There is a serendipitous nature about this project, how an African-American man goes to Japan to live and work amongst the very best in Japanese anime to create an anime about an African who goes to Japan to live amongst the Japanese elite and become a warrior. Part of me deep down feels I was meant to create this adventure series with MAPPA, Flying Lotus, LaKeith & the rest of this talented team.
Yasuke is a fascinating, mysterious figure in Japanese history that’s drawn a growing interest in today’s media over the decades. I first learned of Yasuke’s role in Japanese history over a decade or so. The children’s book, Kuro-suke by Kurusu Yoshio, featured images that piqued my curiosity. To eventually learn that he wasn’t just a fictional character, but a real person, was exciting material for an adventure story.

LeSean’s most recent project on Netflix was the anime series Cannon Busters. Over the years LeSean has worked on plenty of popular animated projects:

Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Black Dynamite
The Boondocks
The Legend of Korra
Spider-Man

Representation in other media

In 1968, author Yoshio Kurusu published a children’s book, Kurosuke, about this figure.
Since the late 20th century, Japanese TV “period dramas” (Jidaigeki) and manga have also been produced about Yasuke.
Yasuke plays a minor part in the 2005 to 2017 manga series Hyouge Mono.
Yasuke is featured in the 2016 to 2020 manga The Man Who Killed Nobunaga.
The 2017 video game Nioh and its 2020 sequel feature a fictional portrayal of Yasuke.
In May 2019, it was announced that Chadwick Boseman was set to portray Yasuke in a live action film as well as produce it. However the actor died due to colon cancer in August 2020 causing MGM to cancel the project.
Yasuke will be the main protagonist in the 2021 Yasuke anime series, directed by LeSean Thomas.

Is Afro Samurai based on yasuke?Once he started combining these efforts with those of the elements of samurai, he eventually developed Afro Samurai. Afro was also based on Yasuke, the legendary black samurai who existed in Japan during the Sengoku period.

What happened to yasuke?

Yasuke was also there at the time. Immediately after Nobunaga’s death, Yasuke went to the lodging of Nobunaga’s heir Oda Nobutada and tried to withdraw with him to Nijō Castle. When they were ambushed halfway, Yasuke fought alongside the Nobutada forces for a long time. Finally he surrendered his sword to Akechi’s men.

What does yasuke mean?

the black oneYasuke, means, “the black one,” in Japanese. … He was a slave who traveled to Japan

Who is Afro Samurai based on?Afuro Samurai Inspired by Okazaki’s love of soul and hip hop music and American media, it follows the life of Afro Samurai who witnessed his father, Rokutaro (owner of the No. 1 headband) being killed by a male gunslinger named Justice (owner of the No.
…
Afro Samurai.

Who will play yasuke?Lakeith Stanfield

Lakeith Stanfield is getting animated again for Netflix, though this next role isn’t quite like Guy on BoJack Horseman. The Uncut Gems and Sorry to Bother You actor will lead the voice cast of Yasuke, a new anime in which Stanfield portrays the first African samurai of the same name

Lakeith Stanfield to play first African samurai in Netflix's Yasuke anime | EW.com

Yasuke: The African Samurai in Japan â Kintaro Publishing

Yasuke
Born	Unknown, circa 1540 Africa, probably Mozambique
Allegiance	Oda clan
Rank	Retainer, bodyguard
Battles/wars	Battle of Tenmokuzan Honnō-ji Incident
Children	Unknown

Yasuke’s Rise as a Samurai

Yasuke’s origins are shrouded in mystery. He was probably born between 1555 and 1566, but even that is not certain. Historians are not even sure of the origin of his name, though it is most likely the Japanese form of his original name. According to one source, he may have been a Makua from Mozambique. It has also been suggested that he was from Angola or Ethiopia. Additionally, he may have been a European-born slave from Portugal.

Whatever his origin, Yasuke first appears in history in 1579 as an attendant of the Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano coming to Japan to visit the missions that had been set up there. Yasuke was most likely a slave. Yasuke’s black skin generated a lot of interest from the native Japanese and many are said to have come to see him at the church which the Jesuits had constructed in Kyoto. This commotion caught the interest of the Daimyo, Lord Nobunaga, who asked for an audience with him.

Nobunaga apparently was skeptical that Yasuke’s black skin was genuine and had him remove his shirt and rub his skin to show that it wasn’t ink. Nobunaga was nonetheless impressed by Yasuke’s height. He is recorded to have been over 6 feet (182cm) tall in an era where most Japanese men were closer to 5 feet (152 cm) tall. This height would have made him very imposing to most indigenous inhabitants of the islands.

