Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Bk. 19 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 19: Fathers and Sons by Stan Sakai

The adventures of Miyamoto Usagi, the rabbit ronin, continue as he travels with his son Jotaro (though Jotaro does not know that Usagi is his dad)...

Fathers and Sons--Usagi searches for his son while Lone Goat is on the run with his son Kid as wanted fugitives. Jotaro fell into a river and washes up near Lone Goat and Kid's hide out. Lone Goat was shot with an arrow during an attempt to capture him and he remains unconscious. Jotaro helps Kid care for his dad when two peddlers show up. They think something is going on and go to inform local authorities, hoping to get in on a reward. The story plays out from there in the usual fashion, with some nice moments between the two fathers and the two sons.

Bells--Katsuichi (Usagi's master) has a confrontation on a street that reminds him of his youth. At his swordsmanship school he fell in love with the daughter of a rival school's headmaster. She reciprocated while understanding the delicate nature of the situation. The ambitions of others turned their story into a tragedy. It's a touching tale.

Kill the Geishu Lord--Usagi and Jotaro cross a mountain pass that is blocked by an avalanche carefully picking their way through the boulders and snow drifts. A small village at the other side is very inhospitable. Usagi knows something odd is going on, especially when one villager tells him to keep going and not come back. He makes like he is leaving but doubles back to discover a procession headed into the town. The Geishu Lord was also going over the pass and has been delayed. He also gets an unwelcoming reception in the village. It's another exciting story and a meeting with an old friend that draws out Usagi's big problem--should he tell Jotaro that he is Jotaro's true father? 

The Pride of the Samurai--Usagi still struggles with whether he should tell Jotaro the truth about their relationship. At the market, a boy steals a fish. Jotaro chases after him, all the way to a shanty under a bridge. A down-and-out samurai comes out of the shanty and confronts Jotaro, saying no thief is here and Jotaro is lying. Usagi finally catches up and de-escalates the situation. Usagi and the vagrant samurai become somewhat friends though the samurai has a hard time accepting his situation and raising his son who is stealing to keep them both alive. This is another aspects of the fathers/sons dynamic that have been in the past few stories and ups the ante on Usagi's struggle.

Hokashi--Reunited with Katsuichi, Usagi's former mentor and the current mentor for Jotaro, the group goes to a temple to get blades bequeathed to Jotaro. On the way, they see a Hokashi troupe perform in a town, though Usagi thinks he recognizes the sword performer (and the feeling is mutual). A stray knife almost hits Usagi though Katsuichi snatches it from the air. Once they leave the town, the samurai run into the troupe again, with some explosive consequences. The story ends with Usagi and Jotaro separating. Usagi does not have the nerve to tell Jotaro that he is Jotaro's father. Usagi wonders if he has made the right decision. In a powerful coda, Jotaro tells Katsuichi that he did not have the courage to tell Usagi that he is Usagi's son. Like father, like son, carrying a hard burden.

This series of stories is fun and poignant. 

Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.