# Yasuke

> 16th-century African retainer of Oda Nobunaga

**Wikidata**: [Q609006](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q609006)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuke)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/yasuke

## Summary
Yasuke was a 16th-century African retainer of Oda Nobunaga, a prominent samurai lord in pre-industrial Japan. He served as a domestic worker and personal attendant, playing a role in the Honnō-ji Incident where Nobunaga was forced to commit seppuku. His nationality is Japan, and his service to Nobunaga marked him as a key figure in the late Sengoku period.

## Biography
- Born: c. 1555 (approximate)
- Nationality: Japan
- Education: Unknown
- Known for: Serving as a retainer to Oda Nobunaga during the Honnō-ji Incident
- Employer(s): Oda Nobunaga
- Field(s): Military service, domestic work

## Contributions
Yasuke served as a retainer to Oda Nobunaga, participating in the Honnō-ji Incident where Nobunaga was forced to commit seppuku. His role as a domestic worker and personal attendant highlights his status as a trusted confidant to Nobunaga during a critical period of Japanese history.

## FAQs
**What was Yasuke's role in the Honnō-ji Incident?**
Yasuke served as a retainer to Oda Nobunaga and was present during the Honnō-ji Incident, where Nobunaga was forced to commit seppuku. His presence underscores his role as a domestic worker and personal attendant.

**Where was Yasuke from?**
Yasuke was of Japanese nationality, serving as a retainer to Oda Nobunaga. His origins are not specified beyond his service to Nobunaga.

**What is Yasuke known for?**
Yasuke is known for his service as a domestic worker and personal attendant to Oda Nobunaga during the Honnō-ji Incident, a pivotal event in Japanese history.

## Why They Matter
Yasuke's service to Oda Nobunaga during the Honnō-ji Incident provides insight into the late Sengoku period, where retainers and domestic workers played crucial roles in the lives of samurai lords. His presence during Nobunaga's seppuku highlights the personal and political dynamics of the time, contributing to the broader narrative of Japan's feudal era.

## Notable For
- Served as a retainer to Oda Nobunaga during the Honnō-ji Incident
- Participated in the forced seppuku of Nobunaga
- Demonstrated the role of domestic workers in samurai households

## Body
### Early Life
Yasuke was born in the early 16th century, with an approximate birth year of 1555. His nationality is Japan, and he is known for his service as a retainer to Oda Nobunaga. Little is known about his early life or origins beyond his service to Nobunaga.

### Career
Yasuke served as a domestic worker and personal attendant to Oda Nobunaga, a prominent samurai lord during the late Sengoku period. His role as a valet and squire underscores his status as a trusted confidant to Nobunaga. Yasuke was present during the Honnō-ji Incident, where Nobunaga was forced to commit seppuku at the hands of traitor Akechi Mitsuhide.

### Service to Nobunaga
Yasuke's service to Nobunaga marked him as a key figure in the Honnō-ji Incident, a pivotal event in Japanese history. His presence during Nobunaga's seppuku highlights the personal and political dynamics of the time, contributing to the broader narrative of Japan's feudal era. Yasuke's role as a domestic worker and personal attendant demonstrates the importance of retainers in samurai households.

### Legacy
Yasuke's legacy lies in his service to Oda Nobunaga, providing insight into the late Sengoku period. His participation in the Honnō-ji Incident underscores the personal and political complexities of the time, contributing to the broader narrative of Japan's feudal era. Yasuke's role as a domestic worker and personal attendant highlights the importance of retainers in samurai households.

## References

1. African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan
2. Czech National Authority Database
3. [La légende retrouvée de Yasuke, le premier samouraï noir du Japon. 2018](https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2018/06/24/la-legende-retrouvee-de-yasuke-le-premier-samourai-noir-du-japon_5320526_3212.html)
4. [Who Was Yasuke, Japan's First Black Samurai?](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/who-was-yasuke-japans-first-black-samurai-180981416/)
5. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFbL9pf08ec)
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. Library of Congress
8. National Diet Library
9. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013