I know there is very little chance of anyone seeing this, but I am interviewed in the Finnish publication Japan Pop. I think it is number 7, 2009.
It's just a 2 page interview with a 1 page Usagi overview.
Here is the link to the site. It is NRO 07-2009, the second one down.
http://www.japanpop.fi/sisalto
JAPAN POP NRO 07-2009
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Stan Sakai
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JAPAN POP NRO 07-2009
Last edited by Stan Sakai on Fri Jan 15, 2010 21:06 -0700, edited 2 times in total.
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STAN SAKAI: JAPANESE TALES FROM THE UNITED STATES
by JUSSI NIKANDER, (JAPAN POP, NRO 07 - 2009)
Helsinki Comics Festival was arranged for 23 times before the manga programs of the festival were separated to their own convention. There had been anime and manga on the festival previously too, though. For example, a “manga morning” was held a few times, and the festival has had japanese guests of honor. Now, however, The Day of Manga was held during the festival for the first time. The Day had two Guests of Honor, one of which was the third generation Japanese-American comics artist Stan Sakai. For over a quarter of a century, Sakai has made the internationally acclaimed samurai comic Usagi Yojimbo. During the festival, Japan Pop managed to ask the maestro a few questions.
JAPAN POP: What kind of comic is Usagi Yojimbo?
STAN SAKAI: Usagi is an American, or western comic. I’m American myself. It’s the story of a samurai rabbit living in 17th century Japan. I try to do as much research as I can on the history and culture of Japan in order to tell a good story
JAPAN POP: Are there other similar comics, either in the United States, or internationally?
STAN SAKAI: There are stories about samurai, like The Lone Wolf and Cub. There is even one Belgian comic called Koraratsu, made by artist duo of Bosse and Michetz. And in Japan, there are lots of comics that happen in the Edo period. They aren’t as popular as, for example, Naruto or Dragon Ball, but there are many.
JAPAN POP: How about the United States?
STAN SAKAI: I can’t think of any that haven’t been reprinted from Japan, like for example Lone Wolf.
JAPAN POP: Has Usagi ever been labeled as manga?
STAN SAKAI: Yes, in fact, the French edition is manga-sized. They try to sell it for a very reasonable price, I think it’s 4-5 euros.
JAPAN POP: The same that costs about 16 dollars in the US?
STAN SAKAI: Yes, but it is in the smaller manga size. They want to put it to both manga market and French BD-market
JAPAN POP: What do you think of that?
STAN SAKAI: I think that’s wonderful! Trying to get new readers to read Usagi is wonderful.
JAPAN POP: Where do you get inspiration from?
STAN SAKAI: From all over the place! The character of Usagi is based on Miyamoto Musashi, a 17th century samurai, who was both a great swordsman but also a philosopher and artist. He was well-rounded. I wanted to make Usagi like an idealized samurai. How samurai should have been.
JAPAN POP: Well, Musashi has become a legend.
STAN SAKAI: He has. However, if you read books about Musashi, he’s not... Well, I mean, the legend is much nicer than the reality.
JAPAN POP: Are there other characters that are based on actual people?
STAN SAKAI: Yes, the character Tomoe Ame was inspired by a 12th century samurai woman named Tomoe Gozen. She lived during the Genpei Wars, the Japanese civil wars. The story goes that she was the wife of a great lord. When Tomoe’s husband was surrounded by enemies, he refused to let Tomoe die with him, since that would lessen his status as a man and as a samurai. So he sent her away. The story goes she jumped on a horse, charged at the enemy, cut off the general’s head and went on to become a nun. That was a wonderful story
JAPAN POP: Do you draw inspiration from Japanese popular culture?
STAN SAKAI: Certainly. I’m third generation Japanese-American, and I grew up with things like Zatoichi and a lot of the anime. I read a lot of manga as a child, like the works of Osamu Tezuka. Especially Buddha and the Mighty Atom. I actually met Dr. Tezuka twice, and in 1998 I was the guest of Tezuka productions in Japan, where I met his widow and his son and daughter. And I also met Rumiko Takahashi there and so many others
JAPAN POP: How much background research do you do, and do you have some sources you use often?
