USAGI YOJIMBO Volume 1, Number 21

Dear friends!

Thank you for the serenity and joy which your remarkable artwork and storytelling have brought to me.

Originally my admiration was for the quaint and peculiar Cerebus the Aardvark, but Usagi's sophistication and above all - your depth of character which you have given him; his natural kindness, his generosity of hear, and his unalienable good-will - have earned for him (and for you) my respect and my compassion.

Few indeed are the graphic characters who are presented in such a way as to teach worth and noble virtues.

As for Tomoe! Would that I could hold her in my arms - not for any "animal" sexuality, but because I know who she is, and I love her.

She is a righteous woman - not merely virtuous and skilled, but courageous, gentle, and forgiving. I would hold her in my arms, not because she is beautiful or vulnerably in need of being comforted, but because I, as a fellow being, feel for her sorrows which you, her creator, have given her the lovely inner strength to overcome.

I would hold her tenderly in my arms so that I could share her energy and her calm.

Thank you for gifting my energy with your vision of Tomoe!

A question, please - the names of many of your characters (in looking at Usagi Yojimbo Color Special #1 which I have before me here in the Steel Company of Canada's Central Chem.Lab. where I work) - for examples: Lady Etsuko, Lady Kazuko, Lord Hikiji, Tajima, Katsuichi, and Tatsutaro - these all seem to have been given names which appear to have meanings in Japanese.

Although I speak French, German, and Czech, I am completely untutored in Oriental languages but looking at Usagi's teacher, for instance - Katsuichi - I seem to recall that "ichi" is, at least, a word - so what does Katsuichi mean? "White-haired old one," or "Solitary Lion of White Mountain"? It would enhance the degree of subtlety if we, your eager readers, could be given footnotes as to the meaning of these names.

I write poetry and have always deemed it right to encourage my readership to get as deeply into my mind as possible.

Please let us further into our beloved stories (and you esteemed mind) by providing footnotes or a glossary to know the meanings of these delightful subcharacters' names.

Thank you for making Usagi and Tomoe my friends, and companions of my pilgrimage.

David A. Holt
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

PS: My name means "He is loved," "Son of truth," "Place of Safety in the Forest."

[Katsuichi means "win" (Katsu) "one" (ichi), or "One who wins";
Etsuko means "Child who rejoices";
Kazuko means "Peaceful Child";
Tatsutaro means "Great, wise son."

[These are all legitimate names. Of course, I've also used such names as

["Takohana" (Octopus nose),
"Okii Ashiyubi" (Big Toes),
"Koriko" (Ice Child) and
"Atsuko" (Hot Child).

[I usually add footnotes or translations for words that are integral to the storyline but most names are either picked at random or because they sound good.

[- STAN SAKAI]

Greetings from the Great White North,

Stan, your work's great and so clear and uncluttered. I love it but I have a few questions I'm dying to know.

(1) Is it possible that Lord Mifune's son could be alive?

(2) Is a Usagi cartoon coming out? (Tell me no, Stan, tell me no.)

(3) In the near future will Usagi take on Hikiji one on one?

(4) Kim Thompson wants you to do a cartoon, doesn't he?

(5) Did Boris kill Usagi (who's Boris?)?

(6) Tell me how Leonardo got into a parallel universe of feudal Japan.

(7) Sorry, I'm a few issues behind, but if you haven't already can you bring back the back-ups?

(8) I like Nilson Groundthumper but ditch Hermy.

(9) Is another limited edition silkscreen thing coming out?

Mr. Sakai, you are a genius, it has been a honor to read Usagi Yojimbo.

J.K.
(address unknown)

[(1) No.

[(2) He's made appearances on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series and rumor has it that he made a cameo in a crowd scene in a Duck Tales episode (though I haven't seen this). Currently, there is no plan to do a Usagi cartoon series or feature.

[(3) I honestly don't know.

[(4) I honestly don't know.

[(5) I honestly don't know.

[(6) I honestly don't know.

[(7) They're back.

[(8) Never. Hermy is the character who most readers of Usagi identify with most.

[(9) I'm talking to a company that specializes in limited edition prints. We'll let you know further details as they're ironed out.

[- STAN SAKAI]

Dear Stan and Kim,

I am writing in to express my concern over the recent state of affairs in Usagi Yojimbo. First, Shingen was a very interesting character with lots of potential for future development, but you guys went and killed him off like that. My other major disappointment is that you killed Spot too. What are you, a bunch of insane brutalizers? Can't we at least call a 900 number?

Nevertheless, your "Dragon Bellow Conspiracy" storyline is great. It had intrigue, suspense, and a continuity last seen in #1-4.

And now for the bane of letters column editors, and the boon of letter column readers: The numbered questions! [Numbered questions deleted in order not to try the reader's patience overmuch.]

Toh Hsien Min
Singapore

Dear Stan,

I'm 14 years old but if someone touches my UY comics I spazz like I'm two. Congratulations on another great year of cartooning genius and storytelling greatness! I could go on forever with the compliments but I have some questions, like:

(1) Could you teach me to draw like that, I mean like drawing Usagi?

(2) Could you please print my picture along with my letter?

(3) Why does my UY comic #8 say "second printing"?

