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

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.