Showing posts with label samurai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label samurai. Show all posts

Monday, January 9, 2017

Top famous Swords in History vs Modern Extreme Edge Hybrid Swords

























Updated 11/05/2020

There are several Tactical Katana available these days. The main issue though is not the design, but availability and proof that they actually can deliver the promise of a modern, almost indestructible blade.

The Hanwei Forge made one of the best ones and it was incredibly popular. But it was only available for a short period of time and then mysteriously discontinued..

SBG Tactical Modern Katana Review

Hot on its heels came a cheaper version that is almost a carbon copy made by United Cutlery under their 'Honshu' sub brand. But in the event of a zombie apocalypse, it would not be the sword I would reach for first - when a Tactical Katana SHOULD be the kind of thing you would reach for in the case of a zombie outbreak.

The basic design of this sword can be summed up with a single word: sturdy.

before


And after profiling and heat treat, looks like this


Unlike the other so called Tactical Katana on the market, there is a minimum of moving parts - no habaki or tsuba that can be jarred loose - it is as solid a construction as is possible - with 100% full tang construction. acording to

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Of all side arms, the sword was undoubtedly the most cherished and honored tool of death. For millennia, the phrase "To die in battle by the sword" was the preferred way of concluding the worldly reckoning for generations of warriors from all over the world because it is considered by far the most honorable and desirable death.

Throughout history, legendary characters, generals and perfect warriors, conquerors of empires and military leaders, all used swords many with their own name and a personality like the one who wielded the battlefield.

Modern Ninja Extreme Edge Hybrid Sword swordsaxe.com

There is a whole section of history specializing in mapping and searching these noble weapons.So we know, some of the most respected, feared and not all sought during the past swords.


Look them with respect and fear, are matchless weapons that have curtailed some of them, thousands of lives, and true rivers of blood.


Let's start with the sword of General Tomoyuki Yamashita

Tomoyuki Yamashita was not a samurai as you might have expected, but one of the most feared generals of the Japanese Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War. It became really feared during this bloody world wars when he won the British colonies in Malaysia and Singapore, and thus deserving of the title "Tiger of Malaya".


Photo of Yamashita Tomoyuki, Lieutenant-General, Commander of the Japanese 25th Army photo: wikipedia
At the end of the war, General Yamashita was judged for war crimes in connection with the so-called "Massacre of Manila" and other atrocities that took place in the Philippines and Singapore. It was a highly controversial process, which culminated in the conviction of General Tomoyuki Yamashita to death. His case has fundamentally changed American law on the responsibility of military commanders on war crimes, adopting the law known as such term Yamashita Standard.

During his military career, General Yamashita had a personal sword whose blade was forged by the famous master blacksmith, specializing in producing high quality Katane,  the sword being forged between 1640-1689. The sword had changed somewhere handle the early twentieth century. 


photo: A History Of War

General and surrendered his sword, along with his troops, on September 2, 1945. The gun was taken over by US General MacArthur, and subsequently filed Museum Military Academy at West Point, where he remained until today. The sword is just one of the many similar pieces seized by Americans in Japan after the war.




Gen. Jose de San Martin

Jose de San Martin was a famous Argentinian soldier career, who lived from 1778 to 1850. For South American nations, it is today honored as a great hero because he was the most important leader of the South American continent.

One of the most precious treasures of revolutionary general, consist of a cavalry sword with curved blade which he bought in London. The general was attracted mainly by the blade  that greatly enhance the manageability and efficiency of the sword on the battlefield. For this reason, he ordered that cavalry swords to be similar, extremely important in a attack. The sword remained in the possession of General throughout his life.



In his will, General San Martin was referring to the sword as "The sword accompany me along the tumultuous War of Independence of South America". In 1896, the sword was sent to the National History Museum in Buenos Aires, where it can be admired today. In 1960, the sword was stolen twice, which is why museum officials kept in a specially constructed box.



