Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

I had a good look around today and I couldn't find anything but please forgive me if this has already been covered:

There are two mystifying, almost whimsical practices we see repeatedly in the Usagi stories and I'm curious if Stan-san or anyone else can shed some light on them for me. One is the practice of setting up an aparatus over the head of a sleeping - and usually ill person to hang a bag of something so that it rests lightly upon the brow of the sleeper. I have to assume it's a healing practice of some sort but...? Two is the charming use of a fuzzy white ball on a stick to tap gently on the blade of the katana. It seems by context to be part of the cleaning process and is accompanied by the sound words *pounce pounce*

can anyone satisfy my curiosity?

It is a bag of medicine--various herbs. Japan families and physicians had some unique cures, such as: for a sore throat eat roasted orange seeds, put a pinch of sulfur on the navel to prevent seasickness, put ash from burnt pine needles on a sore tooth, and ginko nut tea is a cure for leprosy. Maybe I should do a story in which Usagi contracts leprosy in winter. I can imagine his ears falling off while waiting for the summer ginko season.

Leonardo-san could answer your sword question better than I could, but she is currently in Japan with her Dojo. That is a rosin ball used to polish the blade. You also used choji clove oil (a solution of 99% mineral oil and 1% clove oil) to protect it from moisture and prevent rust.

Ahh! Thank-you Stan-sensei. The bag of herbs makes sense. I'd thought it might be like a damp cloth to the forehead - but then why wouldn't you just use a damp cloth ! Interesting medicines - I wonder if any of them work - you never know. As for Usagi contracting leprosy... not unless you can grow his ears back - he needs them!
I had pictured something more spiritual with the sword ball. My thinking was tied up in the sound of the ball hitting the metal... cleansing the spirit perhaps. Anyway - very kool

thanks again! I love these details in the books they enrich the stories and the art so much.

Stan Sakai wrote: Maybe I should do a story in which Usagi contracts leprosy in winter.

As mentioned...
The white ball is used to put powder on the blade as part of the cleaning process. It does make a lovely sound. And actually, cleaning and polishing one's sword was considered a spiritual thing, too. At least if you put your focus fully into it while doing it.


As for the other thing??
I was rather horrified to think of Usagi with his ears falling off!

that's wonderful. I love how many things in Japanese culture are designed to make one focus on the small things in life and appreciate deeply the beauties around us.

Thank-you for the explanations everyone.