Yasuke the first foreign Samurai




According to Japanese legend, Yasuke was an African born man who is believed to have travelled to Japan in 1579 with an Italian priest as part of an inspection tour.


He quickly found his way into the employ of Oda Nobunaga, A powerful 16th Century Japanese feudal lord who was the first of the three unifiers of Japan.


At the time the Japanese people had probably never laid eyes on an African man and it caused quite a sensation. Not only because of his skin colour but because he was reported to be 6”2 in height when at the time the average Japanese male was only 5”2.


Yasuke quickly mastered the Japanese language and became a very powerful Samurai serving in many battles.


After Oda Nobunaga was betrayed and defeated in battle he asked Yasuke to take his head and sword back to his son after he had performed seppuku, A great honour for Yasuke.


Shortly after Yasuke’s story ends in 1582 when he disappears from the history books all together. Reports say he was exiled and returned to Africa.