The 7 sword blades


Paek-je dynasty once ruled a small kingdom of the same name, year somewhere southwest of South Korea today. At the height of its power, ie the 4th century AD, the kingdom Paek-je control their own colonies in western China and ruled the Korean Peninsula. Paek-je was one of the three major Korean medieval kingdoms, Koguryo and Silla together. In 372, King of Paek-je Geunchogo paid tribute to Nippon Jin Dynasty, and it is believed that they ordered the building of a 7-blade sword as a token of consideration to the Korean king. The sword has a main blade with a length of 74, 9, to which they are attached other blades. The sword was created with purely ceremonial, not at all practical in a real fight.


This replica of the Chiljido is held at the War Memorial in Seoul, South Korea. The sword is important to both the history of Korea and Japan photo: wikipedia

In 1870, a Shinto priest discovered two inscriptions on the sword blade 7.

One of inscription said: "At noon the sixteenth day of the eighth month of the era Taiwa, this sword was forged from hard steel a hundred times. The sword can kill a hundred enemy soldiers. With honor for the king.

The sword is kept today Isonokami from Japan.



William Wallace Sword


William Wallace was perhaps the most famous historical figure in Scotland. Originally it was a Scotsman noble knight  who lived from 1272 to 1305. It is famous for organizing military resistance to the English kingdom  during the war of Scottish Independence in 13-14 centuries. Throughout the period of his life, Wallace was appointed guardian and protector of Scotland . 

He led numerous bodies of infantry were employed successfully in wrestling with horsemen British troops. The most prized weapon of these warriors was obviously bigger sized sword. In 1305, the hero William Wallace was captured on the orders of King Edward I of England, charged with treason and suffered a horrible death. Today, William Wallace is the most important Scottish hero and patriot. His sword is among the most famous and popular in the world.


The Wallace Sword. photo: wikipedia

Today can be seen inside the National Monument in Stirling, Scotland. Only the sword sheath has a length of 134 centimeters and weighs about 3 kilograms. It is believed that Wallace sword was used in the battles of Stirling Bridge (1297) and Flakirk (1298). Sword handle ends in an iron counterweight form an onion.

After the execution of William Wallace, Sir John de Menteith, governor of Dumbarton Castle, was the one who received the sword. In 1505, King James IV of Scotland has paid the sum of 26 shillings for the sword to be wrapped in expensive silks. It is said that the sword has gone through many changes since the English have not reconciled at all with that sword scabbard and belt ( made of peeled skin of Hugh Cressingham )




Tizona

Cid was the most important Spanish folk hero. It was a real historical figure who was apparently born in the year 1040, near Vivar, a small town near Burgos, capital of the kingdom of Castile. Throughout his life, El Cid had numerous military and diplomatic successes. He was appointed supreme leader of the army by King Alfonso IV, is undoubtedly the ace in the sleeve of the king in his military campaigns against the Moors. It was a skilled military strategist and also a feared swordsman.


photo: abc.es

He used many swords during his life, but the most popular weapons were "baptized" Colada and Tizona. Tizona was Cid's sword favorite in its confrontation with the Moors. The weapon is considered to this day one of the most important historical artefacts held in the Spanish patrimony.


photo: abc.es

Tizona was forged in Cordoba, a Damascus steel with special purity. It has a length of 103 cm and weighs 1.1 kg. It is adorned with two inscriptions, one that refers to the date on which it was made somewhere in 1002 and the other Catholic prayer Ave Maria. Tizona can be admired in the Museo de Burgos, the town of the same name.


Napoleon Bonaparte sword

In 1799,  Napoleon Bonaparte grown into military and political leader "de facto" of France, following a coup. Five years later, the French Senate porclama him king. 



Such a complex and fascinating personality had his favorite sword. Napoleon Bonaparte on the battlefields always carried a pistol and a sword. He was an enthusiast of weapons, his private collection comprising great viarietare weapons, from daggers to artillery. His weapons were pieces of high quality, made from the best materials of the time.


