Musashi Miyamoto (Vagabond)

In the aftermath of the Battle of Sekigahara, Takezō Shinmen and Matahachi Hon'iden swear to become "Invincible Under The Heavens" (天下無双, Tenka Musō). Takezō decides to become a vagabond and wander the world challenging strong opponents, During a misunderstandng with Matahachi's mother, Takezō fights his pursuers who blame him for Matahachi's desire to avoid return to his village. However, Takezo is captured the monk Takuan Sōhō and his childhood friend Otsu, who makes him reconsider his purpose in life. Takuan frees him and, to make him start his life anew, renames him Musashi Miyamoto. After a 4 years timeskip, Musashi's arrive to Kyōto, where his fight against the Yoshioka swords. Musashi takes down several students but area catches a fire, leading to the fight being postponsed. Musashi is rescued by Matahachi and treated by Takuan.

He decides to continue his training with a young boy, Jōtarō, wanting him to teach him. In Musashi and Jōtarō's arrival to the Hōzōin spears, Musashi's first fight against the Hōzōin, its aftermath, Musashi's second fight against Hōzōin Inshun. Inshun's superiority causes Musashi to escape driven by fear but trains a for a rematch where he briefly overpowers his rival. Its aftermath, Musashi and Jōtarō's arrive to the Yagyū swords, the events while deliberating how to enter the Yagyū headquarters, Musashi's meeting with the 4 seniors, his solo fight against the Yagyū men, and his encounter with Sekishūsai Yagyū.

While preparing to the rematch with the Yoshioka, Musashi meets the disabled samurai Kojirō Sasaki. Both play with a snowman simulating a brief sword fight in the process, forming a friendship in the process. Musashi then meets Matahachi who expresses jealousy over Musashi's achievements and apparent relationship with Otsu. This angers Musashi and leaves his old friend while punching him. Musashi then fights the 70 Yoshioka all alone. Although he kills all of them, one of dying ones leaves him with a severe wound. In the aftermath of Musashi's solo battle, has him his return to wandering despite being offered the position of mentor under guidance from Takuan who offers him the chance of marrying Otsu in the process. As he recovers, Musashi's new wandering leads him to question his own ideas of being invincible upon being defeated by another wandering warrior. He later meets the orphan Iori, whom he decides to raise while dealing with a village with poor fields. Musashi, Iori and Toyozaemon's journey to the retirement estate of Yūsai Hosokawa.

After the manga went into 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.[1]

Contemporaneous portrait of Miyamoto Musashi (Edo period)

Inoue started Vagabond having wondered what the character was like when he read Musashi. Having come off of drawing a sports manga, 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".[2] 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.[3]

The author clarifies there are other activities besides fighting which 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 shows 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.[4] In contrast to popular belief, Inoue's Musashi does not follow bushido but instead a more unique path with a growth path that he finds realistic.[5] Moreover, he does not consider Musashi a samurai, but instead as a ronnin.[6] Other changes Inoue put when writing the manga was to make the supporting characters have different personalities from the novel. Inoue also expressed difficulties when drawing scene were 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 major challenge than in the novel.[7]

Los Angeles Times regarded Vagabond as a "samurai masterpiece" for the contrast it makes with the novel by deepening the characerization of Musashi and alternate take on the rival Kojiro. Another aspect praised by Los Angeles Times was how the protagonist makes philosophy about strength and his goal as the arc of the Yoshioka where the main character kills 70 men ends with him retaining severe wound on his foot that weakens him and makes him question what is being invincible.[8] Critics praised the handling of Musashi. MangaLife found Musashi appealing for his quest of strength.[9] They find the early journey of Musashi impressive due to the emphasis on violence over his mental development and his connections with Matahachi.[10] The eventual release of the sixth volume received more acclaim from the Manga Life for further developing Musashi's bushido, his acceptance of his weak point and how Matahachi also kept appearing despite the two still not meeting.[11] The Fandom Post was concerned whether or not Musashi is still capable of being a true warrior when interacting with the monk Takuan.[12]

In analysis from the series, Hunor Andrássy from University of Gothenburg said that Musashi and the rest cast of the series reprensent a dynamic between different types of literature as it depicts the physical and metaphysical path Miyamoto Musashi treads upon during his life towards becoming one of the most renowned swordsmen. The Hozoin arc helps in Musashi's growth but more focused on his psychological aspect, while the Yagyu arc instead make him humble enough to swear to improve his skills.[13] Facultad de Lenguas (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba compared Musashi and other characters from the manga with the cast from the manga Rurouni Kenshin as both feature historical figures that have to live up to past year times.[14] Despite Musashi's notable strength and quest, Gustavo Pita Céspedes noted that the real reason for Musashi's journey is for revenge against his father Shinmen Munisai whose words constantly haunts him. His constant meetings with Takuan were noted to have a major impact on the character as the monk to start his life again. The writer also noted Musashi does not appear to have a sense of honor early in the series as he sometimes uses dirty tactics to deceive his enemies like throwing sand towards, being more of a man whose goals justify the means rather than employ bushido.[15] According to Crunchyroll, both 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 to call Inoue's take on Musashi unique when compared to the ones often depicted in fiction.[16] Comic Book Resources praised the way Musashi addresses Bushido, the Code of the Samurai, which makes him honorable.[17] 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.[18][19] Japan Times regarded Musashi's growth from the ruthless warrior to a wise monk warrior to be well executed across the narrative.[20] Manga artist Eiichiro Oda said he enjoyed the Musashi's battle against his 70 enemies based on how Inoue wrote and came regard Musashi as a character similar to Inoue himself.[7]

In 2000, during an award, a congratulated Inoue's writing: "From Toyotomi to Tokugawa. Musashi Miyamoto grew up amidst the turn of two great eras. Mr. Inoue has taken the powerful Musashi who was sometimes called a 'beast' and drawn him as a vagabond. The artist brags about boldly challenging the national literary work of Eiji Yoshikawa, even so, the sense of speed that he creates is impressive. I send my applause to the artist for creating a new image of Musashi".[21][22] In 2011, Inoue drew a mural at 18.2 meters (about 59.7 feet) tall and 10.3 meters (33.8 feet) wide in Tokyo. The food maker Nissin used three video cameras to record Inoue painting every brush stroke, and it edited the footage into a television commercial, encouraging Japan one month after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake disaster. The mural remained on the Laforet Harajuku fashion store tower in Tokyo until May 7. It was later displayed in the Marui Jam Shibuya department store.[23] Official merchandising based on Musashi with art by Inoue was also produced in 2012 by Kyukyodo.[24]