African samurai: The enduring legacy of a black warrior in feudal Japan

And like the locals in Japan’s then-capital of Kyoto, he was awed by Yasuke’s height, build and skin tone, according to Thomas Lockley, the author of “African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan.” “Yasuke was initially viewed as a source of entertainment as he was a novelty, but within a month he’d become a valued samurai and member of Oda’s entourage,” says Lockley. One portrays a wrestling match between a black man and a Japanese warrior, which Lockley assumes are Yasuke and Oda.

Source: edition.cnn.com