Who is the greatest swordsman?, From Japan. Options

[Jun]

As stated, who do you think is the greatest swordsman?

[kunomchu]

Miyamoto Musashi!!! just cuz I like toshiro mifune's trilogy!!

[lilasiankid]

Don't they always state everywhere that Miyamoto Musashi IS the greatest Japanese swordsman ever?

BTW, I read the book Musashi as well as seen the movie. Good, but the book was much better (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggthumpup.gif)

[Point_Dexter]

Tom Cruise......

[kaizen]

I have no idea who they are...

[lolo99]

I`m reading Musashi`s book now and it`s kinda intresting so i`ll say, Miyamoto Musashi.

Sanosuke, is this the guy from Onimusha game?

[supernovasp]

Yo$hitsune :P

[Rappapa]

You list everyone from the Shinsengumi and Musashi. What a great variety to choose from.

[Mangafan2]

Shigeru Miyamoto!! (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[meiki]

Onimusha?

[Mr. Tree]

Onimusha?

Its that game that has some guy that looks like Takashi Kaneshiro (He Zhi Wu)
your a chick...you dont know?? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) 2

Musashi fo sho!! undisputed, undefeated double sword champion (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Jun]

You list everyone from the Shinsengumi and Musashi. What a great variety to choose from.

well the shinsengumi are fairly popular swordsman, that why added some shinsen gumi captains.

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well im reading the novel musashi written by Eiji Yoshikawa and it's a pretty good book (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggthumpup.gif)

although i must admit, the fight scenes in the book are a bit dull but besides that, its a well written book (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

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here is some information on the folling swordsman if you do not know who they are:

Kondou Isami (Captain)

Originally son of a rich peasant farmer, his original name was Miyakawa Katsuta. He was adopted by the former master of Shieikan Dojo, Kondou Shuusai, at the age of 16. His katana was the Nagasone Kotetsu (yep, the one used by Soujirou which was cracked by Kenshin), length 2'3"5.
According to most sources, he was a rigid man, loyal to the moral codes of a swordsman. Had a wife, and his daughter Tamako was born just before he went over to Kyoto. After the utter defeat of the Shinsengumi in then Boshin War, he was captured by the Ishin Army, who had now become the "legal" government army - after Shogun Yoshinobu's resignation, the situation took a complete reverse, so now it is the Shinsengumi who are outlaws. Kondou was decapitated on 25/4/1868 at the age of 35.



Okita Souji
(Captain of the 1st Troop)

Probably the best-known and popular Shinsengumi figure. Another handsome total knockout, besides being a child prodigy at kenjutsu - he joined Kondou's dojo at 9, and was an accomplished swordsman at 15 or so. Former name Soujirou, (yes, it's true!) the sword he used is the one used by Soujirou in his last battle with Kenshin, the Kikuichi Norimune, length 2'4"2.
Strongest swordsman in the Shinsengumi, he yields a katana, bokken and shinai equally well. Famous for his "3-piece thrust" - 3 thrusts delivered so quickly at the opponent, usually at the neck and the right and left shoulders. Like Saito, this technique was improvised from the one invented by Hijikata.
Tragedy struck, though, for Okita contracted Tuberculosis, an incurable diseasein those times, shortly after the formation of the Shinsengumi. He coughed up blood several times, though he would not let the others know. During the Ikeda-ya affair, however, his situation suddenly spiralled down (perhaps because of the cold night and the vicious battle), and fainted after he coughed up a shocking amount of blood. It was then that Kondou and Hijikata knew of his disease, and even by then the doctor had already predicted that he would not live long. Both were distressed over this, for they were like elder brothers to Okita (did I mention that Kondou was 10 years Okita's senior, and Hijikata 9?). However, all 3 agreed that news of Okita's disease should not be widely known, lest it dragged down the members' morale.
After the Boshin war, Okita went into a tuberculosis hospital in Edo. He passed away on 30/5/1868, First year of Meiji, aged 25.

