He retired to the Buddhist temple of Honno-Ji, where he
intended to rest. Surrounded only by artists, merchants, poets and servants, Nobunaga was
largely unprotected. Yasuke, however, was by his side.
Disaster was soon to come. An enemy host surrounded the temple. This was a complete shock, for
none of Nobunaga’s foes were supposed to know he was there. One of Nobunaga’s most
trusted generals, Akechi Mitsuhide, had betrayed him. He took advantage of his knowledge that
Nobunaga was vulnerable, and laid siege to the temple where his liege lord stayed.
The treacherous Mitsuhide stormed the temple with overwhelming numbers. Yasuke charged
out, mounting a desperate battle against the odds, with only a few bodyguards and servants
fighting by his side. He fought bravely, but to no avail. Amidst the chaos and fire, Nobunaga
had to commit Seppuku, honourable suicide, so as to avoid capture.
Somehow, Yasuke was able to escape Akechi’s clutches. He found a horse and rode hard for
Nijo castle, where Nobunaga’s son, Oda Nobutada, had mustered his forces. Where he had failed
to protect his lord, Yasuke was now determined to protect his son. He arrived just in time,
joining the young lord’s army just as the traitor Mitsuhide attacked them. Yasuke fought
hard in the battle that ensued, once more engaging Mitsuhide’s Samurai and slaying
many in the defense of young Nobutada, but once again, it was for naught.
The Oda forces were routed, and Oda Nobutada was captured, and forced to commit seppuku.
Yasuke too was captured, and presented before Mitsuhide. The traitorous general had nothing
but contempt for the black man, declaring him to be nonhuman, little more than an animal.
Because he was not Japanese, Mitsuhide declared that Yasuke was not to be killed, and instead
sent to the Christian Church in Kyoto. And thus, after serving as a noble Samurai
for over a year, Yasuke was returned to his Jesuit masters. Reportedly, the Christians
eagerly praised god when reunited with the man. It would be a nice thing to believe that
Yasuke’s tale had something of a happy ending. Unfortunately, we don’t know. All record
of his existence fade away after this point, and we do not know what his ultimate fate
was, whether he left Japan with the Jesuits, or died on the islands.
From humble beginnings on the East Coast of Africa, to the grandeur of the palaces of
Kyoto, the rise of Yasuke from slave to Samurai is a unique one to say the least. He may not
have been a Samurai for long, and his influence upon the Island nation may not have been as
great as other foreigners who followed him, but his story serves as the inspiration of
various pieces of media, such as anime like Afro Samurai and games like Nioh. Whether
it be the man himself, or what he represented, Yasuke enjoys a special place in the hearts
of many Japanese people today, and is a wonderful story of what strange fates can be thrust
upon the humblest of men. The sponsor of this video RetailMeNot is the
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excited to use! We will pick a winner from the comments section! We will continue this two-part series with
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They’re making a movie about this!
Tom Cruise is set to play the African American lead.
I read about him a while ago when I was quite into Japan's history (which is fascinating by the way), I'm really glad that a video was made to share this amazing story with all of those willing to hear it and read it, I still don't get how a move of him or of Hasekura Tsunenaga hasn't been made yet.
Make this into a PROPER live action film.
Where's Martin Lawrence when you need him?