Black people in Japan

Black people in Japan
Regions with significant populations
	Tokyo, Okinawa
Languages
	Japanese, English, African languages
Related ethnic groups
	Black people

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

History

16th century painting of European traders and an enslaved African in Japan

17th century painting of a European trader and an enslaved African in Japan

In the mid-16th century, enslaved Africans arrived in Japan alongside Europeans.^[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 became his retainer.^[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.^[3] African Americans also joined the JET Programme to work as English teachers. Some African Americans arrive 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.^[4] The decision to allow Miyamoto to win the title, as she is not full Japanese by descent, was controversial.^[5]

Individuals

Japan-born

Boniface Nduka (born 1996), footballer of Nigerian descent
Charles Nduka (born 1998), footballer of Nigerian descent
Hisashi Appiah Tawiah (born 1998), footballer of Ghanaian descent
Ibrahim Junior Kuribara (born 2001), footballer of Ghanaian descent
Thelma Aoyama (born 1987), R&B singer of Afro-Trinidadian descent
Kashif Bangnagande (born 2001), footballer of Ghanaian descent
Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (born 1999), sprinter of Ghanaian descent
Rui Hachimura (born 1998), basketball player of Beninese descent
Dan Howbert (born 1987), footballer of Liberian descent
Crystal Kay (born 1986), pop singer of African American descent
Issey Maholo (born 1985), football goalkeeper of Congolese descent
Ariana Miyamoto (born 1994), beauty contestant of African American descent
Sentoryū Henri (born 1969), first sumo wrestler of African American descent
Mana Nakao (born 1986), footballer of Tanzanian descent
Talla Ndao (born 1999), footballer of Senegalese descent
Karen Nun-Ira (born 1991), judoka of Ghanaian descent
Naomi Osaka (born 1997), tennis player of Haitian descent
Ado Onaiwu (born 1995), footballer of Nigerian descent
Evelyn Mawuli (born 1995), basketball player of Ghanaian descent
Stephanie Mawuli (born 1998), basketball player of Ghanaian descent
Powell Obinna Obi (born 1997), footballer of Nigerian descent
Randy Emeka Obi (born 1999), footballer of Nigerian descent
Richard T. Jones (born 1972), actor of American descent
Leo Kokubo (born 2001), footballer of Nigerian descent
Keita Buwanika (born 2002), footballer of Ugandan descent
Anrie Chase (born 2004), footballer of Jamaican descent
Jefferson Tabinas (born 1998), Japanese footballer of Ghanaian descent
Paul Tabinas (born 2002), footballer of Ghanaian descent
Aisha Harumi Tochigi (born 1996), model of Ghanaian descent
Solomon Sakuragawa (born 2001), footballer of Nigerian descent
Joel Chima Fujita (born 2002), footballer of Nigerian descent
Zachary Herivaux (born 1996), footballer of Haitian descent
Dave Roberts (born 1972), baseball player of American descent
Aja Kong (born 1970), professional wrestler of African American descent
Jim Bowie (born 1965), baseball player of African-American descent
Osamu Henry Iyoha (born 1998), footballer of Nigerian 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, Africa-born retainer of Oda Nobunaga