Yasuke

WARRIOR. SAMURAI. LEGEND.

The remarkable life of history's first foreign-born 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. Curiously tall, bald, massively built and black skinned, he was known as a steadfast bodyguard of immense strength and stature, and swiftly captured the interest, and thence the trust, of the most powerful family in all of Japan. Two years later, he vanished.

YASUKE is the story of a legend that still captures the imagination of people across the world. It brings to life a little known side of Japan - a gripping narrative about an extraordinary figure in a fascinating time and place.

“Yasuke is so breathtaking and revelatory that one would be believe the story to be fiction if it weren't true! The in-depth research into this historical re-telling is vast, comprehensive and enlightening. The narrative style is as razor-sharp and captivating as a katana's blade, drawing in the reader and giving them a 'first-hand' account of [an] extraordinary lifeA gripping tale of politics, war and religion that reads like an adventure story Lockley and Girard bring [Yasuke] and his world to life with incredible research and style. Yasuke may have lived in the 1500s, but he is a hero for our modern world”

Yasuke is so breathtaking and revelatory that one would be believe the story to be fiction if it weren't true! The in-depth research into this historical re-telling is vast, comprehensive and enlightening. The narrative style is as razor-sharp and captivating as a katana's blade, drawing in the reader and giving them a 'first-hand' account of [an] extraordinary life

A gripping tale of politics, war and religion that reads like an adventure story

Lockley and Girard bring [Yasuke] and his world to life with incredible research and style. Yasuke may have lived in the 1500s, but he is a hero for our modern world

Thomas Lockley (Author)

Thomas Lockley is a lecturer at Nihon University College of Law in Tokyo where courses he's taught include the International History of Japan, Britain and Japan in History, and East Asia in Japanese History.

Geoffrey Girard (Author)

Geoffrey Girard has written a number of historical adventure non-fiction titles, and has previously been nominated for a Stoker award. He has an MA and an MFA in Creative Writing.

WARRIOR. SAMURAI. LEGEND. The remarkable life of history's first foreign-born 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. Curiously tall, bald, massively built and black skinned, he was known as a steadfast bodyguard of immense strength and stature, and swiftly captured the interest, and thence the trust, of the most powerful family in all of Japan. Two years later, he vanished. YASUKE is the story of a legend that still captures the imagination of people across the world. It brings to life a little known side of Japan - a gripping narrative about an extraordinary figure in a fascinating time and place.

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