Growing up in the late 15th century Sengoku era Japan, Shinmen Takezo is shunned by the local villagers as a devil child due to his wild and violent nature. Running away from home with a fellow boy at age 17, Takezo joins the Toyotomi army to fight the Tokugawa clan at the battle of Sekigahara. However, the Tokugawa win a crushing victory, leading to nearly three hundred years of Shogunate rule. Takezo and his friend manage to survive the battle, and afterwards swear to do great things with their lives. But after their paths separate, Takezo becomes a wanted criminal, and must change his name and his nature in order to escape an ignoble death. Based on the book "Musashi" by Eiji Yoshikawa, Vagabond is a fictional retelling of the life of Miyamoto Mushashi, often referred to as the "Sword Saint" - perhaps the most famous and successful of Japan's sword fighters.

	Miyamoto Musashi or Shinmen Takezo (his real name), only at a very young age, embarked on a journey to become the strongest samurai only after being exiled from his own village. Musashi is the son of a samurai family, whose father is one of the most renowned samurai across the nation. One of the foremost reasons that drives Musashi to excel in sword-fighting, is his desire to overcome his father for all the harsh treatment given during his childhood and Musashi's incapability to rebel. Musashi is unique in terms of his sword-skill for the unfamiliar movements and lack of style he use. This is due to the fact that he spent most of his entire time in the forest having been labelled as a demon child by his village for his demeaning and wicked nature. Frankly, the forest is his home and where his master resides.

	Matahachi Hon'iden: Hedonist and childhood friend of Musashi. Assumes Sasaki Kojiro's identity after a dying Tenki entrusts Kojiro's swordsmanship certificates to him. Later, after coming into contact with the genuine Kojiro, begins to identify himself as Sasaki Koujiro, an interpreter for Kojiro, the real Kojiro being deaf. He later becomes estranged from Musashi after a tense reunion, Matahachi displaying an intense jealousy to Musashi.		Sasaki Kojiro: The legendary archrival of Miyamoto Musashi. Kojiro is believed to have studied the Chujo-ryu style of swordsmanship under the instruction of either Toda Seigen or Kanemaki Jisai. Kojiro was renowned for his Tsubame-Gaeshi, or “Swallow Cut” technique, inspired by the movement of a swallow in flight. In an interesting difference from Yoshikawa's Musashi, Kojiro is deaf and mute, though still literate. His personality is very playful, almost child-like. Ittousai has also commented the possibility that Kojirou's eyes have become better developed to compensate for his lack of hearing.
	Takuan Soho: (1573-1645). A Zen Buddhist monk, specifically, representative of the Rinzai sect. In 1610, he was appointed as abbot of the main temple, Daitokuji. Takuan is known for his brute honesty and meticulously perceptive personality, which was sought after by monks, swordsmen, and politicians alike (such as Tokugawa Iemitsu and Go-Mizunoo). Takuan's shared correspondence with Yagyu Munenori was captured in a treatise called "The Unfettered Mind." Takuan helps capture Takezo and later renames him as Miyamoto Musashi, setting him free to travel and evolve as a person.		Otsu: Childhood friend of Takezo and Matahachi. Otsu was raised by Matahachi's family and arranged to marry Matahachi. Plans go awry when Matahachi runs off after the Battle of Sekigahara with Oko to Kyoto. Angry at Matahachi, Otsu refuses Granny Hon'iden's offer to join the Hon'iden family and seeks life and love elsewhere. Currently she is travelling with Takezo's "apprentice" Joutarou in order to find him.

REVIEW

Manga: This is my review for the Vagabond Manga.

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