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Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings: The Manga Edition: Japan's Legendary Book on Samurai Military Strategy
A new manga adaptation of Musashi's legendary BOOK OF FIVE RINGS!
Miyamoto Musashi is the greatest swordsman who ever lived. He is renowned for his fighting prowess and famous for having never having been defeated. Then he mysteriously disappeared at the relatively young age of 29 to meditate and study.
This book tells the fascinating story of Musashi's return from isolation as he pens his great masterpiece on military tactics, The Book of Five Rings , and begins to train a new generation of Samurai warriors.
The exciting events recounted in this book
Musashi's Book of Five The Manga Edition is a beautifully-illustrated look at the life and legacy of Japan's greatest warrior in graphic novel form.
Miyamoto Musashi is the greatest swordsman who ever lived. He is renowned for his fighting prowess and famous for having never having been defeated. Then he mysteriously disappeared at the relatively young age of 29 to meditate and study.
This book tells the fascinating story of Musashi's return from isolation as he pens his great masterpiece on military tactics, The Book of Five Rings , and begins to train a new generation of Samurai warriors.
The exciting events recounted in this book
Musashi's Book of Five The Manga Edition is a beautifully-illustrated look at the life and legacy of Japan's greatest warrior in graphic novel form.
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2024
3 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Miyamoto Musashi
242 books1,201 followersMiyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵, c. 1584 – June 13, 1645), also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was an expert Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age. He was the founder of the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū or Niten-ryū style of swordsmanship and the author of The Book of Five Rings (五輪の書 Go Rin No Sho), a book on strategy, tactics, and philosophy that is still studied today.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 19, 2024
The Book of Five Rings: The Manga Edition brings Miyamoto Musashi’s legendary treatise on strategy, combat, and philosophy to a modern audience in an accessible, visual format. Originally written in the 17th century by Japan's most famous swordsman, this adaptation seeks to translate Musashi’s timeless lessons into the medium of manga. However, while the artwork captures the essence of his warrior ethos, the complex ideas of the original work may not always translate smoothly, especially for readers unfamiliar with Japanese culture or historical context.
Musashi’s original Book of Five Rings is a profound and deeply philosophical text, blending lessons on swordsmanship with broader reflections on strategy, discipline, and the way of the warrior. The manga edition attempts to convey these teachings through dynamic illustrations, which enhance the book's iconic duels and moments of introspection. Visually, the manga is engaging—the action scenes are fluid, and the stylized character depictions bring an energy to the story that text alone might not capture. It’s clear that the adaptation aims to make Musashi’s work more approachable, especially for younger readers or those new to his philosophy.
However, the book’s depth and nuance can sometimes be lost in translation, both literally and metaphorically. Musashi’s original text is filled with layered meanings, steeped in Japanese culture and Zen Buddhist thought. In the manga version, much of this complexity feels oversimplified, and the translation of Musashi’s ideas into English can come across as clunky or awkward. For instance, key concepts related to "void" and "stillness in movement" often lose their subtlety, making it difficult for readers to fully grasp the deeper philosophical undertones Musashi intended.
Additionally, the manga’s narrative flow can feel disjointed at times. Musashi’s teachings, which were originally presented as a series of reflective writings on strategy, are transformed into dialogue-heavy scenes or monologues, which can feel out of place or forced within the context of the artwork. The format may also lead readers to expect a more straightforward story arc, which is at odds with the contemplative and instructional nature of the original text.
That said, The Book of Five Rings: The Manga Edition does succeed in making Musashi’s teachings more visually captivating. For readers who might struggle with the dense prose of the original, this edition offers a more digestible way to engage with his ideas. It’s a decent entry point for newcomers, but those looking for a more faithful or intellectually challenging experience may still prefer reading the unabridged translation of Musashi’s work.
In conclusion, while The Book of Five Rings: The Manga Edition succeeds in delivering a visually compelling interpretation of Musashi’s legendary text, it struggles to faithfully convey the depth and philosophical richness of the original. The manga is an entertaining and accessible introduction to Musashi’s teachings, but for readers who want a more accurate and nuanced understanding of his wisdom, this version may feel a bit diluted. It is an admirable attempt, but the translation from text to manga and from Japanese to English poses significant challenges that can leave some of Musashi’s most profound insights lost in translation.