Saitou Hajime
(Captain of the 3rd Troop)

Saitou Hajime seems to have struck second fame in Japan following his appearance in RK! There are certainly a lot of info about him on the web. Seems to be a mysterious guy even in real life... Also, everything about him that came out in RK (except Shishio and Kenshin, of course) is real history. I got a shock there!
Right. First of all, his origins seems a bit obscure. One theory is that he's the son of a ronin. Another says he hailed from Edo, son of a Bakufu official, and that he'd come to Kyoto after accidentally killing a person in Edo. Yet another claims that he's a son of the 12th Shogun?! and yet another says that he was a spy of the Aizu han placed in the early Ro$hitai. Talk about a mystery guy. His name, Hajime (meaning "one" or "start" as in another kanji") was because that he was born on the 1st day of the 1st month, though there are other reports as to his birthday.
He entered the Shinsengumi "sponsored" by the Aizu han, under the name of Yamaguchi Jirou, when he served as one of Hijikata's assistants. His most powerful sword skill is the "Left-hand single thrust" (but *not* Gatotsu, that's Watsuki-san's creation), this skill is even more destructive than Okita's 3-piece thrust! In fact, Saitou, together with Okita and Nagakura, were hailed as the 3 strongest swordsman of the Shinsengumi. Saitou assasinated a lot of corrupted Shinsengumi members. Eg, Itou Ka$hitarou and co., Takeda Kanryuusai and others. And yeah, Aku.Zoku.San was no invention of Watsuki - it was a motto of the whole Shinsengumi!
He was also a great drinker! The creator of one Shinsengumi website stated that "he's a different person when drunk", (I'm not sure whether this refers to "I desire to kill once I'm drunk"). In fact, he finally passed away because of a stomach ulcer, caused by excessive drinking. Unfortunately, I still can't verify that he smokes all the time, or that his favorite food is soba... help, anyone? Saitou's wife, Takagi Tokio, was the daughter of an important Aizu official - in fact,the middle-man was none other than the Daimyo of Aizu himself! They (Saitou and Takagi Tokio) were married in the 6th year of Meiji (1873), and their first son, Tsutomu was born in the 9th year (1876).After the Ishin government was formed, he changed his name and worked as a kendo instructor in a university. In 1877, the 10th year of Meiji, he joined thepolice troop with permission of carrying a sword to fight in the Seinan War, the one where Saigo Takamori rebelled against the Meiji government in Satsuma. Saitou did this under the name of Fujita Gorou. After which he became a spy directly responsible to the Police Commissioner, Kawaji Toshiyoshi. (I was really shocked at this one... Watsuki can really interweave fact and fiction!)
Saitou worked as a guard of a museum in Tokyo when he was quite a senior citizen.After his retirement, he seemed to spend a lot of time thinking. Pity I can't understand his grandchild's remarks in the Japanese homepage. Anyway, Saitou passed away on 27/9/1915, 4th year of Taisho, at the ripe old age of 72.

Harada Sanosuke
(Captain of the 10th Troop)

According to Watsuki and the historical novels I've been through, he's almost the same as Sagara Sanosuke. Liked to brawl, short-tempered and simply loved a fight. His favourite weapon was the spear. According to Watsuki, before he joined Kondou, Harada was the servant of some bushis, and this lowly status caused him to have a weak side at times. However, he really took care of those under him. (Really manly...) He was also a man who didn't like to fuss, and did things the way he saw it. Kinda like those "tai-kos" (like Cheng E-Kin) in those gangster movies.
One interesting point here: the members of the Shinsengumi frequented the brothels (hey they *were* humans with biological needs too! Just that Serizawa was carrying it way too far) but they seldom attached themselves to the girls, to take them as their legal wives. Harada married his girl, however - something surprising considering his personality, for in those days, you had the choice of *not* marrying a girl even if you'd slept with her.
After he broke upwith the others following the Shinsengumi defeat in the Bushin War, he joined the Shogitai, the same troop in which Yahiko's late father also took part. Harada died in the Ueno War. According to other sources, however, he survived the war and stowed-away to Manchuria, China, where he became a bandit.

Gensai kawakami

Komori Genjiro, he changed his name into Kawakami Gensai(Hitokiri-Gensai). He changed his name further into Takada Genbe.

He was short, his jaw and cheekbone was sharp. He was always calm and he was unyielding. And, he was very gentle.

