Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

You know, Usagi has never piloted a boat. I mean, I could go back and look but I am pretty certain he has not. I wonder, since he lives in a nation of islands, if he can sail. I love the water so I thought I'd throw that out there.

It would be interesting to see Usagi captain a vessel for a while, and find some peril at sea.

I love that idea. It would be hilarious to see Usagi on the open sea (or at least just off the coast of Japan) and completely out of his element.

Yes! And it might be interesting to see him trapped in a situation that requires something other than swordplay to get out of. For instance, him not having a working knowledge of a ship would keep him trapped until he could figure it out. Or at least keep someone alive on board who does know something.

That might make an interesting plot.

The Chinese arrived in the New World before even the Vikings, but the Japanese were not a big ocean-faring people. They pretty much stayed along their own coastline, with the occasional foray to Korea.

Stan Sakai wrote: The Chinese arrived in the New World before even the Vikings, but the Japanese were not a big ocean-faring people. They pretty much stayed along their own coastline, with the occasional foray to Korea.

If you're referring to the 1421 Hypothesis, then you may be mistaken about the Japanese. There is DNA evidence that suggests a large Japanese ship presence (Zhou Man’s fleet), as well as Korean (Chou Wen's), who sailed with the Chinese to the New World.

http://www.1421.tv/pages/evidence/conte ... enceID=200

The Vikings, however, explored North America approximately 1000 years ago.

What about their occupation of Okinawa?

It seems to me that island is quite a distance from the Japanese home islands.

Dear Readers,
Part of the plot in "The Mute Samurai" Japanese tv show with Wakayama Tomisburo is a law that no one leaves Japan.
Is this relevant to the possibility of Usagi Yojimbo on board a ship. What is the law about a ronin leaving the country?
Thank you all for the fun.
Best wishes to all!
go
My question is does Usagi surf?

I think you could leave Japan if you were on a "red seal" ship. Meaning you had special privilege. But certainly there were fishing boats and other galleons that were used for silk trade with China.

I am imagining Usagi in a story where he is adrift and is forced to learn how to get himself home. Sea monsters, pirates, and sea gods. Perhaps even he is gone so long he comes home to a changed Japan.

Surfing? Wasn't that in the swimsuit special? HA!

Tinlantern wrote: I am imagining Usagi in a story where he is adrift and is forced to learn how to get himself home. Sea monsters, pirates, and sea gods. Perhaps even he is gone so long he comes home to a changed Japan.

I like that idea a lot. I'm not quite sure how it could work logistically, but I think it would be pretty cool to see a miniseries with Usagi on a sort of mini-"Homer's Odyssey."

Yes, it would almost have to be a mini-series or relevant to the rest of the issues since it would cause Usagi to be separated. I like the idea of an Odyssey.

There is also a piece in the swimsuit edition where Usagi is battling an octopus wielding several swords. There is a shark in there as well. I love that idea. Things in the deep that usagi has never found before.

Maybe it would work best as a mini-series with a stand alone thrown in where he explores a haunted vessel or fights a sea monster.

I recall him in a boat on the Peach Rabbit Boy story a few years ago, but that was a "what if" type story I think.