General discussion about Usagi Yojimbo, the comics, the stories, the characters, collectibles, TV appearances, Stan Sakai, Space Usagi, Nilson & Hermy, and all other related topics.
I had to read Fathers and Sons to confirm something and I found it was true.
Namely, when Mariko told her son, Jotaro, that Usagi is his father, she apparently left out the fact that his father knows this fact as well. That scene left me fuming at Mariko and the pain she caused.
Stan, are we going to get an explanation for this disgusting act of hypocritical cruelty that leaves both father and son emotionally twisting in the wind?
The initial idea of keeping the secret from Jotaro for his emotional sake is justifiable, the fact she couldn't be bothered to release Usagi from his painful obligation in any meaningful way, and now has hurt her son in the process, is despicable.
I know! I agree! Usagi and Jotaro are my faves. And the way they parted... aww! I was so upset.
Stan did say a while back that as Jotaro had been a big part of Usagi for a fair while, been in a fair few issues, that he won't be back for a while now... I was upset all over again, lol.
So I doubt he'll come up again for quite sometime... will Usagi and Jotaro every know that the other one knows?!!
kchishol1970 wrote:I had to read Fathers and Sons to confirm something and I found it was true.
Namely, when Mariko told her son, Jotaro, that Usagi is his father, she apparently left out the fact that his father knows this fact as well. That scene left me fuming at Mariko and the pain she caused.
I think it was more a case of Jotaro wanting to tell Usagi that he knew and that there was nothing for Usagi to be upset about (since he was worried about how Jotaro would respond to that bit of information...)
It seems to me that Jotaro kind of figured it out rather than Mariko having told him (I haven't read Fathers and Sons yet, but I remember in Duel at Kitanoji Temple when he was confused over why his mum didn't want him to follow the same school of swordsmanship as Kenichi, commenting "Shouldn't a son follow his father?")
Also, Mariko didn't want Usagi to affect the bond that Jotaro already has with Kenichi.
"A ninja's duty in life is death!"
- Kashira Chizu
hakucho wrote: It seems to me that Jotaro kind of figured it out rather than Mariko having told him (I haven't read Fathers and Sons yet, but I remember in Duel at Kitanoji Temple when he was confused over why his mum didn't want him to follow the same school of swordsmanship as Kenichi, commenting "Shouldn't a son follow his father?")
Also, Mariko didn't want Usagi to affect the bond that Jotaro already has with Kenichi.
First thing, at the end of Fathers and Sons , Jotaro said flat out that he learned about his biological parentage from his mother, but also that she said nothing about Usagi knowing. That is the act of cruelty she did.
Also, doesn't it ever occur to you that the familial bond concern she had became meaningless the second she told Jotaro that truth? The basic reason for Usagi's silence is now void, but she apparently went of her way to make him suffer.
kchishol1970 wrote:First thing, at the end of Fathers and Sons , Jotaro said flat out that he learned about his biological parentage from his mother, but also that she said nothing about Usagi knowing. That is the act of cruelty she did.
I see, my mistake. Sorry
kchishol1970 wrote:Also, doesn't it ever occur to you that the familial bond concern she had became meaningless the second she told Jotaro that truth? The basic reason for Usagi's silence is now void, but she apparently went of her way to make him suffer.
Personally, I reckon that she perhaps had some reason for doing so... maybe it wasn't so much as to make Usagi-san suffer. Only Stan knows exactly why, and whatever the reason I won't hold it against Mariko. But you don't have to agree with me...
Mariko's side of the story would be an interesting thing to hear, though. Perhaps one day... :/
"A ninja's duty in life is death!"
- Kashira Chizu
Has Usagi and Mariko even seen each other since Mariko told Jotaro about his real father?
I need to go back and re-read the Circles story-line, but it seems like that was the last time Usagi and Mariko were together and talked. I think it was also when Usagi found out he was Jotaro's father (or was that during the Homecoming story-line?).
Who knows, there could be a letter containing that message from Mariko following Usagi around the provinces of Japan, or waiting for him someplace where Mariko thought he would visit eventually.
Yeah, Usagi found out about it in Circles. It could be that Kenichi, in his jealousy over Usagi, prevented Mariko from telling Jotaro that Usagi knows...or maybe Kenichi doesn't think Usagi knows, but is OK knowing that Jotaro knows...if Usagi were to make it known that he knows, that could spell trouble for Mariko going against her husband like that. So perhaps Mariko is honor-bound in ways to prevent the two from bonding as father and son. Remember she told Usagi about Jotaro's bond with Kenichi. Perhaps it is Kenichi who does not want the bond broken...
Todd Shogun wrote:Yeah, Usagi found out about it in Circles. It could be that Kenichi, in his jealousy over Usagi, prevented Mariko from telling Jotaro that Usagi knows...or maybe Kenichi doesn't think Usagi knows, but is OK knowing that Jotaro knows...if Usagi were to make it known that he knows, that could spell trouble for Mariko going against her husband like that. So perhaps Mariko is honor-bound in ways to prevent the two from bonding as father and son. Remember she told Usagi about Jotaro's bond with Kenichi. Perhaps it is Kenichi who does not want the bond broken...
That makes sense, since I remember that bit in "Circles" when she asked Usagi why they parted, only to be shortly interrupted by Kenichi who then glared at her for being "too" friendly with his rival...
"A ninja's duty in life is death!"
- Kashira Chizu
They had a "rende-vouz" before she was shortly engaged to Kenichi. Although he knew that she was pregnant with Usagi's son, he insisted that she marry him (which is why Jotaro was raised as Kenichi's son).
Kenichi really loves Jotaro as his own son, which I'd like to see more of in the future
"A ninja's duty in life is death!"
- Kashira Chizu
That scene left me fuming at Mariko and the pain she caused.
Usagi is that little rabbies' Jataro's father??