Did you know that Tom Cruise wasn’t the only foreigner who became a samurai? There was also Yasuke, the first and only black samurai ever.

Story goes is that Yasuke – or Yusufe, according to a new 2013 research – was a member of the Makua, an ethnic group from Mozambique. He became a slave of an Italian Jesuit and was brought to Japan in 1579.

Naturally, the locals, having never seen an African before, found Yasuke’s dark skin amusing and exotic. This attracted the attention of powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga, who quickly became BFFs with the man.

Japanese Weapons elaborates: “As time went on Nobunaga grew fond of the African and eventually awarded him with the position of a Samurai (shikan) – A rare honor for a foreigner not to mention a servant.

“Yasuke’s later ventures are unknown but his rise to a highly elevated position in Japan after arriving as a mere slave is still spoken about in Japanese folklore till this day as evidenced in the fictional children historical show called Kuro-suke.”

I smell a Hollywood film here. Casting ideas anyone? Will Smith? Samuel Jackson?? “Enough is ENOUGH! I have had it with these motherf*cking ninjas on this motherf*cking castle!”

Via Yomyomf