Stan Sakai

Stan Sakai is a Japanese-American cartoonist, born in Kyoto and raised in Hawaii, who created Usagi Yojimbo. First appearing in 1984, the series follows Miyamoto Usagi, a wandering samurai rabbit, through stories drawing on Japanese history and folklore. Sakai writes and draws the continuing adventures.

His earlier work included lettering and The Adventures of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy. He also created Space Usagi and illustrated Mike Richardson’s adaptation of 47 Ronin. The Japanese American National Museum presented an exhibition devoted to Usagi Yojimbo in 2011, reflecting the series’ place between comics storytelling and the interpretation of Japanese cultural traditions.