Miyamoto Musashi in his prime, wielding two. Woodblock print by.BornMiyamoto Bennosukec. 1584or, JapanDied13 June 1645 (1645-06-13) (aged 60–61), JapanNative name宮本武蔵Other namesNiten Dōraku; Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no HarunobuResidenceJapanStyle(二天一流), Enmei-ryu (圓明流), (二天流)Notable students;;;Japanese name宮本 武蔵みやもと むさしミヤモト ムサシTranscriptionsMiyamoto MusashiMiyamoto Musashi ( 宮本 武蔵, c. 1584 – June 13, 1645), also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese, philosopher, strategist, writer.

Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 61 duels (next is 33 by ). He is considered the, sword-saint of Japan. He was the founder of the school or style of swordsmanship, and in his final years authored ( 五輪の書, Go Rin No Sho), and ( The Path of Aloneness). Both documents were given to, the most important of Musashi's students, seven days before Musashi's death. The Book of Five Rings deals primarily with the character of his school in a concrete sense e.g. His own practical martial art and its generic significance; The Path of Aloneness on the other hand, deals with the ideas that lie behind it, as well as his life's philosophy in a few short aphoristic sentences.

Miyamoto Musashi was a legendary Japanese swordsman, philosopher, and writer who became famous and loved, simply because of his renowned stories and excellent double-bladed swordsmanship. He had won 61 duels in his lifetime, a record unbeaten to this day, with only Ito Ittosai coming close with a mere 33 duels won! In his final years.

The Musashi Budokan training center - in a remarkable architecture - located in Mimasaka, Okayama prefecture, Japan was erected to honor his name and legend. Contents.Biography Birth The details of Miyamoto Musashi's early life are difficult to verify. Musashi himself simply states in The Book of Five Rings that he was born in. Niten Ki (an early biography of Musashi) supports the theory that Musashi was born in 1584: 'He was born in, in Tenshō 12 1584, the Year of the Monkey.' The historian Kamiko Tadashi, commenting on Musashi's text, notes: 'Munisai was Musashi's father.

He lived in Miyamoto village, in the Yoshino district of. Musashi was most probably born here.'

His childhood name was Bennosuke (弁之助), and his father worked as a farmer. 'Bennosuke' often worked the fields there before his restless nature eventually led him to the life of the sword.Musashi gives his full name and title in The Book of Five Rings as Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu (新免武蔵守藤原玄信). His father, (新免無二斎) was an accomplished martial artist and master of the sword and (also jitte). Munisai, in turn, was the son of Hirata Shōgen (平田将監), a vassal of Shinmen Iga no Kami, the lord of in the Yoshino district of Mimasaka Province. Hirata was relied upon by Lord Shinmen and so was allowed to use the Shinmen name.

As for 'Musashi', Musashi no Kami was a court title, making him the nominal governor of Musashi Province. ' was the lineage from which Musashi claimed descent.Munisai and Musashi's birth date Munisai's tomb says he died in 1580, which conflicts with the commonly accepted birth date of 1584 for Musashi. Further confounding his birthdate, the genealogy of the extant Miyamoto family recounts Musashi was born in 1582. — Miyamoto Musashi,According to the introduction of, Musashi states that his first successful duel was at the age of 13, against a named Arima Kihei who fought using the style, founded by (b. The main source of the duel is the Hyoho senshi denki ('Anecdotes about the Deceased Master'). Summarized, its account goes as follows:In 1596, Musashi was 13, and Arima Kihei, who was traveling to hone his art, posted a public challenge in Hirafuku-mura.

Musashi wrote his name on the challenge. A messenger came to Dorin's temple, where Musashi was staying, to inform Musashi that his duel had been accepted by Kihei. Dorin, Musashi's uncle, was shocked by this, and tried to beg off the duel in Musashi's name, based on his nephew's age. Kihei was adamant that the only way his honour could be cleared was if Musashi apologized to him when the duel was scheduled. So when the time set for the duel arrived, Dorin began apologizing for Musashi, who merely charged at Kihei with a, shouting a challenge to Kihei. Kihei attacked with a, but Musashi Kihei on the floor, and while Kihei tried to get up, Musashi struck Arima between the eyes and then beat him to death.

Arima was said to have been arrogant, overly eager to battle, and not a terribly talented swordsman. This section does not any. Unsourced material may be challenged and.Find sources: – ( March 2020) In 1599, Musashi left his village, apparently at the age of 15 (according to the Tosakushi, 'The Registry of the Sakushu Region', although the Tanji Hokin Hikki says he was 16 years old in 1599, which agrees time-wise with the age reported in Musashi's first duel). His family possessions such as furniture, weapons, genealogy, and other records were left with his sister and her husband, Hirao Yoemon.He spent his time, such as with an adept called from the.In 1600, when a war began between the and clans, Musashi apparently fought on the side of the Toyotomi's 'Army of the West', as the (to whom his family owed allegiance) had allied with them. Specifically, he participated in the attempt to take Fushimi castle by assault in July 1600, in the defense of the besieged in August of the same year, and finally in the.

