Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

As a Kurosawa and UY fan, what comics have similar stories of Akira's works...may I ask? Usagi Yojimbo rules!!

G

Certainly there are many Kurosawa-esque elements in Usagi but there are only two stories that I can think of at the moment that were directly inspired by his film, and they were both taken from Yojimbo, though only superficially.

Silk Fair (UY Bk 2) resembles it only because they both take place during a silk fair and Usagi (like Toshiro Mifune) climbs a watch tower.

Showdown (DH #46-47) is much more directly inspired because it is about a town torn by two rival gangs. Also a thug gets his hand cut off ala Yojimbo and Star Wars (this scene in Yojimbo also inspired the cantina scene).

I by no means claim to be an Usagi expert, but there are a few other items that come to mind. (I also make no claim to be a Kurosawa expert, just a fanatic. ) Gennosuke has some charateristics of Sanjuro AND Kikuchiyo (Imagine both played by Mifune). Also, if you look at Stan's individual panels, you can see a kurosawa style to them. It helps that they are in black ad white too. Not that Kurosawa's colorfilms were bad (Dreams is one of my favorites), they just don'thave the same presence as his B&W. Jaa mata... -Jason

You're right about Gen. He is taken directly from Mifune's performances in Yojimbo and Sanjuro--form his scruffiness to the way he manipulates people.

I saw Mifune once, when he was grand marshal of the Nissei Week parade in LA. He was wearing a beautiful feudal hunting outfit and would order the procession to stop every block of so and invite people to come up to take pictures.

Sergio Aragones' dad who was a famed producer in Mexico, worked with Mifune when the actor was early in his career doing Mexican roles.

I just now re-read "Runaways", the story about a younger Usagi escorting Lady Hirano and it reminded me about this thread... As they flee from ninjas they stumble on a town celebrating a festival and it imediately made me think about the "Fire Festival" in Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress". Where you inspired by that one as well, or am I just speculating?

Thanks!

ghostdog wrote:... made me think about the "Fire Festival" in Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress". Where you inspired by that one as well, or am I just speculating?

That story was written after I saw the Audrey Hepburn/Gregory Peck movie Roman Holiday in which she played a princess running around incognito with journalist Peck. I think she won an Academy Award for that role. The Tanabata Festival was a backdrop that I thought was interesting and gave Usagi and the princess a chance to interact and relate to each other. It also was a nice look into Japan's culture.

Not to go into too much detail...but when Usagi wanders around town, he tucks his hands in his kimono (just like Sanjuro in Kurosawa's Yojimbo). Is that another inspiration Stan?

Gregory Andal
goandal

P.S. Stan, what's your favorite Kurosawa film or films?

goandal wrote:...he tucks his hands in his kimono

P.S. Stan, what's your favorite Kurosawa film or films?

The hands inside the kimono seems to be a fairly common practice. I've seen that in many other films and manga as well.

My favorite Kurosawa film is Seven Samurai. My favorite Japanese film is Satomi Hakkenden (circa 1957). It's a trilogy that has cheesy effects, magic, monsters, witches, samurai action, warring armies, a prancing princess, and a female impersonator--in other words, everything you could want from a movie. I used to see it at the old Kapahulu or Toyo Theatres when it came by every year but haven't seen it for about three decades now. I'd love to get a copy of it. The story was based upon a 43(?) volume novel about the 8 saviors of the Satomi clan. The movie was remade in the '70's starring Shinichi Chiba, and as a multi-chapter anime. I have both these later versions, none of which compares to the original.

Some of the ideas for Grasscutter and Sasuke came from my memories (greatly deteriorated over time) of Satomi Hakkenden.

I came across an excellent web site dedicated to this famous story a couple of years ago. I really should try to find it again.

Stan Sakai wrote:... I came across an excellent web site dedicated to this famous story a couple of years ago. I really should try to find it again.

Try http://www.google.com/search?q=Satomi%20Hakkenden. This yields a lot of results.

The last storyline reminded me a lot like Seven Samurai. There have been tons more, but typically only scenes from Kurosawa films have been reflected in the UY comics, rather than entire storylines. One scene that comes to mind was this one story where Usagi dueled someone with bokken. Both struck each other, but both claimed they were the victor and had to settle it via real swords... right out of Seven Samurai!

Do you remember which issue that bokken scene was in? I want to go through my UY collection.

Thanks!

goandal

I believe the story you are talking about is "The Duel". Volume 1 #26. It's the issue where the local champ fights Usagi and all the duels are bet on. The Shubo/Usagi duel was awesome. Those panels were just as cool as the Inazuma panels where she catches the arrow saving Usagi's life.

Todd Shogun wrote:One scene that comes to mind was this one story where Usagi dueled someone with bokken. Both struck each other, but both claimed they were the victor and had to settle it via real swords... right out of Seven Samurai!

That scene, which was used in Seven Samurai, was a true incident taken from the life of Tsukahara Bokuden.

Another true like incident that found its way into the movie was the one in which the head samurai shaved his head an pretended to be a priest in order to save a child held hostage by a bandit. In real life though, the bandit was not killed.

Remember that scene in Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon--the one where he lures the bully into the small boat and leaves him stranded? That's from Tsukahara Bokuden's life as well.

[quote="Stan Sakai"]
That scene, which was used in Seven Samurai, was a true incident taken from the life of Tsukahara Bokuden. [quote]

I apologize. As soon as I pressed that "submit" button, I realized that it was not Bokuden, it was Yagyu (though I don't think it was Jubei, it might have been his father).

I think that is what makes the movie Seven Samauri great...there have been certain scenes from the movie that has impacted others like George Lucas, Clint Eastwood and even the computer animated move A Bug's Life.

The reason why I brought up the topic was my interest in the UY comics and the art of Kurosawa.

Also, to encourage others to go in depth with the life of a samuari. Thanks!

Greg