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Vagabond VIZBIG Omnibus Edition #5
Vagabond, Vol. 5
Glimmering Waves
Real-life figure Miyamoto Musashi was the most celebrated samurai of all time. The quintessential warrior-philosopher, Musashi authored A Book of Five Rings, a classic treatise in the canon of world philosophy and military strategy. But the path to enlightenment is an endless journey, and to get there through violent means—by way of the sword—makes mere survival an even greater challenge.
In a remote seaside village, an abandoned infant is left to the care of a reclusive old man who has all but renounced the ways of the world. This helpless child is destined to become Sasaki Kojirō—the legendary archrival of Miyamoto Musashi. Inoue's unique take on this enigmatic figure lays the foundation for his fictional account of the most famous rivalry in Japanese history.
Real-life figure Miyamoto Musashi was the most celebrated samurai of all time. The quintessential warrior-philosopher, Musashi authored A Book of Five Rings, a classic treatise in the canon of world philosophy and military strategy. But the path to enlightenment is an endless journey, and to get there through violent means—by way of the sword—makes mere survival an even greater challenge.
In a remote seaside village, an abandoned infant is left to the care of a reclusive old man who has all but renounced the ways of the world. This helpless child is destined to become Sasaki Kojirō—the legendary archrival of Miyamoto Musashi. Inoue's unique take on this enigmatic figure lays the foundation for his fictional account of the most famous rivalry in Japanese history.
624 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2002
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604 people want to read
About the author
Takehiko Inoue
316 books1,559 followersTakehiko Inoue (井上雄彦) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for Slam Dunk and Vagabond.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
October 3, 2018
There are three main stories in this volume. In the first we see the climax of the duel between Musashi and Tsujikaze Kohei (sometimes known as Shishido Baiken), the bandit master of the sickle and chain and brother of one of the first men we saw Musashi kill in this series…though he’s not fighting Musashi for the reasons you might think. As their battle ends we transition into the memories of young Kohei, witnessing the events of betrayal and brutality that would turn a small child into a ruthless killer set against the world and set upon a path that would inevitably lead to Miyamoto Musashi.
The final segment, and the longest, tells another story of the youth of an imminent ‘rising dragon’ of the sword: Sasaki Kojiro, the very swordsman whose name and reputation would be stolen by the cowardly Matahachi. It is also the story of the twilight of the life of Kanemaki Jisai, a teacher of the sword whose rise to fame was cut short and is now little more than a tramp broken by failure, living hand to mouth on the edge of nowhere. Into his broken life comes an unexpected surprise, and burden, in the form of the infant Kojiro, sent by his father, an old pupil of Jisai’s, as his family is overcome by tragedy.
We see just how flawed Jisai is, a man wallowing in misery and often unable to see what is before his very eyes. It takes him years to realize that Kojiro is deaf (a significant difference in the character here from his presentation in Eiji Yoshikowa's novel that served as the inspiration for the manga) and his attempts to raise the boy are muddled at best. And yet he also displays an inner tenacity that is unexpected, never finally giving up on his responsibilities and always struggling with his own weaknesses.
Kojiro, meanwhile, grows into an odd child always on the outskirts of the world around him, unable and even unwilling to interact with others. His only love seems to reside in the sword that was sent with him to Jisai by his father, an exceptionally long and seemingly unwieldy blade that would eventually become famous as ‘the drying pole.’
What follows is a fascinating tale of yet another wild young man destined to follow the way of the sword, even while his foster father, one who knows intimately the disillusionment and pain that comes with devotion to the way of the sword, does all he can to stop it in the hopes of making him into a ‘good man’. At odds with each other and the villagers around them, Kojiro and Jisai are eventually brought into their community by the threat of the local oppressive boss, a former ‘saviour’ of the village who soon became its greatest threat and whose swordsmanship will test the mettle of the strange father and son.
Musashi, Kohei, and Kojiro are in many ways very different characters and yet they share a very important commonality: they are all young men with an inherent wildness and strength that eclipses all else in their character and dominates their lives. They are also all outsiders, unable to integrate with the civilized world around them, who find the lust for violence an irresistible siren song. They each express this need to fight in different ways and each of them is distinctly different in character and outlook, but they share a common brotherhood in their devotion not only to the sword, but to violence itself as an ethos. How and why they embrace this ethos, or choose to fight against it, is perhaps what makes them each truly unique.
