Black Japanese

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, accompanied by exotic animals such as elephants, giraffes, zebras, and camels.^[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]

In the 19th century, during the Bakumatsu period, African-Americans arrived in Japan under the Perry Expedition on a mission to open a commercial trade.^[3][4][5]

After World War II, with the Japanese economic miracle, many students from Africa began coming to Japan often to pursue relevant postgraduate education through MEXT and JICA.^[6] African Americans also joined the JET Programme to work as English teachers. Some African Americans arrive to serve in the United States Forces Japan.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[7] The decision to allow Miyamoto to win the title, as she is not full Japanese by descent, was controversial.^[8]