The story of the first Black samurai in Japan

2021 Massey Lecturer Esi Edugyan shares the story of Yasuke, a man of African descent who appears in the historical record solely between 1579 and 1582, and trains as a samurai in feudal Japan.

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[noLucas]

There is no historical evidence that "African samurai Yasuke" in Japan. Moreover Yasuke doesn't have family name. True samurai were the ruling class of Japan, similar to Western knights. Those without a family name were merely footman of samurai.
Having a family name is indispensable condition to be a samurai in Japan. Thus, Yasuke, who does not have a family name, cannot be considered a samurai.

[CrownWho]

What a wonderful story with a wonderful mystery

[liam_smith_]

Here is another Yasuke the legendary samurai believer lol
Welcome to this freakin messy hell !!!

[rey]

nobody thought he is a god. the japanese werent idiots kid.

[壇まゆみ]

From Japan. I hope my friends will not be fooled by false history.

[SengokuStudies]

I usually do not comment on Yasuke videos. However, the CBC is likely to be what YouTube would consider an authoritative source. Therefore, I will remark on things said in this video. 1) Yasuke came to Japan as a bodyguard- Possibly. We have nothing about Yasuke before he came to Japan. We do not even know what name he known as to the Jesuits. The idea that he was a bodyguard is based entirely on speculation. 2) Yasuke’s physical attributes- Yes, to the Japanese of the day he would have been very large. It is also said that he was very strong. 3) Yasuke learned languages easily- We have no evidence of this. It is very likely that he did learn some degree of Japanese, and it is possible that he had become proficient in it. While likely he spoke at least some Japanese, even that is speculation. 4) The commotion about Yasuke- Yes, Yasuke and other Africans did create quite a stir in Kyōto. 5) Nobunaga determined Yasuke could be trained as a samurai- There is no evidence he ever had any military training before coming to Japan or while he was in Japan. Nor that he had any role in Nobunaga’s military. 6) Yasuke was given a home and a servant- Yes, he was given both of these. 7) Yasuke fought together with Nobunaga in many battles for 3-4 years- No. Nobunaga met Yasuke in March of 1581 and died at Honnōji in June 1582. Yasuke was in his service for a little more than 1 year. He was among those said to be with Nobunaga at Tenmokuzan in 1582. However, there is nothing about him fighting there. If one considers Honnoji and Nijo battles when Nobunaga was assassinated, then one could include those. Other than that, there is no record of him fighting. 8) After Honnōji- Yes, he drops from the historical record. We have no idea what happens to him.

[TheStrataminor]

More blackwash happen as Japanese wouldn't have let him be a idea but no, historically and no records unlike William Adams who is recorded and documented.

[EpiphanyMindChange]

There was a black knight in the order of Santiago. Do a video on this.

[engletinaknickerbocker]

Actually the story brings up so much more than the truth of this remarkable person. One thing that is similar to my relative that first came to the North American continent in Quebec was that he was a houseboy for Jesuit priests, but that is where the similarity ends. I wonder if Yasuke ever had descendants.

[jama]

Who else is watching Shogun and is now obsessed with Japanese history?

[rikkzaires]

Learn from the liar and then believe it to be true and then help to spread it across the Globo. Then unlearn lies and learn the truth. And the truth is, overall in this world Africans have reached before the invasion of the fallen angels took place and don't ask from where the fallen angels were hidden because I do not know but the truth you all think is the truth is a big fat lie, and you all need to unlearn it and apply self-consciousness and critical thinking. I'm sleeping now do not disturb. Thank you

[MKE]

He is one of the lead characters for Assassin's Creed Shadows

[davidhong]

Who is this person talking? Is she the grand mother who said Cleopatra was black? Jive turkey is more like it.

[yellfont]

Is there a better video from someone not hooked on victimized?

[theoneandonlythatdoitall]

He was a slave. Please speak the truth

[seratex]

Here to learn after seeing Assassin Creed Shadow xd

[jjrrt]

Samurais were black, vikings were black blah blah blah. You people are delusional

[relaxchil]

5 feet 2 inches.. This bs.. They r not that short

[RemedySound]

ROCK STAR STATUS💪🏾🤘🏾..."ppl being trampled just to see him"...The so-called Black man is the Rock Star of the World.

[zazlar]

😂 The Japanese literally share the same commonalities and language with West Africans, more commonly Benin. First black Samurai nonsense. Africans have long established Asia hundreds of thousands of years ago. Research the Ainu. Edo was Tokyos previous name, named after Edo in Western Africa. Europeans just can’t stand the truth that Africans were the first, expanded and established civilization and culture