Miyamoto Usagi

Miyamoto Usagi
Cover art of Usagi Yojimbo Volume 3, Issue 93. Art by Stan Sakai.
Publication information
Publisher	Dark Horse Comics
First appearance	Albedo Anthropomorphics Vol 1 #2: The Goblin of Adachigahara (1983)
Created by	Stan Sakai
In-story information
Species	Rabbit
Place of origin	Dimension X
Partnerships	Leonardo
Abilities	Master swordsman Highly skilled in Bushido

Miyamoto Usagi (Japanese: 宮本 兎^?) is a fictional character, who appears in the American comic book Usagi Yojimbo, a Dark Horse Comics book created by Stan Sakai. Usagi is an anthropomorphic rabbit (Usagi is Japanese for "rabbit") and a ronin now walking the musha shugyo (warrior's pilgrimage).

In May 2011, Miyamoto Usagi placed 92nd on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time. He also placed 31st in The 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters in Empire (film magazine)

Miyamoto Usagi is the main protagonist of Usagi Yojimbo, whom Sakai has said was inspired by the life of legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Originally intended to be a human, Sakai was inspired to anthropomorphize the character after doodling a rabbit with its ears bound in a style reminiscent of a samurai topknot.

Usagi is a highly skilled swordsman and one of the best in the land.

Usagi was born the only son of a village headman. His two childhood playmates were Kenichi, with whom Usagi would have a less-than-friendly rivalry his whole life, and Mariko, one of the reasons for the boys' rivalry. Eventually the trio went their separate ways when the boys were sent to be trained as samurai in the Dogora school of Bujitsu (en: arts of war). However, on the trip there the boys witnessed a confrontation where a gang of arrogant Dogora students attacked a lone traveler named Katsuichi. Katsuichi had left the school years ago, dissatisfied with the poor calibre of the students. In spite of their numerical advantage, the gang was quickly defeated by the sensei's unusual, but definitely effective, technique. Although Kenichi was unimpressed by the display, Usagi pursued the departing sensei to petition him to become his student. Katsuichi initially refused, but relented when Usagi stood outside his home day and night through unpleasant weather long enough to convince the teacher of his determination.