"Completed in October 1944" "The original series published on the War Section of Mainichi Newspaper" "Miyamoto Musashi" "Musashi, stop!" " They're Yoshioka's students!" " How disrespectful!" "It's the disciples of Yoshioka Dojo." "Musashi, stop!" "Stop, don't be rash!" "Miyamoto Musashi!" "Is that Sir Miyamoto who's surrounded?" "That's right." "Gen'ichiro, that's Sir Miyamoto..." "Sir Musashi." "Here you are." "Be sure to show up on time." "Stop, Musashi!" "Don't make a scene." "Let's not lose him." "I'm certain he went inside the gate." "Sister!" "Master, we have a favor to ask of you." "We're in need of a martial art teacher to avenge our father's death." "We heard about you and came looking for you here in Kyoto." "Our home is..." "No, don't." "I won't ask your names." "You came all the way here, to avenge your father's death?" "Yes." "I commend your spirit, but I can't help you." "May we not study with you?" "You see..." "I have a fight with the representatives of the Yoshioka School... at the temple of Ichijoji." "Ichijoji?" "I was just handed the letter of challenge." "My life is not guaranteed for tomorrow." "Gen'ichiro." "Sister." "He isn't here yet." "I wonder if we took a wrong turn." "No, I'm sure this is Ichijoji." "Oh, there, that's the Dangling Pine." "We're at the right place." "I'm sure he'll be here any minute." "I hear Sir Yoshioka Matashichiro is only 19 years old." "His father Seijuro and uncle Denshichiro both had duels with Sir Musashi and lost." "This fight is a grudge match." "I thought an established martial artist wouldn't normally agree to such a match." "Would a master like Sir Musashi have a special reason to?" "No." "Oh, master." "Know by heart the way of the sword, practice martial arts well... and stay on the true path without having doubts." "That's the way of the warrior." "Regrets and grudges are evil illusions of the mind." "But the Yoshioka's are planning to..." "Not to be concerned." "If you know your true intentions... and exercise the way of the sword correctly and rightly" "There is no room for doubt." "Yes." "Don't." "Such a fine character." "I'm certain he'll come out the winner again." "Let's go, Sister." "Oh, he said not to come near the site of the fight." "Let's at least get a distant glimpse." "I'm sure Musashi will use his usual trick of showing up very late." "Masters Denshichiro and Seijuro were both made to wait... so they lost equilibrium and lost the matches." "We won't fall for that again." "Sir Matashichiro, let's have lunch or something and wait for him." "I was waiting for you, Matashichiro." "Master." "Congratulations." "I knew you'd win no matter how many men attacked you." "You've now beaten the Yoshioka three times." "Master..." "This way is the shorter route to Kyoto." "Master, congratulations." "You must be exhausted." "I've prepared a bath for you." "Would you please come in?" "This way, please." "For your hands." "You said something about avenging your father." "Yes." "Our father was..." "I can't." "I don't teach the sword for revenge." "The sword is the way." "It's the way of the warrior." "Not a convenient tool for revenge." "Learning the sword for purposes of revenge is like a merchant crafting a product trying to make profits." "Being lost in the superficial techniques and limiting it to the usage as a tool, how do you expect to understand the true way?" "Yes, I understand." "Understand what?" "We've become so anxious about the revenge... that we've forgotten what learning is about." "I understand the revenge should wait until the very end." "Please teach us the true way." "The true way is beyond winning and losing." "But aim at winning first." "By winning, the way will reveal itself to you." "Don't forget." "Even with the sword in hand, the mind should stay calm as usual." "Keep the mind open and straight." "Keep it from slackening or tilting." "Place it in the middle and keep it stable." "Come." "Good." "If the outer mind is weak, keep the inner mind strong." "Even in the midst of the turmoil of a battlefield, the mind shall not move." "Come." "The eyes are wrong." "Your eyes' focus matters in the way of the sword." "Keep them open wide." "Bring close what's at a distance, and what's close out to a distance." "See both sides without moving your eyeballs." "Remember." "Now, Gen'ichiro." "And you." "Come on." "Now." "Come at me." "Again." "It's not a fight, just a practice." "Yes, it looks like a practice." "Brother, brother!" "Nonomiya's children are here in Kyoto." "They are?" "They must have come here looking for us." "But a troublesome fellow is behind them." "Who?" "Who is he?" "Miyamoto Musashi is helping them out." "What?" "The man who ended the bloodline of the Yoshioka's of Kyoto is