African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan

African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan

by Thomas Lockley

4.7 (849)

4.7 stars from 849 reviews. Top 92% of Historical Fiction books we track.

384 pages~6.4 hr readPublished by Harlequin Enterprises, LimitedPublished 2019-01-01

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Last checked: Jun 8, 2026

Price history: $2.99 $15.00

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Perfect for you if...

  • You're fascinated by overlooked historical figures and stories that challenge what you thought you knew about the past.
  • You love vivid accounts of life in different cultures and the remarkable people who bridged them.
  • You appreciate meticulously researched biographies that read like compelling narratives, not academic textbooks.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You're looking for a deep dive into samurai martial arts and sword techniques. This is about the man, not the combat.
  • You prefer fiction over history, even when the true story is stranger than most novels.
  • You want a quick read. At 384 pages with dense historical detail, it requires genuine attention.

About this book

African Samurai is a biography of Yasuke, the first foreign-born samurai, and his journey from Africa to Japan. When Yasuke arrived in Kyoto in the late 1500s, he had already traveled extensively across the known world. Kidnapped as a child, he had served as a servant and bodyguard to the head of the Jesuits in Asia, traveling through India and China while learning multiple languages. His arrival in Japan caused significant commotion, as most Japanese people had never encountered an African man before. Many viewed him as an embodiment of the black-skinned Buddha. Lord Nobunaga, head of Japan's most powerful clan, was drawn to Yasuke and made him a samurai in his court. Yasuke then learned the traditions of Japanese martial arts and rose through the ranks of Japanese society. For four hundred years, Yasuke has been remembered in Japan largely as a legendary or mythical figure. This biography presents the first detailed account of his life, exploring his travels between countries and cultures and offering perspective on race in world history and life in medieval Japan during the period of Japanese unification.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

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Free$7.50$15.00Apr '20Apr '22Oct '23Jun '26
$2.99$15.00

Currently on sale at $2.99 — 80% off peak. Price has dropped 20 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 96 days. Typically stays discounted for 31 days.

Sales Rank

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#41,301#337,348#633,394Oct '18Jul '22Apr '24Jun '26

Currently around #128K in the Kindle store — a niche title.

Rating & Reviews

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3.5★4.3★5.0★Aug '23May '24Sep '24Jan '26RatingReviews

Currently 4.7★ from 849 reviews

Gaining approximately 5 new reviews per month. Rating has dipped slightly from 4.7 to 4.6.

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Free$7.50$15.00Apr '20Apr '22Oct '23Jun '26PredictedJun '26

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $2.99. It typically returns to around $15.00.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

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Thomas Lockley

1 book on Vagrant Press

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