PEOPLE
WE
SHOULD KNOW
Yasuke
Known around the world as the first recorded foreign-blood samurai, Yasuke was an incredible man whose legacy left a powerful mark on Japanese and world history. Yasuke’s origins are a mystery to historians, though many think he was from Mozambique, Ethiopia, or Nigeria. Records have Yasuke arriving in Japan in 1579 with an Italian priest, and it is believed that Yasuke acted as a bodyguard for the Italian. By 1581, Yasuke crossed paths with the feudal lord Nobunaga, and from there, history was made.
Yasuke trained under Nobunaga and eventually was given the title
of samurai. Many historians believe that Yasuke may not have been the first foreigner or even Black samurai but is credited with this distinction since he was the first foreigner to have the title on record. Standing at over six feet tall, Yasuke was rumored to have the strength of ten men, towering above his fellow samurai. Sadly, not much is known of Yasuke’s life. He only appears in records from 1570 to 1882, and historians are unsure of what happened to him.
Today, Yasuke is popular in pop culture and has even been the subject of a highly anticipated anime series.
Murasaki Shikibu
Born into the noble class, Murasaki’s real name is unknown. Historians know she was well educated, having learned Chinese at an early age, and was married to a much older man at some point in her life. After only two years of marriage, her husband passed away, and Murasaki was summoned to serve as a lady-in-waiting to the empress. It was here that Murasaki wrote the famous novel, The Tale of Genji.
Considered the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji is also the first major literary work written in Japanese. The novel follows Prince Genji and his life at court. The book focused on emotions and the romantic life of the prince during his time at court.
Although the text is in Japanese, it was written in a form that is no longer common to modern speakers and was translated to today's Japanese in the 20th century by female poet, Yosano Akiko. The Tale of Genji is considered a classic piece of literature that continues to be read to this day.