assisting them." "Brother..." "Look over there." "Gan Style Sasaki Kojiro's Sword School" "Nonomiya's children are in Kyoto looking for revenge on us." "Will you ask Master Sasaki to help?" "If the master helps us, there's nothing under the sun that'll scare us." "Listen, O-lchi, do your two brothers a favor." "Think of it as saving our lives and ask the master." "Will you, O-lchi, please?" "Come on, we beg you." "Are you that afraid of those youngsters of the Nonomiya?" "It isn't the Nonomiya we're afraid of." "It's the helper they have we're afraid of." "Who is that helper?" "O-lchi, it's Miyamoto Musashi." "Miyamoto Musashi is helping the Nonomiya?" "That's why we're asking for your master." "Master Sasaki is the only person who could beat Musashi in a fight." "He wouldn't be afraid of Musashi." "Or, is he taken aback by Musashi... who's terminated the Yoshioka bloodline?" "Shut up." "Musashi's country style sword technique isn't much to even talk about." "Be careful what you say." "Gen'ichiro" "I won't be able to give you lessons for a while after tonight." "Tomorrow I'm going back to the retreat in Saga." "I won't see you for a while." "Too fast!" "The sword is different from the short knife." "If you're anxious for speed... you go astray from the way and misses the enemy." "Open the mind, stretch the coccyx and swing with strength." "If you distract yourself with details... and lose the attitude of the open mind... the sword will move off target... giving the enemy a chance to counterattack you." "Open the mind, stretch the coccyx and swing with strength." "With strength." "Come at me." "Good." "Again." "Swing with strength, swing with strength." "Your help for my brothers make them a hundred times stronger... they won't have anything to worry about." "Thank you." "Well, I wouldn't have agreed to help if it's only for the Nonomiya." "My target is Musashi." "Of course, we wouldn't have asked you if it were only for the Nonomiya." "Sure, I understand." "Musashi is the talk of the town... since he beat the entire Yoshioka School." "I was hoping to meet him someday..." "This is a good chance for me." "Are Musashi's skills above mine... or is my sword superior than his?" "I promise you I'll have the match of the century." "Well, my only wish is to have a duel with Musashi... while yours is for the Nonomiya to be rid of." "Yes." "Alright." "Let's kill the Nonomiya in a surprise attack... when Musashi's not available." "Kill them and get Musashi upset." "We'll hide away and get him all worked up." "The spirit as a prominent fighter will drive him... to desperately search for us." "Then, I can attack him in his weakened state." "Is Musashi the best in the world, or is it Kojiro?" "Master, master..." "That's where I spotted Musashi." "There?" "Yes." "It's you!" "Sister, it's the Samoto!" "The Samoto!" "Samoto!" "Damn you, Samoto brothers!" "Hold it, hold it." "Wait, wait." "Don't kill the woman." "Woman, where's Musashi?" "If you see him... tell him Sasaki Kojiro killed your brother." "Wait, wait." "You can kill her anytime you want." "Now, go away." "Lucky you." "You coward!" "Come on, let's go." "Wait." "Woman, be sure to tell Musashi... that Gan Style Sasaki Kojiro killed your brother." "Alright?" "Alright?" "Sister..." "Gen'ichiro..." "Sister" "Hold on, hold on." "Master..." "Gen'ichiro." "Go to Master." "Gen'ichiro..." "It's daybreak." "There." "There." "Oh, Master." "I didn't want to disturb your work, so I waited out here." "That's a fine bodhisattva." "Whose spirit are you offering to console?" "Come." "That's the tomb of Lord Kusunoki Masatsura where his head is buried." "I had this idea to offer a handcrafted statue of Buddha... in consolation of Lord Masatsura's spirit." "He gave up his own life to serve his lord." "He was someone who strictly followed the way of the sword." "Shinobu." "Yes." "Stop fighting because of personal grudges." "Just like Lord Masatsura... how about being ready to fight the most fierce fight for your lord, embracing" "the larger cause, and being willing to give up yourself... and die for the Great Way?" "Yes." "If it's Master's wish." "Master..." "Gen'ichiro was killed by the enemy we were after." "What?" "Samoto brothers had a helper attack us... and unfortunately..." "And who is that helper?" "His name is Sasaki Kojiro." "Kojiro... of the Gan Style?" "Yes." "The school has been closed." "Gen'ichiro's enemy is a man of the Gan Style." "He killed Gen'ichiro with the ulterior motive... that it may lead to his having a duel with me." "I will search him out and have a fight with him." "If and when I come across the Samoto brothers..." "I'll kill them right on the spot." "You told me to forget personal grudges." "Why are you saying