Musashi: Book 1 - Earth, Water and Fire (9784805318416)

A new and unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's bestselling novel about Miyamoto Musashi—the most famous swordfighter in Japanese history!

Musashi: The Novel is the first unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's great novel, the top-selling novel in Japan. Masterfully translated for the first time in its entirety by Alexander Bennett, this vivid and fast-paced story reveals the exploits and inner life of a man who finds not only his true purpose but also his humanity.

This first book of a three-book series begins in the year 1600 at the epic Battle of Sekigahara, a scene of unimaginable carnage, where Miyamoto Musashi lies wounded on the battlefield having fought on the losing side. After being imprisoned for three years, he wanders the countryside as a vagabond. Desperate to make a name for himself as a warrior, he becomes a dueling ronin—a swordfighter without master or purpose. Musashi, accompanied by Otsu, the love of his life, faces many trials from the spear-wielding monks of Hozoin temple to the students of the Yoshioka dojo. He wins easily but his greatest challenges are yet to come.

Famous for fighting 62 duels without a single defeat, Musashi is a true philosopher warrior, author of the monumental treatise, The Book of Five Rings—one of the most widely read books in history. Although he was without peer, his path to glory was fraught with seemingly impossible challenges, tragic losses and emotional turmoil. And while his destiny seems clear, in order to achieve it he must open a new chapter and leave his old life behind.


About the Author:
Eiji Yoshikawa was a historical novelist whose works remain some of the most read books in Japan to this day. He published several retellings of Asian classics such as his Tale of the Heike, Tales from the Water Margin and Romance of the Three Kingdoms. However, his novelization of the life of Miyamoto Musashi is his most famous and popular work having sold over 120 million copies. He was awarded the Cultural Order of Merit and the Order of the Sacred Treasure. He died of cancer in 1962.

Alexander Bennett is Professor of Japanese History, Martial Arts, and Budo Theory at Kansai University. He is Director General of the International Budo University's Budo and Sports Research Institute. He co-founded and publishes Kendo World, the first English-language journal dedicated to Kendo. He holds black belts in several martial arts including Kendo Kyoshi 7-dan, Iaido Renshi 6-dan, Jukendo Renshi 6-dan, Naginata 5-dan. His published works include The Complete Musashi: The Book of Five Rings and Other Works and Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai.