Chadwick boseman is set to star in the action drama yasuke as an african. The story of yasuke may sound like the plot to a quentin tarantino movie, but he did indeed don a kabuto as historys only african samurai. The incredible story of yasuke, the one and only african samurai. Yasuke was abducted from his home somewhere in central or western africa or mozambique, historians say and sold to a jesuit priest named alessandro valignano. The black panther star is set to play the first black samurai to serve a warlord in japan in the period action pic. Yasuke, first known black japanese samurai in history. A movie centered around the historical tale of yasuke, the reputed first black samurai to serve a warlord in japan, is currently in development titled black samurai, the films script is being. Black panther star, chadwick boseman will produce and star as japans first african samurai in the historical film, yasuke. Bosemans acting resume shows a slew of biographical films. Yasuke and akechi mitsuhide odas brother are given a mystical sword that enhances there power but in the wrong hands can drive them insane. He played james brown in the film get on up, thurgood marshall in marshall and jackie robinson in 42. Chadwick boseman to play first black samurai in yasuke. Samurai blood a film about yasuke, the black samurai youtube.
The remarkable life of historys first foreignborn samurai, and his astonishing journey from northeast africa to the heights of japanese society the man who came to be known as yasuke arrived in japan in the 16th century, an indentured mercenary arriving upon one of the portuguese ships carrying a new language, a new religion and an introduction to the slave trade. Japanese sources described yasuke as looking between the age of 24 or 25, black like an ox, healthy and good looking, and possessing the strength of 10 men. His original name is not recorded in any known source, so it is unclear if yasuke. Black panther star chadwick boseman is set to topline action drama yasuke, about the first black man who served as a samurai to a japanese warlord. The first black samurai yasuke gets animated series and. The incredible legend of the first black samurai ozy a modern. Readick, with additional story ideas from marco joachim.
The true story of yasuke, a legendary black warrior in feudal. I decided to make a video about him because i thought i wanted to let you guys now that history is a very interesting subject. The first black man to walk on japanese soil, his arrival caught the attention of oda nobunaga, a feudal warlord desperate to unify the clanladen. Birth of a samurai, avaloy and team have launched a hatchfund campaign to bring to life their take on yasukes story. At this point yasuke disappears from the history books. Fresh from playing the african warrior king black panther in. As the first nonjapanese samurai, many will call into question the proof, but its clear that.
If you think that so far this sounds like the plot to an excellent movie, just wait. There was once a black samurai in japan, and while he did not sport an afro like the popular black samurai anime character, he was no less of a badass. Lionsgate has commenced highlander creator gregory widen to script black samurai, an action drama grounded in the historical tale of yasuke, reputed to. Production and distribution company metrogoldwynmayer mgm, has lit the green light for a new film based around historys only known african samurai in. Mgm has announced that they will be producing a movie about the fascinating. Yasuke is often regarded as the first black samurai, or even the only black samurai. Yasuke an action drama film about the first black samurai duration. Pages businesses medianews company 88rising videos yasuke. Mclendon, afropunk contributor what is known about yasuke is limited and fraught with the uncertainties that history is often full of, but his legacy is strong nonetheless. Forgotten tale of japans first black samurai bound for. In his quest for redemption and honor, yasuke, the only known samurai of african origin, becomes entrenched in a struggle for control of.
He was probably born between 1555 and 1566, but even that is not certain. For all the latest entertainment news, download indian express app. Yasuke, the african samurai, is an example of the former. Yasuke was present during the honnoji incident, the forced. Chadwick boseman to star as first black samurai in. Yasuke was brought to japan in 1579 by jesuit missionaries and gained the attention and interest of the japanese nobleman. Yasuke wasnt just the first black person ever to set foot in japan, he was also the first nonjapanese samurai, and the first and only black samurai. Chadwick boseman to play african samurai yasuke in his. The film is an adaptation of the story of yasuke, who served in the 16th century under the japanese warlord oda nobunaga. Chadwick boseman to play african samurai yasuke in his next. The name yasuke was granted to him by nobunaga, although why and when is unclear.
Yasuke arrived to japan in 1579 in the service of italian jesuit missionary alessandro valignano, visitor of missions in the indies, in india. A short film seeking to raise awareness to one of the most fascinating narratives in japanese history the story of 16th century samurai, yasuke. Hong kong cnn when feudal japans most powerful warlord nobunaga oda met yasuke, a black slaveturned. Black samurai is a 1977 american blaxploitation film directed by al adamson and starring jim kelly. Chadwick boseman will play yasuke in his next film. Lionsgate has asked screenwriter gregory wilden, the creator of the 1986 film highlander, to write a script for an action drama based on yasukes centuriesold story. As per deadline, boseman is all set to play yasuke, the first african samurai in japan. He has been promoted by warlord oda nobunaga to be general of his army. There is a reference to an african arquebusier working for the arima clan a few years after this, but its highly unlikely that this person is yasuke. Chadwick boseman will play african samurai in yasuke. This is a short video about the first black samurai in japan. Facebook twitter april 20 2017 yasuke by south african artist nicola roos.
However, a recent discovery conducted by discovery of the worlds mysteries concluded that yasuke was a makua named yasufe. African samurai certainly alters my understanding of african and japanese history. If you cant wait until then, there are countless pop culture series that tell the story of the first black samurai. Yasuke, the only officially recognized samurai from africa. The film is based on a novel of the same name, by marc olden. According to this, the black man named yasuke was given his own residence and a short, ceremonial. Chadwick boseman tapped to play japans first black. Chadwick boseman tapped to play japans first black samurai. Yasuke variously rendered as or, or in different sources. The legend of yasuke is one of historys bestkept secrets, the only person of nonasian origin to become a samurai, boseman said. The opening scene is even 100% fiction, made to seem like a kurosawa film. Political history general sources on south african download online. Yasuke was a slave turned samurai from africa who lived in japan in the sixteenth century. Yasuke, from africa to japan in the 16th century yasuke.
