Ohayo -- from France

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:57 -0700

Ohayo Fellows !
Hajimemashite, dozo yoroshiku.

Greetings From France,

A (not too brief) introduction:
got a lot of passions, am a writer myself (not my job, am a research engineer), and managed a literary and artistic fanzine a few years ago. I practice Yang Taiji Quan, Taoist martial arts, and travel a lot. I really like XIX French century and in France when you like this period
you usually like Japan, certainly because of the inter-influence between Van Gogh Ukiyo-e and Mucha, because artists of this time always writing about this mysterious country that were Japan, and because all the literary style that did exist in French XIX does exist in Japan’s XX century. And in the end of the XX century Master Taisen Deshimaru come to France and teached an un-academic zen (really interesting, I dunnot know if he is translated in English ?)
When I discovered Yojimbo it were very passionate, a deep feeling… History, literary stories, folklore, cinema, a great sense of humour and the melting of all aspect of Japan (even subculture with Lone Goat and Kid!) this atemporal aspect, and these flagrance of poetry that you find when you read Genji Monogatari… and of course I love these little animals…
I have an old fellow, a yellow bunny called Lapinou, you could see it on my website : http://ladrevert.free.fr/2bgal/disp_ser ... =4&stat=ok (I like to make photo with “him”) and there http://ladrevert.free.fr/2bgal/disp_ser ... 20&stat=ok (I am member of a little comic bookshop and editor, so illustrator sometimes play the game and are on the same photos or do little illustration …)
My interests in Japan : Akira Kurosawa of course, zen, folklore, Ukiyo-e, Gagaku and kabuki representations, Joe Hisaishi, Koto instrumentals, Yukio Mishima (rhaaaa), Kawabata, Abe Kobo, Ikkyu, Edogawa Ranpo, Akutagawa (does Akutagawa a source of folklore inspiration for you mister Sakai?), Murakami Ryu, Takeshi Miike (did someone seen “happiness of the katakuris” ?). I read manga of course but I am very classical (Ottomo, Masamune Shirow, Bastard!! Blade of the Immortal…). And since my childhood i watch Japanese animation !! i really like Ghiblis studios (ant the tanuki of Pompoko), Otomo, and Oshii (Tenshi no Tamago still to be a masterpiece of animation).
And i discovered at last Yojimbo, and for me it were the synthesis of a lot these aspect and at the same time a fantasy of a past Japan that we have all dreamed with hagakure and Miyamoto Musashi.

If you are still there, now a brief descritption of Yojimbo Usagi in France :
Edition Paquet published the 4 firsts books… higher format than the US edition (but with The Art of Yojimbo I can understand because originals are reduced), biodegradable cover (i suppose it because in my library it does autodestruct), a very bad translation or at least a not very good translation, and a too expansive cost… and comics are not the best sellers in France… (damn it! we will never see the end of Fable of Bill Willingham)
The same Editor has just republished the 4 firsts books in manga format for manga public audience, with a pleasant cover, and a low price ! the translation is the same, but it should become a reference soon i hope! I have offered it to my best friends that do not read English, and they want to buy the whole comic now ! The only negative point is that Yojimbo is introduced as a manga !! , and people ask about the sense of reading… (i suppose it is a kind of compliment, because manga are very estimated here!)

So here finish my introduction,
Hope to contribute to your community, am very glad to be a member ! i will try to publish articles about the wonderful universe of Yojimbo Usagi in french (and why not in french magazine CanalBD), and i hope I will be warned next time Stan Sakai come to France to see his fans, drink white wine, eat foie gras … and i will let you know of my travel in South Corea and Japan (next September) if you have any interests!

Meilleures salutations

Longue Vie à Yojimbo Usagi

Fanfan

PS : about Bunnies, do you know “the book of the bunny suicide “?

PPS : why did I wait so long to come to this community ? there’s only High bandwidth for internet since a few months where I live, but at last I am connected…

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 13:28 -0700

Welcome, Fanfan.

France is one of my favorite countries to visit.

France has the distinction of publishing both the largest and the smallest size volumes of Usagi Yojimbo. Editions Paquet first published it in the larger album format, and is now trying the manga-size to appeal the the huge manga market.