The final segment, and the longest, tells another story of the youth of an imminent ‘rising dragon’ of the sword: Sasaki Kojiro, the very swordsman whose name and reputation would be stolen by the cowardly Matahachi. It is also the story of the twilight of the life of Kanemaki Jisai, a teacher of the sword whose rise to fame was cut short and is now little more than a tramp broken by failure, living hand to mouth on the edge of nowhere. Into his broken life comes an unexpected surprise, and burden, in the form of the infant Kojiro, sent by his father, an old pupil of Jisai’s, as his family is overcome by tragedy.
We see just how flawed Jisai is, a man wallowing in misery and often unable to see what is before his very eyes. It takes him years to realize that Kojiro is deaf (a significant difference in the character here from his presentation in Eiji Yoshikowa's novel that served as the inspiration for the manga) and his attempts to raise the boy are muddled at best. And yet he also displays an inner tenacity that is unexpected, never finally giving up on his responsibilities and always struggling with his own weaknesses.
Kojiro, meanwhile, grows into an odd child always on the outskirts of the world around him, unable and even unwilling to interact with others. His only love seems to reside in the sword that was sent with him to Jisai by his father, an exceptionally long and seemingly unwieldy blade that would eventually become famous as ‘the drying pole.’
What follows is a fascinating tale of yet another wild young man destined to follow the way of the sword, even while his foster father, one who knows intimately the disillusionment and pain that comes with devotion to the way of the sword, does all he can to stop it in the hopes of making him into a ‘good man’. At odds with each other and the villagers around them, Kojiro and Jisai are eventually brought into their community by the threat of the local oppressive boss, a former ‘saviour’ of the village who soon became its greatest threat and whose swordsmanship will test the mettle of the strange father and son.
Musashi, Kohei, and Kojiro are in many ways very different characters and yet they share a very important commonality: they are all young men with an inherent wildness and strength that eclipses all else in their character and dominates their lives. They are also all outsiders, unable to integrate with the civilized world around them, who find the lust for violence an irresistible siren song. They each express this need to fight in different ways and each of them is distinctly different in character and outlook, but they share a common brotherhood in their devotion not only to the sword, but to violence itself as an ethos. How and why they embrace this ethos, or choose to fight against it, is perhaps what makes them each truly unique.
July 19, 2018
15 volumes in, and Vagabond only gets better. This omnibus is pretty outstanding. First off, the story of Shishido Baiken gets wrapped up in volume 13, and although it felt a bit anticlimactic narrative-wise, it was still an absolutely mesmerising read thanks to Inoue's sublime artwork. There's just nothing else like it — you have to see it to understand, and I would highly recommend these oversized Vizbig omnibuses as the best possible format to experience his art.
Anyway, volume 13 acts as a sort of epilogue to the first big act of Vagabond, because volumes 14 and 15 begin a brand new story, and a new path for a different warrior — Sasaki Kojiro, who becomes our main character for now. Kojiro was a legendary archrival of Miyamoto Musashi, and we get to see his life from the infancy, as fate leaves him to the care of Kanemaki Jisai. Previously a master of the sword, he now lives as a hermit and an outcast, all but abandoning his old ways, and now he has to take care of someone else's baby, a child of war who lost his parents. It's an incredibly emotional and beautiful story, and I'd say the best storytelling Inoue has done in Vagabond up to this point.
Vagabond keeps being the best non-comedy manga I've ever read, and is a prime example of how incredible and distinctive manga can be. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and personally I can't wait to read the next book.
Anyway, volume 13 acts as a sort of epilogue to the first big act of Vagabond, because volumes 14 and 15 begin a brand new story, and a new path for a different warrior — Sasaki Kojiro, who becomes our main character for now. Kojiro was a legendary archrival of Miyamoto Musashi, and we get to see his life from the infancy, as fate leaves him to the care of Kanemaki Jisai. Previously a master of the sword, he now lives as a hermit and an outcast, all but abandoning his old ways, and now he has to take care of someone else's baby, a child of war who lost his parents. It's an incredibly emotional and beautiful story, and I'd say the best storytelling Inoue has done in Vagabond up to this point.
