I’ve read some terrible books on history. “African Samurai- The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan” may not be the worst, but it is close.

If this book about Yasuke was sold as a work a fiction, loosely based on the actual man, then it would be a great novel. It is full of action, adventure, intrigue and actually gives a look at the background of the Jesuits move into Japan.

But as an honest work telling facts, it is laughable.

Sadly, few people able to point out how bad this is will take the risk of doing so, for reasons I will explain later.

While Yasuke was a real person, the problem is that you can fit everything written about him in history on a single page of paper. The authors have decided to make an entire book based mainly on wild speculation. The facts are that Yasuke was a servant to the Jesuits and given to the warlord Oda Nobunaga. He was a novelty in Japan and Oda at their first meeting ordered that his servants attempt to wash the color from his skin. There isn’t much more in the actual historical record about him.

Not only is there little in the way of records, but the authors admit they ignored references that went against the narrative they wanted to present.

In the notes for chapter three, at the end of the book, they talk about Yasuke’s origins. They note that a record from the 1620s by Solier stated that he was from Mozambique. The problem with that fact is that the people that lived there near the Portuguese were a very peaceful people, and they needed him to be a warrior. So they admit they decided that another tribe, more warlike, was a better bet for him. The excuse given was that the people of Mozambique at the time frequently filed their teeth into sharp points, and someone would have written that fact about Yasuke down if he really was from there.

Oh really? Considering all the reasons why Yasuke’s teeth shape might not have been written down, it seems strange that this book tries to present as fact their theories of what might have happened, none of which appears in any historical record.

They try to make him a bodyguard and a warrior. There is no mention of him being either, nor doing any training in any form of martial arts. They try to say he was fluent in several languages, but there is no record of him being able to speak more than enough words to be ordered to bring something to his masters. And considering how rare it was for the early missionaries to be able to speak Japanese (Francis Xavier famously wrote that he believed Japanese was created by the devil to prevent the word of god from reaching the Japanese) Yasuke’s ability to speak Japanese would have been remarked on. If he had been able to speak the language, it would have made him very valuable to the Jesuits, and it would be very unlikely they would have parted with him.

The authors, Thomas Lockley and Geoffrey Girard, are quite free with quotes from historical sources about how Yasuke was a great novelty, much like a circus clown. This is something gaijin (non-Japanese) living in Japan today are familiar with. A lot of times, you feel more like a trained monkey than someone hired for their abilities. Despite all the quotes about how Yasuke’s appearance garnered him attention, there is no mention of him being a warrior of any sort. Yet, the authors try to argue that he must have been more than just a novelty and fill in the huge gaps in his story with a lot of speculation about his possible training as a slave, battles he fought before coming to Japan, etc. But all of this would have been noted, and yet was not.

This is a typical record of Yasuke, from the first meeting with Oda Nobunaga. “"On the 23rd of the 2nd month [March 23, 1581], a black page (黒坊主 kuro-bōzu) came from the Christian countries. The man was healthy with a good demeanor and Nobunaga praised Yasuke's strength. Nobunaga's nephew gave him a sum of money at this first meeting.”

Taking the above, the authors create a huge event where Oda engages in a lengthy conversation, personally attempts to wash him and hits it off, almost immediately making him a trusted advisor. As stated, none of this is recorded anywhere and is much more likely to have been noted by someone more than the chances of Yasuke’s teeth having to be a certain shape.

But it gets worse.

I have read reviews saying that this book was well researched. None of the reviewers seem to be able to read Japanese, as I can. There is actually only a few Japanese reference books, none seeming to have anything to do with Yasuke directly. Nor do I think they actually read the few sources the authors give in English to back up what they say.

A huge blow to the credibility of this book comes in the form of what they say about ninja, a subject I happen to know a lot about.

On page 83, they have Yasuke and the Jesuits hearing of a story about a ninja killing the warlord Uesugi Kenshin. According to the story, the ninja hid in the toilet and thrust up with a spear into the anus as Uesugi squat, thus leaving no obvious wound.