STAN SAKAI: I have an entire library of Japanese books at home. Both books, videos and magazines. Also people. I’ve made contact with various people around the world. In fact I just finished a book called Yokai, which is about Usagi meeting monsters from Japanese legend and folklore. And there was one character, one monster I wasn’t sure of, so I asked on the internet does anyone know this creature. And Matt Alt, who is a writer living in Japan, contacted me and said “I’ve just wrote a book called Yokai Attacks”. He answered my questions, and asked if I wanted him to send me a copy of his book. I said I already have a copy. I’m going back to Japan in November, and I’ve already made plans to meet him.
JAPAN POP: Have your research habits changed over time?
STAN SAKAI: Oh, they’ve gotten much easier, since I have so much material at home. But I still try to do as much research as I can. I’m currently researching a story on how they made soy sauce back in the 17th century Japan. One of my best research has been Japanese cooking shows. Especially the cooking shows that emphasize things like “this is the best soy sauce since it’s made the traditional way”, and they show how it’s done the traditional way. That’s very good.
JAPAN POP: For example, your ninja characters have become much more three-dimensional. Is this because of the better research you can do, or from growth as an artist?
STAN SAKAI: Not really. I grew up with the ninja of the movies and the serials. There was a movie theater down the street from where I lived just a few blocks away. They showed samurai movies every Saturday and I’d be there. There I learned about, for example, Toshiro Mifune, Sanjuro, and Yojimbo. I learned about the great directors, like Hiroshi Inagaki or Akira Kurosawa. And that was my first indoctrination into samurai culture. That is why much of Usagi reflects a movie. Because that’s where I got my first inspiration from.
JAPAN POP: Has this affected the art of Usagi? For example, the way you lay panels is sometimes rather peculiar.
STAN SAKAI: As I said, my storytelling approach is more cinematic. I like to approach it like I were directing a movie rather than making a comic book. Sometimes I’d do long pans, where first I’d show a wide shot, which would then get closer and closer, until finally you’d see the center figure Usagi walking into a forest or something. Or you could see the same characters standing there not doing nothing, and suddenly there was a big flash of action, like he draws a sword. And that shows how quick he could react. And that’s very much like a movie.
JAPAN POP: Has the increased popularity of Japanese comics during the last 10 years or so somehow affected you or Usagi?
STAN SAKAI: Not really. In the United States Usagi is still considered a comic book. I do get invited to many anime conventions, though. And when I attend, I tend to promote Usagi, of course. Like if you’re interested in Japanese history and culture and pop culture, also try Usagi.
JAPAN POP: Did your family background somehow affect the decision to do a comic placed in Japan?
STAN SAKAI: Like I said, I’m third generation Japanese-American. And I wanted to do something that also promoted my roots, my family’s history. I’m half samurai and half peasant class. My father was from fisherman family, and my mother samurai class. That’s why my older brother has two last names, one of which is offically registered in Japan. My mother’s name, since it’s the more honorable name.
JAPAN POP: Finally, why should a reader of Japan Pop read Usagi Yojimbo?
STAN SAKAI: Again, if you’re interested in Japanese history and culture, try Usagi. It’s not only about Japan, but also about telling a good story. For me the most important thing is to entertain, so I try to tell a good story. But the research I do only enhances the story to make it better.
In his next visit to Japan Stan Sakai has been invited to visit Studio Ghibli. Furthermore, even if Usagi Yojimbo has not been published in Japan, the series seems to be rather well-known in the circles that read western comics.
