By mid-16th Century the burgeoning Portuguese empire had opened up bases of operation all along the African Coastlines. This led to African slaves, translators and hired hands working on a number of Portuguese trade ships throughout the world.

An African man, playing a role lost to history, accompanied one of the early Portuguese Christian Missionaries into Japan.

A powerful Japanese Daimyō (Great Lord) Nobunaga heard the commotion and came to see the strange man. He at first believed the man was covered in black ink - yet was impressed with his size and strength.

Whether he was sold or allowed to enter the Daimyos service is unclear, either way, the man who would be known as Yasuke had begun his path as a Samurai.
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