Mgm is making a film about historys first black samurai. When yasuke arrived in japan in the late 1500s, he had already traveled much of the known. There is very little recorded history on yasuke, the young african man believed to be japans first black samurai, but his story may soon be told on the silver screen. Kujukuri city in chiba prefecture and dallas in the u. After much speculation, we finally learn that none other than chadwick boseman. Black panthers chadwick boseman will play the role of yasuke, the first african samurai to swing a sword in japan. News agency of nigeria reports that boseman gained global. Lionsgate is developing an actiondrama film on yasuke. Swift the first black samurai, yasuke, will get his own film according to deadline.
The samurai has maintained an image of fierceness, mystery, and honor across the mediums of film and literature. Lionsgate is developing an actiondrama film on yasuke the first black samurai. The real afrosamurai is a documentary film about the real life adventure of a mozambican warrior in the service of the jesuits in 15th century japan. The legend of yasuke is one of historys bestkept secrets, the only person of nonasian origin to become a samurai, boseman said, according to deadline. Mgm to produce film about african samurai hypebeast. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Deadline reports that mgm studios will be releasing a new action film titled yasuke, which puts the spotlight on historys only known african samurai in feudal japan the online publication.
About yasuke due to the murkiness of records when it came to black people in the 16th century, widen picked one of several. Yasuke was a retainer of african origin who served under the sengoku period japanese. Chadwick boseman to star in samurai film yasuke hypebeast. Yasuke san is a documentary that investigates the presence of an african warrior who became a samurai retainer to one of japans greatest historical figures, oda nobunaga, a powerful daimyo of japan in the late 16th century who attempted to unify japan during the late sengoku period. As more details are released we will update this article. Nobunaga was further intrigued by the fact that yasuke could speak japanese albeit not perfectly and ordered valignano to leave yasuke in his care when the jesuit prepared to leave again. Reallife tale of the first black samurai to be made into. Yasuke, variously rendered as or, or in different sources. Though yasuke was nobunagas servant, or vassal, it was a step up from before when yasuke was seen merely seen as property and a beast of burden. Chadwick boseman to play african samurai yasuke in deal with. Yasufe, thought to be a makua warrior, travelled as an aide to a jesuit priest and became a samurai retainer in the service of the japanese warlord oda nobunaga. Meet yasuke, japans first black samurai warrior open. The legend of yasuke is one of historys bestkept secrets, the black panther star said of the role. That resulted in the first and only black samurais exile, probably to a jesuit mission in kyoto, but yasuke has lived on in the imaginations of the last few generations of japanese readers, all of whom grew up with the awardwinning childrens book kurosuke kuro meaning black in japanese by kurusu yoshio.
The black panther actor has been tapped to star as yasuke, the first african samurai in japanese history, deadline reported. The washington post the remarkable life of historys first foreignborn samurai, and his astonishing journey from northeast africa to the heights of japanese society. While the samurai is a synonymous figure within japanese culture, an upcoming film will turn its focus on yasuke, who is said to be the first black samurai historians have disagreed over yasukes origin, but he was said to have been born around 1555 and was a slave from the. He was one of the right hand men of the war lord of 16 th century in japan. The true story of yasuke, a legendary black warrior in feudal japan, it was almost impossible to find reliable historical accounts of who yasuke is, how he ended up in japan, and how he wound up earning his way to become a samurai. Tackling the story will be gregory widen, best known as the creator of the highlander series. The washington postthe remarkable life of historys first foreignborn samurai, and his astonishing journey from northeast africa to the heights of japanese society. Yasuke, a sixteenthcentury african travels to india and on to japan where he becomes an accomplished samurai. A readable, compassionate account of an extraordinary life. Did you know japans first foreign samurai was black african.
Hes been erroneously given the name of kurusan, which is highly unlikely as the word san. It is said that yasuke was the first african man to step on the japanese soil. When yasuke arrived in japan in the late 1500s, he had already traveled much of the known world. The hidden history of the first black samurai, yasuke, is reemerging through the form of an animated series and comic book created by deranta avaloy. Highlander creator gregory widen to write movie about. In his quest for redemption and honor, yasuke, the only known samurai of african origin. From slave to samurai how yasuke became the first black.
Beyond the african stereotypes as either slaves or mythic noble savages, yasuke emerges as an important and incredibly overlooked force in historywarrior, explorer, polyglot. Lionsgate to produce film about the black samurai yasuke. A film on yasuke, japans first black samurai, is in the works. Black panthers chadwick boseman to play africas first. The story basically unfolds as yasuke begins training to be a samurai under the guidance of oda nobunga, but what keeps holding yasuke back is the mental anguish he suffered during his time as a slave. Afro samurai confirmed check out the remarkable story of yasuke. Yasuke believed to have lived during the 1500s was a samurai of black african origin who served under the japanese warlord oda nobunaga in 1581 and 1582. Impressed by the size and strength of the young warrior, oda decides to take him under his wing and gives him the name of yasuke. Back in 2017, it was announced that a film on yasuke, the worlds first black samurai would be going into production. Black panther star chadwick boseman is set to play yasuke in a film scheduled to be released in 2020.