Vagabond is a long-running seinen manga by Takehiko Inoue, adapted from Eiji Yoshikawa's novel Musashi and serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Morning. The story begins with the Battle of Sekigahara: Shinmen Takezo flees after defeat, is hunted and captured, and is finally reborn under the guidance of the monk Takuan Soho. Renamed Miyamoto Musashi, he sets out on a wandering path of swordsmanship in pursuit of being "unrivaled under heaven." Running parallel to this main line is Inoue's original story of Sasaki Kojiro: born deaf and taken in by Kanemaki Jisai, Kojiro encounters the sword through extraordinary talent in a world that does not understand him. Volume 38 continues Musashi's journey and duels. He crosses swords with masters including Hozoin Inshun and four senior disciples of Yagyu, and meets figures such as the sickle-and-chain expert Shishido Baiken (Baiken of the Oshu Road), and the weight of "unrivaled under heaven" gradually becomes apparent. The volume's other narrative thread turns back in time to the reunion of Kanemaki Jisai and Ito Ittosai (Yagoro): Ittosai, years after leaving his teacher, returns to the old place and sees Kojiro, now grown. Jisai has always refused to teach Kojiro swordsmanship because of his deafness, but Ittosai discovers that the boy has a deep affinity for the sword and shows the true sharpness of a "tiger." Inheritance, love of talent, and reluctance intertwine to form the volume's most moving tension. This is Volume 38 of Vagabond; the Chinese edition was released by Tiānxià Publishing (International) Co., Ltd. in 2003 as part of its color edition series. This edition was color-separated by computer and is a Chinese color edition specially authorized by Takehiko Inoue; however, due to cost constraints, publication ceased after Volume 41.
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Eiji Yoshikawa (1892–1962) was a native of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, and a leading author of Japanese popular literature, hailed as a “national writer.” After leaving school early, he worked as a printer and a shipyard worker, among other jobs, while continuing to educate himself. He entered the literary world in 1914 and later became known for his historical novels. His works are mostly drawn from Japanese and Chinese history, and he excelled at portraying personal growth and the sweep of an era within a framework of historical fact, in a style that is accessible and deeply engaging. His major works include Musashi, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The New Taiko Chronicles, Kuroda Josui, and Minamoto no Yoritomo. This library holds 46 of his works, including several volumes of the Three Kingdoms series and the complete Musashi. His historical novels have long enjoyed a wide readership and have had a significant influence on the development of Japanese popular literature.