Nobunaga soon made Yasuke his retainer and bodyguard. He was eventually made a samurai in 1581 and stationed at Nobunaga’s Azuchi Castle. After this, Nobunaga would invite Yasuke to dine at his table, an unusual privilege even for a samurai. He was also made the Daimyo’s sword bearer with his own katana. During this time, he learned to speak Japanese fluently as well.

The End of His Samurai Career

Yasuke’s career as a samurai would not last long. In 1582, Nobunaga’s general, Mitsuhide, started a coup to overthrow him. Mitsuhide stormed the temple where Nobunaga was staying in Kyoto. Nobunaga, convinced of his imminent defeat at the hands of his treacherous general, committed Seppuku, ritual suicide. After Nobunaga’s death, Yasuke fled to back to the Azuchi castle and entered the service of his son Odo Nobutada. His son however also committed suicide after suffering defeat at the hands of Mitsuhide.

Mitsuhide was not very impressed with Yasuke and dismissed him as “a beast” and not a true samurai. The reason for this was that rather than committing honor suicide, the norm after defeat in Japanese culture, Yasuke apparently offered his sword to Mitsuhide following Western custom. It was undoubtedly because of this rejection that Yasuke returned to the service of Valignano and soon returned to obscurity. The Jesuits, however, were glad to see that he had survived and thanked God for his return.

African-Japanese Contact

There is little indisputable evidence for an African presence in Japan before Yasuke, though there are some interesting historical examples which suggest the possibility of African-Japanese contact. There is a Japanese proverb which says “For a Samurai to be brave, he must have a bit of black blood.” It is uncertain of course whether this is referring to people with dark skin or some other meaning of the word black. It is possible that the expression “black blood” could be completely unrelated to someone who is of Black African descent and have had a very different meaning in ancient Japanese culture.

The one problem with this hypothesis, however, is that the color black, in Japanese culture, is associated with death, fear, and sorrow (among other similar concepts.) It is possible that the ancient Japanese believed that bravery required these qualities, but it is not necessary to assume that they did, and it is more likely that the Japanese didn’t associate these qualities with bravery. It would probably be yet another quality associated with the color black.

Another figure in Japanese history considered by some to be of African descent is Sakanouye No Tamuramaro, a warrior who came to be considered a paragon of warrior virtues. He lived during the Heian Period (794-1185 AD) from about 758 to 811 and was a palace guard of Emperor Kammu (reigned 781-806). He was placed in command of the forces that the emperor sent to fight the Ainu. This warrior is said to have had a “black complexion.”

Yasuke: The True Story of the Legendary African Samurai

By Thomas Lockley and Geoffrey Girard
Sphere (2019)
ISBN-13: 978-0751571615

African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan

The remarkable life of history’s first foreign-born samurai, and his astonishing journey from Northeast Africa to the heights of Japanese society.

When Yasuke arrived in Japan in the late 1500s, he had already traveled much of the known world. Kidnapped as a child, he had ended up a servant and bodyguard to the head of the Jesuits in Asia, with whom he traversed India and China learning multiple languages as he went. His arrival in Kyoto, however, literally caused a riot. Most Japanese people had never seen an African man before, and many of them saw him as the embodiment of the black-skinned (in local tradition) Buddha. Among those who were drawn to his presence was Lord Nobunaga, head of the most powerful clan in Japan, who made Yasuke a samurai in his court. Soon, he was learning the traditions of Japan’s martial arts and ascending the upper echelons of Japanese society.

In the four hundred years since, Yasuke has been known in Japan largely as a legendary, perhaps mythical figure. Now African Samurai presents the never-before-told biography of this unique figure of the sixteenth century, one whose travels between countries, cultures and classes offers a new perspective on race in world history and a vivid portrait of life in medieval Japan.

Yasuke The Legend of the African Samurai

Warrior. Bodyguard. Samurai. Legend. Jamal Turner

His name was Yasuke and he was all of these things. But how did a warrior from Africa find himself serving under one of Japan’s most powerful warlords? Find out in this epic tale of honor, loyalty, and duty. If you or your children love swords, samurai, or legendary warriors, you will love the tale of Yasuke!

Yasuke (African Samurai): The Life and Legend of Japan’s First African Samurai

Brought to Japan in the 16th century by Portuguese traders, he was the first person of African origin who became an instant celebrity. Rumored to be about 7 feet tall, and possessing the strength of 10 men, he garnered the attention of the famed warlord, Oda Nobunaga. He served his master diligently through many battle victories. He is most famously associated with the title of African Samurai. This is the story of Yasuke.

