Yasuke
African retainer of Oda Nobunaga / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yasuke (Japanese: 弥助 / 弥介, Japanese pronunciation: [jasɯ̥ke]) was a man of African origin[3][4] who served as a samurai to the Japanese daimyō Oda Nobunaga for a period of 15 months between 1581 and 1582, during the Sengoku period, until Nobunaga's death in the Honnō-ji Incident.[5][6][7][8] Afterwards, Yasuke was sent back to the Jesuits.[9] There are no further records of his life.
Yasuke | |
---|---|
Born | c. 1555[1] Portuguese Mozambique (most likely) |
Died | After June 1582 |
Allegiance | Jesuits, Alessandro Valignano Oda clan, Oda Nobunaga (1581–1582) |
Battles/wars |
There are few historical documents on Yasuke. From the fragmentary accounts, Yasuke first arrived in Japan in the service of Jesuit Alessandro Valignano.[10] Nobunaga summoned him out of a desire to see a black man.[10] Subsequently, Nobunaga took him into his service, gave him the name Yasuke and granted him a sword, servants, a house and a stipend. Historians believe this was the equivalent to "the bestowing of warrior or 'samurai' rank" during this period.[1]