National Library Week Event: Stan Sakai, Creator Of Usagi Yojimbo April 17, 2010

Meet graphic novelist Stan Sakai, whose most famous creation is Usagi Yojimbo, the epic saga of Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in late-16th and early-17th century Japan. First published in 1984, the comic continues to this day, with Sakai as the lone author and nearly-sole artist.

Set primarily in Japan's Edo period, with anthropomorphic animals replacing humans, it features a rabbit ronin, Miyamoto Usagi, who is partially based on the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Usagi wanders the land on a 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 and to icons of popular Japanese cinema such as Zatoichi, and Godzilla. The series was awarded a Parents' Choice Award in 1990 for its educational value through Stan's skillful weaving of facts and legends into his work.

Vault Of Midnight will be on hand to sell copies of Stan's books and there will be plenty of time for audience questions.

Official Website: http://www.aadl.org/events/list?id=6605