The problem with this story is that if first came out in English via the book, “Ninjutsu, the Art of Invisibility” by Donn Draeger. The full story was that it was a dwarf ninja, specially trained to stay for long periods of time in cramped areas. Draeger’s was one of the first books in English, along with Andrew Adams’ book, “Ninja, the Invisible Assassins.”

Back in middle school, I first read about the ninja in a magazine devoted to Dungeons and Dragons. They introduced the ninja as a new character type. Considering my age, it is not surprising I decided I had to get my hands on anything I could about the ninja. The ninja craze was almost ready to start, with Stephen Hayes finishing his year long stay in Japan and about to flood the market with articles and books. But at the start, it was pretty much only those two books.

When the dam burst and people were getting everything they could lay their hands on about the ninja, a lot of the stories from these two books were recycled time and time again in new books published to capitalize on the craze. The story of the assassin in the commode being the most common.

Years later, a bit of digging found that the many incredible stories in Draeger’s book actually came from Japanese comic books. Stephen Turnbull did a great job in one of his books shooting down the story, putting out very solid evidence that Uesugi died from natural causes, and not a homicidal midget.

And yet, the authors of African Samurai try to convince us that Yasuke heard about this 20th century comic book story in the 16th century.

In the notes for the chapter, the authors list two books on the ninja by Turnbull, neither one making a single mention of the assassination of Uesugi. (He dispelled the story in another book, which they don’t list.) Causal readers might read the story, see the books by Turnbull listed and conclude that the story came from one of them, while it is obvious that such is not the case if you have actually read the books.

So for any source the authors use, a grain of salt must be taken. They obviously cannot be trusted to refrain from doing like many students do, namely write an assignment and list a book they may never have even read in the hope the teacher doesn’t bother to check. Any talk of the book being ‘well researched’ has to be discounted if it comes from anyone that hasn’t read every book listed and cross checked with what they write.

Another story involving ninja helps slam another nail in the coffin. On page 232 we are treated to a tale of Oda and Yasuke being attacked by ninja. As the party of Oda travel through Iga after the Tensho Iga no Ran, an explosion rips through some of Oda’s personal guards. Ninja rise from the ground like the dead being brought back to life, and they immediately attack. Oda fights a few of them off with his sword, with Yasuke managing to send a few to meet their ancestors in the afterlife.

Complete fiction.

The event never happened. Trust me, if it had there would have been mention of it. The story does not appear in the book listed as a source about the ninja (Turnbull again) for the chapter and there is not a single legit source in Japanese that says it ever happened. It is complete fiction, created by the authors to help establish Yasuke’s reputation as a warrior. The authors do not admit that it was a made up story, or even some speculation of what might have happened but never recorded, as unlikely as that would be. They present it as the unvarnished truth. This is very damning for their credibility for anything else they might write.

Moving onto the death of Oda Nobunaga, the hugest liberties are obviously taken. Oda was betrayed by one of his generals by the name of Akechi Mitsuhide. While Oda stayed at a temple called the Honno-ji, Akechi stormed the compound and surrounded the building that Oda was staying at. After shooting some arrows at the force that cut him completely off from escape, Oda retired back into the burning building to commit seppuku- ritual suicide.

According to the scant historical records about him, Yasuke was at the temple and fled to where Oda’s son, Noutada was. When Akechi’s forces stormed there, Nobutada went down in battle, while Yasuke survived by surrendering his sword. When he was dragged in front of Akechi, Yasuke was cursed as a coward without honor and sent back to the Jesuits.

The authors of African Samurai take these simple facts and turn them into a grand story where Yasuke isn’t just staying at the same complex, but in the same building that Oda was sleeping in. This of course reflects his importance in Oda’s eyes that the authors try to convince the readers of. The simple fact is that there is not a single mention by any historical source of anyone in that building getting out alive. And if someone had, don’t you think someone would have recorded it?

