The epic story concludes as Musashi prepares to take on his greatest rival with his destiny in the balance!In this final book, Musashi is left to surmount one final obstacle—the great swordsman Sasaki Kojiro, who is legendary for his skill with the sword. As Musashi journeys to fight Kojiro, he encounters old friends and new enemies. Devoting himself to meditation and Zen study, he realizes that the pursuit of glory through violence is fruitless, and the only path to success can be found through introspection and discipline.
Musashi meets with Otsu, tying up loose ends. As he prepares for the fight, he makes the unimaginable decision to face Kojiri wielding only a wooden staff. To realize his destiny, he will have to not only defeat his greatest rival but also his own self-doubt.
About the Author:Eiji Yoshikawa was a historical novelist whose works remain some of the most read books in Japan to this day. He published several retellings of Asian classics such as his
Tale of the Heike, Tales from the Water Margin and
Romance of the Three Kingdoms. However, his novelization of the life of Miyamoto Musashi is his most famous and popular work having sold over 120 million copies. He was awarded the Cultural Order of Merit and the Order of the Sacred Treasure. He died of cancer in 1962.
Alexander Bennett is Professor of Japanese History, Martial Arts, and Budo Theory at Kansai University. He is Director General of the International Budo University's Budo and Sports Research Institute. He co-founded and publishes
Kendo World, the first English-language journal dedicated to Kendo. He holds black belts in several martial arts including Kendo Kyoshi 7-dan, Iaido Renshi 6-dan, Jukendo Renshi 6-dan, Naginata 5-dan. His published works include
The Complete Musashi: The Book of Five Rings and Other Works and
Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai.