YASUKE

The BLACK SAMURAI

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YASUKE-The BLACK SAMURAI

Yasuke (Japanese 弥助 / 弥介 real name unknown) was a man of African origin who served as a Samurai to Oda Nobunaga between 1581 and 1582, during the Sengoku Period, until Nobunaga's death, and was present at one of the most pivotal incidents in Japanese history.

There are few historical documents on Yasuke. From the fragmentary accounts, Yasuke first arrived in Japan in the service of Jesuit Alessandro Valignano. Nobunaga summoned him out of a desire to see a black man. Subsequently, Nobunaga took him into his service and gave him the name Yasuke.

As a samurai, he was granted a sword, a house and a stipend (salary). Yasuke accompanied Nobunaga until his death and was present at the Honno-ji Incident where Nobunaga was assassinated. It is certain that Yasuke did not die in this crucial battle in Japan’s history, as Luís Fróis wrote five months after the Honnō-ji Incident, thanking God that he did not lose his life.

About the Samurai

During the Sengoku Period of Japanese history, men, even black men, were not just given a sword and allowed to walk about unhindered. It was a great honor and a great responsibility. And, being a free man at last, Yasuke had plenty of time to practice and train. Samurai or bushi were members of the warrior class in Japan. They were originally provincial warriors who served the aristocratic class and imperial court in the late 12th century, and eventually came to play a major political role until their abolition in the late 1870s during the Meiji era.