(4) Why is the sky blue?

(5) Could you ignore question #4, please?

(6) What I mean by question #1 is, could you possibly put a "how to draw UY" in the back of an upcoming issue? (I had a lot of trouble with the picture I sent.)

Thanks for your time, Stan.

Mark Mason
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

[(1) Perhaps I'll do a back-up story on how I create an issue of Usagi, including drawing tips. What do you think?

[(2) Okay:

Fan Art by Mark Mason

[(3) Because it is.

[(4) Because if it was green, we wouldn't know when to stop mowing.

[(5) Okay.

[- STAN SAKAI]

Dear Mr. Sakai,

I love Usagi Yojimbo and there are a few questions I want to ask.

(1) How old is Usagi?

(2) How did you come about the use of a rabbit?

(3) Did you get the storyline for the Busio story from Musashi Beraus? I've read the unabridged version of the book and in a way some of the events, Usagi's character, and the name Miyamoto, resemble the book Musashi.

But anyway, Usagi Yojimbo is the best comic I've read.

Shawn Book
Calimesa, CA

[Miyamoto Musashi heavily influenced Miyamoto Usagi. Musashi was born around 1584 and began his samurai career at the age of 13. His father was a country samurai rather than a court samurai. Musashi fought in the battle of Sekigahara which was a turning point in Japanese history (he was on the losing side). He perfected the two-sword style of fighting but was also an artist, philosopher, and the author of A Book of Five Rings. He was a wanderer but died in the service of Lord Hosokawa in 1645 and is buried on the island of Kyushu. He was in more than sixty duels over his lifetime, the most famous of which was with Sasaki Kojiro on Ganryu Island in which Musashi used a boat paddle instead of a sword.

[The book, Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa, recounts a portion of his life and has been adapted a number of times. The best and most accessible version is the three mid-'50s films The Samurai Trilogy, all directed by Hiroshi Inagaki and starring Toshiro Mifune.

[- STAN SAKAI]

Dear Kim,

My number one son, Kirk, recently bought this ole Mum your Usagi Yojimbo Color Special.

Congratulations! The issue did print up decently, Kim, very decently. I can well appreciate the work involved in putting out a color comic of the brave bunny warrior. Cherry tree blossoms should be showered down upon all of your staff, particularly Tom Luth for his unfailing skills and labors of the heart.

However. (And here comes the crunch.) As much as I enjoyed the Usagi Color Special, I much prefer the black-and-white rendition, which seems to allow for finer detailing.

Color robs this reader and fan of Usagi from the pleasure in searching through the intricate lines of Stan's artwork where perhaps, almost hidden amongst leaves, a tiny bird can just about be found singing in a tree. Where stormy clouds look stormier and foliage appears denser.

Please save yourselves the added cost of putting out color productions. Keep Stan's Usagi in the pristine, detailed artwork of black-and-white. When something works, don't tamper with it.

With best wishes,
Mrs. Betty D. Lowry
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

[I agree with you wholeheartedly. The color special was great. Tom Luth, as always, did a terrific job. However, I still prefer the black-and-white. - STAN SAKAI]

Dear Mr. Sakai,

I can honestly say that Usagi Yojimbo is my favorite comic book. The covers are spectacular, and the story inside is always just as good. Having to wait two months for my favorite comic to come out can get a little frustrating at times, but it's always well worth the wait. I realize that it must take you a long while to plot, script, pencil, ink, and letter each issue single-handedly.

Anyway, I thought "Frost and Fire" was a good story, although it seemed short after the "Dragon Bellow Conspiracy". The thing I liked best about Usagi #19 was...the return of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy! Hermy was hilarious, and the "Golfer" was perfect. I wish they could be the back-up every issue, but I guess that's asking for too much.

I hope you don't mind my asking a few questions, because there's a couple of things I'd like to know. first, what lord did Gennosuké serve under? I don't think he's mentioned how he became a ronin before, and I was kind of curious. Second, is the color special going to become a regular event? It looked great and I'd love to see another soon.

Well, that's about all I've got to say. Thanks for listening.

Sincerely,
Chris Allen
Loveland, CO

[The next story with Gen will reveal his past and I promise quite a few surprises. However, I can't say what issue it will be in as I've got a whole bunch of stories I'd like to do first. - STAN SAKAI]

Dear Stan,

I am very impressed by the fine details of your Usagi Yojimbo action figure. In fact, it looks very much like Usagi on the cover of Critters #38. How much input did you give in the toy's design and what are the weapons called? I noticed that on the back of the package it says Usagi Yojimbo is a trademark of Stan "Akai."

I hope there will be a Tomoe Ame action figure because Usagi looks funny beside April O'Neil. Now if all the people who bought the toy start to buy the comic, then that would mean...!!

David Wong
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

[We rejected the first prototype of the figure because it looked like Usagi's head on He-Man's body but I really like the one that was finally produced.

[The toys that I have all say "Stan Sakai." Perhaps you got a one-of-a-kind collector's item.

[There are no plans for a Tomoe figure.

[- STAN SAKAI]

Last change: 19. May 2003

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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 authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events, institutions, or locales, without satiric content, is coincidental.