Interviews

1. Inspirations

2. Making it happen

3. Richard Sakai

4. Works of Stan Sakai

5. His method

6. Influence as a youth

7. Manga vs. Comics

8. Reading all sorts of comics

9. Family’s acceptance

10. Styles and influences

11. Culture as a child

12. Cultural influences

Stan Sakai

(b. 1953) Cartoonist

His method

Trying to do as much research as I can, but within reason, because for me the story should not be bogged down with trying to put too much research into the story. And that’s why I started doing the story notes in the back of the Usagi [Yojimbo] books. Little bibliographies, also more information about the stories themselves, different aspects of the culture that I’ve touched upon.

comics graphic novels manga Usagi Yojimbo (comic)

Date: September 28, 2010

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Lynn Yamasaki, Maria Kwong

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Stan Sakai was born in Kyoto, Japan, and raised in Hawai‘i. Sansei illustrator and writer Stan Sakai is known for his creation of the popular comic book character, “Usagi Yojimbo” in 1984. Since 1987, a series of comic books have detailed the adventures of Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in the late 16th and early 17th Century. Sakai is known for his incorporation of actual Japanese history and culture, once winning an award for “skillful weaving of facts and legends into his work.” An exhibition of his work was organized by the Museum in 2011. (August 2012)

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His method

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