The saga of Usagi Yojimbo (literally: "Bodyguard Rabbit") unfolds in a partially fictional Japan at the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th centuries. The historical Battle of Sekigahara, which inspired the Battle of Adachigahara, in which Stan Sakai's long-eared warrior participates, as we learn in the very first Usagi episode, took place on October 21, 1600. It marked the end of the era of civil wars and established the shogunate rule. The samurai form the ruling class throughout the land. They adhere to a strict, yet unwritten code of conduct known as Bushido ("Way of the Warrior") and must find their place in the new order. It is a time of restless activity and political intrigue. Wandering through this world is a masterless samurai. His name: Miyamoto Usagi.