------------------------------------------------------------
(The original English version of the Japan Pop interview is posted here with the permission of Jussi Nikander under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license)
by JUSSI NIKANDER, (JAPAN POP, NRO 07 - 2009)
Helsinki Comics Festival was arranged for 23 times before the manga programs of the festival were separated to their own convention. There had been anime and manga on the festival previously too, though. For example, a “manga morning” was held a few times, and the festival has had japanese guests of honor. Now, however, The Day of Manga was held during the festival for the first time. The Day had two Guests of Honor, one of which was the third generation Japanese-American comics artist Stan Sakai. For over a quarter of a century, Sakai has made the internationally acclaimed samurai comic Usagi Yojimbo. During the festival, Japan Pop managed to ask the maestro a few questions.
JAPAN POP: What kind of comic is Usagi Yojimbo?
STAN SAKAI: Usagi is an American, or western comic. I’m American myself. It’s the story of a samurai rabbit living in 17th century Japan. I try to do as much research as I can on the history and culture of Japan in order to tell a good story
JAPAN POP: Are there other similar comics, either in the United States, or internationally?
STAN SAKAI: There are stories about samurai, like The Lone Wolf and Cub. There is even one Belgian comic called Koraratsu, made by artist duo of Bosse and Michetz. And in Japan, there are lots of comics that happen in the Edo period. They aren’t as popular as, for example, Naruto or Dragon Ball, but there are many.
JAPAN POP: How about the United States?
STAN SAKAI: I can’t think of any that haven’t been reprinted from Japan, like for example Lone Wolf.
JAPAN POP: Has Usagi ever been labeled as manga?
STAN SAKAI: Yes, in fact, the French edition is manga-sized. They try to sell it for a very reasonable price, I think it’s 4-5 euros.
JAPAN POP: The same that costs about 16 dollars in the US?
STAN SAKAI: Yes, but it is in the smaller manga size. They want to put it to both manga market and French BD-market
JAPAN POP: What do you think of that?
STAN SAKAI: I think that’s wonderful! Trying to get new readers to read Usagi is wonderful.
JAPAN POP: Where do you get inspiration from?
STAN SAKAI: From all over the place! The character of Usagi is based on Miyamoto Musashi, a 17th century samurai, who was both a great swordsman but also a philosopher and artist. He was well-rounded. I wanted to make Usagi like an idealized samurai. How samurai should have been.
JAPAN POP: Well, Musashi has become a legend.
STAN SAKAI: He has. However, if you read books about Musashi, he’s not... Well, I mean, the legend is much nicer than the reality.
JAPAN POP: Are there other characters that are based on actual people?
STAN SAKAI: Yes, the character Tomoe Ame was inspired by a 12th century samurai woman named Tomoe Gozen. She lived during the Genpei Wars, the Japanese civil wars. The story goes that she was the wife of a great lord. When Tomoe’s husband was surrounded by enemies, he refused to let Tomoe die with him, since that would lessen his status as a man and as a samurai. So he sent her away. The story goes she jumped on a horse, charged at the enemy, cut off the general’s head and went on to become a nun. That was a wonderful story
JAPAN POP: Do you draw inspiration from Japanese popular culture?
STAN SAKAI: Certainly. I’m third generation Japanese-American, and I grew up with things like Zatoichi and a lot of the anime. I read a lot of manga as a child, like the works of Osamu Tezuka. Especially Buddha and the Mighty Atom. I actually met Dr. Tezuka twice, and in 1998 I was the guest of Tezuka productions in Japan, where I met his widow and his son and daughter. And I also met Rumiko Takahashi there and so many others
JAPAN POP: How much background research do you do, and do you have some sources you use often?
STAN SAKAI: I have an entire library of Japanese books at home. Both books, videos and magazines. Also people. I’ve made contact with various people around the world. In fact I just finished a book called Yokai, which is about Usagi meeting monsters from Japanese legend and folklore. And there was one character, one monster I wasn’t sure of, so I asked on the internet does anyone know this creature. And Matt Alt, who is a writer living in Japan, contacted me and said “I’ve just wrote a book called Yokai Attacks”. He answered my questions, and asked if I wanted him to send me a copy of his book. I said I already have a copy. I’m going back to Japan in November, and I’ve already made plans to meet him.
JAPAN POP: Have your research habits changed over time?
