Black people in Japan

Black people in Japan (黒人系日本人, Kokujinkei nihonjin /Nipponjin) are Japanese residents or citizens of African ancestry.

[1] Yasuke, an African man, possibly from Mozambique, arrived in Japan in the late-16th century alongside Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano.

He found favor with Oda Nobunaga, the daimyō and warlord, and ultimately achieved the status of a samurai.

[2] After World War 2, with the Japanese economic miracle, many students from Africa began coming to Japan often to pursue relevant postgraduate education through MEXT and JICA.

Some African Americans arrive to serve in the United States Forces Japan.

16th century painting of European traders and an African in Japan
17th century painting of a European trader and an African in Japan
A black sumo wrestler, possibly Yasuke, in the 17th century
17th century Dutch Dejima, Japan
Jero was the first black enka singer in history.