The Sword of Mercy

This tool of Death with bizarre names, is a famous sword that belonged to Edward the Confessor, one of the last kings of Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest of 1066. King Edward the Confessor reigned between 1042-1066, immediately after his death  Normans arrived here led by William the Conqueror.


The left panel of the Wilton Diptych, where Edward (centre), with Edmund the Martyr (left) and John the Baptist, are depicted presenting Richard II to the heavenly host. photo: wikipedia

Mercy has broken sword blade, in 1236 was named Curtana weapon and was used only during ceremonies at court. In ancient times, it was a privilege for any king to come to wield. The story linked to the sword breaking episode is unknown, but according to myths, medieval sword tip was broken by an angel who wanted to prevent such a crime.




Sword of Mercy is today part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, and is one of the five swords used in coronation ceremonies of kings of British. The weapon is among the few who escaped the wrath of Oliver Cromwell, famous for his orders to melt all ancient artifacts, looking for any shred of gold and other precious metals.



Zulfiqar The Sword of Ali 

It is the oldest and most treasured sword of Islam. Historically, he belonged to Ali, cousin and bridegroom of the Prophet Muhammad. Ali led the first Islamic Caliphate, between 656-661. Based on historical evidence, Muhammad himself  handed the Zulfiqar to Ali at the end of the battle of Uhud.

Zulfiqar is a symbol of Islam, being admired today by millions of believers.
Zulfiqar (split-bladed sword), a representation of the sword of Ali, Mughal period India. photo: wikipedia


Technically, Zulfiqar is a Scimitar, a typical sword from southwest Asia, this kind of long curved sword blade was very common in the region during the Middle Ages.

It seems that Ali used the Zulfiqar on siege of Mecca. There are few images of the sword, some of them presenting it with a forked blade and two peaks, while others feature in a classical form of Scimitar. According to the 12 Shiite imams, the weapon is now in the possession of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi. Holy sword of Islam is part of the famous collection Al-Jafr.



Honjo Masamune

Smith Masamune is considered among the best makers of swords in Japan, which immediately turns it into one of the greatest masters of this kind that have ever lived in this world It is not known precisely the historical period in which he lived, but is believed to have worked as a blacksmith imperial sometime between 1288-1328.Weapons created by Masamune have acquired a legendary status over the centuries. In particular type swords katana and wakizashi have emerged from the hands of the master Masamune unrivaled reputation based on the quality and style of these tools of Death. The master sign forged swords rare, so it is very difficult to date and identified weapons that had belonged.


Masamune Portrait photo: wikipedia

The most famous of his sword was called the Honjo Masamune, the Sword  is extremely important for Japan because this object has attained perfection (Represented the Shogunate during the Edo) The sword was handed from shogun to shogun for generations. In 1939, it was declared national treasure of Japan, but remained in the castle  Kii of Tokugawa family. The last owner of Katana Masamune was Tokugawa Hionjo Iemasa.



Hionjo handed it along with 14 other swords of great value to the Mejiro police station somewhere in December of 1945. Shortly thereafter, in January of the following year , the police from Mejiro  handed sword to Coldy Bimore (American sergeant). Honjo Masamune sword then disappeared without a trace, and the location is currently unknown. Honjo Masamune is one of the most important and most precious historical artifacts that disappeared at the end of the Second World War.


Joyeuse

Charlemagne or Charles the Great, was probably the most important French king in history. It was born in 742, is considered one of the most admired military leaders on the Old Continent. He became king of the Franks in 782 and in 800 became king over what was left of the western Roman Empire. During the Holy Roman Empire, it was known under the name of Charles I, being in fact the founder of this empire. During his reign, he has managed unprecedented extension of Frankish kingdom, transforming it into a true empire that encompassed much of central and western Europe. Charlemagne is regarded as the founder of the French and German monarchies and father occientale Europe.


