shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Feb 6, 2016 21:12:25 GMT -5
Obviously, the out of story answer is that a travelling rabbit samurai is a lot more fun to read than one who stays in the same place all the time, but in story it seems that the only rationale Usagi ever offers is he is looking for peace. With an open invitation to serve the Geishu clan and stay near Tomoe, or to stay closer to Jotoro, I guess I've never understood why Usagi finds more peace out there alone among the brigands, scavengers and harsh weather, especially as he was so ready to return home during the Circles storyline until Mariko asked him to leave.
I'd be curious to hear others' thoughts on this. What is Usagi looking for?
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Post by dhfujii on Feb 6, 2016 23:58:43 GMT -5
Personally, I think it's simply part of his nature. He was a strong and (b)rash child growing up, so he doesn't strike me as one who likes to be contained. True, he has to be a Samurai, which "conforms" him a bit, but he's always been different from others. Even his fighting style and his training/teacher was quite different. Thus, I believe once he was able to be free, he doesn't want to give it up. I also think he seeks adventure and new things, which happen sporadically on his journey.
Once he has his feel of traversing the outside world, I believe he will settle down and journey inside, so to speak.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Feb 7, 2016 10:22:39 GMT -5
I think, to a large extent, Usagi is afraid to stay in one place. He doesn't think Jotaro will accept him as a father, or that TOmoe would accept him as a husband, so instead of dealing with that possibility, he wanders and does what he is confident in... righting wrongs and embodying the Samurai code.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Feb 7, 2016 10:25:01 GMT -5
I think, to a large extent, Usagi is afraid to stay in one place. He doesn't think Jotaro will accept him as a father, or that TOmoe would accept him as a husband, so instead of dealing with that possibility, he wanders and does what he is confident in... righting wrongs and embodying the Samurai code. That hadn't occurred to me as a possibility, as Usagi is rarely one to show self-doubt, but it does make sense. Maybe this is the reason, and Usagi himself isn't aware of it yet. I think I also make the mistake of applying the values and contexts of our own world to Usagi. In modern times, he's hardly the kind of guy who would be a "rolling stone". He likes kids too much and falls in love too easily  |
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Post by Icctrombone on Feb 7, 2016 10:28:51 GMT -5
Maybe he's going to be like Jules from "Pulp Fiction"
Jules: I'll just walk the earth.
Vincent: What'cha mean walk the earth?
Jules: You know, walk the earth, meet people... get into adventures. Like Caine from "Kung Fu."
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Feb 7, 2016 10:43:48 GMT -5
Maybe he's going to be like Jules from "Pulp Fiction" Jules: I'll just walk the earth. Vincent: What'cha mean walk the earth? Jules: You know, walk the earth, meet people... get into adventures. Like Caine from "Kung Fu." "It's the one that says 'Bad Bunny Ronin' on it."  |
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Post by coke & comics on Feb 7, 2016 14:20:12 GMT -5
Mostly I think he's content too. Once he was on the Warrior's Pilgrimage. Then decided it was time to settle down in the "Homecoming" arc, but events led to him not. He considered returning home again in "Circles", but that proved his old home is no longer his home. So he continues the Warrior's Pilgrimage. I think if he got a better offer, he would take it. If he could marry Tomoe and settle down in the Geishu Province, I think he would. But that seems not to be yet either.
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Post by String on Feb 10, 2016 15:19:45 GMT -5
Geishu Clan obligations may hinder or outright prevent any prospect of marriage for Usagi and Tomoe (as 'shown' in Senso for example) so relieving any pain or sadness for that could be one subtle reason why he still journeys.
Here's a thought, what about the possibility of him settling down and establishing a martial arts school focused on teaching and expanding on his style at some point?
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Feb 10, 2016 17:04:02 GMT -5
Here's a thought, what about the possibility of him settling down and establishing a martial arts school focused on teaching and expanding on his style at some point? Interesting. If he's still using Katsuichi's style and hasn't perfected one of his own, would it be appropriate to start his own school, or would he be obligated to teach at (and perhaps take over) Katsuichi's? Granted, it isn't much of a school, per se, but I'm more curious about the Japanese customs in regard to this. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 23:40:59 GMT -5
I think it's something he plans on doing until he's killed or too old/sick to travel anymore. Continuing loyalty to Mifune would keep him from entering service to anyone else, and samurai pride keeping him from becoming a merchant or laborer, and personal pride keeping him from becoming a hired thug. So he kind of goes where he's needed and then travels on when he's not.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Feb 11, 2016 6:01:56 GMT -5
I think it's something he plans on doing until he's killed or too old/sick to travel anymore. Continuing loyalty to Mifune would keep him from entering service to anyone else, In the early years, this was definitely true. But, "The Thief and the Kunoichi" and "The Death of Lord Hikiji" aside, he hasn't even mentioned Mifune in years. He really seems to be "over" that time in his life, even though he continues to wear the clan crest. except that he loves helping to harvest seaweed, make teapots, and cultivate soy sauce  Yes So I guess I'm not convinced that he couldn't enter service to Noriyuki or retire to live a quiet life like Zato Ino or Ikeada in time. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2016 19:17:05 GMT -5
Usagi is compassionate to the peasant class, but I don't see him laying his swords down in exchange for farming equipment.
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