In preparing for our contribution to May Cultural Heritage Month, Walt and I spent much time researching through stacks of ancient, dusty tomes (mostly back issues of "Field & Stream", "Golf Digest" and misc. odd Comix) in our quest for something with a bit more culture than a cup of cottage cheese...

Then, at long last - Success! We unearthed an authentic Japanese print depicting a little-known scene from the Battle of Sekigahara... This climactic battle, for those of you not up on your Japanese history (or who have never watched a Samurai flick), broke the power of the independent Daimyos and Warlords of Japan, who then had to make obeisance to the Shogun (played by Toshiro Mifune)... (Well, actually, there were still a few independent Daimyos left after this battle, who needed to be booted into knuckling under, but let's not quibble-- they didn't last long)...

For your aditional edification: Click here for an early sketch of Kyutichan as a Geisha Bunny.

Our poster depicts a legendary character, the battling Bunny Geisha Kyutichan, also called Kyutibuni. Tradition has it that she was among the warriors who fought on one side or the other at Sekigahara (it's not entirely clear which side-- maybe both), but what is certain is that she cut an outstanding figure with her flowing kimono and twin swords! She also cut numerous other figures who failed to get out of her way in time. Notice she is using the Musashi "two-katana" style of swordsmanship, which would not become popular until some time after this battle-- (in which the young Musashi actually fought on the losing side). It is by noting such details as these that historians can reliably date the creation of this print to sometime... well... sometime probably before last week... that is, if it isn't a total fraud. To verify the age of the print, Walt and I attempted to Carbon Date it by rolling and smoking a small portion... This Carbon test wasn't entirely successful-- though it did taste better than those "Field & Stream" mags!

But enough with this historical hubbub... To get back to the rather more fascinating aspects of Kyutichan... Well actually, most of her fascinating aspects are covered by her kimono-- so, moving right along to the origins of her legend: Stories of the Geisha Bunny possibly identified her with one of the many nature spirits in Shinto, Japan's aboriginal religion... or, more likely, in the early18th-century woodblock manga... Whichever is the case, by the early 21st century she seems to have been mostly forgotten - except by us and the readers of this Web page - Lucky You! And you're probably tired of reading this anyway, so let's just cut it short so that you can go ogle the Bunny...

Incidentally: This month's Calendar print comes in two versions - the nicey nice (though violent) version that you see here, and a slightly naughtier version - where Kyutibuni's Kimono has slipped just a bit... So if you are NOT at least 18 or older, or are of a fragile state of mind that may come unhinged at the sight of a bare bunny boobie - causing you to run amok, (and or run for congress) foam at the mouth or otherwise undergo grievous mental turmoil - then we urge you NOT to look!! I mean, it's really Not all that naughty - you won't miss much... Honest!!

By clicking on this Link I verify that I am at least 18 years of Age and Authorized by the Government (any government will do) to look at this Naughty Bunny Pix... (Aren't you ashamed of yourself?) JQ