Some doubt has been cast on this final battle, as the Hyoho senshi denki has Musashi saying he is 'no lord's vassal' and refusing to fight with his father (in Lord Ukita's battalion) in the battle. Omitting the Battle of Sekigahara from the list of Musashi's battles would seem to contradict The Book of Five Rings's statement that Musashi fought in six battles, however. Regardless, as the Toyotomi side lost, it has been suggested that Musashi fled as well and spent some time training on. Miyamoto Musashi kills a monstrous bat in the mountains of, bySix years later, in 1633, Musashi began staying with, daimyō of, who had moved to the Kumamoto fief and Kokura, to train and paint. Ironically, it was at this time that the Hosokawa lords were also the patrons of Musashi's chief rival,. While there he engaged in very few duels; one would occur in 1634 at the arrangement of Lord Ogasawara, in which Musashi defeated a lance specialist by the name of Takada Matabei.

Musashi would officially become the retainer of the Hosokowa lords of Kumamoto in 1640. The Niten Ki records 'he received from Lord Tadatoshi: 17 retainers, a stipend of 300, the rank of ōkumigashira 大組頭, and in Kumamoto as his residence.' In the second month of 1641, Musashi wrote a work called the Hyoho Sanju Go ('Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy') for Hosokawa Tadatoshi; this work overlapped and formed the basis for the later The Book of Five Rings. This was the year that his third son, Hirao Yoemon, became Master of Arms for the Owari fief. In 1642, Musashi suffered attacks of, foreshadowing his future ill-health. In 1643 he retired to a cave named as a hermit to write The Book of Five Rings. He finished it in the second month of 1645.

On the twelfth of the fifth month, sensing his impending death, Musashi bequeathed his worldly possessions, after giving his manuscript copy of The Book of Five Rings to the younger brother of Terao Magonojo, his closest disciple. He died in Reigandō cave around June 13, 1645 ( 2, 19th day of the 5th month).

The Hyoho senshi denki described his passing:At the moment of his death, he had himself raised up. He had his belt tightened and his wakizashi put in it.

He seated himself with one knee vertically raised, holding the sword with his left hand and a cane in his right hand. He died in this posture, at the age of sixty-two.

The principal vassals of Lord Hosokawa and the other officers gathered, and they painstakingly carried out the ceremony. Then they set up a tomb on Mount Iwato on the order of the lord.Miyamoto Musashi died of what is believed to be. He died peacefully after finishing the text ('The Way of Walking Alone', or 'The Way of Self-Reliance'), 21 precepts on self-discipline to guide future generations.His body was interred in armour within the village of Yuge, near the main road near Mount Iwato, facing the direction the Hosokawas would travel to Edo; his hair was buried on Mount Iwato itself. (NB - Mount Iwato is part of the range in Kumamoto and actually where Musashi wrote The Book of Five Rings in the Reigando cave. His grave is not there, but about 45 minutes away, to the east and on the other side of Kumamoto, in the Musashizuka area). Some of his remains were given to so that he could be buried (in part) with his parents.

The Mimasaka graves are located in the precincts of Musashi Shrine.Nine years later, a major source about his life—a monument with a funereal eulogy to Musashi—was erected in Kokura by Miyamoto Iori ; this monument was called the Kokura hibun. An account of Musashi's life, the Niten-ki 二天記, was published in Kumamoto in 1776, by Toyota Kagehide, based on the recollections of his grandfather Toyota Masataka, who was a second generation pupil of Musashi.Teachings Musashi created and refined a two-sword technique called niten'ichi (二天一, 'two heavens as one') or nitōichi (二刀一, 'two swords as one') or ' (A Kongen Buddhist Sutra refers to the two heavens as the two guardians of ). In this technique, the swordsman uses both a large sword, and a 'companion sword' at the same time, such as a with a. The two-handed movements of temple drummers may have inspired him, although it could be that the technique was forged through Musashi's combat experience. Techniques were taught to him by his father—the jutte was often used in battle paired with a sword; the jutte would parry and neutralize the weapon of the enemy while the sword struck or the practitioner grappled with the enemy.

Today Musashi's style of swordsmanship is known as.Musashi was also an expert in throwing weapons. He frequently threw his short sword, and believes that methods for the wakizashi were the Niten Ichi Ryu's secret techniques.Musashi spent many years studying Buddhism and swordsmanship. He was an accomplished artist, sculptor, and calligrapher. Records also show that he had architectural skills. Also, he seems to have had a rather straightforward approach to combat, with no additional frills or aesthetic considerations. This was probably due to his real-life combat experience; although in his later life, Musashi followed the more artistic.