Not much is known about Yasuke. From the historical accounts that are available, we know that, despite his intimidating demeanor, he was a gentle person. This was the first impression Nobunaga had of him when he first saw him surrounded by a large curious crowd in Kyoto. Being taken to immediately, he frequently accompanied the warlord and even dined with him personally which was a rare occurrence at the time.

Come and meet the legendary non-Japanese figure in Japanese history. This wonderful book will help you acquire unique insights into Yasuke’s life and times.

Here’s a preview of what you’ll discover in this book:

Yasuke’s origins, his travels and how he ended up in Japan
The cultural context in Japan, and how Yasuke was perceived
How Yasuke met Nobunaga and deepening of their association
How Yasuke became a samurai warrior
Adopting the Bushido Code
Before and after Nobunaga’s death

Legend of Yasuke (Son of the Soil)

A young Portuguese Captain breaks all rules to obtain an ancient relic which once belonged to an African god. He meets a proud Bini soldier and their fated bonds form over a calabash of palm wine. Swords are drawn as betrayal and treachery sour their brotherhood. The road to the Legend known as Yasuke the Samurai begins here! Featuring the dynamic creative team of Morakinyo Araoye, Dominic Oziren, Kazeem Oladejo, and Osiris Santos Junior.

Yasuke Paperback

Afro Samurai (アフロサムライ, Afuro Samurai, stylized as ΛFΓO SΛMUΓΛI) is a Japanese seinen dōjinshi manga series written and illustrated by manga artist Takashi Okazaki. It was originally serialized irregularly in the avant-garde dōjinshi manga magazine Nou Nou Hau from November 1998 to September 2002. Inspired by Okazaki’s love of soul and hip hop music and American media, it follows the life of Afro Samurai who witnessed his father, Rokutaro (owner of the No. 1 headband) being killed by a male gunslinger named Justice (owner of the No. 2 headband) while he was a child. As an adult, Afro sets off to kill Justice and avenge his father.

Afro Samurai: Resurrection - Director's Cut

The legendary master is forced back into the game by Sio, a deadly woman from his past. She won’t stop attacking until Afro gets schooled in the brutal lessons he dealt to those who stood in his way.

In a feudal yet futuristic Japan, it is said that the one who wields the Number 1 headband is the greatest warrior in the world and shall possess god-like powers. Some believe that the Number 1 headband grants immortality, while others believe that the headband had been sent down by gods. The only way to obtain the Number 1 headband is to challenge and defeat the current wearer in combat. However, only the wearer of the Number 2 headband can challenge the Number 1 whereas anyone can challenge the Number 2. Thus, the Number 2 must constantly fight to stay alive. The Number 2 headband’s current owner, the outlaw Justice, fights and kills Rokutaro, Afro’s father and owner of the Number 1 headband. A young Afro witnesses the fight and vows revenge against Justice, who tells him to seek him out when he is “ready to duel a god

Series Cast


Samuel L. Jackson	…	Afro Samurai / …5 episodes, 2007
Phil LaMarr	…	Brother 1 / …5 episodes, 2007
Yuri Lowenthal	…	Kuma / …4 episodes, 2007
Greg Eagles	…	Brother 6 / …3 episodes, 2007
Terrence ‘T.C.’ Carson	…	Sword Master / …3 episodes, 2007
John DiMaggio	…	Brother 2 / …3 episodes, 2007
Ron Perlman	…	Justice2 episodes, 2007
S. Scott Bullock	…	Dharman2 episodes, 2007
Fred Tatasciore	…	Juzo / …2 episodes, 2007
Dave Wittenberg	…	Assassin / …2 episodes, 2007
Jeff Bennett	…	Foo / …2 episodes, 2007
Jason Marsden	…	Sasuke2 episodes, 2007
Tara Strong	…	Otsuru / …2 episodes, 2007
Crystal Scales	…	Young Afro / …2 episodes, 2007
Steve Blum	…	Assassin1 episode, 2007
Kelly Hu	…	Okiku1 episode, 2007
Grey Griffin	…	Oyuki / …1 episode, 2007
John Kassir	…	Soshun1 episode, 2007
Liam O’Brien	…	Kihachi / …1 episode, 2007
Dwight Schultz	…	Assassin 1 / …1 episode, 2007
James Arnold Taylor	…	Yashichi1 episode, 2007