Usagi Yojimbo Character Index A-L

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Usagi Yojimbo Character Index A-L

Characters are listed in alphabetical order, by family name (if given) or first name. Titles are included but are not considered for listing order.

Note: UY1 indicates the original Usagi Yojimbo comic series (aka Volume 1), published by Fantagraphics Books. UY2 indicates the second Usagi Yojimbo comic series (aka Volume 2), published by Mirage Publishing. UY3 indicates the third series (aka Volume 3), published by Dark Horse Comics.

Mariko: Mariko is a samurai, and was the childhood love of Miyamoto Usagi. She marries Usagi's boyhood rival, Kenichi, and has a son named Jotaro, though Jotaro is truly Usagi's son! Appearances: Critters #10, UY(F) #3, 28-29, 31, Mentioned in UY(M) #13

Yoriki Masuda: Masuda is the yoriki (chief police administrator) of a town that Usagi travels through. He is secretly telling the local yakuza (professional gambler) gang who to rob and looking the other way because he owes them a large gambling debt. He frames Noodles and has him executed, but is himself exposed by Usagi and Kitsune. Appearances: UY3 #1-2.

Matsutaro: A ronin hired as a yojimbo (bodyguard) by Kaiko-san. Appearances: UY(F) #5

Lord Mifune: Once Miyamoto Usagi's Daimyo (provincial samurai lord). He was killed at the battle of Adachigahara battling against Lord Hijiki's army. Patron of the Dogora fencing school. Appearances: Usagi Yojimbo Summer Special, Critters #38, UY(F) #2, 4, UY(M) #8

Miyamoto Usagi: Studied under Katsuichi in the mountains as a youth. Served under Lord Mifune, who was killed at the battle of Adachigahara. After Mifune's seath, Usagi became a wandering ronin (masterless samurai). Appearances: Do we really need to list them all?

Mogura Ninja: The nefarious mole ninja. Appearances: Critters #10-11

Monshiro: General Oyaneko's servant. He has been the General's servant since his youth. Appearances: UY(F) #23

Moyashi: A farmer who takes Usagi in and enlists Usagi's aid against the thugs (hired by Magistrate Sueoka) trying to run him out of the valley. His daughter, Kimie, gets a crush on Usagi. Appearances: UY(M) #4-5

General Murakami: Famous General of the Shirogeta clan, and Gennosuke's father. Murakami was eventually killed by Magistrate Oda. Appearances: UY(F) #34-35

Muramasa: The late Muramasa was a master swordsmith, who crafted the "Muramasa Blade." He is rumored to be mad. Appearances: Mentioned in UY(F) #12

Nekohana: A retainer of the late Lord Nerai, counselor to Lord Hijiki. Nekohana carried a note for the Shogun (supreme military ruler of Japan) from Lord Nerai, but Nekohana is ambushed by Hijiki's agents" (i.e., Neko ninja). Usagi finds him, and Nekohana's dying wish was for Usagi to deliver the message to the Shogun. Appearances: Usagi Yojimbo Book 1

Neko Ninja Clan: Ninja clan in service to Lord Hijiki, until the Dragon Bellow Conspiracy (UY Book 4). Temporarily replaced by the Komori ninja. Originally led by Hanzo, later by Shingen, then by Shigen's sister, Chizu. Appearances: Turtle Soup #1, Shell Shock #1, Albedo #4, UY(M) #1-3, UY(M) #13 (and others)

Counselor Nerai: Lord Hijiki's counselor who was responsible for the "Geishu operation" to assassinate Lord Noriyuki. He had sent Hanzo and other Neko ninja to kill Lord Hijiki, but they were defeated by Usagi. Counselor Nerai was ordered to commit seppeku (ritual suicide) as a result. Appearances: Mentioned in Albedo #4

Lord Nerai: (see Counselor Nerai)

Nishimura: Owns a corner bookstore in the village haunted by General Tadaoka. He related the story of General Tadaoka to Usagi. Appearances: UY(F) #33

Nobu: A peasant villager, who is betrothed to Kimie. When Kimie gets a crush on Usagi, Nobu tries desperately to prove to Kimie he is not a coward. He foolishly challenges Usagi to a duel after helping to rescue Kimie, but backs down. He ends up marrying Kimie. Appearances: UY(M) #4-5

