Usagi Yojimbo #47

Usagi Yojimbo #47 was released in 1997 as part of the long-running comic book series created, written, and illustrated by Stan Sakai. Published by Dark Horse Comics during the title's tenure with the company, this issue represents a distinct chapter in the saga of Miyamoto Usagi, a masterless samurai rabbit navigating a fictionalized version of Edo-period Japan. Sakai developed the series to blend his deep interest in Japanese history and folklore with the medium of anthropomorphic storytelling, prioritizing clear, brush-inked visuals that evoke traditional ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

The narrative within this issue continues Sakai's signature episodic structure, where personal character development and philosophical dilemmas are balanced against samurai action. By the time of the late 1990s, the series had established a dedicated following for its commitment to historical research and its gentle, stoic protagonist. Critics and readers have consistently praised Sakai's work for its narrative consistency and the expressive economy of his linework, cementing the series as a mainstay of independent comics.