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is a comic book series created by Stan Sakai. It is set primarily at the beginning of the Edo period of Japanese history and features anthropomorphic animals replacing humans. The main character is a rabbit ''ronin'', Miyamoto Usagi, whom Sakai based partially on the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Usagi wanders the land on a ''musha shugyo'' (warrior's pilgrimage), occasionally selling his services as a bodyguard. ''Usagi Yojimbo'' is heavily influenced by Japanese cinema and has included references to the work of Akira Kurosawa (the title of the series is derived from Kurosawa's 1960 film ''Yojimbo'') and to icons of popular Japanese cinema such as Lone Wolf and Cub, Zatoichi, and Godzilla. The series is also influenced somewhat by ''Groo the Wanderer'' by Sergio Aragonés (Sakai is the letterer for that series), but the overall tone of ''Usagi Yojimbo'' is more serious and reflective. The series follows the standard traditional Japanese naming-convention for all featured characters: their family names followed by their given names. The books are primarily episodic, with underlying larger plots which create long extended story lines - though there are some novel-length narratives. The stories include many references to Japanese history and Japanese folklore, and sometimes include mythical creatures. The architecture, clothes, weapons, and other objects are drawn with a faithfulness to period style. There are often stories whose purpose is to illustrate various elements of Japanese arts and crafts, such as the fashioning of kites, swords, and pottery. Those efforts have been successful enough for the series to be awarded a Parents' Choice Award in 1990 for its educational value through Sakai's "skillful weaving of facts and legends into his work." ''Usagi Yojimbo'' first appeared in ''Albedo Anthropomorphics'' #2, published by Thoughts and Images in November 1984.〔Albedo Anthropomorphics #2 (Thoughts and Images, 1984)〕 Stan Sakai accepted an offer to move his warrior rabbit to Fantagraphics Books where he appeared in several issues of the new anthropomorphic anthology series ''Critters''. Usagi's popularity influenced Fantagraphics to then release the ''Usagi Yojimbo Summer Special'' in October 1986〔''Usagi Yojimbo Summer Special'' (Fantagraphics Books 1986)〕 and then to give the ronin rabbit his own on-going series with issue #1 being published in July 1987.〔''Usagi Yojimbo'' #1 (Fantagraphics Books 1987)〕〔http://www.usagiyojimbo.com〕 Usagi was named the 31st greatest comic book character by ''Empire Magazine''〔(''Empire'' | The 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters ). http://web.archive.org/web/20150701092828/http://www.empireonline.com/50greatestcomiccharacters/default.asp?c=31(2006-12-05). Retrieved on 2015-07-30.〕 and was ranked 92nd in IGN's list of the top 100 comic book heroes. == Publishing history == Sakai originally planned for Usagi and other characters to be human in stories explicitly modeled after the life of Miyamoto Musashi. However, once as Sakai was idly doodling, he drew rabbit ears tied in a topknot on his proposed hero and was pleased by the distinctive image.〔(Usagi Yojimbo Dojo – FAQ: Questions about Usagi Yojimbo ). Usagiyojimbo.com (2004-02-29). Retrieved on 2011-05-29.〕 Usagi was first conceived as a supporting character in ''The Adventures of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy'', a brief series that predates ''Usagi Yojimbo''.〔(Usagi Yojimbo Dojo – FAQ: Questions about Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy ). Usagiyojimbo.com (2004-02-29). Retrieved on 2011-05-29.〕 Sakai expanded on the idea of a rabbit samurai and his world took on an anthropomorphized cartoon nature, creating a fantasy setting which suited his dramatic needs with a unique look he thought could attract readers. Usagi first appeared in the anthology ''Albedo Anthropomorphics'' in 1984, and later in the Fantagraphics Books anthropomorphic anthology ''Critters'', before appearing in his own series in 1987. The ''Usagi Yojimbo'' series has been published by three different companies. The first publisher was Fantagraphics (volume one; 38 regular issues, plus one ''Summer Special'' and three ''Color Specials''). The second was Mirage Comics (volume two; 16 issues). The third is Dark Horse Comics, by which ''Usagi Yojimbo'' is