Musashi Miyamoto (Vagabond)

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This article is about the protagonist of Vagabond. For the Japanese swordsman with the same name, see Miyamoto Musashi.

Musashi Miyamoto
Vagabond character
Miyamoto Musashi, as illustrated by Takehiko Inoue
First appearanceVagabond manga: Chapter 1 "Shinmen Takezo" (1998)
Created byTakehiko Inoue

Musashi Miyamoto (Japanese: 宮本 武蔵, Hepburn: Miyamoto Musashi), born Shinmen Takezo (新免武蔵様, Shinmen Takezō Sama), is the protagonist of Takehiko Inoue's manga series Vagabond. Seeking strength from a young age, Takezo involves himself in several battles, regardless of danger. After meeting the monk Takuan, Takezo is renamed Musashi Miyamoto and starts a new life to become invincible. Now, as an adult, Musashi faces new enemies and obtains fame through his wandering in Japan. While the manga never reached its ending, Inoue wrote pages in the form of an exhibition that depict the last days of an elder Musashi.

Based on the historical figure with the same name, Inoue became motivated to write Musashi following the ending of the basketball manga series Slam Dunk, as the artist wanted to challenge himself with a different style of main character. Inoue's take on Musashi Miyamoto earned a well-received response from the media for his growth from a young man obsessed with strength to a wise warrior who does several activities and questions his original goals.

Role in Vagabond

In the aftermath of the

Kyōto, where he fights against the Yoshioka swords. Musashi takes down several students, but the area catches fire, leading to the fight being postponed. Musashi is rescued by Matahachi and treated by Takuan.[3][4]

Following his recovery, Musashi decides to continue his training with a young boy, Jōtarō, wanting him to teach him. In Musashi and Jōtarō's arrival at the

Sekishūsai Yagyū.[5][6]

While preparing for the rematch with the Yoshioka, Musashi meets the disabled samurai

Yūsai Hosokawa.[9]

After the manga went on hiatus, Inoue wrote Vagabond: The LAST Manga Exhibition, which portrays the last days of Musashi as he reflects on his life achievements and the people he met.[10]

Creation

Contemporaneous portrait of Miyamoto Musashi (Edo period)

Manga author Takehiko Inoue started Vagabond, having wondered what the character of Musashi Miyamoto was like when he read Musashi. Having come off of drawing a sports manga, Slam Dunk, he wanted to create a series about more basic concepts, such as "life and death, the human condition, etc." Rather than portray Musashi's later life in his "enlightened state", which has been written about often, the author chose to depict the lesser-known "young man reaching that point of enlightenment when he comes from a place of being so like an animal".[11] Since not much is known about the real Musashi, Inoue wanted to give his own take, which he considers more modern than other related works.[12]

The author clarified that there are other activities besides fighting that are important for the protagonist. Should Inoue make Miyamoto constantly follow fights, the main character would die. Rather than tell a story, Inoue wants to show the life of Miyamoto, which he considers poetry. When Musashi comes face-to-face with Sekishusai, Inoue tries to make the artwork appeal to the readers.

ronin.[15] Other changes Inoue made when writing the manga were to make the supporting characters have different personalities from those in the novel. Inoue also expressed difficulties when drawing scenes where the characters are wounded, most notably when Musashi battles the 70 Yoshioka, which took a lot of energy to properly make. This scene was also a new idea he had when writing the manga, as he felt that Musashi required a greater challenge than in the novel.[16]

Reception

The character of Musashi has been highly popular. The Los Angeles Times regarded Vagabond as a "samurai masterpiece" for the contrast it makes with the novel by deepening the characterization of Musashi. Another aspect praised by the Los Angeles Times was how the protagonist makes a philosophy about strength and his goal as the arc of the Yoshioka, where the main character kills 70 men, ends with him retaining a severe wound on his foot that weakens him and makes him question what it means to be invincible.[17] Manga artist Eiichiro Oda said he enjoyed Musashi's battle against his 70 enemies based on how Inoue wrote and came to regard Musashi as a character similar to Inoue himself.[16] Manga Life found Musashi appealing for his quest for strength.[18] They find the early journey of Musashi impressive due to the emphasis on violence over his mental development and his connections with Matahachi.[19] The eventual release of the sixth volume received more acclaim from Manga Life for further developing Musashi's bushido, his acceptance of his weak point, and his distant but strong bond with Matahachi.[20] The Fandom Post was concerned about whether or not Musashi is still capable of being a true warrior when interacting with the monk Takuan as he initially comes across as brute.[21]

In his analysis of the series, Hunor Andrássy from the University of Gothenburg said that Musashi and the rest of the cast of the series represent a dynamic between different types of literature as it depicts the physical and metaphysical path Musashi treads upon during his life towards becoming one of the most renowned swordsmen. The Hōzōin arc helps in Musashi's growth but is more focused on his psychological aspect, while the Yagyū arc instead makes him humble enough to swear to improve his skills.

