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In the early years of Saturday Night Live, John Belushi portrayed a samuraihe had a dedicated concept of honor, spoke only (mock) Japanese, and wielded a katana. Each sketch had him located in a different place and time that was typically inappropriate for a samurai, yet he performed his tasks perfectly, despite scaring his clients quite a few times. The character was modeled after Toshiro Mifune's character in Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo.[1]

Samurai Futaba would probably not have become a recurring character if not for Buck Henry's insistence that there be a second sketch featuring him when he

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first hosted on January 17, 1976. It is perhaps due to these origins that it became standard practice on SNL to feature a Samurai sketch every time Henry hosted, up until the

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time Belushi left the cast. (And except for "Samurai BMOC", each time Henry would play the same character, Mr. Dantley.)

In issue 74 of Marvel TeamUp (cover dated October, 1978), Belushi (in character as Samurai Futaba) dueled Marvel Comics supervillain Silver Samurai, who believed that Belushi was disgracing the history of the samurai. He also appears briefly in issue 54 of The Sandman.

List of Saturday Night Live Episodes Featuring Samurai Futaba

"Samurai Hotel" December 13, 1975 Belushi and his bellhop (host Richard Pryor, also portraying a samurai) duel over who has to carry a guest's bags. Pryor smashes the front desk with his sword; The Samurai says, "I can dig where you're coming from," the only words he has ever spoken in English.

"Samurai Delicatessen" January 17, 1976 Mr. Dantley (host Buck Henry) waits as The Samurai makes a sandwich by severing ropes on hanging salami, slicing tomatoes in midair, and splitting bread with his skull. The two of them carry on a pleasant conversation although each speaks a different language.

"Samurai Divorce Court" February 14, 1976 Futaba vs. Futaba. In the Samurai universe, custody cases are resolved by splitting children in twain. Show regular Jane Curtin plays Futaba's wife. Host: Peter Boyle

"Samurai Tailor" May 22, 1976 Mr. Dantley (Buck

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Henry) needs a tuxedo for a wedding. The Samurai makes one for him with a katana.

"Samurai General Practitioner" July 31, 1976 host: Kris Kristofferson

"Samurai Stockbroker" October 30, 1976 Belushi accidentally strikes Buck Henry, playing the client Mr. Dantley, in the forehead with a katana. On tape, Henry clearly staggers back from the blow. Afterward, Henry appeared on camera with

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a Bandaid covering the cut on his forehead. In solidarity, for the remainder of the broadcast the rest of the cast members (including a Teddy bear in one later sketch) also appeared with Bandaids on their foreheads as well.

"The Purple Lagoon" (during musical performance) December 11, 1976 musical guest: Frank Zappa

"Samurai Hit Man" March 19, 1977 Don Marsala (Dan Aykroyd) hires The Samurai to kill, as soon as possible, both Don Cornelius and Don Kirshner.

"Samurai Dry Cleaners" October 29, 1977 host: Charles Grodin

"Samurai Psychiatrist" November 19, 1977 Buck Henry relates a disturbing dream.

"Samurai Night Fever" February 25, 1978 a parody of the film Saturday Night Fever, with the Samurai as a disco dancer. Simpson plays the Samurai's brother.

"Samurai TV Repairman" May 20, 1978 The Samurai tosses a TV set around, hits it with his sword, plunges two knives into the top grill, and the picture turns out perfect. Host: Buck Henry

"Rollo" (during musical performance) October 21, 1978 host: Frank Zappa

"Samurai Optometrist" November 11, 1978 The Samurai nearly commits harakiri when Buck Henry calls him an "optician".

"Samurai Bakery" May 26, 1979 host: Buck Henry Mr. Dantley (Buck Henry) buys a lastminute wedding cake, only it is not boxed. The Samurai tosses the cake in the air, and slices it to pieces as it drops behind the counter, only to pick up neatly packaged, stringtied pink boxes, which he hands to Mr. Dantley.