Samurai Usagi
Encyclopedia
is a manga
series by Teppei Fukushima that was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump
from 2007 #14 to 2008 #33. A special chapter is scheduled to be released in Akamaru Jump. 8 volumes were released by Shueisha
. There are no plans yet for the series to be released in America. In France Samurai Usagi is published by Glénat
.
("period drama") revolving around a 15 year old low-ranking samurai
and his wife.
The manga portrays the Edo period
from a socially low-ranking samurai's perspective, and is skeptical of the Samurai Code
used by high-ranked samurai to impose norms and reinforce their own authority. The values of people the hero meets are deeply examined, bringing hidden aspect to light, which are used to poke fun, as plot twists, or occasionally as the source of conflict. This structure is supported by the extensive use of contemporary Japanese youth slang
in dialogue. Generally, the story advances through the hero's monologue
s. The hero's serious monologues do not use slang to make a contrast with the dialogue of other characters.
Although Edo period customs are occasionally explained, for a manga dealing with samurai the swordsmanship portrayed in Samurai Usagi varies from actual sword-fighting techniques. Also, some samurai characters do not wear their hair in a topknot. Although it lacks in authenticity and accuracy, the flavor of the Edo period is preserved.
The hero and heroine being married from the beginning of the story is highly unusual for youth-oriented manga.
at a nearby dojo. At that dojo the people treat Gosuke badly and ridcule him. But, Gosuke's dream, is to create the Rabbit Style fencing, a style for people who fence, simply to enjoy it.
(15 years) is Gosuke's wife. She is obsessed with rabbits and sells rabbit masks to make money for her and Gosuke. She claims that rabbits will one day reach the moon. She is also the younger sister of Gosuke's senpai
, Masayuki Settsu.
s in the red light district
, yet he is also surprisingly thoughtful towards his own sister.
(12 years) A young priest from the "Nanana Village". He enrolled into the dojo because he wanted to request Gosuke's help in saving his village.
(17 years) The first son of a wealthy daimyo. He is a short, taciturn person, and very skilled with the Honma family's swordsmanship techniques. The members of the Usagi dojo know him as Maro.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series by Teppei Fukushima that was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump
Weekly Shonen Jump
is a weekly shōnen manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. The first issue was released with a cover date of July 2, 1968, and it is still circulating. One of the longest-running manga magazines in Japan, it has a circulation of 2.8 million copies...
from 2007 #14 to 2008 #33. A special chapter is scheduled to be released in Akamaru Jump. 8 volumes were released by Shueisha
Shueisha
is a major publisher in Japan. The company was founded in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The following year, Shueisha became a separate, independent company. Magazines published by Shueisha include Weekly Shōnen Jump, Weekly Young Jump,...
. There are no plans yet for the series to be released in America. In France Samurai Usagi is published by Glénat
Glénat
Glénat can refer to:* Glénat, Cantal, a commune in the Cantal département in France.* Glénat , a French publisher, specialising in comics and manga....
.
Summary
A jidaigekiJidaigeki
is a genre of film, television, and theatre in Japan. The name means "period drama" and is usually the Edo period of Japanese history, from 1603 to 1868. Some, however, are set much earlier—Portrait of Hell, for example, is set during the late Heian period—and the early Meiji era is also a popular...
("period drama") revolving around a 15 year old low-ranking samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
and his wife.
The manga portrays the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
from a socially low-ranking samurai's perspective, and is skeptical of the Samurai Code
Bushido
, meaning "Way of the Warrior-Knight", is a Japanese word which is used to describe a uniquely Japanese code of conduct and a way of the samurai life, loosely analogous to the concept of chivalry. It originates from the samurai moral code and stresses frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and...
used by high-ranked samurai to impose norms and reinforce their own authority. The values of people the hero meets are deeply examined, bringing hidden aspect to light, which are used to poke fun, as plot twists, or occasionally as the source of conflict. This structure is supported by the extensive use of contemporary Japanese youth slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
in dialogue. Generally, the story advances through the hero's monologue
Monologue
In theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
s. The hero's serious monologues do not use slang to make a contrast with the dialogue of other characters.
Although Edo period customs are occasionally explained, for a manga dealing with samurai the swordsmanship portrayed in Samurai Usagi varies from actual sword-fighting techniques. Also, some samurai characters do not wear their hair in a topknot. Although it lacks in authenticity and accuracy, the flavor of the Edo period is preserved.
The hero and heroine being married from the beginning of the story is highly unusual for youth-oriented manga.
Udagawa Family
(15 years) has received his father's dojo. His father was forced to commit hara-kiri and his older brother too. He hasn't much self confidence in himself, but mostly has his eyebrows crossed with a scowl on his face. Every day he practices fencingFencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
at a nearby dojo. At that dojo the people treat Gosuke badly and ridcule him. But, Gosuke's dream, is to create the Rabbit Style fencing, a style for people who fence, simply to enjoy it.
(15 years) is Gosuke's wife. She is obsessed with rabbits and sells rabbit masks to make money for her and Gosuke. She claims that rabbits will one day reach the moon. She is also the younger sister of Gosuke's senpai
Senpai
and are an essential element of Japanese seniority-based status relationships, similar to the way that family and other relationships are decided based on age, with even twins being divided into elder and younger sibling...
, Masayuki Settsu.
Usagi Dojo
(22 years) Shino's older brother and a disciple at the Usagi Dojo. He is usually aloof and tries to avoid doing things he deems troublesome, but he also advises Gosuke and acts as a sort of older brother to him. He loves women and often visits tea houseTea house
A tea house or tearoom is a venue centered on drinking tea. Its function varies widely depending on the culture, and some cultures have a variety of distinct tea-centered houses or parlors that all qualify under the English language term "tea house" or "tea room."-Asia:In Central Asia this term...
s in the red light district
Red Light District
Red Light District may refer to:* Red-light district - a neighborhood where prostitution is common* The Red Light District - the title of the 2004 album by rapper Ludacris* Red Light District Video - a pornography studio based in Los Angeles, California...
, yet he is also surprisingly thoughtful towards his own sister.
(12 years) A young priest from the "Nanana Village". He enrolled into the dojo because he wanted to request Gosuke's help in saving his village.
(17 years) The first son of a wealthy daimyo. He is a short, taciturn person, and very skilled with the Honma family's swordsmanship techniques. The members of the Usagi dojo know him as Maro.