Black Japanese

Black Japanese
黒人系日本人
17th century Dutch Dejima, Japan
Regions with significant populations
Tokyo, Okinawa
Languages
Japanese, English, African languages
Related ethnic groups
Black people, African British

Black Japanese (Japanese: 黒人系日本人, Hepburn: Kokujinkei nihonjin) are Japanese residents or citizens who have African ancestry.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3]

In the 19th century, during the Bakumatsu period, African-Americans arrived in Japan with the Perry Expedition on a mission to open commercial trade.[4][5][6]

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.[7] 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 hāfu (a term denoting mixed ancestry) contestant to win the title of Miss Universe Japan.[8] The decision to allow Miyamoto to win the title, as she is not full Japanese by descent, was controversial.[9]

Individuals

Japan-born

Foreign-born

References

  1. ^ Doan, Natalia (2022). "African America and Japan". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Asian History. Oxford University Press.
  2. ^ Makoto Tsujiuchi - Hitotsubashi University (1998). "Historical context of black studies in Japan" (PDF). Hitotsubashi Journal of Social Studies. pp. 95–100. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  3. ^ Mohamud, Naima (14 October 2019). "Yasuke: The mysterious African samurai". BBC News. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  4. ^ Leupp, Gary P. (1995). Images of Black People in Mediaeval and Early Modern Japan, 1543–1900.
  5. ^ "MIT Visualizing Cultures".
  6. ^ David Wright (1998). "The Use of Race and Racial Perceptions Among Asians and Blacks: The Case of the Japanese and African Americans" (PDF). Hitotsubashi Journal of Social Studies. pp. 95–100. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  7. ^ studyinjapan-africa.com
  8. ^ Fackler, Martin (29 May 2015). "Biracial Beauty Queen Challenges Japan's Self-Image". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  9. ^ Olya, Gabrielle (23 March 2015). "Miss Universe Japan Ariana Miyamoto Criticized for Not Being Japanese Enough". People. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  10. ^ Mohamud, Naima (14 October 2019). "Yasuke: The mysterious African samurai". BBC News. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
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