Charles the Great, King of the Franks photo: arthermitage.org 

His personal sword called Joyeuse, is seen as a true object of worship among the majority of medieval chivalric orders. Today there are two swords who claims to be famous Joyeuse. One is kept at Weltliche Schatzkammer in Vienna and the other is the Louvre Museum. Louvre blade of the sword seems to be made part of the original blade of the sword of Charlemagne. This sword forged in separate parts assembled in different centuries. The handle of the sword indicates a production date yet coinciding with the period during which Charlemagne reigned.

Joyeuse has appeared in numerous legends and historical documents. Bulfinch Chronicle claims that the supreme monarch of the Franks would be used Joyeuse to decapitate the Saracen commander Corsuble just like his good friend, Ogier Dane.



After the death of Charlemagne, the sword would have been preserved in the Basilica of Saint Denis, then was taken to the Louvre, where it was used in the coronation ceremonies of French kings.


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Sunday, January 8, 2017

Hundreds of Japanese Samurai were secretly Christians in the 16th century

Feudal Japan introduced strict anti-Christian measures in the 16th century
But Samurai's still used sword guards with secret crucifixes and other symbols, the designs were uncovered in a study of ancient swords at a Japanese museum.

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Hundreds of Japanese Samurai may have been secret christians who expressed their faith with codes hidden in their sword hilts, researchers have found. The deadly warriors were banned from following religions after feudal Japan introduced strict anti-Christian measures in the 16th century.


But the devout swordsmen commissioned metalsmiths to produce sword guards with crucifixes and other symbols skillfully hidden in their sacred weapons.

Samurais were banned from following religions after feudal Japan introduced strict anti-Christian measures in the 16th century. But the devout swordsmen commissioned metalsmiths to produce sword guards with crucifixes and other symbols (pictured) hidden in their weapons photo: swins
The designs were uncovered in a review of ancient Samurai swords at the The Sawada Miki Kinenkan museum in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is extremely rare to find sword guards with hidden Christian symbols used after the adoption of anti-Christian policies,' a museum spokesman said.

'The findings indicate that they kept their deep faith despite persecution.'

Catholic missionaries originally brought the religion to the East around the mid-1500s. But after 40 years it was banned by military ruler Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who exiled the European missionaries and tortured and killed many Japanese Christians in 1596.




Historians suggest that this was a response to the gradual expansion of European power in eastern Asia. Those Catholics that weren't wiped out by the purge formed an underground religious network.
They disguised images of Jesus and Mary to look like Buddhas, and changed their prayers to sound like Buddhist chants. And the museum's swords indicate that around 50 Japanese Samurais also committed themselves to a life of covert religious beliefs.

The museum owns 367 swords but has been reviewing the artifacts since November last year.


Historians conducted painstaking tests to estimate when the weapons were created based on factors such as their designs, materials and techniques used to produce them.


Historians conducted painstaking tests to estimate when the weapons were created based on their designs, materials, and techniques used to produce them. They show crosses, crucifixes and religious symbols carefully concealed in the intricate designs (pictured) photo: swins
Yuhiko Nakanishi, chairman of nonprofit group Nihon Token Hozon Kai - a Japanese sword preservation association - said 48 sword hilts were identified as belonging to Christians.


The Japanese Christians forced to trample on Christ - BBC News


The weapons with hidden Christian symbols were dated to the Sengoku period (Warring States) period (1467-1568) and the 1600s after warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi rolled out his anti-Christian policies.


Toyotomi Hideyoshi - Wikipedia


They show crosses, crucifixes and religious symbols carefully concealed in the intricate designs. 

Nakanishi added: 'A characteristic of sword guards made after anti-Christian measures were taken is that Christians carefully hid crosses in their designs.


'We concluded the designs show the faith of hidden Christians.' 


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Monday, December 12, 2016

Top 10 Greatest Historical Warriors close to perfection and invincibility.


In this list we see a combination of two of my favorite things – ancient  (well mostly) history and warriors. While most of these warrior groups come from ancient history – one or two come close to modern history. They all, undoubtedly, belong on this list.