He made various brush paintings, and sculpted wood and metal. Even in The Book of Five Rings he emphasizes that samurai should understand other professions as well.

It should be understood that Musashi's writings were very ambiguous, and translating them into English makes them even more so; that is why so many different translations of The Book of Five Rings can be found. To gain further insight into Musashi's principles and personality, one could read his other works, such as and Hyoho Shiji ni Kajo. Timeline The following timeline follows, in chronological order (of which is based on the most accurate and most widely accepted information), the life of Miyamoto Musashi.

DateAgeOccurrence1578−6Musashi's brother, Shirota, is born.15840Miyamoto Musashi is born.15917Musashi is taken and raised by his uncle as a.159613Musashi duels with Arima Kihei in Hirafuku,.159915Duels with a man named in the northern part of.160016Believed to have fought in the as part of the western army. Whether he actually participated in the battle is currently in doubt.160420Musashi has three matches with the Yoshioka clan in. (1) Match with Yoshioka Seijuro in, outside the city at Rendai Moor (west of Mt.

(2) Match with Yoshioka Denshichiro outside the city. By Musashi.In Musashi's last book, The Book of Five Rings ( 五輪書, Go Rin no Sho), Musashi seems to take a very philosophical approach to looking at the 'craft of war': 'There are five ways in which men pass through life: as gentlemen, warriors, farmers, artisans and merchants.' Throughout the book, Musashi implies that the way of the Warrior, as well as the meaning of a 'true strategist' is that of somebody who has made mastery of many art forms away from that of the sword, such as tea drinking , laboring, writing, and painting, as Musashi practiced throughout his life.

Musashi was hailed as an extraordinary artist in the use of ink monochrome as depicted in two such paintings: 'Shrike Perched in a Dead Tree' ( Koboku Meigekizu, 枯木鳴鵙図) and 'Wild Geese Among Reeds' ( Rozanzu, 魯山図). Going back to the Book of Five Rings, Musashi talks deeply about the ways of Buddhism.He makes particular note of artisans. When he wrote the book, the majority of houses in Japan were made of wood. In the use of building a house, foremen have to employ strategy based upon the skill and ability of their workers.In comparison to warriors and soldiers, Musashi notes the ways in which the artisans thrive through events; the ruin of houses, the splendor of houses, the style of the house, the tradition and name or origins of a house. These too, are similar to the events which are seen to have warriors and soldiers thrive; the rise and fall of prefectures, countries and other such events are what make uses for warriors, as well as the literal comparisons: 'The carpenter uses a master plan of the building, and the way of strategy is similar in that there is a plan of campaign'.Way of strategy Throughout the book, The Book of Five Rings, Musashi explains the principles of strategy.

In the first book (the Ground Book) he compares his concept of strategy to a foreman carpenter. The foreman carpenter knows his tools and men so well that he is able to guide them; delegating who does what based on their abilities, while also being aware of their morale.

The foreman carpenter, if he wants the better finished product, will treat his men in such a way as to receive their best work. This section does not any. Unsourced material may be challenged and.Find sources: – ( March 2020) The strategy of the long sword is different from other strategies in that it is much more straightforward.

In the strategy of the longsword, it seems that Musashi's ideal was that by mastering gripping the sword, it could become a platform used for moving onto the mastery of Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu as well as being able to use a companion sword better.Musashi often use the term 'two fingers' to describe the way to hold the long sword. That does not mean he actually taught the grip with only two fingers. In 'The Water Book' he notes:Grip the long sword with a rather floating feeling in your thumb and forefinger, with the middle finger neither tight nor slack, and with the last two fingers tight. It is bad to have play in your hands.However, just because the grip is to be light, it does not mean that the attack or slash from the sword will be weak. As with any other technique in the Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu:If you try to wield the long sword quickly, you will mistake the way.

To wield the long sword well, you must wield it calmly. If you try to wield it quickly, like a folding fan or a short sword, you will err by using 'short sword chopping'. You cannot cut down a man with a long sword using this method.As with most disciplines in martial arts, Musashi notes that the movement of the sword after the cut is made must not be superfluous; instead of quickly returning to a stance or position, one should allow the sword to come to the end of its path from the force used. Thus, the technique becomes freely flowing, not abrupt.Musashi also discouraged the use of only one sword for fighting and the use of overlarge swords like because they were cumbersome and unwieldy.Religion Even from an early age, Musashi separated his religion from his involvement in swordsmanship.