Slam Dunk's Hanamichi Sakuragi and Musashi are similar protagonists, being young, egotistical prodigies, but "Inoue's Musashi is a force of nature." He went on to call Inoue's take on Musashi unique when compared to the ones often depicted in fiction.[25] Comic Book Resources praised the way Musashi addresses Bushido, the Code of the Samurai, which makes him honorable.[26] The story arc where Musashi tries to take care of villagers, as it retains the handling of Bushido but without relying on action and using other types of strength, was praised for retaining its pacing.[27][28] The Japan Times regarded Musashi's growth from ruthless warrior to wise monk warrior as well executed across the narrative.[29]

The 2000

Laforet Harajuku fashion store tower in Tokyo until May 7. It was later displayed in the Marui Jam Shibuya department store.[32] Official merchandising based on Musashi with art by Inoue was also produced in 2012 by Kyukyodo.[33]

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-59116-034-2
    .
  2. ISBN 978-1-59116-035-9
    .
  3. ISBN 978-1-56931-854-6
    .
  4. ISBN 978-1-59116-049-6
    .
  5. ISBN 978-1-59116-396-1
    .
  6. ISBN 978-1-59116-451-7
    .
  7. ISBN 978-1-4215-2708-6
    .
  8. ISBN 978-1-4215-2008-7
    .
  9. ISBN 978-1-4215-2708-6
    .
  10. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8357.2009.01008_8.x
    . Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  11. About.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  12. ^ Cha, Kai-Ming; MacDonald, Heidi (November 26, 2007). "Takehiko Inoue Unveils Mural at New Kinokuniya". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on December 26, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  13. ^ Morning. Kodansha. April 2010. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ "Entrevista Takehiko Inoue". DeCulture. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  15. ^ Estrada Rangil, Oriol (November 4, 2014). "ZN Manga: Entrevista con Takehiko Inoue "No tengo conciencia de ser alguien famoso."". Zona Negativa. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Entrevista Conjunta: Takehiko Inoue y Eiichiro Oda – Tercera Parte". Ramen Para Dos. January 5, 2011. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  17. ^ Solomon, Charles (October 2, 2011). "'Vagabond': Takehiko Inoue creates a samurai masterpiece". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 20, 2015.
  18. ^ Aronson, Michael. "Vagabond 1". Manga Life. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  19. ^ Aronson, Michael. "Vagabond 3 review". Manga Life. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  20. ^ Aronson, Michael. "Vagabond 6 review". Manga Life. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  21. ^ Alexander, Matthew (April 19, 2018). "Vagabond Volume 1 Manga review". The Fandom Post. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  22. ^ Adrassy, Hunor. "Vagabond an analysis of the role language in a historical Japanese comic" (PDF). Institutionen för språk och litteraturer. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  23. ISSN 1852-3935
    . Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  24. ^ "La evolución de la imagen del bushi a través de diversas producciones culturales" (PDF). Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  25. ^ Fobian, Peter (March 15, 2016). "FEATURE: Monthly Mangaka Spotlight 9: Takehiko Inoue". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  26. ^ Kogod, Theo (December 13, 2019). "Vagabond: 10 Reasons It's A Must-Read Manga". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  27. ^ Begley, Joshua (March 18, 2015). "Vagabond Vol. #36 Manga Review". The Fandom Post. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  28. ^ Begley, Joshua (April 18, 2016). "Vagabond Vol. #37 Manga Review". The Fandom Post. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  29. Japan Times. Archived
    from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  30. ^ "Grand Prize - Vagabond | Award | Manga Division | 2000 [4th] Japan Media Arts Festival Archive". Japan Media Arts Festival. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  31. ^ Japan Media Arts Plaza. "2000 Japan Media Arts Festival Manga Division Grand Prize Vagabond". Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
  32. ^ Loo, Egan (May 1, 2011). "Inoue's 18-Meter-Tall Vagabond Mural Looms Over Tokyo". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  33. ^ Loo, Egan (May 22, 2012). "Vagabond Manga Inspires US$66 Folding Paper Fans". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
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