Black Japanese
Ethnic group in Japan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Black Japanese (黒人系日本人, Kokujinkei nihonjin) are Japanese residents or citizens of African ancestry.
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| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Tokyo, Okinawa | |
| Languages | |
| Japanese, English, African languages | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Black people, African British |
History
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.[1]
In the 19th century, during the Bakumatsu period, African-Americans arrived in Japan under the Perry Expedition on a mission to open commercial trade.[2][3][4]
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.[5] 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.[6] The decision to allow Miyamoto to win the title, as she is not full Japanese by descent, was controversial.[7]
Individuals
Japan-born
- Jim Bowie (born 1965), baseball player of African-American descent
- Sentoryū Henri (born 1969), first sumo wrestler of African-American descent
- Aja Kong (born 1970), professional wrestler of African-American descent
- Richard T. Jones (born 1972), actor of African-American descent
- Dave Roberts (born 1972), baseball player of African-American descent
- Issey Maholo (born 1985), football goalkeeper of Congolese descent
- Crystal Kay (born 1986), pop singer of African-American descent
- Dan Howbert (born 1987), footballer of Liberian descent
- Elly (born 1987), rapper and dancer of African-American descent
- Thelma Aoyama (born 1987), R&B singer of Afro-Trinidadian descent
- Karen Nun-Ira (born 1991), judoka of Ghanaian descent
- Ariana Miyamoto (born 1994), beauty contestant of African-American descent
- Evelyn Mawuli (born 1995), basketball player of Ghanaian descent
- Ado Onaiwu (born 1995), footballer of Nigerian descent
- Boniface Nduka (born 1996), footballer of Nigerian descent
- Aisha Harumi Tochigi (born 1996), model of Ghanaian descent
- Zachary Herivaux (born 1996), footballer of Haitian descent
- Powell Obinna Obi (born 1997), footballer of Nigerian descent
- Naomi Osaka (born 1997), tennis player of Haitian descent
- Charles Nduka (born 1998), footballer of Nigerian descent
- Stephanie Mawuli (born 1998), basketball player of Ghanaian descent
- Hisashi Appiah Tawiah (born 1998), footballer of Ghanaian descent
- Rui Hachimura (born 1998), basketball player of Beninese descent
- Jefferson Tabinas (born 1998), Japanese footballer of Ghanaian descent
- Osamu Henry Iyoha (born 1998), footballer of Nigerian descent
- Randy Emeka Obi (born 1999), footballer of Nigerian descent
- Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (born 1999), sprinter of Ghanaian descent
- Ibrahim Junior Kuribara (born 2001), footballer of Ghanaian descent
- Solomon Sakuragawa (born 2001), footballer of Nigerian descent
- Kashif Bangnagande (born 2001), footballer of Ghanaian descent
- Leo Kokubo (born 2001), footballer of Nigerian descent
- Keita Buwanika (born 2002), footballer of Ugandan descent
- Paul Tabinas (born 2002), footballer of Ghanaian descent
- Joel Chima Fujita (born 2002), footballer of Nigerian descent
- Anrie Chase (born 2004), footballer of Jamaican descent
Foreign-born
- Asuka Cambridge (born 1993), Jamaica-born sprinter
- Pape Mour Faye (born 1986), Senegal-born basketballer
- Samba Faye (born 1987), Senegal-born basketballer
- Chris Hart (born 1984), US-born pop singer
- Jero (born 1981), US-born enka singer
- Kotaro Matsushima (born 1993), South Africa-born rugby union player
- Kaoru Mfaume (born 1976), US-born entertainment producer
- Ike Nwala (born 1986), US-born TV presenter and comedian
- Andy Ologun (born 1983), Nigeria-born professional boxer, mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and actor
- Bobby Ologun (born 1968), Nigeria-born television personality
- Alessandro Santos (born 1977), Brazil-born footballer
- Mandy Sekiguchi (born 1991), US-born rapper
- Jelani Reshaun Sumiyoshi (born 1997), US-born footballer
- Musashi Suzuki (born 1994), Jamaica-born footballer
- Zion Suzuki (born 2002), US-born footballer
- Umi (born 1999), US-born singer and songwriter
- 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.[8]