Vagabond keeps being the best non-comedy manga I've ever read, and is a prime example of how incredible and distinctive manga can be. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and personally I can't wait to read the next book.
May 11, 2023
Incredible, one of the best storylines I've read in a comic.
July 5, 2021
Volume 13
Musashi concludes his duel with Kohei Tsujikaze, the master of the sickle and chain technique, and forces Musashi to rethink his strategy.
In fact Musashi ends up rethinking a lot of things. Up until this point he's been on a death spiral of sorts, he wants to become the greatest swordsman who ever lived, leading him to greater and greater challenges.
And now he's finally wondering about the cost, and whether there is more to being the greatest samurai than simply killing your next opponent.
There's an interlude here where we see Kohei's backstory from childhood all the way up to the first time he hears of Musashi. It's sad and brutal, and it humanises him in a way that gives the reader a certain amount of sympathy for him. Even before hearing his tale I didn't want Musashi to kill him.
It's something that Takehiko Inoue really excels at, creating likeable opponents who you really empathise with.
Volume 14 & 15
These two volumes flash back to decades earlier to follow the childhood journey of Kojiro Sasaki. A character that Musashi's friend Matahachi masqueraded as in a few of the earlier volumes. Kojiro was known as a famed swordsman and here we see how that came to be.
Kojiro is extremely likeable as a kid, friendly and playful, but also completely deaf, so he does have some trouble fitting in.
He is mentored by a former samurai, the old washed up Jisai Kanemaki, who serves as a warning of sorts for Musashi's possible future. All he cared about was dedicating his life to the sword and would have ended up dying alone if it wasn't for the arrival of Kojiro.
Musashi doesn't appear, but the parallels to his story are obvious, both in the washed up old master and his young, trouble apprentice.
I know Musashi and Kojiro are destined to face off, but now I'll be filled with sadness because I like both characters so much.
Previous reviews:
Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three
Volume Four
Musashi concludes his duel with Kohei Tsujikaze, the master of the sickle and chain technique, and forces Musashi to rethink his strategy.
In fact Musashi ends up rethinking a lot of things. Up until this point he's been on a death spiral of sorts, he wants to become the greatest swordsman who ever lived, leading him to greater and greater challenges.
And now he's finally wondering about the cost, and whether there is more to being the greatest samurai than simply killing your next opponent.
There's an interlude here where we see Kohei's backstory from childhood all the way up to the first time he hears of Musashi. It's sad and brutal, and it humanises him in a way that gives the reader a certain amount of sympathy for him. Even before hearing his tale I didn't want Musashi to kill him.
It's something that Takehiko Inoue really excels at, creating likeable opponents who you really empathise with.
Volume 14 & 15
These two volumes flash back to decades earlier to follow the childhood journey of Kojiro Sasaki. A character that Musashi's friend Matahachi masqueraded as in a few of the earlier volumes. Kojiro was known as a famed swordsman and here we see how that came to be.
Kojiro is extremely likeable as a kid, friendly and playful, but also completely deaf, so he does have some trouble fitting in.
He is mentored by a former samurai, the old washed up Jisai Kanemaki, who serves as a warning of sorts for Musashi's possible future. All he cared about was dedicating his life to the sword and would have ended up dying alone if it wasn't for the arrival of Kojiro.
Musashi doesn't appear, but the parallels to his story are obvious, both in the washed up old master and his young, trouble apprentice.
I know Musashi and Kojiro are destined to face off, but now I'll be filled with sadness because I like both characters so much.
Previous reviews:
Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three
Volume Four
February 8, 2017
Volume 13 - 3 Stars
This volume was quite great, although not too much happened. What did occur, was done brilliantly and I loved seeing more questions and confusion placed on Musashi. I really enjoyed Tsujikaze's upbringing, I mean I didn't necessarily love watching her/him growing up the way she did but it was super interesting to see how she overcame her brother and the Tsujikaze gang. She's an astounding female character I appreciate Inoue's choice of creating her to further Musashi's confusion and in turn, help in his transcendence. I'm still confused as to why Sasaki Kojirō was named, because his bloodlust ?? I'm not too sure but I am super keen to find out in the upcoming volumes... Let's get started, I love this series so so much !