Excerpts such as the one below, from The Book of Five Rings, demonstrate a philosophy that is thought to have stayed with him throughout his life:There are many ways: Confucianism, Buddhism, the ways of elegance, rice-planting, or dance; these things are not to be found in the way of the warrior.However, the belief that Musashi disliked is inaccurate, as he criticises the style of swordsmanship, not Shinto, the religion. In Musashi's, his stance on religion is further elucidated: 'Respect Buddha and the ' Musashi as an artist. Shrike on a Dead Branch, by Miyamoto MusashiIn his later years, Musashi said in his The Book of Five Rings: 'When I apply the principle of strategy to the ways of different arts and crafts, I no longer have need for a teacher in any domain.'

He proved this by creating recognized masterpieces of and classic. His paintings are characterized by skilled use of and an economy of brush stroke. He especially mastered the 'broken ink' school of landscapes, applying it to other subjects, such as his Kobokumeikakuzu (' Perched on a Withered Branch'; part of a whose other two members were ' Walking' and 'Sparrow on Bamboo'), his Hotei Watching a Cockfight, and his Rozanzu ('Wild Geese Among Reeds').In popular culture. Further information:Even in Musashi's time there were fictional texts resembling. It is therefore quite difficult to separate fact from fiction when discussing his life. There have been numerous works of fiction made about or featuring Musashi.

's novelization (originally a 1930s daily newspaper serial) has greatly influenced successive fictional depictions (including the by ) and is often mistaken for a factual account of Musashi's life. Toyota Masataka.

'Niten Ki (A Chronicle of Two Heavens)', in Gorin no Sho, ed. Kamiko Tadashi (Tokyo: Tokuma-shoten, 1963), 239.

Miyamoto Musashi, trans.S. Kaufman (1994), Book Of Five Rings, Tuttle Publishing. Miyamoto Musashi. 'Go Rin No Sho', in Gorin no Sho, ed. Kamiko Tadashi (Tokyo: Tokuma-shoten, 1963), 13.

Toyota, p. 239. ^ Miyamoto, p. 18ff.

Miyamoto, 13. Miyamoto, p. 17ff. ^ (2004).

Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings. Shambhala. Brant, Miyamoto Musashi; translated by Ashikaga Yoshiharu; edited by Rosemary (2006). The Book of Five Rings: the classic text of Samurai sword strategy (null ed.). New York: Barnes & Noble. Harris, Victor, p.

10, Miyamoto p. The latter footnote by Kamiko reads: 'For his entire life, Musashi never took a wife, cut his hair, or entered a bath'. William Scott Wilson. Kodansha International.

Toyota, p. 250. Almo, Leif. Retrieved 4 March 2017. Niten Institute.

Instituto Cultural Niten. Retrieved 15 January 2019. Hyakutake-Watkin, Colin; Masayuki, Imai; Norikazu, Iwata. Archived from on 15 June 2004. Miyamoto, p.

Archived from on 18 December 2008.Further reading Fiction. (2014). Musashi (A Graphic Novel).

The Book of Five Rings: a graphic novel. (/). (1998).

Viz Communications. (reprint ed.). Kodansha International. Children's books. Moore, J.S. Under the Sun: The Miyamoto Musashi Story. Understanding Apples Press.Essays.

Tokitsu, Kenji (2004). Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings. Shambhala Publications, Inc.

(1990). London: Arms and Armour Press.

Wilson, William Scott (2004). Kodansha International. De Lange, William (2010). The Real Musashi: The Bushu denraiki.

Floating World Editions. De Lange, William (2011).

The Real Musashi: The Bukoden. Floating World Editions.

De Lange, William (2016). The Real Musashi: A Miscellany. Floating World Editions. De Lange, William (2014). Miyamoto Musashi: A Life in Arms. Floating World Editions.Testimony.

Iwami Toshio Harukatsu soke (11th successor to Miyamoto Musashi), Dragon n°7, January 2005, ed. Mathis; French original text:.

You must build a boat secrets. You must build a boat. You must go all-in on the retro aesthetic. You must trade junk for gold with the voidorb. You must pray for salt. You must consume fish and tomatoes for time. You must venture through hell. You must disarm traps like your life depends on it. You must make an offering at the chapel.

Iwami Toshio Harukatsu soke (11th successor to Miyamoto Musashi), Dragon n°13, January 2006, ed. Mathis; French original text:External links.

This is a list of fictional depictions of Miyamoto Musashi, the famous 17th-century Japaneseswordsman.

