Musashi (manga)
Japanese manga series
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Musashi (Japanese: ムサシ) is a Japanese manga series written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Noboru Kawasaki. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from August 1974 to May 1977, with its chapters collected in thirteen tankōbon volumes.
- Shogakukan
- Studio Ship (print)
- Homesha (print)
- Shōnen Gahōsha (print)
| Musashi | |
First tankōbon volume cover | |
| ムサシ | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical drama[1] |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Kazuo Koike |
| Illustrated by | Noboru Kawasaki |
| Published by |
|
| Imprint | Shōnen Sunday Comics |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Sunday |
| Original run | August 25, 1974 – May 15, 1977 |
| Volumes | 13 |
Plot
Set during Japan's Sengoku period, Musashi follows the early life and development of Miyamoto Musashi, a young boy who becomes an orphan as a result of warfare. After losing his family, Musashi survives alongside other displaced children and forms a band that lives as a group of outlaws. However, after an encounter with hired samurai in a village, Musashi loses his companions and is forced to flee with Otsū, a young woman taken as a hostage during his escape.
While being pursued, Musashi encounters Kojirō, a young man who dreams of creating a sword stronger than those used by samurai. The two form an unlikely partnership, working together to create a powerful new blade. Although they share a common goal of becoming great swordsmen, their differing personalities and ambitions eventually place them on separate paths.
Musashi begins a journey of martial training and self-discovery, seeking to surpass the warriors who defeated his former companions and to become the strongest swordsman in Japan. Along the way, he encounters numerous rivals and masters, including the swordsmen of the Yoshioka school, and gradually develops his own swordsmanship, eventually becoming known as Miyamoto Musashi.
The manga portrays Musashi's transformation from a violent and inexperienced youth into a disciplined warrior, while depicting his rivalry with Kojirō and the challenges surrounding the pursuit of ultimate mastery in swordsmanship.
Publication
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Written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Noboru Kawasaki, Musashi was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday in two periods, the first period was published from August 25, 1974,[2][3][4] to August 15, 1976.[5][6] The second period was published from September 12, 1976,[7][8] to May 15, 1977,[9][10] with Shogakukan collected its chapters in thirteen tankōbon volumes as of September 1977.[11]
Several publishers published the series in long term, first Studio Ship published the series in ten bunkoban volumes from April 1986 to February 1988.[12][13] Homesha republished the ten volumes from February to June 2001.[14][15] Shōnen Gahōsha published the series in seven wide-ban volumes from February to June 2003.[16][17]