The 16th century… TRULY an eventful period for Japan! The 1500s saw the death of a more than 200-year old Shogunate, the rise of one of history’s most fearsome warlords, constant bloodshed and the arrival of westerners on Japanese soil who were mainly interested in two things: Trading and introducing their religion to the Japanese population. But even more than that, the arrival of westerners in Japan brought with it a clash of cultures rarely seen in history and a good amount of stories worth telling!
One such story that had always captured not only my own interest and imagination, but also that of countless historians and other curious people, is the fascinating story of a man who made his way from the heart of the African continent all the way to Japan, where he might have achieved something that no other westerner in Japan had achieved before him: Becoming a Samurai!
Today, we take a look at the life story of Yasuke, a story that is just as intriguing as it is shrouded in mystery and speculation. We’ll explore how a man from Africa in the 16th century made it to Japan in the first place, WHY he made it there, who he met along the way and how he became part of what might be the most unlikely friendship in history.
#samurai #africa #japan
SOURCES:
Book: “Yasuke (African Samurai) : The Life and Legend of Japan’s First African Samurai” by Jeff Taylor
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48542673
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuke
https://www.nicolaroos.com/sculpture/
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro
01:45 – Origins
05:01 – Arrival in Japan
06:35 – An Unlikely Friendship
11:55 – The End of Yasuke
34 Comments
FASCINATING Story.
Really cool video. I’m so glad that this moment in history was recorded by many sources.
6:48 I’d read that the Vietnamese had similar reactions the first time they saw Black men during the Vietnam war
Dope
I have watched a few of your videos. This one won you a subscriber.
As cool as the idea and story of a black samurai would be Unfortunately it isn't true… yasuke was not a samurai but he was a retainer under nobunaga.
There are a few westerners who became samurai. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_foreign-born_samurai_in_Japan
🎉
He wasn't a samurai. Never could be. Samurai is a class you’re born into, not a rank bestowed upon someone. Like burakumin.
It is cool that this man's story exists and thank you for sharing it with us 🙂
I only wish we knew his birth name and what happened to him after he left the historical record
Outside of African American History, Japanese, Korean and African History is so interesting to me.
This is a good deep dive. Def subscribing. I have so many black history channels im subscribed to but this is the first time a Japanese History channel came across my recommendations
Don't know if you remember me asking for this topic, but either way, I'm thankful for the time, effort and insight into this video. I'm an African, so the subject matter is interesting and important to me 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
As a blk person, it’s still wild to me how in countries like china, we still get treated like we are tourists attractions where chinese people still go nuts just to take pictures with us. It’s a very bizarre experience to say the least.
Nice call, Aniki. Right up your alley. Thanks.
Great video as always. Just gotta say the chrono cross opening theme gives me chills every time. Awesome choice.
When i was in a samurai museum before in Osaka an African tourist put on the samurai armor to take a photo.
Suddenly all the Japanese people were at awe and proceeded to take out their phones and take photos of him.
It was quite a scene.
I also was at awe by the contrast of him and how it was so juxtaposed to the light tinted samurai armor. No doubt the ancient samurai also must have felt this way when they met Yasuke
What a netflix style bullshit lol
Solid content ANIKI and forever glad I discover your channel on Japanese history and historical events which always fascinates me as a kid learning about the land of the rising sun. Be well ANIKI and I will stay tune for more exciting video contents from you.
Imagine believing this bullshit is true. Disgraceful.
I know they say it isn't going to be historically accurate but I'm excited to see what new lore about yasuke we get from assassin's creed :red later this year
❤❤
About two years after Nobunaga's death, records show that Indian and black mercenaries joined the side of Christian daimyo Harunobu Arima in the Battle of Okita-nawate in the Kyushu region.
They were firing cannons on board a ship.
Whether it was Yasuke or another black mercenary is not known. This is because their names are not recorded.
I desparately wanted to see Chadwick Boseman as Yasuke , in the role of him, but he's no more, but now they are saying that Omar Sy is gonna play him, so I am really confident about the project
Bruh you’re so late to the party fam & very historically inaccurate… You need to do more research on Africans in ancient China & Japan, they set up the first 2 or 3 dynasties in China & had great influence ancient Japanese society … Japanese still use African words in their language. And the Japanese still say in order to be a true samurai you have to have at least a once of African blood in you… Do better research fam… He’s not the first African or the first black samurai… But otherwise good job covering Yasuke but please do better…
Over 40% of Japanese men belong to haplogroup D, a paternal lineage thought to have originated in East Africa some 50,000 to 60,000 years ago. IJS do better my guy
I don’t think Lord Mitsuhide really thinks Yasuke as Animal.
I’m from Kameoka ruled by Lord Mitsuhide.
And he is still worshipped by local people as merciful and wise daimyo.
If he was a really racist, he wouldn’t mind execution of Yasuke at all.
"we wuz samurai n shieeet" TND NOW
Chrono Cross and Baten Kaitos music, oh my gosh!
Great video. Thanks. Liked and subscribed!
watch Japan's Mysterious African Heritage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JD8FTP1cWQ&t=164s Japan Heritage
Nice content!!
While not as interesting as Yasuke, another interesting samurai story is the one called "The Duce's Samurai" as in the samurai of Benito Mussolini. This was a japanese man enamoured with Italy, their military and the fascists ideas.
He had an interesting life, so if you can, please do read about him.
He left Japan when the benefactor to the mascot died.