Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

I've only read book one (waiting for book 2 to arrive), but based the way the early chapters featuring the duo ended... I guess I'll find out in book 2 or possibly when I get book 3.

I mean...
SPOILER: (there should really be a gray text color option)
















Gen leaves Usagi to pay both halves of the bill. In the following Usagi/Gen story, Usagi does the same to Gen. Personally, I would be hesitant to trust someone who pulled a stunt like that on me.

they act sometimes as if they dont like each other but they are true friends ,thats just how they are. read "bountyhunters II "

They become friends because Gen says so.

Seriously. You'll see what that means.

Gen is Usagi's best friend , so says Gen

I think that's in Book I, actually. Gen invites himself over to Usagi's table and enlists his help in taking down a one-eyed bandit and his brother. They do it, but Gen leaves Usagi with the bill for the inn. Then later, Gen enlists his help to steal a special sword, but tricks Usagi into doing all the work. Usagi repays the favor by leaving Gen to pay for the bill at the inn. After that, the two are more or less fast friends.

To be honest, I think Gen initially appreciates how Usagi puts up with him and has an odd admiration for how Usagi tricks him. Usagi's skill makes him a valuable ally to Gen, and his preoccupation with honor means he's unlikely to cheat Gen. Thus, Gen is quick to enlist Usagi's help if possible.

That's how things start. As time goes on, Gen begins to respect Usagi's sense of honor and feels a kinship in his sense of independence and freedom. Likewise, Usagi slowly realizes that Gen isn't the big tough brute he makes himself out to be.

Also, in the beginning, Usagi was a far more serious warrior who was the pillar of discipline. Gen helped shake him up a bit. He forced Usagi to act a bit out of character and live a little more freely while Gen was around. Essentially, they balanced each other out quite well.

I'm not entirely sure I understand the basis of their friendship now that Usagi has relaxed a bit over the years. I suppose it's partly that they share a long history of friendship and partially that, when their backs are to the wall, Usagi can usually count on Gen to have his back and do the right thing. Rare is a friend who shares your deepest values, regardless of how different you are on the surface.

Oh hey... this may be the wrong thread to post this but... was Gen ever a samaurai? As in, actually serve a lord? I'm aware he learned the sword from his father and never went to any formal school, but he has some kind of clan crest on his clothes, and shortly after Usagi tells Gen his story, Gen says that one day HE will tell Usagi how he became masterless.

Was this ever covered in the comic?

No, Stan hasn't got around to that yet...

Well, I think he has in Gen's story (book 7); although Gen never officially served a lord, his father did and he teached his son. After his father's death, Gen took on his father's mon, but since that clan was "dispersed", he was technically masterless and started bounty hunting right away, though accidently at first.

Or that was how I interpreted Gen's story...

Btw, Welcome to the Dojo Afalstein!

Hmm, I suppose you could interpret it that way, but I guess I haven't. Guess we wait for Stan to say yes or no here...

since we are talking about gen's clan crest,now.... I wondered myself if in any of the books I haven't read so far we are told what usagi's clan was called, I know he served lord mifune, but are we ever told what mifune's clan was called?...may be the answer is too easy but I can't see it at the moment...

Thomas Froehling wrote:Well, I think he has in Gen's story (book 7); although Gen never officially served a lord, his father did and he teached his son. After his father's death, Gen took on his father's mon, but since that clan was "dispersed", he was technically masterless and started bounty hunting right away, though accidently at first.

Or that was how I interpreted Gen's story...

Btw, Welcome to the Dojo Afalstein!

Thanks! Good to be here! Hey, how do we contribute to character profiles? Some are really out of date.

That's a possible explanation, I suppose, though it doesn't really clarify why Gen said he "became" masterless. And would Gen be allowed to do that? Adopt the crest of a clan he never really served? I mean, even if his father served them, that doesn't automatically mean he would. Usagi's dad served Mifune, but Usagi still had to work to serve there.