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

Sakai,Stan

(b. 1953) Cartoonist

Culture as a child

I grew up on Kapahulu on Oahu which is about half a mile from Waikiki beach. Right down the street from where I lived, maybe about a quarter mile or so, was the old Kapahulu Theater. It’s not there any more, it’s now a fast food place, but every Saturday morning they would show old chanbara movies, the old Toshiro Mifune movies. I remember seeing Satomi Hakkenden, which is my favorite movie of all time. I loved those, so we used to go all the time. And I grew up on those things. And I also grew up going to Japanese festivals. The old obon matsuri, festivals like that in Hawaii. And there is a strong Japanese culture in Hawaii.

Buddhism Hawaii identity Obon religions United States

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)