10

The Aztecs were famous soldiers and ruthless in battle. They were usually dressed like animals like the eagle or the jaguar. They used pretty primitive weapons like clubs and bows but used them with great effectiveness. 

Aztec warriors as depicted in the Codex Mendoza  (Photo: Wikipedia.org)
This page from the Codex Mendoza shows the gradual improvements to equipment and tlahuiztli as a warrior progresses through the ranks from commoner to porter to warrior to captor, and later as a noble progressing in the warrior societies from the noble warrior to "Eagle warrior" to "Jaguar warrior" to "Otomitl" to "Shorn One" and finally as "Tlacateccatl". The Eagle Warrior, Otomitl, and Shorn One figures wear the pamitl.  (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

The “Shorn Ones” (Cuachicqueh) were the greatest warriors and as soon as the enemy came they swore they would not take another step back. They were eventually defeated by the Spaniards with much more modern weapons but they were a great empire in large part due to their great warriors.


9

The Mongols were considered barbarians and savages. They dominated Europe and Asia and were most famous for riding on horseback lead by one of the greatest military commanders in history, Genghis Kahn. 

Mongol warrior on horseback, preparing a mounted archery shot.  (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were highly disciplined and masters with using the bow and arrow on horse back. They used a composite bow that could rip through armor and were also pretty good with lances and scimitars.

Mongol cavalry archery from Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's Universal History using the Mongol bow.  (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were masters of psychological warfare and intimidation, and built one of the largest empires the world has ever seen. 


8
Mamluks ( Muslim slave soldiers and Muslim rulers of slave origin )

A mamluk was a slave soldier who converted to Islam and served the Muslim caliphs and the Ayyubid sultans during the Middle Ages. Over time, they became a powerful military caste often defeating the Crusaders.

Mamluks attacking at the Fall of Tripoli in 1289 (Photo: Wikipedia.org)


Ottoman mamluk heavy cavalry armour, circa 1550 (Photo: Wikipedia.org)


On more than one occasion, they seized power for themselves; for example, ruling Egypt in the Mamluk Sultanate from 1250–1517. After mamluks had converted to Islam, many were trained as cavalry soldiers. Mamluks had to follow the dictates of furusiyya, a code that included values such as courage and generosity, and also cavalry tactics, horsemanship, archery and treatment of wounds, etc.


7

The backbone of the Roman army that led to an empire that was unrivaled in terms of size and power. They were usually heavy infantry with armor and a shield modeled after the ancient Greeks. 
A re-enactor as a Roman centurion, c. 70. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were masters of the sword and spear combination going along with a shield. They were made up of the wealthiest soldiers that could afford to make the best weapons and armor. They were disciplined, well-armed, and had great strategy which lasted beyond their empire. 

6
Apache Warrior 

The apaches were like the ninjas of America. They would sneak up behind you and slit your throat without you even knowing. They used primitive weapons made mostly of wood and bone. 

(Photo: deadliestwarrior.wikia.com)
They were also the greatest knife fighters the world has ever seen and were pretty good with the tomahawk and throwing ax. They terrorized the southwest United States and even the military had trouble beating them. They were great hit and run fighters and their descendants teach modern day special fighters how to fight in hand to hand combat. 

5

The samurai were the knights of Japan and the masters of the katana. They were heavily armed soldiers covered in armor and willing to die for their masters. 

Samurai with sword, ca. 1860. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They wielded the sharpest sword the world has ever seen and it could easily slice a man in two. They were also masters of the yumi (bow) and were some of the best shots of the ancient world. 

Samurai warriors with various types of armor and weapons, 1880s (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were like professional soldiers and were harshly trained and fought knowing their honor was on the line. Due to their violent habits, peasants soon rose up against them and the ninja was born.

4


The ninja were the masters of stealth and sabotage. They were originally peasants trained to defeat marauding samurai, but the eventually became the legendary assassins that most people think of today. 