Musashi’s original Book of Five Rings is a profound and deeply philosophical text, blending lessons on swordsmanship with broader reflections on strategy, discipline, and the way of the warrior. The manga edition attempts to convey these teachings through dynamic illustrations, which enhance the book's iconic duels and moments of introspection. Visually, the manga is engaging—the action scenes are fluid, and the stylized character depictions bring an energy to the story that text alone might not capture. It’s clear that the adaptation aims to make Musashi’s work more approachable, especially for younger readers or those new to his philosophy.
However, the book’s depth and nuance can sometimes be lost in translation, both literally and metaphorically. Musashi’s original text is filled with layered meanings, steeped in Japanese culture and Zen Buddhist thought. In the manga version, much of this complexity feels oversimplified, and the translation of Musashi’s ideas into English can come across as clunky or awkward. For instance, key concepts related to "void" and "stillness in movement" often lose their subtlety, making it difficult for readers to fully grasp the deeper philosophical undertones Musashi intended.
Additionally, the manga’s narrative flow can feel disjointed at times. Musashi’s teachings, which were originally presented as a series of reflective writings on strategy, are transformed into dialogue-heavy scenes or monologues, which can feel out of place or forced within the context of the artwork. The format may also lead readers to expect a more straightforward story arc, which is at odds with the contemplative and instructional nature of the original text.
That said, The Book of Five Rings: The Manga Edition does succeed in making Musashi’s teachings more visually captivating. For readers who might struggle with the dense prose of the original, this edition offers a more digestible way to engage with his ideas. It’s a decent entry point for newcomers, but those looking for a more faithful or intellectually challenging experience may still prefer reading the unabridged translation of Musashi’s work.
In conclusion, while The Book of Five Rings: The Manga Edition succeeds in delivering a visually compelling interpretation of Musashi’s legendary text, it struggles to faithfully convey the depth and philosophical richness of the original. The manga is an entertaining and accessible introduction to Musashi’s teachings, but for readers who want a more accurate and nuanced understanding of his wisdom, this version may feel a bit diluted. It is an admirable attempt, but the translation from text to manga and from Japanese to English poses significant challenges that can leave some of Musashi’s most profound insights lost in translation.
October 25, 2024
3.5/5.
This book kinda oversimplifies the ideas that Musashi talks about in the book of the same name, but it also contextualises some of Musashi’s ideas in fictional situations from the time period which I thought was cool. However, the translation isn’t that great - spelling mistakes occur consistently - and some panels from the beginning are reused later in the book, so it did take away from my enjoyment a bit.
Overall, a decent enough read but still somewhat fun.
This book kinda oversimplifies the ideas that Musashi talks about in the book of the same name, but it also contextualises some of Musashi’s ideas in fictional situations from the time period which I thought was cool. However, the translation isn’t that great - spelling mistakes occur consistently - and some panels from the beginning are reused later in the book, so it did take away from my enjoyment a bit.
Overall, a decent enough read but still somewhat fun.
June 2, 2025
I read but didn't really absorb the original Book of Five Rings QUITE a while ago, so I'm not really sure how this compares as far as truly conveying the soul of the original work. As a sort of Cliffs Notes of the intent behind the work... maybe?
The original—a dry sort of "study guide" as according to The Way ("9. Do nothing which is useless.")—undoubtedly did not include anecdotes and flourishes along the lines of the speculative history presented in the manga, so there's an amount that I wonder how much (not "whether") the writer/artist made up the stories presented in order to illustrate the concepts behind each book. What has me doubting without the original on-hand to compare is the fact each story winds up with a line or two summary of the book in question, which feels... possibly not accurate.
Rated accordingly for benefit of the doubt, though; it could be this is the Cells at Work! method of illustrating things that most people can't easily visualise. I'm not saying it's unsuccessful, just that my memory is so spotty that this could be 100% invention and I wouldn't be able to tell, just because it SEEMS plausible. No doubt I will come back to this review and update accordingly if I find the original work again to compare.
The original—a dry sort of "study guide" as according to The Way ("9. Do nothing which is useless.")—undoubtedly did not include anecdotes and flourishes along the lines of the speculative history presented in the manga, so there's an amount that I wonder how much (not "whether") the writer/artist made up the stories presented in order to illustrate the concepts behind each book. What has me doubting without the original on-hand to compare is the fact each story winds up with a line or two summary of the book in question, which feels... possibly not accurate.
