From a slave to a Samurai.
The first known black samurai in Japanese history was Yasuke, a man of African origin who lived in Japan in the late 16th century. Yasuke was brought to Japan by Jesuit missionaries and served as a slave to the Italian Jesuit Alessandro Valignano. However, he eventually caught the attention of the powerful feudal lord Oda Nobunaga, who was intrigued by Yasuke's appearance and made him a retainer. Yasuke was trained as a warrior and was said to have performed well in battles, earning him the title of "samurai."
However, Yasuke's stay in Japan was brief, and after the death of Oda Nobunaga, he disappeared from historical records. Despite his limited time in Japan, Yasuke's story has captured the imagination of people around the world, and he has been the subject of several books, plays, and even a manga series.
It is important to note that while Yasuke was the first known black samurai in Japanese history, there is limited information available about him, and much of what is known has been passed down through legends and oral traditions. Nevertheless, Yasuke remains an interesting and unique figure in Japanese history, and his story continues to inspire people to this day.