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USAGI YOJIMBO LETTERS COLUMN
Send comments to: Usagi Yojimbo ~ Letters Column c/o Dark Horse Comics
10956 S.E. Main Street, Milwaukie, OR 97222
E-MAIL: dianas@darkhorse.com Web: http://www.darkhorse.com
UsagiYojimbo
Dojo: http://www.usagiyojimbo.com
Dear Diana and Stan,
Are we ever going to see Lord Hikiji again? As you can see, he's one of my favorite characters. But I have a few other questions for you. First, is Katsuichi ever going to fight that guy, Nakamura Koji, who appeared in "The Withered Field" [UY Vol. 3, #7]? I think that it would be a great place to bring in some old characters, like Inazuma and the dark lord. Second, what happened to Jei? Is he really dead, or is he a regular character now? And, finally, will Usagi ever fight the dark lord again? I hope that you can fit this small letter into your big column. Thanks a lot for reading this letter from a faithful fan!
Max from Manhattan
lordhikiji@aol.com
It will be a while before Lord Hikiji shows up again, but Hebi will play a part in Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine, beginning in [Vol. 3] issue #39. As you saw in [Vol. 3] issue #33, Katsuichi-sensei is already on his way to his encounter with Koji. And Jei's story has not ended, but the story of Inazuma and her possession by Jei's black soul has not even begun.
Dear Mr. Sakai,
I have just recently entered your world and would like to share my excitement over this discovery with you. You have managed to achieve a high level of excellence in a format most would feel is not conducive to such expression. Instead of seeing your work as "cartoony," I see it as leaving you free to develop a wonderful sense of expression and depth.
Despite Mr. Eisner's comment in the introduction to the "Grasscutter" trade paperback [UY Book 12] about the "convenience" of anthropomorphism and a cartoony style, I see your work as being more well rounded and realistic than that of many other more "serious" comics artists who work in a realistic style. Even the foes of Usagi, right down to foot soldiers and arms bearers, have individual faces and body structures. That is realism. I especially like Usagi's ex-general monk friend. His image reminds me of the "cartoonish" self-portraits of the monk Hakuin , who "stood like a bull and roared like a tiger."
If I may be so presumptuous as to share an idea: since Usagi is wandering through the 16th century, he may encounter a character based on the well-known rustic monk/calligrapher Ryokan. I think that the historical Ryokan lived in the late 16th century, and his personality would be a wonderful complement to Usagi's tale.
By the way, I have used my Usagi comics in the high-school class I teach here in rural Alaska in order to improve reading skills and share with students information about another culture. My students, all native Eskimos, enjoy your stories very much. My only regret is the increased wear and tear on my prized comics. But the results they achieve with my students are well worth it. After all, nothing in this world is permanent. Thank you once again.
Kevin Crowley
kcrowley@sxp.lysd.k12.ak.us
My creation, Usagi Yojimbo, was inspired by the life of Miyamoto Musashi, who was himself molded from a country ruffian into arguably the greatest warrior in Japanese history by a priest named Takuan (1573-1645). The priest is also noted for a method of seasoning turnips which is called takuanzuke .
Dear Stan,
I really enjoyed Usagi Yojimbo [Vol. 3] #31. I wasn't surprised by the outcome, but it was still a fun story and also fun to see your renditions of the various obaké.
When I first discovered your work last year, there was a familiarity that I just couldn't put my finger on. It was like I had read stories by you before, though I knew I hadn't. Then, while watching Rashomon for the first time earlier this year, I figured it out. Your work has that "feel" of a Kurosawa film: not just the period and setting, it's your wonderful grasp of how to pace a story. It's like I can set a metronome to an issue of Usagi. Whether it's action or dialogue, it flows perfectly.
I said something along these lines to you in San Diego. I just wanted to clarify what I said because I had also reenacted my favorite Kurosawa scene, which produced laughter and confused looks from everyone near your table (Mifune, on the horse in Hidden Fortress: how did he stay so still?).
Matt Caruso
mrkite9091@yahoo.com
That scene of Mifune sitting stone still on a wildly galloping horse stands out as the greatest moment in a terrific film. This movie, which George Lucas credited as his inspiration for Star Wars, is easily available on video.
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[Coming your way in February, the Usagi Yojimbo cold-cast statue, sculpted from Stan's drawings, is eight inches tall and features our favorite rabbit ronin and his pal Spot preparing for battle. Packaged in a full-color collector's box, the statue also includes a mini-sketchbook of Stan's model sheet illustrations and a set of nine exclusive Usagi Yojimbo collector cards (one signed by Stan). The statue retails for $79.95. Check with your local retailer or visit the Dark Horse web site for ordering info. – Diana]
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"Usagi Yojimbo", including all prominent characters featured in the stories and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Stan Sakai and Usagi Studios. Usagi Yojimbo is a registered trademark of Stan Sakai. Names, characters, places, and incidents featured in this publication either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events, institutions, or locales, without satiric content, is coincidental.