Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

Hi Stan, I've been doing to misc updating to the site. Can you confirm the accuracy of this:
"While Ame is her family name, she is still usually addressed as Tomoe-san while Ame-san would be correct. The reason for this is in Stan Sakais past: As a child, he was very fond of a candy called "Tomoe Ame". Therefore Tomoe's surname and family name are swapped. Visit the Tomoe Ame WebSite for more information about her and the famous Tomoe Gozen on which this character is based. "

So in reality would her name be Ame Tomoe? Or is Tomoe Ame her "first" name and her surname something else?

Also, regarding Tomoe Gozen, what was her surname? Or did she have one? What does "Gozen" mean anyway?

Thanks!!!!!!!

VikingBabe wrote:Hi Stan, I've been doing to misc updating to the site. Can you confirm the accuracy of this:
"While Ame is her family name, she is still usually addressed as Tomoe-san while Ame-san would be correct. The reason for this is in Stan Sakais past: As a child, he was very fond of a candy called "Tomoe Ame". Therefore Tomoe's surname and family name are swapped. Visit the Tomoe Ame WebSite for more information about her and the famous Tomoe Gozen on which this character is based. "

So in reality would her name be Ame Tomoe? Or is Tomoe Ame her "first" name and her surname something else?

Also, regarding Tomoe Gozen, what was her surname? Or did she have one? What does "Gozen" mean anyway?

Thanks!!!!!!!

That is correct about Tomoe Ame's name. Ame is her family name, so she should be referred as Ame-san. But, just as Usagi is referred to as "Usagi-san", I've chosen to make her "Tomoe-san". The word "ame" can take on different meanings, depending on the kanji used to write it. In the case of Tomoe Ame (the candy), it is written with the kanji which means "sweet". In Usagi's Tomoe Ame, it is written with the kanji which means "rain". Her sword style, which her father taught, is the Falling Rain syle of swordsmanship.

I'm not sure of the surname of the historical Tomoe. She was married to Yoshinaka Kiso, so her name might have been Yoshinaka Tomoe. "Gozen" is an honorific suffix, much like "-sama". It is the equivalent to "lady" in feudal times--like Lady Godiva, or Lady Jane.

There was a candy named Tomoe Ame? Sweet.

I just realized how intensely stupid that sounded. Never mind.

Say, does Katsuichi's style of swrodsmanship have a name? I know it's a rejection of the 8 traditional schools (or styles), but maybe it's secretly based on something real.

wansnt there someone else who fights with two swords, who was he again?...no cant remember, of course his name couldnt have also been miyamoto, no, out of the question.

All the sources I have read seem to agree that "Ame" is written with this kanji: 雨

But what is the correct way to write "Tomoe"?

• Her Dojo character page uses 朋絵.
• The Japanese Dojo satellite site uses 巴, the same as used in "Tomoe Gozen". I think this same kanji is used on this forum post by Todd Shogun. (My browser doesn't actually show the Kanji in this post, so I'm not sure.)
• Wikipedia and the UY wiki simply write it out in hiragana.

Product Description:
A favorite for locals for many, many generations! Tomoe Ame Rice Candy, wrapped in an edible rice paper, is a sweet Japanese treat that is soft and delicious!

Ingredients: Corn Syrup, Sugar, Sweet Rice, Lemon Flavor, Orange Flavor, FD&C Red #40 (Allura Red AC)

Above taken from website of Crack Seed Center, a candy retailer in Hawaii.

I think I had some Japanese rice candy like that once (it was edible but not one of my favorites), but it might have been a different brand.