Noburo: Village headman and father of Hiro. Appearances: UY(M) #9-10

Noodles: Noodles is a mute soba (buckwheat noodles) vendor who was befriended by Kitsune. He is not bright but he is very strong. Noodles is framed for stealing by Yoriki Masuda and is executed. Appearances: UY3 #1-2

Lord Noriyuki: Young Lord of the Geishu samurai clan. His father recently died (A#3) leaving him the only heir. If he dies, the Geishu clan will be abolished and its holdings distributed. Lord Hijiki is behind assassination attempts. He resides in the White Heron castle of the Geishu clan. He supports the Shogun. Appearances: Albedo #3-4, UY(F) #12-13, 17

Obaasan: Obaasan is an elderly woman whose son, Atsuo, was a corrupt money lender, having inherited the business when his father died. Obaasan killed Atsuo after realizing how corrupt and dishonorable he had been. Appearances: UY(F) #8

Ocho: A shapechanger and is a cat beast, terrorizing the village. She is slayed by Usagi. Appearances: The Doomsday Squad #3

Councilor Oda: A low-ranking member of the Shirogeta clan court, under Lord Asano. He is "despised by all for his low morals and was passed over many times for honors he believed should have been his." He took a bribe to assassinate Lord Asano. 20 years later he is killed by Lady Asano. Appearances: UY(F) #34-36

Magistrate Oda: (see Councilor Oda)

Ojii-san: Peasant grandfather of Keiko. They lived alone in a hut. They are harassed by three bandits who eat all of their food. Ojii-san is killed by one of the bandits. Appearances: UY(M) #13

Okii Ashiyubi: Chief counselor of the Shogun. "Most trusted advisor" to the Sogun. In league with Counselor Hebi. Appearances: Usagi Yojimbo Book 1

Okii Hana: A tea master, rival of Hokuse, who attempts to steal a master quality tea cup being delivered by Genosuke. Appearances: Mentioned in UY(F) #11

Omori Kazan: A komuso (wandering priest) of the Fuke' sect of Zen Buddhism. He is killed by one of the members of "Shi" shortly after meeting Usagi. Appearances: UY(M) #7

Oshiro: Student of Dogora fencing school who fought Usagi in his first tournament match. Appearances: UY(F) #2

Oware: Master craftsman who makes tea cups. Appearances: Mentioned in UY(F) #11

General Oyaneko: A general who once served under the late Lord Higashi, and is famous for single-handedly routing the ogres of the Eastern mountains. Retired from service in disgrace after being framed by Higashi's son, Hirone, and ordered to serve as magistrate of a small town. General Oyaneko was dying of an illness. He died three weeks after meeting Usagi. Appearances: UY(F) #23

Magistrate Oyaneko: (See General Oyaneko)

Seiburo: A villager from Usagi's village. He goes after Jotaro when he runs from Jei's hideout. He finds Jotaro, but is killed by Jei. Appearances: UY(F) #30

Seijuro: Villager from Usagi's village who alerts Kenichi to bandits in the village. Appearances: UY(F) #29

Senjiro: Head of Dogora fencing school. Appearances:UY(F) #2

Shi ("Death"):Mysterious group of four assassins, each a master of a different weapon: bow (daikyu), sickle and chain (kusari-gama), spear (Yari) and sword (katana). They spell their name using the Chinese ideogram for the number "four," which also sounds like the word "death." Appearances: UY(M) #4-5

Shingen: Chunin (executive officer) of the Neko ninja clan. He was hired by Lord Hijiki to steal the priceless Muramasa blade from Geishu castle. Appearances: UY(F) #12, 14-17, UY(M) #13

Shubo: A ronin working for a gambler, fighting duels and taking a share of the winnings. He was saving money to take his wife and son away to retire. One month before meeting Usagi, he killed another of Katsuichi's students "in that Northern village." He is eventually killed by Usagi in a duel. Appearances: UY(F) #26

Shunichi: Brother of Shunji, and student of Katsuichi. Found Katsuichi after his fall from a cliff and nursed him back to health. Their mother had died and their father was a ji-zamurai (country samurai), who shaved his head and became a monk. Appearances: UY(F) #28

Shunji: Student taken by Katsuichi after Usagi's departure to serve Lord Mifune. Shunji and his brother, Shunichi, found Katsuichi after he fell off a cliff into the river and nursed him back to health.. Their mother was dead and their father was a ji-zamurai (country samurai) who shaved his head and became a monk. Appearances: UY(F) #28

