JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM, SEPTEMBER 2007

[Stan Sakai]

I recently did an interview for the Japanese American National Museum. It will be on their website soon. I'll let you know when it is posted.

[Steve Hubbell]

Cool!

[Stan Sakai]

The interview is up. Here is the link:

http://www.janmstore.com/usagiyojimbo.html

[Todd Shogun]

Great interview, Stan. I like how with each and every interview we get to learn something new, even after so many years. It was interesting to know that your parents had reservations about you becoming a cartoonist. You might have mentioned this previously, but it was news to me. What was that like? If you don't mind elaborating....

[Steve Hubbell]

I remember reading the anecdote about Stan's first trip back to Hawaii for a book signing and how it made a positive impression on his dad, but I don't remember where I read it.

Another nice interview, but it was strange reading it because it felt like your comments were made in reply to specific questons which were not included in the article.

[Stan Sakai]

It was interesting to know that your parents had reservations about you becoming a cartoonist. You might have mentioned this previously, but it was news to me. What was that like? If you don't mind elaborating....

Coming from an Asian family, you are expected to go into business rather than the arts--you know, accounting, law, medicine, that sort. My older brother is a very successful architect, so went into both the arts and business.

My father was the head cashier of the Sheraton Hotels in Waikiki, so handled all the monies. After graduating from high school, he kind of encouraged me to get into business and something new--computers, which were still pretty new to businesses, and it was unimaginable for individuals to own one (this was the early 70's). Besides, he could easily get me a very good job at one of the Sheraton Hotels.

However, I was adamant about art. I graduated from the University of Hawaii with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting.

[morna-san]

Coming from an Asian family, you are expected to go into business rather than the arts--you know, accounting, law, medicine, that sort. My older brother is a very successful architect, so went into both the arts and business.

My father was the head cashier of the Sheraton Hotels in Waikiki, so handled all the monies. After graduating from high school, he kind of encouraged me to get into business and something new--computers, which were still pretty new to businesses, and it was unimaginable for individuals to own one (this was the early 70's). Besides, he could easily get me a very good job at one of the Sheraton Hotels.

However, I was adamant about art. I graduated from the University of Hawaii with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting.

thank god for that!

I was a bit of a brainy kid so I think people thought I would end up in the sciences. I suspect my mom secretly wanted me to be an artist though ..... and here we are - no regrets!

[Todd Shogun]

thank god for that!

Agreed. Imagine a world without Usagi...::shudders::

Thanks for following your dream Stan!

[Maka]

I remember reading the anecdote about Stan's first trip back to Hawaii for a book signing and how it made a positive impression on his dad, but I don't remember where I read it.

Another nice interview, but it was strange reading it because it felt like your comments were made in reply to specific questons which were not included in the article.

I thought the writer addressed "parent expectations" first in the article because many Asian American share that experience. Therefore it would hook the audience into the rest of the article. Of course that assuming the target audience is Asian American.

Great interview. I know you don't do your work for us Japanese Americans. But every time I read one of these things, I take pride in your success. I even share UY/Stan Sakai news with my parents. Thank you for representing us well in the art profession. May you continue to have mainstream success for years to come!

Peace, maka

[Steve Hubbell]

RONIN RABBIT: STAN SAKIA’S AMAZING USAGI YOJIMBO
(JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM, SEPTEMBER 2007)

"To make a living in any of the arts is difficult — whether it be acting, writing, painting, music, or, in my case, cartooning," says Stan Sakai, creator of the wildly popular Usagi Yojimbo comic book series. "Parents, of course, want the best for their children, and a traditional job is the safest way to earn a living. However, I really wanted to get into writing and drawing, and my parents supported my decision, but with reservations."

"What really turned them around was my first book signing in Hawaii," says Sakai. "My dad went over to the store, but it was so crowded he could not get in."

In the years since its inception, Usagi Yojimbo, Sakai's fast-paced comic book series featuring a samurai rabbit as its hero, has attracted a remarkable international following. The character has made TV appearances with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and has enjoyed a long and successful run with the independent comic book publishing powerhouse, Dark Horse Comics.

The samurai rabbit has become more than just a cartoon. For many fans, Usagi Yojimbo has evolved into a cultural icon — one that enriches readers with nuances of Japanese history as much as it entertains them with its swashbuckling tales.

"I have been doing Usagi Yojimbo for more than 22 years," Sakai says. "When I started, I wasn’t sure which direction to take the series — whether a historical drama, comedy, or action. I eventually decided on combining all three, though concentrating more on action and adventure, much like the chambara (Japanese sword-fighting) movies I grew up watching."

"I think it was with the fifth volume that I really started to do research on the history and culture of Japan with The Kite Story," says Sakai. "Since then, I have done stories about festivals, the creation of the Japanese islands, sword making, the tea ceremony, mythology, and other aspects of Japan. I include Story Notes with bibliographies to expand on cultural aspects in the story."

"I was not concerned with breaking any stereotypes," Sakai notes. "My first concern is to tell a good story with well-rounded characters. If I can also educate the reader about Japan, that is a bonus."

"Certainly, Westerners see the samurai as just warriors, but there was much more to their training than warfare," says Sakai. "I’ve tried to show some of the more spiritual and cultural aspects of their training as well. Even swordsmanship, archery, and the other martial arts had a lot of spiritual discipline in their training. I’ve also concentrated on loyalty and living your life with honor."

Those themes, Sakai observes, appear to have nearly universal appeal.

"I am continually amazed at the diversity of my readers," Sakai says. "They range from about five years and up, though, judging by the letters I receive, most of them are about 25 to 50. What is really astounding is that Usagi is translated in about a dozen languages, including Czech, Hungarian, Portuguese and Indonesian. It is doing particularly well in Spain, France and Poland. I enjoy traveling, and one of the perks of my job is that I have been invited to events all over the world. I’ve learned that readers all over pretty much react to Usagi with the same enthusiasm."

"I'm also really pleased that Usagi is being used as a learning tool," Sakai adds. "It is in many libraries, having won an American Library Association Award as well as many Young Adult Library Services Awards. Usagi Yojimbo Book 12: Grasscutter was used as a textbook for Japanese history classes at the University of Portland, and many of my volumes are used to help readers in classrooms in elementary and junior high. There have even been a few doctoral theses written about Usagi — I'm amazed that they were even approved."

But while Usagi Yojimbo is now studied by scholars and encompasses a body of work spanning more than two decades, Sakai encourages new readers not to feel overwhelmed in trying to figure out where to begin.

"There are more than 20 Usagi collections, always being reprinted," says Sakai. "They are very reader-friendly, so pick up a volume or two. I’m sure you will enjoy them."