Japan’s 10 Most Stunning Samurai Warriors

When most people think of a Samurai warrior, they picture a man of Japanese descent. Because the Bushidō doesn't require a specific ancestry, but rather, adherence to the code, samurai came from various backgrounds. Yasuke was a rare example of this having originated from Africa, possibly from Mozambique, though this isn't known for certain.

Yasuke served the Japanese hegemon Oda Nobunaga in the early 1580s as one of his loyal samurai. Nobunuga took an interest in Yasuke after meeting him. He had never met a person with skin as dark as his, so he had the man strip to the waist and scrub his skin. when the "ink" didn't come off, he became intrigued.

Yasuke entered Nobunuga's service and fought alongside him at the Battle of Tenmokuzan. Following Nobunaga's defeat in 1582, which led him to commit seppuku, Yasuke joined his heir, Oda Nobutada, but was captured when they attempted to rally at Nijō Castle.

Unfortunately, history doesn't record what happened to Yasuke after he was captured. He may have been spared by Akechi, the warlord whose forces captured him, but there is no veracity to this claim.