A review by gpolereads
African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan by Geoffrey Girard, Thomas Lockley

5.0

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Five feelings while reading this book:

Curiosity about: The true tale of Yasuke, an African in servitude to the Jesuits in Japan as a bodyguard during the 1500s.

Fascination with: The history of religion, daily life, war and politics in feudal Japan.

Discomfort with: The deliberate and calculated reach of Christianity, and some of the ways in which Yasuke was used.

Respect for: Yasuke. It takes strength to survive captivity and servitude, especially as an outsider in a strange land. And he became a bad-ass samurai!

Gratitude for: those who journaled, sent letters and kept records, or else we wouldn't know of Yasuke's existence.