STAN SAKAI:
Stan was born in Kyoto, Japan, and grew up in Hawaii. He began his comic book career by lettering Sergio Aragones’ Groo the Wanderer. He also worked with Stan Lee, lettering the Spider-Man Sunday newspaper strips for twenty-five years. Stan is most famous for his original creation, Usagi Yojimbo, an epic graphic novel series that began in 1984 and now spans more than forty volumes. It stars Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in early seventeenth century Japan. Usagi has been published in eighteen languages and Stan has been honored with a number of awards including twelve Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, two Harvey Awards including one for Best Cartoonist, the Japanese American National Museum’s Cultural Ambassador Award, two National
Cartoonists Society Silver Reubens, a Parents’ Choice Award, the inaugural Joe Kubert Excellence in Storytelling Award, multiple Ringo Awards, and an American Library Association Award. Because of his meticulous research into the history, culture, and folklore of Japan, Usagi Yojimbo is a favorite among educators as a curriculum tool. Usagi has been a part of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in their TV series, comic book crossovers, and toy lines. In 2020 Stan was inducted into the Eisner Awards Hall of Fame.
JULIE SAKAI:
While raising a family, Julie taught art and writing in private schools, museum programs, and at the Monart School of Art in Temecula, California. Julie has also been a designer and creator in the craft industry for over thirty years with her own line of T-shirts, rubber stamps, and whimsical illustrations. Her chibi-style work has been sold in museum gift shops, major stores, and boutiques throughout the United States. Julie and Stan’s graphic novel, Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis, received an Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers.
EMI FUJII:
Emi Fujii is the Creative Director for Usagi Studios and colorist for Chibi Usagi and Space Usagi. Previous works include covers for Dark Horse, Dogu Publishing, IDW, Marvel, and Oni Press. When she is not working, she enjoys hiking and traveling.