Film, television and theatre[edit]

There have been several dozen films and several television series with Miyamoto Musashi in the title, e g:

Films:

• Miyamoto Musashi (1929), directed by Kintaro Inoue.
• Miyamoto Musashi chi no maki (1937), directed by Takizawa Eisuke.
• Miyamoto Musashi (1938), directed by Kazuo Mori.
• Miyamoto Musashi chi no maki (1938), directed by Ishihashi Seiichi.
• Miyamoto Musashi ketto Hannyazaka (1943), directed by Daisuke Ito.
• Miyamoto Musashi: Kongoin no ketto (1943), directed by Daisuke Ito.
• Miyamoto Musashi: Nito-ryu kaigen (1943), directed by Daisuke Ito.
• Miyamoto Musashi (1944), directed by Kenji Mizoguchi.
• Miyamoto Musashi (1954), directed by Yasuo Kohata.
• Samurai I : Musashi Miyamoto (1954), directed by Hiroshi Inagaki (Part I of the Samurai Trilogy, starring Toshiro Mifune as Musashi).
• Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji TempleZoku Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijoji no ketto (1955), directed by Hiroshi Inagaki (Part II of the Samurai Trilogy, starring Toshiro Mifune as Musashi).
• Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu IslandMiyamoto Musashi kanketsu-hen: ketto Ganryujima (1955), directed by Hiroshi Inagaki (Part III of the Samurai Trilogy, starring Toshiro Mifune as Musashi).
• Miyamoto Musashi shonen (1956), directed by Tatsuo Sakai.
• Miyamoto Musashi (1961 film), 5-part, 10-hour film directed by Tomu Uchida and all starring Nakamura Kinnosuke.
• Miyamoto Musashi: Swords of Death (1971), directed by Tomu Uchida.
• Miyamoto Musashi: Sword of Fury (1973), directed by Tai Kato.
• Miyamoto appears as a character, alongside Jubei Yagyu, in Kinji Fukasaku's Samurai Reincarnation.
• Ganryujima: Kojiro and Musashi (1992), directed by Yuji Murakami
• Musashi makes an appearance in Ryuhei Kitamura's film Aragami as the titular god of battle. He is portrayed as a godlike entity with a degree of immortality.
• Musashi is mentioned in the narration of the 2009 neo-noir film The Perfect Sleep.
• Samurai (2010), documentary on the samurai and Miyamoto Musashi featuring Mark Dacascos.

Television:

• Sorekara no Musashi (1964-65 TV series). Musashi was played by Ryunosuke Tsukigata.
• Sorekara no Musashi (1981 TV series). Musashi was played by Nakamura Kinnosuke.
• Sorekara no Musashi (1996 TV series). Musashi was played by Kinya Kitaoji.
• The 42nd NHKtaiga drama武蔵 MUSASHI (2003) is based largely on the Yoshikawa novel and features kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizō XI in the title role.
• Miyamoto Musashi makes a short appearance in the 2009 Korean TV drama Return of Iljimae in episode 7. Musashi was played by Hwang Jang Lee.
• In the American series Heroes, Adam Monroe, an Englishman who came to Japan seeking a fortune, is portrayed in feudal Japan as Takezo Kensei (剣聖 武蔵, Kensei Takezō), a famous samurai and swordsman based on Miyamoto Musashi, evidenced by the fact that 'Takezo' was his birth name, and 'kensei' means 'master swordsman.'^[1]
• Musashi (2003), directed by Ozaki Mitsunobu. It stars Kabuki actor Ichikawa Shinnosuke (currently Ichikawa Ebizō XI).
• Miyamoto Musashi (2014), directed by Sasaki Akimitsu, Fujio Takashi and stars Kamikawa Takaya.
• Miyamoto Musashi (2014), Two-Part TV Series stars Takuya Kimura, Ikki Sawamura and directed by Ryôsuke Kanesaki .^[2]
• A “host” of Musashi is seen in two episodes of the second season of the US TV series Westworld (2018) where he resides in part of the theme park called Shogun World.

Theatre:

• 'Musashi' (2010), written by Hisashi Inoue, directed by Yukio Ninagawa.^[3]

Print[edit]