Volume 14 - 5 stars
This is first volume of this series that doesn't have the protagonist Musashi in it however it was great! Sasaki's story was really inspiring and sweet. I love that Inoue is creating stories for his characters, it makes them so much more dense and admirable. I loved this particular character background especially, he added an extra layer of depth to Sasaki that I previously never would have encountered. I loved the art as always and seriously the series just keeps getting better and better ! Loved it :)
Volume 15 - 5 Stars
Absolutely phenomenal, Sasaki and Jisai are amazing characters. I love Kanemaki Jisai as a father, his growth was inspiring throughout the last two volumes, his choices are powerful. I loved this volume so much, can't wait to continue !
This volume was quite great, although not too much happened. What did occur, was done brilliantly and I loved seeing more questions and confusion placed on Musashi. I really enjoyed Tsujikaze's upbringing, I mean I didn't necessarily love watching her/him growing up the way she did but it was super interesting to see how she overcame her brother and the Tsujikaze gang. She's an astounding female character I appreciate Inoue's choice of creating her to further Musashi's confusion and in turn, help in his transcendence. I'm still confused as to why Sasaki Kojirō was named, because his bloodlust ?? I'm not too sure but I am super keen to find out in the upcoming volumes... Let's get started, I love this series so so much !
Volume 14 - 5 stars
This is first volume of this series that doesn't have the protagonist Musashi in it however it was great! Sasaki's story was really inspiring and sweet. I love that Inoue is creating stories for his characters, it makes them so much more dense and admirable. I loved this particular character background especially, he added an extra layer of depth to Sasaki that I previously never would have encountered. I loved the art as always and seriously the series just keeps getting better and better ! Loved it :)
Volume 15 - 5 Stars
Absolutely phenomenal, Sasaki and Jisai are amazing characters. I love Kanemaki Jisai as a father, his growth was inspiring throughout the last two volumes, his choices are powerful. I loved this volume so much, can't wait to continue !
November 23, 2021
It is rare to feel the need to apologize to a rating you have given. And I have sincerely thought between giving this omnibus volume a four or a five-star training. But in the end, I found the Baiken arc, which covers a good portion of this book to be not as good as the previous (and the succeeding) arcs. But it still is a solid 7.5 to 8.0 for me, and that is a testament on how good this manga is!
Kojiro's story/arc on the other hand starts pretty strongly. The characters, especially Kanemako Jisai are very well written! I hope the payoff that readers would get in this arc would be immense. Kojiro Sasaki's arc is a welcome breather in Vagabond, which almost all the time focuses with Mushashi Miyamoto's journey.
Kojiro's story/arc on the other hand starts pretty strongly. The characters, especially Kanemako Jisai are very well written! I hope the payoff that readers would get in this arc would be immense. Kojiro Sasaki's arc is a welcome breather in Vagabond, which almost all the time focuses with Mushashi Miyamoto's journey.
March 27, 2023
Quite possibly my favorite volume yet!
We get a conclusion of the Kohei and Musashi dual which was badass as always. The ending was quite poetic but Musashi wasn't the center of this particular volume.
Sasaki Kojiro. A name we've heard about a lot within the series. When I was reading it I totally forgot who he was. Now we get a tragically beautiful origin to the name.
10/10
We get a conclusion of the Kohei and Musashi dual which was badass as always. The ending was quite poetic but Musashi wasn't the center of this particular volume.
Sasaki Kojiro. A name we've heard about a lot within the series. When I was reading it I totally forgot who he was. Now we get a tragically beautiful origin to the name.
10/10
June 30, 2024
Who knew that the receipt for me to give Vagabond finally 5 stars (which arguably it deserved from the beginning in terms of quality) was called Kanemaki Jisai.
I have a YouTube channel where I review (coherently) comics & books. Check it out if you fancy! https://youtube.com/@theinkedreader77...
I have a YouTube channel where I review (coherently) comics & books. Check it out if you fancy! https://youtube.com/@theinkedreader77...
April 26, 2019
10/10
Bruh. Like. What? I wasn’t expecting a total shift in narrative but I LOVE the emotions coming off the page and the setup to what is coming. A nice change of pace and beautiful artwork like always.