still being published (as volume three, over 140 issues), and who also released a fourth ''Color Special''. A fourth publisher, Radio Comix, published two issues of ''The Art of Usagi Yojimbo'' which contained a selection of unpublished drawings, convention sketches, and other miscellaneous ''Usagi Yojimbo'' artwork. The first issue also included an original ''Usagi Yojimbo'' short story. In 2004, Dark Horse Comics published a Twentieth Anniversary hardcover volume also entitled ''The Art of Usagi Yojimbo''. Because ''Usagi Yojimbo'' is a creator-owned comic and Sakai has complete and sole ownership of the character, Miyamoto Usagi has been able to appear in occasional short stories published by companies other than the one currently publishing his series. Usagi has appeared in stories published by Cartoon Books, Oni Press, Sky Dog Press, Wizard Press, and most recently in the benefit book ''Drawing the Line'', the proceeds of which went to Princess Margaret Hospital and The Hospital for Sick Children, both in Toronto, for cancer research. Sakai has experimented with formats for ''Usagi Yojimbo'', as when he published the color story "Green Persimmon" first as twelve separate 2-page chapters serialized in Diamond Comic Distributor's monthly catalog "Previews." He has also serialized two short stories in a comic strip format in the tabloid size promotional publication ''Dark Horse Extra''. With ''Usagi Yojimbo'' stories in single page "gag" stories as well as multi-issue epic adventures. Usagi has also appeared several times in ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (the comic, two of the animated series, and their respective toy lines), and the Turtles have appeared in ''Usagi Yojimbo'' as well. In the 1987 series, "Usagi Yojimbo" is incorrectly used as his actual name, but in the 2003 series, which he appeared far more frequently in, he was referred to correctly as Miyamoto Usagi. He was even joined by Gen and other characters from his stories in his guest appearances in the 2003-2009 series. In his guest appearances, he is closest to Leonardo, both sharing the same ideals and code of ethics. In addition, Sakai created a limited spin off series called ''Space Usagi'' featuring characters similar to those in the original series, including a descendant of Miyamoto Usagi, but set in a futuristic setting that also emulated Feudal Japan in political and stylistic ways. Three mini-series of three issues each and two short stories featuring the characters were produced. Sakai has tentative plans to produce a fourth Space Usagi miniseries, but nothing has been announced yet.〔(Coming Up in Usagi Yojimbo ). Usagiyojimbo.com (2006-02-20). Retrieved on 2011-05-29.〕 In the summer of 2014, Sakai, after a two-year hiatus, returned with a mini-series entitled ''Usagi Yojimbo Senso''. ''Senso'', Japanese for "war," refers to ''The War of the Worlds'', the pioneering novel by H.G. Wells about an invasion of Earth by ruthless extraterrestrials. These aliens are believed to come from the planet Mars (although it has been speculated that they come from another solar system and they only used Mars as a way-station). The Japanese find themselves in dire straits facing merciless attacks from a high-technology civilization. Their courage and ingenuity are really put to the test. Fortunately, Lord Noriyuki (an anthropomorphic panda who is Usagi's feudal superior) has the services of Takenoko Sensei. He is humble and unassuming ("Takenoko" means "bamboo shoot"), but his scientific and technological know-how is way ahead of that of anyone else in Japan (or anywhere else on Earth, for that matter) at the time. He devises weapons that can counter those of the invaders. Noriyuki, being a conservative Japanese, is reluctant at first to use these weapons, but he soon realizes that the alien invasion leaves him no choice but to do so. The evil Lord Hikiji was for many years the nemesis of Lord Noriyuki and Usagi. When the aliens invaded, he offered to be their Quisling. Lord Hebi, a serpent, had served for a long time as Hikiji's faithful lieutenant, but when Hikiji boasted of his treachery, Hebi killed him. In May 2015, Sakai returns to Usagi Yojimbo with the release of the 145th issue. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Usagi Yojimbo」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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