• Eiji Yoshikawa's famous novel Musashi (originally serialized in Asahi Shimbun prior to World War II) is more or less based on historical events with added fictitious characters. Yoshikawa's book was termed the 'Gone with the Wind of Japan' by translator, Japan expert and former ambassador Edwin O. Reischauer in the foreword to the book.
• The manga series Vagabond is loosely based on Eiji's famous novel, in which Miyamoto Musashi is the main character, noted as a 'blood-lustful beast' throughout the series' beginning. After confronting Yagyu Sekishusai and personally contemplating^{[clarification needed]} that he had 'felt the way', Musashi became more mature in the art of the sword, vowing to become the greatest swordsman under the sun.
• The Necromancer, the fourth installment in Michael Scott's The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series, refers to Niten. Perenelle Flamel states that 'he is undoubtedly the greatest swordsman in the world—the only humani ever to defeat Scathach in single combat. But if you ask him what he is, he will tell you that he is an artist. And that is true: his skill with the brush is legendary. [..] Niten has traveled this world and the nearby Shadowrealms in search of opponents to fight simply to hone his skills. He was supposed to have been made immortal sometime in the seventeenth century by Benzaiten, who many—including the Witch—believe may even be one of the ancient Great Elders. Niten was also known as Miyamoto Musashi.'
• Sorekara no Musashi (Further Tales of Musashi), a novel by Katsukiro Kouyama. It has been made into several television specials over the years, one of which featured Kinnosuke Nakamura.
• In Robert Jordan's book The Dragon Reborn, several references are made to a man named Jearom, the greatest swordsman of all. His only loss was to a farmer wielding a quarterstaff, probably a reference to Musashi's fight with Gonnosuke in Yoshikawa's novel.
• Manga artist Go Nagai gave the name Musashi to one of the pilots on his giant robot mecha creation, Getter Robo. He always carried a sword.
• The comic bookUsagi Yojimbo has as its central character a rabbit samurai who is inspired by Musashi.^[4]
• In Steve Perry's Matador book series, and his novel The Musashi Flex, the 'Musashi Flex' is an illegal underground martial arts competition, named after Musashi.
• Musashi was the subject of Sword of the Samurai by Michael Reeves and Steve Perry from the Time Machine interactive book series.
• In the book The Ninja by Eric van Lustbader there are several references to Musashi and The Book of Five Rings.
• In Chris Bradford's Young Samurai series, Miyamoto Musashi was the basis for legendary samurai character Masamoto Takeshi.
• In the novel The Blade of the Courtesans by Keiichiro Ryu, Musashi saved a baby named Matsunaga Seiichiro who is the imperial prince of Japan. As the boy grew up, he mentored him and taught him Niten Ichi-ryu in the mountains of Higo. When Seiichiro turned 26 years old, he was sent by Musashi to Edo to find Shoji Jin'emon in Yoshiwara.
• In February 2013, Musashi appears in the Image comics series Five Ghosts, written by Frank J. Barbiere with art by Chris Mooneyham. Musashi appears as a spirit who gives his skills to treasure hunter Fabian Gray. Musashi gives his skills along with four other spirits of unique talents, among them Merlin, Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula.^[5]
• David Kirk's novels Child of Vengeance^[6] (2013) and Sword of Honor^[7] (2015) are based on mostly historical events intertwined with legends about Musashi. The novels follow Musashi, a sickly and weak boy with eczema, who is not considered worthy by his father, Munisai. As he grows up, he receives training under his uncle Dorinbo in Buddhism and reading and writing, and later in the sword under his father Munisai. Musashi is described in the novels as an extremely tall man who has the advantage of reach and strength, who uses his environment and unconventional tactics to defeat multiple swordsmen at once.^[8][9] After taking part in the Battle of Sekigahara, Musashi abandons the ways of the samurai and develops a hatred for all samurai, deciding to go ronin. During his time as a masterless samurai, he is pursued by an adept swordsman, Akiyama, from the Yoshioka school, and later by the head of the Yoshioka school, Denshichiro.^[9]

Manga and anime[edit]