Yasuke, according to the book, is the only one to break out of the burning building, cutting his way through several veteran samurai before fleeing to Nobutada. And again, no one seems to have mentioned this important fact until the 21st century. This is the type of thing you expect from an anime (Japanese animation) story, where they audience is expected to suspend belief, not a book that claims to be non-fiction.

According to the book, when Nobutada was attacked, instead of surrendering immediately and thus surviving, Yasuke fights off seemingly hundreds of samurai at once. After all, he is supposed to be a great warrior. He only gives up his sword when he is slashed by dozens of swords, losing so much blood that he can’t stand and so he finally lets his sword slip from his fingers and murmurs words of surrender.

Not a chance.

The records state that he gave up his sword and surrendered. There is no mention of him fighting. He was called a man without honor by Akechi. If he had fought as the authors try to state as fact, it would be recorded and he would have been treated with respect. But if he had fought, even a little, the chances of him surviving are pretty much zero. As soon as he drew his sword, the Akechi forces would have stood back and filled him with holes from muskets and arrows. Once personal battle started, the samurai went for the kill and there was no chance of giving up. In an age before ERs and blood transfusions, if the battle had gone anything close to how it is portrayed in this book, Yasuke would never have survived long after.

If you don’t assume he was a warrior and close confident of Oda, it is clear that he was housed in one of the outlying buildings at the temple complex and was able to beat feet while Akechi’s men were concentrating on BBQing Oda. And when they caught up with him again where Nobutada was staying, he most likely survived to be cussed out as a coward by immediately throwing down his sword and begging not to be killed.

The truth is, if Yasuke had any real value as a warrior, Oda was unlikely to have let him anywhere near him. Oda lived in an age where paranoia was a valuable survival skill. A samurai might be willing to cut down an enemy for his lord, even if it meant his own death. To counter assassins with that type of mindset, people like Oda gained control over their family. Anyone that struck down the man they were guarding insured that everyone they ever loved would die by slow torture.

Oda could not do that with Yasuke, and he had no trust for the Jesuits and their foreign kings and pope. Yasuke was a novelty, without any real ability to fight. This is the only reason why he would have been allowed to serve as Oda’s sword bearer. If Oda was attacked, he wanted the veteran warriors to be his guards, not the guy carrying his sword. Aside from the guards, everyone else around Oda like his generals would be expected to join in the fight, except the guy holding Oda’s sword.

If Yasuke was fluent in Japanese, Oda and his paranoia could not be certain what was said in sensitive meetings with his advisors and generals wouldn’t get back to the Jesuits. But with his exotic looks, Yasuke would have impressed those around Oda like all the freaks that those in high power have been known to do no matter the time or era.

Yasuke was a real person, and this book is good adventure. But the Yasuke in this book is pure fiction.

Sadly, I think few people will have the courage to state the truth about this book and Yasuke. Those that do risk being called a racist and attacked to try to discredit the truth they state. It will be far easier for some to try to attack the messenger rather than deal with the message. I fully expect this to happen to me, see how fast before such accusations are leveled against me. I have already had people try to dox me by giving away where they thought I lived after I posted that I wasn’t expecting this book to be much. Thankfully, they keep using my old address from before my wife died and my kids moved out to go to college.

Few people that work in academics, a field especially vulnerable to the politically correct attack culture, will be willing to risk their careers by setting the record straight. There are those that are so eager to latch onto things like this that they actually claim that to be a samurai you had to prove you had blood from Africa. I have seen such statements with my own eyes. The lunatics that promote such a way of thinking don’t suddenly gain sanity when dealing with people are thus are more likely to engage in an obsessive campaign to hurt, maybe with violence, anyone that threatens their view that Africa would have been like Wakanda from the movies by Marvel if the devil white men hadn’t purposely torn them down.

But the truth is the truth, and this book has little to do with the truth. Those that have an open mind are not informed about the value of this book, which is very low for a work of non-fiction but actually reads pretty well as a fictional adventure novel.