Black Japanese


Black Japanese are Japanese residents or citizens who have African ancestry.

History

During the 16th century at the beginning of the Edo period with the arrival of European traders, the Dutch and Portuguese, brought Africans with them to Japan in the form of slaves. These African slaves, often poorly dressed and barefoot, acted as servants to the Europeans, who also brought with them exotic animals including elephants, giraffes, zebras, and camels.
Yasuke, an African man, possibly from Mozambique, arrived in Japan in the late-16th century alongside Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. He found favor with Oda Nobunaga, the daimyō and warlord, and ultimately achieved the status of a samurai.
In the 19th century, during the Bakumatsu period, African-Americans arrived in Japan with the Perry Expedition on a mission to open commercial trade.
After World War II, with the Japanese economic miracle, many students from Africa began coming to Japan often to pursue postgraduate education through MEXT and JICA. African Americans also joined the JET Programme to work as English teachers. Some African Americans came to serve in the United States Forces Japan.
In 2015, Ariana Miyamoto, who was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and an African-American father, became the first contestant to win the title of Miss Universe Japan. The decision to allow Miyamoto to win the title, as she is not full Japanese by descent, was controversial.

Individuals

Japan-born

Foreign-born