these things?" "Well, Kojiro isn't my enemy." "He's someone with a special sword technique that matches mine." "Whoever wins... will earn the status of the best swordsman in the nation." "He's waiting for me." "Let me come with you." "You can't." "In a year I'm going to Kokura in Buzen... and find employment with the Nagaoka of the Hosokawa Clan." "I won't see you 'til then." "Oh, please wait." "Look for your enemies." "One year later" " Spring in the township of Kokura Castle in Buzen" "Morning." "Oh, that's Master Sasaki, the official sword teacher of the Gan Style." "He's the strongest swordsman in Japan." "Teacher, teacher, teacher." "Musashi is here." "Miyamoto is here." "What?" "Where is he?" "At the mansion of Advisor Sir Nagaoka." "I've heard Sir Nagaoka used to study... under Musashi's father Shinmen Munisai." "Ah, Musashi must be taking advantage of his father's connection." "Master, what are you going to do about him?" "I didn't realize Sasaki Kojiro was the official sword teacher for your clan." "I traveled around the nation looking for him." "I request you to please authorize an official duel between me and him." "What makes you want to have a duel with Kojiro of the Gan Style?" "If it's to do with some personal accounts or grudges, I won't allow it." "Please, wait." "I humbly bring to your attention... that Kojiro's superb reputation is spread nationwide." "I'm a training swordsman, too." "I'd like to have a match with the best swordsman in the world... to test my own skills." "Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi." "The two men shall have a duel... on the island of Funajima of Buzen." "No spectators shall be allowed... therefore, all boats shall be prohibited to sail... within the circumference of one mile of the island." "March 8." "Lord Hosokawa Icchu-no-kami." "Shinobu." "Oh, Master." "For the entire year..." "I traveled around the nation looking for the Samoto brothers... but they're nowhere to be found." "I know where they are." "What?" "Is tomorrow's fight with a real sword?" "Of course." "I congratulate your safety." "Yes." "Sir." "Musashi isn't at Advisor's mansion." "What?" "Has he gone to Funajima in advance?" "No, he's staying the night at Kobayashi Taroza'emon's house... in Shimonoseki." "Is he planning to sail from Shimonoseki?" "Lights out, lights out..." "I see you're a painter, too." "Carving a Buddha, painting... using the sword... they're all part of the Way." "There's no difference between the logic of the sword technique... and the arts and calligraphy." "Master, it's daybreak." "Master?" "Here's a change of clothes." "Master Sasaki is coming on the Lord's boat from Kokura." "But I hear Musashi is riding from Shimonoseki." "I wonder which one's stronger." "I wonder." "I hear this is the match of the century." "They're Kurando and Magoshiro, the Samoto brothers." "What?" "I await your safe return." "I see that Kurando or Magoshiro hasn't returned yet?" "No." "Not yet." "These men cannot do anything anymore." "If you wish to revenge the deaths of your father and brother... go ahead." "They'll be crippled for life." "They'll never be able to hold a sword again." "Why don't you help them?" "Yes, I shall." "In exchange..." "I want you to please not go through with the fight with Sir Kojiro." "Please give it up." "I'm a warrior." "The way of the sword is a lifetime of training." "I'm not motivated with personal grudges to fight." "The man of the Gan Style is the only my match." "Kojiro is my alter ego." "This is an inevitable meeting of the two men in search of the Way." "I'll be waiting for your return right here." "Right here, praying for your safety." "Is Sir Miyamoto here yet?" "No, he isn't." "Where the hell is Musashi?" "Oh, that's Musashi, it's him!" "Ho, Musashi's here!" "They're signaling us." "Musashi's here!" "Sir Miyamoto Musashi has arrived." "Alright." "Kojiro has lost." "What?" "Throwing into the ocean the sheath that the sword needs to return in!" "You've lost, you've lost!" "What?" "Shut up!" "Kojiro, you showed hesitation." "That isn't allowed in the way of the sword." "You seemed to hold a personal grudge against me." "Seemed like the sword of regrets and grudges." "That clouded your intention." "Congratulations." "I'm happy for you." "I had a moment of hesitation, too." "I can't say I have perfect clarity about the way of the sword." "I need to train more and more." "The way of the sword is a lifetime of training." "I shall leave you here." "I won't interfere with your pursuit of the Way." "In order to console the spirits of my father and my brother..." "I am becoming a nun." "What a brave decision." "I won't have a wife for the rest of my life." "What?" "I'll consider you my wife in spirit."