Title : Vagabond
Written by : Takehiko Inoue
Published by : Kodansha
Magazine : Morning
Original run : 1998 – 2015 (on hiatus)
Volumes : 37
What is true strength?
Synopsis
In 1600 A.D. in Japan, Musashi, the most hated man in the village, lives by his sword and sets out on a journey to become the greatest swordsman in all of Japan. Encountering various great swordsmen, he gradually pursues what true strength is.
Review
Although the story is based on the life of the real-life swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, it is a stylish manga work without the old-fashioned feel of conventional historical fiction. The psychological depiction that vividly shows the dark side of people is truly a masterpiece, and the extremely beautiful drawings are one of its charms, but its greatest highlight is its expression of tension and silence. Vagabond is based on Eiji Yoshikawa’s novel “Musashi Miyamoto,” but Inoue has added his own unique twist to the characters and story. Due to the author’s wishes, there is currently no e-book version of the book, but I encourage you to see the book in person, as his sensitive descriptions are only alive on paper.
