Arriving in Japan in 1579, Yasuke, a tall African man,

Arriving in Japan in 1579, Yasuke, a tall African man,

Arriving in Japan in 1579, Yasuke, a tall African man, shattered stereotypes by becoming the first foreign-born samurai. Originally a slave from Mozambique, his fate took a drastic turn when Portuguese traders brought him to the shores of Japan.

Standing out with his towering height and distinctive dark skin, Yasuke caught the attention of the influential Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga. Despite initial skepticism and a curious attempt to remove what Nobunaga thought was “black ink” from Yasuke’s skin, the warlord welcomed him into his service with open arms.

Nobunaga provided Yasuke with essentials such as shelter, financial support, and a traditional katana, paving the way for Yasuke to carve his place as a respected samurai in Nobunaga’s ranks. Yasuke’s journey from slavery to samuraihood stands as a testament to his resilience and the profound impact he made in Japanese history.