Spot I: Spot is caught stealing food and is rescued by Usagi. Usagi and his new friend, who he names Spot, continue on the lonely road. Appearances: UY(F) #7-9, 13-17

Spot II: Befriended Jotaro and freed him from ropes in Jei's hut (#30). Was named Spot by Jotaro (UY#31). Appearances: Usagi Yojimbo 29-31

Magistrate Sueoka: A corrupt official who hires thugs to try to scare inabitants of a village after gold is discovered there. His brother, Juzo (the better swordsman) later hires a group of assassins called "Shi" to kill Sueoka, in order to keep the gold for himself. Sueoka tries to kill Juzo, but is killed by Juzo instead. Appearances: UY(M) #4-5

General Tadaoka: General in Lord Mifune's army who fled to a village, pursued by Lord Hijiki's men. He prepared to commit seppeku but was interrupted and killed by a Hijiki ashigaru. His spirit haunted the village each year, until Usagi solved the mystery and put the ghost to rest. Appearances: UY(F) #33

Counselor Tadon: Aid to Lord Hirone. He was a co-conspirator against Yagi and General Oyaneko. Appearances: UY(F) #24

Princess Takamatsu Kinuko: (see Lady Hirano Kinuko)

Takenokami: Takenokami is a brigand working for General Fujii. Later, at the urging of his fellows, he challenges Fujii and is killed. Appearances: UY(M) #12

Lord Tamakuro: Samurai lord, owner of Tamakuro Fortress in a neighboring province. He is a supporter of Lord Hijiki. Appearances: Mentioned in UY(F) #13-17

Tatsusaburo: Tatsusaburo is a peasant kitemaker, his favorite being the odako (giant kite). Appearances: UY(F) #20

General Toda: General in Lord Mifune's army who turned against Lord Mifune, turning the tide of the war to Lord Hijiki's favor. Appearances: UY(F) #4

Tokohana: One of Lord Tamakuro's samurai retainers, and the best spearman in the Tamakuro clan. Usagi defeated him in a duel to gain a position in the Tamakuro clan, and was later slain by Usagi during the raid on Tamakuro Fortress. Appearances: UY(F) #15, 17

Tomoe Ame: Chief retainer of Lord Noriyuki, and romantic interest of Usagi. She is the daughter of Tomoe Tatsutaro, founder of the Falling Rain school of swordsmanship. Appearances: Albedo #3-4, Shell Shock #1, UY(F) #12-17

Captain Torame: A samurai, senior retainer of Lord Tamakuro. He remained loyal to Tamakuro to the bitter end, and was killed by Usagi in a duel during the raid or Tamakuro Fortress (UY#17). Has yadomejutsu. Appearances: UY(F) #14, 16-17

Tsubo: A villager who fled to get help against the deadly Komor (bat) ninja clan. He was discovred by Usagi moments before he died from a komori ninja attack. Appearances: UY(F) #21

Prince Tsuruichi: Young son of Lord Mifune and Lady Kizumi. Appearances: UY(F) #4

Usagi's Father: A samurai and Magistrate of Usagi's home village in the Northern province. Was beheaded by Lord Hijiki when he refused to give Hijiki's army provisions from the town's stores. Appearances: UY(F) #1, 3

Counselor Wakame: Aid to Lord Hirone. He was a co-conspirator against Yagi and General Oyaneko. Appearances: UY(F) #24

Watazumido: Master shakuhachi (flute) player. "I once heard master Watazumido draw a raging storm from his shakuhachi." -- Komuso. Appearances: Metioned in UY(M) #7

Yagi: Was once the late Lord Higashi's bodyguard, was framed by higashi's son, Hirone. Now he travels the road to hell as a sword for hire with his son, Gorogoro. Together they are known as Lone Goat and Kid. Appearances: UY(F) #23-24

Yamanaka: A kaiso (seaweed) broker in a village. He is a merchant. Yamanaka-ya is his shop or business. Appearances: UY(M) #15

Yuden: Pompous oil merchant. Rival of Aburage'. Appearances: UY(F) #37

Zato Ino: Zato Ino is a blind masseur (zato). His nose is cut off by Usagi (UY Book 1), but he replaces it with a wooden one (two weeks later). Later, he marries Fujiko, a young village girl. Appearances: Critters #7, UY(F) #9, 13-18, 38

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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.
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