Usagi Yojimbo (1984)

This week on Loaned Out, Mike and Brendan discuss Usagi Yojimbo, 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 rōnin, Miyamoto Usagi, whom Sakai based partially on the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Usagi wanders the land on a musha shugyō (warrior's pilgrimage), occasionally selling his services as a bodyguard.

Usagi Yojimbo is heavily influenced by Japanese cinema; it has included references to the work of Akira Kurosawa (the title of the series is derived from Kurosawa's 1960 film Yojimbo), as well as to icons of popular Japanese cinema, such as Lone Wolf and Cub, Zatoichi, and Godzilla.

Welcome to the Loaned Out Podcast, the continuing story of two friends making it through all the pop culture homework we’ve given to each other. Hosts Brendan and Mike take turns reviewing each other's pop culture recommendations. 

Be sure to like and subscribe, don't forget to tell a friend.

Email: https://loanedout.buzzsprout.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoanedPod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loaned_out_podcast/

Learn more at https://loanedout.buzzsprout.com/