Yusuke the black Samurai in Japan history

Yusuke, born in the 1550s, was a man of African origin who served as a warrior (Samurai) in Japanese history. Most accounts describe him as a 'towering man' with a height of  6 feet and 2 inches, which is almost 1.88 metres whereas the average Japanese height was 157.9 metres at that time.

Digital illustration of Yusake (Image: Netflix)

There are two things that made him a subject of fascination by many people of Japan at that time including history enthusiasts of all time; one was his height which made him seem like a giant in Japan and the second was his skin colour coupled with the achievement that he made for himself.

Recently, Hollywood decided to feature his story in two famous movies; more are expected to come from the movie industry. Films like the animated series 'Yasuke' have brought this legend to life. They have created awareness of his existence in a world where black history has not been given its due attention.

Yusuke as portrayed in the Japanese Children's book, 'Kuro-su' (Image: BBC)

As per an article on Foreign Policy, Yusuke is believed to have been born in Mozambique, Ethiopia, or Sudan, most sources however suggest that he specifically came from Mozambique due to his mastery of Kiswahili. Born in an era where having a black skin was inhumanely considered a crime, Yusuke was captured and sold as an enslaved person by the Portuguese enslavers.

He served as a soldier since his youthful years. On how he reached Japan, Foreign Policy indicates that he was chosen to accompany Alessandro Valignano, an Italian Jesuit missionary, on his mission to Japan in 1579 as a bodyguard. In Japan, he was introduced to Oda Nobunaga, the first of the three Japanese unifiers.

Historian Lawrence Winkler gives a detailed account of Yusuke's first day in Kyoto, the capital of Japan at the time. He reveals that the sight of Yusuke caused a great sensation that people climbed over one another to get a glimpse of him with some crushed to death. Can you imagine how huge this African man was?

His master, Nobunaga is said to have been so fascinated by Yasuke’s skin colour. Nobunaga's fascination had him believing that Yusake's skin colour was some sort of ink that would wipe off. Being an excellent intercultural relationship builder and a lover of foreign knowledge, Nobunaga immediately bounded with Yusuke, forming a relationship that would turn into a brotherhood and a military alliance.

In no time, Yusuke joined Japan's warrior class, the samurai. He soon began speaking fluent Japanese. Nobunaga immediately made him a full Samurai, fighting alongside him in battles. He also gave Yusuke a household and assigned servants to him. Another article featured by BBC states that Yusuke was among the few privileged men to dine with Nobunaga; it is further said that Nobunaga treated Yusake as a close family member.

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Yusake's history had been so scarce if not almost ignored until author Yoshio Kurusu broke this silence in history through her 1968 publication, Kuro-su (Kuro meaning "black" in Japanese). The children's book illustrated by Mita Genjiro created a reminder of Yusuke's contribution to Japan. It made room for further explorations and even inspired other authors like the French-Ivorian writer Serge Bile to write about Yusuke.

Something more to note is that Yusuke's life in Japan was not all nice. Just like any black man in a foreign land, he faced resistance and racism. Another Japanese author, Shusaku Endo in a 1973 novel, Kuronbo, writes about a far different Yusuke. Motivated by the idea of racism and prejudice, author Edo writes about "a confused bumbler who relies on a girl named Yuki to mother him'" as the BBC article puts it. The title of the book itself is condemned since it is a Japanese racial slur somewhat equivalent to the n-word in English.

Statue of Yusuke on display (Image: Nicola Roos)

According to historical sources, Yusuke's play in Japan seems to come to an end after the end of Nobunaga who was overthrown by his general and consequently committed suicide. With the death of his master and close ally, Yusuke is said to have been exiled back to the Jesuit mission in Kyoto in the year 1582. 

In recent times, 500 years down the line, Yusuke has been used as a key figure in the black power movement. His life, right from his childhood, his journey to Japan, serving as a black Samurai, to his exile in Japanese history, has been used to inspire black people all over the world.