For me, the main draw to Tomoe is her namesake. She is based on the real life female samurai Tomoe Gozen. As a fan of Jessica Amanda Salmonson's novels, I find Tomoe simply intriguing. For more info on Gozen, visit our Tomoe Ame Website, located at
http://www.usagiyojimbo.com/other/tomoe/index.html
I've also reprinted the info below at the end of this post. My #2 draw is her character design. Simply put, she looks awesome.
As far as the Usagi comics go, she was also the very first supporting female character introduced (Lone Rabbit and Child), represents the epitome of Bushido (DBC), is a strong-willed female role model (Tomoe's Story), and is highly skilled with the blade (Usagi's equal -- as pointed out in Tomoe's Story). She is probably the most significant female character in the series, even moreso than Mariko. So if you're a long time reader, that means quite a lot. I'm not sure if you've read UY Book 1: The Ronin, or Book 4: Dragon Bellow Conspiracy, but if not go out and get 'em. You should also try UY Color Special #1: Tomoe's Story (if you can find it) to read her origin story, which I found to be one of the best stories Stan has ever done. After these, if you still can't figure out why she's so popular, then I don't know what to say!
The romance between Usagi and Tomoe doesn't exist (yet), but it has been such an underlying topic among UY fans for so long now (20+ years), that many have accepted it as would-be fact, even though Stan has never really even explored it. We can all dream though. And who's to say it won't happen? Good things come to those who wait
About Tomoe Gozen,
Stan's Insperation of Tomoe Ame...
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Everyone knows by now that Tomoe Ame was based on Tomoe Gozen, who was famed for her beauty and skill with the Naginata (Lance). There is much written about her. Also known as Lady Tomoe, Stan says she lived during the time of the Heike Wars in the 12th Century. Her husband was the famous General Kiso Yoshinaka who eventually commited seppuku but refused to allow Tomoe to die because he would have lost face if he were to die with a woman. So Tomoe Gozen eventually became a nun. Sister Tomoe? Anyway, author Jessica Amanda Salmonson wrote a 3-volume saga about Gozen: Tomoe Gozen, The Golden Naginata, and Thousand-Shrine Warrior. These are all out-of-print, but they're worth a hunt.
The suffix "Gozen" was used for a wife of a Bushi (member of the warrior class) , such as Shizuka-Gozen. Yeah, I know what you're thinking: If Tomoe Ame marries Usagi, she'll change her name to Tomoe Gozen. It's a possibility...
Anyway, "-in" is the suffix for a nun. When a bushi died, his widow usually became an "ama" (nun) in an "amadera" (convent). Such a widow renamed herself, and put the suffix to her new name. Here are some famous nuns in Japanese history: Hoshun-in, Kenbai-in, Kensei-in, and Koudai-in. Tomoe changed her name to something else, and then added the "-in" to it when she became a nun. If you have a Japanese text-capable browser, here is the kanji for "Tomoe": $BJ~3((B The word "Tomoe" itself means "A Three Section Circle," or just "Circle".
It's pretty common knowledge that Tomoe was based very loosely upon Tomoe Gozen who lived and fought during the Gempei war of the 12th Century. What's not well-known is that her look was inspired by the Japanese actress Etsuko Shiomi who, unfortunately, is best known in the U.S. for a terrible performance in a dreadful movie called Sister Streetfighter, the third of the Shinichi Chiba Streetfighter series.
Shiomi appeared in a number of other productions, most notably the Kage no Gundan (Shadow Warriors) TV Series. Shadow Warriors lasted four seasons, each season with the same actors portraying a different generation of the Iga Ninja Clan fighting a new enemy (played by the same actor) who would be defeated at the end of the season -- so each season would be like a huge 26-part maxi-series. In Kage no Gundan II, shiomi portrayed Shiina Misato, head of the Shiina Clan, and it is from much of this performance which inspired Tomoe Ame. Shiomi also appeared in the 1987(?) remake of Satomi Hakkenden (Eight Warriors of the Satomi Clan). The original 1957 3-part movie is one of Stan Sakai's favorites and he's been trying to locate a copy of it for years now.
I'm used to it.) But if you all could give me your reasons for having such interest in Tomoe, perhaps I'll begin to see a wider picture of the Usagi Yojimbo universe.
So much to take in! But, I understand much more now! Thanks!
(I did know that Usagi is based on a real person, even though I was in the dark about Tomoe's origination. I'm not too nieve...lol)