• Karakuri Kengō Den Musashi Lord, starred Musashi (a 'gimmick robot'). He battles and meets his rival, Kojiro (a reference to the historical battle between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojirō).
• Musashi is named by Hydra in episode 9 of UFO Princess Valkyrie 2nd season.
• Musashi, the female half of Team Rocket in Pokémon was named after Miyamoto (in English, she is known as Jessica or 'Jessie'). Her partner is called Kojiro. The name of her mother, who only appeared in an audio drama, was Miyamoto.
• Musashi appears in the first seven episodes of the anime Shura no Toki – Age of Chaos, duelling against a martial artist where, after a stalemate, he supposedly stops fighting because he was fighting against the perfect match to his skills. His adopted son appears in the next couple of episodes, but without any involvement from Musashi himself.
• The two main male characters in the Japanese television dramaBus Stop are named Miyamae Musashi and Sasajima Kojiro. In one episode, the main female character remarks that she is like the island where Musashi and Kojiro held their duel.
• In the anime Yaiba, Musashi appears as an old man, still alive after 400 years, living as a hermit. Later on, Kojiro is resurrected by Onimaru to fight for him. He confronts Musashi again when he comes to visit Kojiro's grave.
• In the episode 'Generous Elegy (Part 2) – Elegy of Entrapment (Verse 2)' of the anime Samurai Champloo, an old man saves Jin from drowning after an assassin's ambush. Appearing almost insane at times, he talks to Jin about fishing – giving him, almost by accident, an important clue as to how he can defeat his enemy. When Jin later asks him his name, the old man claims to be Miyamoto Musashi before cracking up and dismissing the claim.
• In the anime Ninja Resurrection, Miyamoto Musashi makes a brief appearance fighting the main character, Jubei. It is never clearly shown whether Musashi loses this duel, however, only that he retired to the life of a hermit around the year 1640.
• Musashi is briefly quoted in Cowboy Bebop. At the end of episode 22 titled 'Cowboy Funk', Spike's rival Andy rides off into the sunset, claiming to have changed his name to Musashi.
• The main character in the anime Musashi Gundoh is Miyamoto Musashi, who is loosely based on the historical Musashi.
• In one episode of Ranma 1/2, Tatewaki Kuno is possessed by an old bokuto that was wielded by Musashi in his duel with Kojiro. While under its control, he believed himself to be Musashi and would disappear during the day and wander the halls of Furinkan High School at night, looking for a powerful opponent. It was destroyed by a lightning bolt after Kuno was kicked skyward by Akane, whom he had mistaken for his long-lost love.
• In episode 55 of Rumiko Takahashi's Urusei Yatsura, Ataru's teacher was portrayed as Musashi setting out on a quest to become famous while Ataru's rival Mendou was portrayed as Musashi's rival Sasaki Kojiro.
• Kurz Weber briefly refers to Musashi Miyamoto in the anime series Full Metal Panic in episode 13, 'A Cat and a Kitten's Rock and Roll'. When Teletha Testarossa is late for an Arm Slave battle with Melissa Mao. When Melissa gets impatient and frustrated, Kurz briefly asks her if she's heard of Musashi Miyamoto.
• In Dr. Slump, Arale, Gatchan, and Taro used the time slipper to go to the day of his dual with Kojiro. Arale questions his power, so they spend two days playing Rochambeau to see who is stronger. Musashi is amazed later on, and goes with her to the present, attending her school, while Kojiro spends the rest of his days waiting for him.
• In Shaman King, Yoh Asakura's spirit partner Amidamaru is possibly based on Musashi.
• In the anime and manga Shugo Chara!, Kairi Sanjou's idol is Musashi Miyamoto, and thus his Guardian Character was born out of it. He character is also called Musashi.
• Production I.G announced it was making an anime based on the life of Musashi, scheduled for release in 2009.
• The Eyeshield 21 character Gen Takekura is nicknamed 'Musashi', and his biggest rival's name is Sasaki.^[10]
• In Yu Yu Hakusho, Kuwabara fights against a swordsman named Musashi during the Genki tournament arc.
• In Mutsu Enmei Ryuu Gaiden: Shura No Tok, Musashi makes several appearances in the chronicle of Mutsu Yakumo. This culminates in a one-on-one battle between Musashi and the main character. Although Musashi is clearly beaten, Yakumo declares it a draw because he briefly made use of his sword to block an attack.
• In Flint the Time Detective, Musashi makes an appearance, befriending a Time Shifter by the name of Shadow.
• In the manga Amakusa 1637, there is no real Miyamoto Musashi. A young man from modern Japan named Masaki Miyamoto, however, is thrown into the Shimabara Rebellion without memories of his past, and is named 'Miyamoto Musashi' by Otsu, a girl whom he befriends after she saves him. He then gradually remembers his past and joins the heroes, also time travelers who used to be his friends before being brought to the past.
• Miyamoto Musashi is the central character in the fourth main series of the Baki Dou manga. The story depicts him being revived into modern-day age through a combination of science and occultism and revolves around the Baki Dou cast trying to challenge his awesome swordsmanship.
• In the manga One Piece, one of the main characters Roronoa Zoro the master swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates is loosely based on Miyamoto Musashi who is also an outstanding all around masterswordsman, who also specialized in a dual wielding swordsmanship style based on Niten-Ichi-ryu. Another character, Kozuki Oden who is hailed as the strongest samurai of his lifetime, is also based on Miyamoto Musashi, his legendary dual wielding swordsmanship allow him to scar even an Oni.

Video games[edit]