Though He was born in Komori Family in Kumamoto, he became a foster-child of Kawakami Family, and became a Buddhist priest. (When there was a big earthquake and all people were running away, he extinguished the fire of a brazier, and he was accepted by many people. It was said that it was regrettable that He's a Buddhist. Buddhist priest's position was convenient to study. Then, a study of the soldier was learned by Miyabe Teizo, and literature and swordsmanship were learned by Todoroki Muhe. He didn't get the permission of his clan though he tried to do overseas inspection to know the circumstance of foreign countries. If a foreign circumstance can't be known, he thought that he should exile a foreigner from Japan, and he recommended the thought of "Sonno-jyoi(Reverence for the Emperor and expulsion of the foreigner)". Then, he fought to overthrow the shogunate together with "shishi of kinno" which his mind was suitable for. Though he killed many people, a clear record about his assassination does not exist. (The incident that a Sakuma Syouzan was assassinated at midday is famous.) Then, many battles were finished, and He succeeded in overthrowing the shogunate admirably. However, he became bothering existence for new government because his thought wasn't changed after the Restoration.(The government completely changed a policy suddenly.) Then, he was killed by the follower of "Kido Takayoshi" who was gensai's company. At this time, he didn't have the crime which was worth the death penalty.


Ito Ittosai Kagehisa 1560-?

He was a swordsman who had many mysteries very much, and he had never lost in his battle. He thought out special swordsmanship such as "Musouken" and "Hosshato". The ittoryu school which he founded influenced Japanese swordsmanship after that greatly.

It doesn't know where he was born. There is a theory that he was born in Izu, too. He became pupil of Kanemaki Jisai, and learned swordmanship there. He fought vs many swordsman, and he had a victory for all the battles in his life. Then, he founded "Ittoryu" school of swordsmanship. There are many episodes about his special swordsmanship. One day, He cut a enemy which approached back of him quietly unconsciously with his sword in Kamakura Tsuruoka Hachimangu. Then, He thought out the special swordsmanship of "Musoken". And, he fought against enemy many times in his bedroom. He thought out the special swordsmanship of "Hosshato" then. He had many excellent pupils, such as Ono Tadaaki. Then, his most excellent pupil served the Tokugawa Family

Miyamoto Musashi 1584-1645

Alias : Bennosuke(childhood)

He had never lost in his battle of 60 times and more, and he is called "The saint of a sword". His talent was not only the technique of swordsmanship. An excellent work in the calligraphy, the picture, the sculpture, the craft, and so on is left abundantly. He had even an excellent artist.

Musashi was born in 1584 in Mimasaka country Yoshino-gun Miyamoto-mura. When he was 13 years old, he fought vs "Arima Kihe", and he won. He had never lost in his battle after that. In 1600, he participated in the battle of famous Sekigahara when he was 17 years old.

* Famous battle in his life
[ A battle vs "Yoshioka family"]
[ A battle vs "Houzoin"]
[ A battle vs "Shishido Baiken"]
[ A battle vs "Yagyu family"]
Most famous battle in his life.
[ A battle vs "Sasaki Kojiro"]

He participated in "The war of Osaka winter" which is famous for downfall of the Toyotomi Family when he was 31 years old. And, he participated in "The war of Osaka summer" too. He stayed in cave after he became an old man. He did religious meditation in the place. And, he wrote a famous "The Book of Five Rings". After he finished writing "The Book of Five Rings", he became sick, and died in 1645 years, when he was 62 years old.

if any one wants anymore information on other swordsman than please feel free to Pm and i'll send you some extra info (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_smile.gif)

[hgnis]

You would have to consider each on the context of the society that they lived in. This being said, if I were given the choice I would choose to study with Musashi any day compared with the others.

[Eclectic Asian]

Kenshin is the best swordsman ever (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggthumpup.gif)

(IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[chandanbanga]

Kenshin with Ama Kakeru No Hiramaki.. One blow is enough.... He is the best swordsman..

[kunomchu]

Miyamoto Musashi cuz I like toshiro Mifune.


OMG THIS IS AN OLD THREAD LOL

This post has been edited by kunomchu: Apr 12 2006, 01:23 AM

[zhangzheng]

musashi cause i dont know anyone else

and it seems like its the same for the other 8 that voted...

i hope

[xaixai]

Lol Nobou Naga should be up ther..

[xsoldier]

My favorite swordman gotta be Jubei Jagyu

[PervertBurger]

Okita Soji was one of the best Japanese swordsmen EVER.