Yamato Takeru dressed as a maidservant, preparing to kill the Kumaso leaders. Woodblock print on paper. Yoshitoshi, 1886. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They are known for using a Kanata like sword, blowgun, ninja stars, and kusarigama which would be my weapon of choice. They are known for being stealthy shadow warriors of the night. 

Drawing of the archetypical ninja, from a series of sketches (Hokusai manga) by Hokusai. Woodblock print on paper. Volume six, 1817. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They greatly feared for their ability to kill and just disappear. They were also great martial artists and underwent rigorous training. 


3

The most feared warrior of the ancient world. They terrorized Europe with their raids and pillaging. 

Rook, Lewis chessmen, at the British Museum in London (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were ferocious in battle and used weapons that suited their stature. They were big and mean and used their axes, swords, and spears expertly in the conquering of cities. Even their religion was about war and they believed when you died in battle you fought once again in a never ending battle. 

( Photo: Pinterest.com )
They were all you would want in a soldier and proved it on the battlefield by destroying all in their paths. On the flip-side, they were also incredibly good traders so they also brought much good to Europe. 


2

You thought they would be number one didn’t you? The Spartan culture was all about war and training men for war their entire lives. 

Statue in modern Sparta to commemorate King Leonidas I, who led the Spartan army at the Battle of Thermopylae. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They had a saying: “come back with the shield or on top of it” which means don’t come back unless you are victorious. They were some of the toughest soldiers the world had ever seen and have become infamous for their last stand at the battle of Thermopylae. They were masters of the shield and spear combination that was later copied by many other armies. 


1
Knight

Knights were great warriors clad in full body armor on horseback. The warrior of feudal Europe, the protector of kings. 

David I of Scotland knighting a squire (Photo: Wikipedia.org)
They were the richest, most trained warriors, and had the armor, weapons, and horses to get the job done. They were among the toughest soldiers in history to kill because of their armor. 

The English fighting the French knights at the Battle of Crécy in 1346. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

They were highly effective soldiers that had trained almost their entire lives (due to boys of the day wanting to grow up to be one) and became the tank of the ancient world. The reason they are listed as item 1 – instead of Spartans (which most people would have expected) is that knights were also expected to behave in a moral manner and from the fact that most did, we have the term chivalrous which comes from old French chevalier meaning “knight”. 

The miles Christianus allegory (mid 13th century), showing a knight armed with virtues and facing the vices in mortal combat. The parts of his armour are identified with Christian virtues, thus correlating essential military equipment with the religious values of chivalry: The helmet is spes futuri gaudii (hope of future bliss), the shield (here the shield of the Trinity) is fides (faith), the armour is caritas (charity), the lance is perseverantia (perseverance), the sword is verbum Dei (the word of God), the banner is regni celestis desiderium (desire for the kingdom of heaven), the horse is bona voluntas (good will), the saddle is Christiana religio (Christian religion), the saddlecloth is humilitas (humility), the reins are discretio (discretion), the spurs are disciplina (discipline), the stirrups are propositum boni operis (proposition of good work), and the horse's four hooves are delectatio, consensus, bonum opus, consuetudo (delight, consent, good work, and exercise). (Photo: Wikipedia.org)
The knight was the perfect example of a warrior and a gentleman.



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Monday, September 19, 2016

Yasuke's story, first samurai without Japanese origins . It was a black slave


















Updated 11/05/2020

Yasuke (variously rendered as 弥助 or 弥介, 彌助 or 彌介 in different sources was a retainer of African origin who served under the Sengoku Period Japanese daimyō Oda Nobunaga

Yasuke: The African Samurai in Japan Kintaro Publishing


Yasuke arrived to Japan in 1579 in the service of Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano, Visitor of Missions in the Indies, in India.