Why are you traveling to S. Korea and Japan? Is it for business or pleasure. Where in Japan are you visiting? One of our Dojo members, Leonardo-san, returned a few months ago from a kendo exhibition there.

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 13:32 -0700

Manga-sized volumes? I gotta get me a copy of those

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 13:36 -0700

Todd Shogun wrote:Manga-sized volumes? I gotta get me a copy of those

I haven't seen them yet either. I understand that there is also a point of sale display for stores.

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 15:47 -0700

Welcome to the Dojo, we have been saving you a seat.

Fanfan wrote:Edition Paquet published the 4 firsts books… higher format than the US edition (but with The Art of Yojimbo I can understand because originals are reduced), biodegradable cover (i suppose it because in my library it does autodestruct), a very bad translation or at least a not very good translation, and a too expansive cost… and comics are not the best sellers in France…

There have been six nicely produced Usagi Yojimbo comics in Belgium by Enigma which I believe are still available which you might consider as something worth inquiring about.
http://www.b-gevaar.com/store.asp?lang= ... ype=11&p=1

Considering your interests, it is possible that you would also enjoy the Dark Horse Comics limited series "SAMURAI: HEAVEN AND EARTH" which is set in 1704, starting in Japan and ending in France. I don't know if it is available in France yet.

Marz and Ross take on Samurai: Heaven and Earth
How far will a man travel for love? What battles will he fight? Will he cross heaven and earth to be by the side of the woman he loves? Ron Marz and Luke Ross, fresh off their triumphant finale on Green Lantern, turn their skills to a historical epic in the tradition of Lone Wolf and Cub and Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers. Joined by Eisner-nominated colorist Jason Keith, they present a tale of epic sweep and gorgeous art: Samurai: Heaven and Earth.
Beginning in feudal Japan of 1704, Samurai: Heaven and Earth follows a lone samurai warrior sworn to be reunited with the love of his life who has been spirited away by his enemies. His pursuit of her will carry him farther than he could have imagined—from his native Japan to the sprawling empire of China, across Europe, and finally to Paris. There, in the fabled halls of King Louis XIV’s Versailles, he must cross blades with the greatest swordsmen ever known if he is to reclaim his love.

Coming this December (2004), Samurai: Heaven and Earth is a five-issue mini-series full of romance, action, and sword fighting. Samurai: Heaven and Earth is available December 1 for a retail price of $2.99.

I would be interested in any articles concerning Usagi Yojimbo published in the french magazine CanalBD

Again, Welcome...
Abayo

ziritrion · Post by **ziritrion** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 16:00 -0700

Welcome to the Dojo fanfan. Hope you have a great time here

.

And BTW, red wine is much better than white wine. Especially Spanish red wine

.

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:32 -0700

Bonjour !

Thank you to all !

Am happy to know that you like France mr Sakai ^_^ ! I agree with you, there ‘s a huge manga market here, the new edition of Usagi should find his audience.

I travel for pleasure, I always wanted to travel all over the world, am just 26 so I have a lot to discover (at this time and for pleasure : Spain, Egypt, Portugal -a good wine vino verde and rose vine there mister ziritrion-, Vietnam, for work you only see hotel…). Am lucky, because France is very diversified and there ‘s a lot to see and eat here, but I can do nothing against the call of faraway country… I will be there for 22 days, too short but it will okay for the first time. In Japan I will stay a few days in Tokyo, then go to Hiroshima, a step to Miyajima, and at last a few days in Kyoto (Great!!), I will probably spend some times near Nara.

About the manga sized edition, look at
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/2 ... 28-7455459

I give you a link to amazon, cause it is thanks to amazon.com that I read you mr Sakai, except the color edition that I never seen (an overview in The art of Yojimbo, what a great book!).

Thank you steve Hubell for SAMURAI: HEAVEN AND EARTH, it looks great, I dunnot know where I will find it for the moment…

A few words about wine :
Red wine could be very pleasant with vintage wine, but you should have a taste of vins blancs liquoreux (dunnot kow the appellation in English) : Pinot gris, coteaux du Layon, Pouilly Fumé (so original!), that’s poetry too !

hazlov2004 · Post by **hazlov2004** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 15:50 -0700

hello fanfan and welcome