Yasuke Was Not a Samurai

Yasuke was the world’s first Black samurai. When a 6-foot-tall African slave landed in Japan, he stuck out like a sore thumb. People lost all modesty and made a sustained stampede trying to get a closer look. Such a sight was so foreign in Kyoto. A THREAD! Yasuke, despite being liked by Nobunaga, was not a samurai but a yōjō (page bearer/retainer), carrying Nobunaga’s tools. The use of secondary sources contradicts primary sources that support his role as a valet: 1581 letters of the Jesuits Luís Fróis and Lourenço Mexia. books.google.co.uk/books?id=PQE_A... en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuke

A screenshot of a social media thread about Yasuke, showing several artistic depictions of the historical African man in Japan. The added context challenges the claim that Yasuke was the world’s first Black samurai, arguing that primary sources describe him as a page bearer or valet carrying Nobunaga’s tools. The joke comes from the blunt fact-checking correction appearing beneath the original dramatic historical claim. EN: A screenshot of a social media thread about Yasuke, showing several artistic depictions of the historical African man in Japan. The added context challenges the claim that Yasuke was the world’s first Black samurai, arguing that primary sources describe him as a page bearer or valet carrying Nobunaga’s tools. The joke comes from the blunt fact-checking correction appearing beneath the original dramatic historical claim.

• @eternalclassic / 44413 2024-01-05