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Yasuke was present during the Honnō-ji Incident, the forced suicide of Oda Nobunaga at the hands of his samurai general Akechi Mitsuhide on 21 June 1582. Yasuke is thought by some to have been the first African that Nobunaga had ever seen, but he was one of the many Africans to have come with the Portuguese to Japan during the Nanban trade


Yasuke African Samurai Wikipedia

According to Histoire ecclésiastique des isles et royaumes du Japon, written by François Solier of the Society of Jesus in 1627, Yasuke was likely from Mozambique. Solier's account may, however, have been an assumption, as it was written so long after the event. There is no surviving contemporary account that corroborates it.


This would be consistent with other accounts of Africans from Mozambique in Japan. According to Fujita Midori, the first African people who came to Japan were Mozambican. They reached Japan in 1546 as shipmates or slaves who served Portuguese captain Jorge Álvares (not to be confused with another explorer of the same name who died in 1521).



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The work ,, Ecclesiastique Histoire Des Isles Du Japon Royaumes Et '', written by Francois Solier, Yasukata first Japanese samurai who had originally been described as a Muslim in Mozambique. In other works was speculation that Yazuke had come from Portugal, Angola and Ethiopia.

In 2013 an investigation was suggested that Yasukata as part of Maku ethnic group and would be called Yasukata. Although it was a journalistic investigation in the paper they were found very little evidence of journalists conclusions. He would also have been a member of the Yao people who were in contact with the Portuguese at that time, which would have influenced the samurai name. Yao's ,, '' and added common suffix for Japanese men ,, Suke ''.

Yasukata arrived in Japan in 1579, the Italian Jesuit Alessandro Valignano servant, who was appointed visitor ,, '' (inspector) of the Jesuit missions in the Indies (meaning East Africa). Yasukata accompanied him on Valignano when he arrived in the capital in March 1581, making sensation. In the event, several people were crushed to death while huddled up to see Jesuits who feared that their church would be destroyed in the melee. Famous naval military Nobunaga heard the noise of the temple. Suspecting that his black skin Yasukata were stained with black ink, Nobunaga put him the man to undress from the waist up and forced him to rub his skin.



These events have been documented in a letter in 1581 to Louis Frois Jesuit missions in the Annual Report of the Jesuits in Japan (1582). Satisfied that he was black, Nobunaga would have received in his service (according to Japanese records, which did not exist in European records). The work ,, Lord Nobunaga Chronicles', confirms these beliefs Frois meeting describing them. 

,, On 23 the second Monday (March 23 1581), a black page has arrived for Christian countries. The man was healthy, look good and have a very good conduct. Also, Nobunaga rated power of man, claiming to be the equivalent power of ten normal people. Nobunaga's grandson would be given a sum of money Yasukata's first meeting.

In May, Yasukata with Nobunaga went to his castle in Azuchi. According to testimony at the time, it would have been knighted. Journalist Matsudaira she described the man as being 188 centimeters tall. His stature was very impressive for the Japanese in those days. Matsudaira said the man was called Yasukata.


Also Yasukata could speak fluent Japanese Valignano thanks to his efforts, to ensure that its missionaries to adapt to local culture. Nobunaga's because he was pleased to discuss with Yasukata, he spoke Portuguese because Yasukata could not speak fluent Chinese classical. Apparently, Yasukata was the first fighter ,, '' with Japanese origins that are subordinate to Nobunaga, who helped his rapid ascension status.



According to the archives of Maeda Clan, his Yasukata I was offered a residence and a short ceremonial katana. Also, Nobunaga instructed him to be the bearer of arms.


In June 1582, Nobunaga was attacked and forced to perform seppuku in Kyoto by Akechi Mitsuhide army. Yasukata was present at the time and was fought EYOF Akechi. After the death of Nobunaga, Yasukata joined Nobunaga's heir, Nobutada Oda, who was trying to join forces to Nijo Castle. Yasukata long fought alongside the forces of Nobutada, but finally surrendered his sword to Akechi's men. They have asked himself what to do with him Akechi. Akechi said that the black man is a beast that knows nothing and is not even Japanese, but it was not sentenced to death, but makes him nanban-dera temple in southern barbarians.


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