Rated accordingly for benefit of the doubt, though; it could be this is the Cells at Work! method of illustrating things that most people can't easily visualise. I'm not saying it's unsuccessful, just that my memory is so spotty that this could be 100% invention and I wouldn't be able to tell, just because it SEEMS plausible. No doubt I will come back to this review and update accordingly if I find the original work again to compare.
March 3, 2024
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This is not an adaption of the Book of Five Rings (which is a philosophical/strategic piece) but rather an exploration of its themes. Using three apprentices, each of the five book topics are illustrated in one seamless story. The illustration work is clean and friendly and this is a light but thoughtful exploration of the legendary man and his writings, especially in his later years.The Book of Five Rings is broken down by element: earth, fire, wind, water, and void. As an older man, Musashi is writing the book while slowly taking on three very different apprentices. Their aspirations provide a way of illustrating the major theme in each of the sections of the book. Whether it is a confident older brother, a more thoughtful younger, or a brash competitor for 'top student', the three each allow the authors to demonstrate the theories behind Musashi's writing.
But in addition to exploring the Five Rings, we also get more backstory on Musashi himself - from a discussion on why the Sasaki Kojiro duel was so impactful to Musashi but also why he sat down to write before he died.
For those curious about Musashi or the Five Rings, this is an nice introduction with a decent story. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
January 3, 2024
As readers may suspect, this isn't simply a graphically illustrated edition of The Book of Five Rings. That book, being written as an instructional manual, doesn't lend itself to a literal manga adaptation. Rather, this work is a graphic novelization that puts Musashi's strategic masterwork into a narrative context. While it does share many strategic and philosophical ideas from The Book of Five Rings, it's more a telling of the story of how the manual came to be and how it was transmitted out into the world. It tells this story primarily by exploring how Musashi came to have three apprentices, and how he went about teaching them the lessons encapsulated in the manual. It also delves into Musashi's most famous duel, the Ganryū-jima battle against Sasaki Kojirō, an event that formed a turning point in Musashi's life.
I found this manga to be engrossing and highly readable. It is well worth reading, even if one has read one or more translations of The Book of Five Rings. The translation of ideas seemed clear and consistent with my understanding of Musashi's worldview. I'd highly recommend this manga for readers interested in the history of martial arts, biographies of intriguing individuals, as well as strategic and philosophical ideas.
I found this manga to be engrossing and highly readable. It is well worth reading, even if one has read one or more translations of The Book of Five Rings. The translation of ideas seemed clear and consistent with my understanding of Musashi's worldview. I'd highly recommend this manga for readers interested in the history of martial arts, biographies of intriguing individuals, as well as strategic and philosophical ideas.
July 4, 2024
Pročitao sam manga adaptaciju knjige Pet prstenova koja se bavi umijećem ratovanja. Moram priznati da je jako zanimljivo napravljeno. Bile je puno istaknutih misli iz originalne knjige i osjećao sam da je ovo napravljeno sa poštovanjem.
Jedino što mene osobno nije oduševilo je činjenica da je ovo neupitno za mlađu publiku. Ovo je više napravljeno za one mlade koji nemaju želje čitati originalnu knjigu i žele pročitati ukratko u formi zanimljive adaptacije.
Tako da svakako preporučujem knjigu ako želite znati osnovno o čemu je napisao Miyamoto Musashi, ali za pravo dublje shvaćanje, ipak mislim da je bolje pročitati originalnu knjigu
Jedino što mene osobno nije oduševilo je činjenica da je ovo neupitno za mlađu publiku. Ovo je više napravljeno za one mlade koji nemaju želje čitati originalnu knjigu i žele pročitati ukratko u formi zanimljive adaptacije.
Tako da svakako preporučujem knjigu ako želite znati osnovno o čemu je napisao Miyamoto Musashi, ali za pravo dublje shvaćanje, ipak mislim da je bolje pročitati originalnu knjigu
June 22, 2025
It was a mix of fiction and nonfiction. I found it to be absorbing. I was hoping for more from the actual book. I think I will try to read or listen to a translation of the book instead of a graphic novel.
March 10, 2024
Defending without considering your next attack will lead to your death!! Miyamoto Musashi
November 10, 2024
An interesting study of Miyamoto's life and the people around him, but I think I was expecting a deeper exploration of the book itself. Weirdly disappointing.
June 14, 2025
The Manga format is not my thing at all, but I enjoyed this format alot. Its a great reference point before digging deeper into Musashi's work.
December 27, 2025
an excellent introduction to some quite loft ideas.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews