USAGI YOJIMBO Volume 1, Number 25

Dear Sensei,

Thank you for your richly detailed fantasy account of feudal Japan. In our house, Usagi Yojimbo has opened dialogue between four generations of Japanese/Americans of Japanese descent Largely owing to your publication, my son, Hunter (age 9), has developed a great pride in his heritage and an interest in learning much more. The incredibly accurate artwork has sent both son and "Obasan" to research our family "mon" and discover various family relics and antiques with a newfound interest.

So, though undoubtedly not the intent of your work, the positive impact of Usagi Yojimbo on our family has been profound. We all enjoy the way you incorporate historical characters, folk tales, customs, and words into a fun and an easily accessible framework. We look forward to the entertainment of scrutinizing upcoming adventures!

Sincerely,
Anita Wada Murphy Houston
Columbia, MO

[Thanks for a terrific letter. It's always great to see Stan's scrupulous research being appreciated - and, although we haven't talked about it specifically, I do think that bringing Japanese culture to American readers is one of Stan's purposes behind Usagi. - ED.]

Dear Kim and Stan,

It's me again! I just received #23 of Usagi Yojimbo. As usual, the storyline along with the art is great. No complaints here. I even enjoyed the back-up story (which in most cases I enjoy much like the dessert after the main course, was also...well, for lack of a more descriptive word at this time...enjoyable. [Boy, if my English teacher saw this letter!] ). Then I turned to the "Letters to Usagi Yojimbo" page (geez, can't you come up with something more colorful?) and found that you published my letter. I'm very much flattered that you chose to print my undeserving letter, and found, at the tail end of it, in the last sentence of the second paragraph of the letter column, "como," I repeat, "como arigato"! Sure, I had taken Spanish this year and constantly correct my typing, but I just couldn't believe that I could have made such a mistake! I booted-up my copy of the same letter on my computer and found the mistake was not mine. Oh, I'm not mad or anything [goes on to suggest at some length that an original piece of Sakai art would make up nicely for the slight - ED.].

Well, continuing my letter, I'd like to ask a question concerning a letter in the same issue. In this letter which talked about the bear with the mawashi, the writer was asking if he was a part-time wrestler. I would like to know if he was a part-time wrestler but, more importantly, why more Sumo wrestlers haven't appeared in any of Usagi's adventures? I read somewhere that Sumo wrestling was, and still is, a favorite sport in Japan. I mean, where else can you find two rather immense beings colliding with one another (with the exception of a Macy's One-Day Sale, where individuals of many sizes do much the same as Sumo wrestlers, and a whole lot more!). Well, both cases are still quite comical, in my opinion. I was thinking, what if Usagi were to have a clash with a wrestler? Whoa, talk of a serious battle here! A behemoth with diapers against our favorite killer rabbit with the ginsu knives! Usagi would truly have an adversary to sink his swords into! (A truly sickening statement, I know, but I still think it would be an interesting battle.) well, it's only a suggestion.

Until the tokagé disappear from the pages of Usagi Yojimbo, make mine...um...Fantagraphics...or UY...or...never mind.

One of your indecisive readers,
Reggie Razote
Spring, TX

[Tell you what, Reggie; you stop trying to wheedle a piece of original art out of Stan for the "domo/como" gaffe, and we won't mail a copy of your letter to your English teacher and get you in deep trouble. Your Sumo wrestler suggestion has been passed along to Stan. - ED.]

People,

I find the use of the word "his" on your envelope ["Addressee has purchased this magazine for his personal collection"] to be demeaning. Please consider either his/her or their to replace it. I hope I'm not forced to cancel my subscription or take further action, as I love Usagi.

Robert Hughes
Ann Arbor, MI

[I was all set to follow Robert's suggestion until that last line. Now I can't stop wondering what "further action" in this case might be. Guerrilla attacks from NOW members (the women's organization, not the Chicago-based comics company)? Mass boycott of Usagi by female readers? The mind boggles. I've got to see what comes next. - ED.]

Dear Stan and Kim,

As a mere babe amongst Usagi readers (i.e., my first issue was #22) I was originally going to ask you just what exactly "yojimbo" means. However, just last week I saw Akira Kurosawa's classic film, which neatly explained that it is translated along the lines of "protector/bodyguard." To what extent has Stan been influenced by Kurosawa's work?

Issue #23 was superb - especially the Lionheart story. This is one of the few times I have ever seen a back-up tale come anywhere near meeting the quality of the lead story. I really enjoyed Hobbes' cameo appearance and Joey's final telegram ("The Mafia does not exist and they did not kill me" - love it!). Is it too much to ask for tom Stazer to start producing a Lionheart strip on a regular basis - like his own book (go on, I'd buy a copy - honest)?

Getting back to Usagi and Kurosawa, how about a Seven Samurai style epic? Usagi gets hired to defend a village, fort, bridge, etc., and decides to gather a few (i.e., about six) other ronin to help him out. What do you think?

All the best,
Robin McCalg
Glasgow, Great Britain

[Hope I got your name right there, Robin - it was a mite hard to read. Stan has indeed been heavily influenced by Akira Kurosawa's samurai films (see the rhino character Gennosuké for a direct tribute to the Yojimbo character, as played, of course, by the inimitable Toshiro Mifune), but it might be a bit much for Stan to borrow the whole plot of what is, after all, the most famous of all the samurai films (and one of the greatest adventure films of all time.)

[Hope you enjoyed Lionheart's return this issue. While Tom S. is busy on other projects at this point and isn't contemplating the return of Lionheart in the immediate future, there's a whole bunch of back issues of Critters featuring the journalistic feline cluttering up our stock room. Buy a couple, why dontcha?

[- ED.]

Hey, Kim and Stan,

Now that animated features and comics characters are making it big at the movies, will Usagi Yojimbo hit it on the big screen? If I were you, I'll jump right on it! Get Tom Cruise to play Usagi!

Zack Mays
Griffin, GA

[I can see it now: "Top Bunny." Or may "Hare of Thunder." - ED.]

Stan,

After enjoying Usagi Yojimbo #21 I noticed an art mistake. Gasp! Page one panels 1 and 3, page 4 panel 4: Even when the moon is ¾ full the other quarter is still there. So no stars should shine before it. That part of the sky should have been black. Quick, correct the original art!

Now was that worth a postcard? Nah, I doubt it.

Anyway, the remaining 400-plus Usagi pages over the years have all been near perfect.

John R. Borkowski
West Haven, CT

[I'm sure John did this just to tempt me into using the awful pun "noh-prize," but I'll refrain. By the way, by my count, Stan's Usagi page count has more than topped 600 by now. - ED.]

Dear Stan Sakai,

If you don't write another Usagi story with Katsuichi in it or at least a Usagi/Katsuichi flashback, I'm going to have to call you a grasshopper, weevil, potato bug, stupidhead, etc.

And if you still won't write one I shall have to "konk" you on the head with a bamboo stick until you do so.

Ewart Solomon
Cornwall, Great Britain

[Maybe that woman who wrote in about the violence in Usagi had a point. - ED.]

Yo Kim and Stan!

I picked up a copy of Usagi #22 because of the "Space Ark" back-up story. I've been a longtime fan of Ken Mitchroney's work, and I was glad to see the Arkers back in print. (You listening, Kenny?) Then I read the main story, "Blood Wings," and fell in love with Stan Sakai's work.

Stan has a remarkable talent with shading and texture. I think he works well with other artists, too (as evidenced in the Mitchroney team-up in #22 and the Stazer team-up in #23 - love that Lionheart!). Stan's stories have heart and read like fine literature. Being an amateur artist myself, I highly respect Stan's work and look forward to many more exiting adventures from the rabbit ronin.

Jimmy Chin
Gainesville, FL

PS: Did you guys approve the design for the TMNT Usagi action figure? He looks like he could use a laxative. Hope you like the drawing I'm enclosing.

Fan Art by Jimmy Chin

[Like it? It's terrific! One of the best non-Stan Sakai renditions of Usagi I've ever seen.

[Well, that brings us to the end of another issue. Next time around, we'll have a much longer lettercol (with lots of art), plus more of the usual wild rabbit action. And Stan and I hope to see at least a few of you during the abovementioned convention.

[See you in about six weeks!]

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.