STAN SAKAI: Oh, they’ve gotten much easier, since I have so much material at home. But I still try to do as much research as I can. I’m currently researching a story on how they made soy sauce back in the 17th century Japan. One of my best research has been Japanese cooking shows. Especially the cooking shows that emphasize things like “this is the best soy sauce since it’s made the traditional way”, and they show how it’s done the traditional way. That’s very good.
JAPAN POP: For example, your ninja characters have become much more three-dimensional. Is this because of the better research you can do, or from growth as an artist?
STAN SAKAI: Not really. I grew up with the ninja of the movies and the serials. There was a movie theater down the street from where I lived just a few blocks away. They showed samurai movies every Saturday and I’d be there. There I learned about, for example, Toshiro Mifune, Sanjuro, and Yojimbo. I learned about the great directors, like Hiroshi Inagaki or Akira Kurosawa. And that was my first indoctrination into samurai culture. That is why much of Usagi reflects a movie. Because that’s where I got my first inspiration from.
JAPAN POP: Has this affected the art of Usagi? For example, the way you lay panels is sometimes rather peculiar.
STAN SAKAI: As I said, my storytelling approach is more cinematic. I like to approach it like I were directing a movie rather than making a comic book. Sometimes I’d do long pans, where first I’d show a wide shot, which would then get closer and closer, until finally you’d see the center figure Usagi walking into a forest or something. Or you could see the same characters standing there not doing nothing, and suddenly there was a big flash of action, like he draws a sword. And that shows how quick he could react. And that’s very much like a movie.
JAPAN POP: Has the increased popularity of Japanese comics during the last 10 years or so somehow affected you or Usagi?
STAN SAKAI: Not really. In the United States Usagi is still considered a comic book. I do get invited to many anime conventions, though. And when I attend, I tend to promote Usagi, of course. Like if you’re interested in Japanese history and culture and pop culture, also try Usagi.
JAPAN POP: Did your family background somehow affect the decision to do a comic placed in Japan?
STAN SAKAI: Like I said, I’m third generation Japanese-American. And I wanted to do something that also promoted my roots, my family’s history. I’m half samurai and half peasant class. My father was from fisherman family, and my mother samurai class. That’s why my older brother has two last names, one of which is offically registered in Japan. My mother’s name, since it’s the more honorable name.
JAPAN POP: Finally, why should a reader of Japan Pop read Usagi Yojimbo?
STAN SAKAI: Again, if you’re interested in Japanese history and culture, try Usagi. It’s not only about Japan, but also about telling a good story. For me the most important thing is to entertain, so I try to tell a good story. But the research I do only enhances the story to make it better.
In his next visit to Japan Stan Sakai has been invited to visit Studio Ghibli. Furthermore, even if Usagi Yojimbo has not been published in Japan, the series seems to be rather well-known in the circles that read western comics.
------------------------------------------------------------
(The original English version of the Japan Pop interview is posted here with the permission of Jussi Nikander under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license)
(some very minor editing has been included, consisting mainly of capitalizing certain words and an odd grammer or spelling correction)Jussi Nikander wrote:Here's the English translation of the orginal article. I already happened to have it in Word format, so I didn't even need convert it. Be adviced that this is a translation of the article done by myself, so it might not be up to professional standards in all cases. However, since the original interview was done in English, it should be rather accurate for the most part.
You can freely distribute it using the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license.
Furthermore, so you aren't too confused once you get your hands on the magazine issue itself, the Japan Pop issue that contains the interview also has a one-page introduction to Usagi Yojimbo, also written by me. Unfortunately that was originally written in Finnish. It's a rather basic 500 word introduction to the world of Usagi.
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coolray85
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hahaha. so that's the problem next to the fact that I don't speak any finnish...stan already had posted a hint to this interview with the same link and neither then could I find his name anywhere in the text next to the cover...
thanks for clearing that up...
I also hadn't seen this usagi tale in color...
thanks for clearing that up...
I also hadn't seen this usagi tale in color...
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Steve Hubbell
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Steve Hubbell
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