• Musashi no Bōken, a Family Computer game released in 1990
• The character Haohmaru, from SNK'sSamurai Shodown vseries, is loosely based on Musashi. Likewise, Tachibana Ukyo, also from Samurai Shodown, is based on Sasaki Kojiro.
• The Neo-Geo game Musashi Ganryuki (known outside Japan as Ganryu) was based on Musashi's fight with Sasaki Ganryu Kojiro.
• The character Yasuo from League of Legends is vaguely based on Musashi.
• The PlayStation game Brave Fencer Musashi and its PlayStation 2 sequel Musashi: Samurai Legend are loosely based on Musashi. While Musashi used two swords and had a rival named Kojiro in the first game, and a nemesis named Gandrake (also based on Kojiro) in the second game, the plot of both games involve Musashi and his rival getting sent to an alternate world and bear no relation to the traditional story. In the first game, Musashi must collect the Five Scrolls of Fire, Earth, Water, Wind, and Sky and obtain the sword Lumina to seal away an evil entity known as the Wizard of Darkness. Midway through the story, Musashi eventually duels Kojiro in a location called Dragon Island, similar to their real world encounter at Funajima. Similarly in the second game, Musashi must obtain 5 legendary swords of Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Void. The concept of collecting five elemental objects vaguely represent the Five Rings. The main secondary weapon used during the second game, called the 'Great Oar', is a take on the sword the real Musashi had created from an oar. Musashi uses this oar in addition to the swords he previously obtains to fight Gandrake in a final showdown to return to his world.
• In Live A Live, Ode Iou resurrects Musashi and uses him to distract Oboromaru.
• Onimusha Blade Warriors features both Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi as bonus characters.
• Miyamoto Musashi is a playable character in Koei's Samurai Warriors 2 and Warriors Orochi. The player can fight alongside, and later on, against Musashi at the 'Swordsman' story of Samurai Warriors: Katana (noting that each of the title chapters in this story are based on The Book of Five Rings, replacing the fifth chapter title to be called 'Sky'). In complement to this, Sasaki Kojiro was added as a playable character in Xtreme Legends, the expansion to Samurai Warriors. Both Musashi and Kojiro were cut from the character roster in Samurai Warriors 3. The dueling Samurai are expected to return for the series' 10th Anniversary 4th installment, Samurai Warriors 4.
• The character Heishiro Mitsurugi, from Namco's Soul series, is based on Musashi. Coincidentally, Haohmaru (also based on Musashi) appears alongside the former in Soulcalibur VI as a playable guest character.
• The legendary swordsman Frandar Hunding of The Elder Scrolls universe is heavily based on Musashi. Hunding wrote a book called the Book of Circles, a strong parallel to Musashi's The Book of Five Rings.
• In Sengoku Basara 2, Capcom's sequel to Sengoku Basara, Musashi is a playble character wielding a wooden sword and a boat oar as weapons.
• The character Musashi, from SNK's The Last Blade, is based on Miyamoto Musashi.
• Miyamoto Musashi is a playable character in the Warcraft III map Tides of Blood.
• Miyamoto Musashi appears as a main character in the PlayStation 3 epic action adventure Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan!. He uses the two sword technique and his biggest rival is Sasaki Kojiro.
• Musashi is a playable character of the samurai class in the original Shining Force.^[11]
• In Time Killers, character Musashi is supposedly based on Miyamoto Musashi.
• In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003 video game, when the player loses in the second Dojo stage with Donatello, Splinter quotes Miyamoto Musashi.^[12]
• Musashi also appears as a bonus boss character in Soul of the Samurai if played as Kotaro Hiba. Beating him will allow to dual wield two katana in his style.
• Musashi is released as a female Saber-servant for Fate/Grand Order's New Year's 2017 Gacha, and stars in its second part main storyline with the headline 'Epic of Remnant'. A male version of Musashi also appears, serving as the faceless narrator of the story.
• The character Jetstream Sam from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is based on Miyamoto Musashi

Music[edit]

• On the critically acclaimed 1983 album Piece of Mind, British heavy metal band Iron Maiden gives a brief glimpse of Musashi in 'Sun and Steel'.
• John Zorn's Ganryu Island (1984 Tzadik release tz7319) depicts the famous duel between Musashi and Kojiro.
• Drum and bass producer Photek made a song called Ni Ten Ichi Ryu. The video^[13] features a samurai who fights using a similar technique as Musashi.

References[edit]

1. ^'Behind the Eclipse: 'Heroes' Week Sixteen''. CBR. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
2. ^https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3425792/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm
3. ^Brantley, Ben (July 8, 2010). 'Turning Swords Into Slapsticks'. NYT. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
4. ^Solomon, Charles (1993-03-08). 'Take one part Toshiro Mifune. Then add adventure and humor to get artist Stan Sakai's 'Usagi Yojimbo.''. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
5. ^[1]
6. ^'Child of Vengeance'. David Kirk - The Official Site of the Author. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
7. ^'Sword of Honour'. David Kirk - The Official Site of the Author. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
8. ^Kirk, David (2013). Child of Vengeance. Doubleday. ISBN9780594563761.
9. ^ ^abKirk, David (2015). Sword of Honor. North America: Doubleday. ISBN9780385536653.
10. ^Production I.G Musashi page.
11. ^Shining Force character page.
12. ^http://i.imgur.com/zLRdW8F.png
13. ^Ni Ten Ichi Ruy video clip