When Oda Nobunaga first saw the African Yasuke in 1581, he had his skin scrubbed, thinking it was ink. Convinced otherwise, he took Yasuke into service with a stipend and a sword.

1581

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The event

• Yasuke, the African retainer of Nobunaga1581 · Kyoto. In 1581 Jesuits brought an African attendant to Kyoto, where crowds rushed to see him. Oda Nobunaga reportedly had his skin scrubbed, thinking it was ink, then took him into service with a stipend and a sword. A year later Yasuke was with Nobunaga when he died at Honnō-ji.

16th century

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