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Knowledge Base

“Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.” ― Terry Goodkind

Was there a black samurai?


Yes, there were historical accounts of black samurai in feudal Japan. One notable example is Yasuke, an African warrior who served under the warlord Oda Nobunaga in the late 16th century.

Yasuke was believed to be of African origin, possibly from Mozambique or Angola, and was brought to Japan as a slave or servant. He eventually rose to the rank of samurai and became a trusted retainer of Oda Nobunaga.


Yasuke's presence as a black samurai was a rarity in feudal Japan, where the samurai class was primarily composed of ethnic Japanese individuals. His story has captured historical interest due to the unique circumstances of a foreign-born warrior serving in a prominent position during a period of significant political and social change in Japan.


While Yasuke is perhaps the most well-known black samurai, it's worth noting that his story represents a unique individual rather than a widespread presence of black samurai in feudal Japan.

The samurai class was predominantly made up of native Japanese individuals, and instances of non-Japanese samurai were relatively rare. However, Yasuke's story highlights the multicultural dynamics that existed during that period and challenges the notion of samurai being exclusively of Japanese descent.