Bruh. Like. What? I wasn’t expecting a total shift in narrative but I LOVE the emotions coming off the page and the setup to what is coming. A nice change of pace and beautiful artwork like always.
September 4, 2023
4.5/5 stars
Truly have never seen action and movement be so compelling and moving and have it reveal so much about a character as with Vagabond. It makes it such a compelling story to read.
Truly have never seen action and movement be so compelling and moving and have it reveal so much about a character as with Vagabond. It makes it such a compelling story to read.
March 25, 2025
I'd give this more than 5 stars if I could, this was just phenomenal.
Apart from the initial conclusion to the arc at the end of vol.4 the main focus was on one very dark backstory and one both sad and heartwarming backstory. Both of which were incredibly well written alongside absolutely beautiful artwork.
I really love the art style in this series it's so raw and detailed and sets the tone so perfectly, there are so many pages I just sit and stare at for a while.
Also, this is just a testament to how good Inoue is at writing these side characters because this was my favourite volume so far and Musashi was barely in it.
Apart from the initial conclusion to the arc at the end of vol.4 the main focus was on one very dark backstory and one both sad and heartwarming backstory. Both of which were incredibly well written alongside absolutely beautiful artwork.
I really love the art style in this series it's so raw and detailed and sets the tone so perfectly, there are so many pages I just sit and stare at for a while.
Also, this is just a testament to how good Inoue is at writing these side characters because this was my favourite volume so far and Musashi was barely in it.
January 9, 2024
This may be my favorite volume so far! The artwork is absolutely incredible. The scene on the beach with the little boy imitating his "father" was breathtaking. This volume drifts away from the central protagonist but we get some really compelling side stories and looks into the past. The action sequences were fantastic and the dialogue between characters was great. Not a bad thing to say about this volume.
March 24, 2019
I think I read this whole volume with a fat smile on my face. I don't know which was better,
Musashi vs. Tsujikaze Kohei or the reveal of Musashi's greatest rival, Sasaki Kojiro.
I think that the art in the fight between Kohei and Musashi was perhaps the best so far in the series.
Musashi vs. Tsujikaze Kohei or the reveal of Musashi's greatest rival, Sasaki Kojiro.
I think that the art in the fight between Kohei and Musashi was perhaps the best so far in the series.
September 19, 2024
PHENOMENAL STORYTELLING AND ARTWORK! Holy shit this volume was a masterpiece. Kojiro’s story is moving, beautiful, and so well-done. I love this manga so much. Easily one of the best series I’ve read.
Want to read
January 5, 2019--Vagabond, Volume 5
Glossary and Background Information
Vagabond Storyboards: A peek into the making of Vagabond
Author Comments
Glossary and Background Information
Vagabond Storyboards: A peek into the making of Vagabond
Author Comments
September 29, 2023
I really enjoy the character growth. It's not bullshit character growth either, Musashi asks real questions of himself, and questions the values he has internalised from others.
June 7, 2023
Without one sense how can one make sense of the world that they are in? It comes to show that the body compensates and you learn to adapt and grow in a unique way. Love this character and can’t wait to see more
July 4, 2023
The problem is that it is confusing for the kid in this story is Sasaki Kojiro. Thats the name fraudenltly used by the childhood friend of Takezo-Musashi, and it looked like he died, when the friend stole his identity, so either its a big spoiler meaning that the real Kojiro is to appear on the story, or it is a filler.
March 16, 2014
I really enjoyed this, the fifth, in the VIZBIG editions of Vagabond. The artwork is excellent and the storyline is both intricate and easy to follow. Characters are varied as are their motivations. Inoue is both a master storyteller and a wonderful artist. In the same league of Samurai fiction as Lone Wolf & Cub.
January 8, 2017
4 3/4 stars
July 28, 2021
This series is just absolutely incredible. The art dazzles on almost every page and the story keeps getting better and better.
Kojiro’s backstory is a large departure from the story so far but it is extremely captivating. I’ve grown to love both him and his adopted father! Can’t wait for more!
Kojiro’s backstory is a large departure from the story so far but it is extremely captivating. I’ve grown to love both him and his adopted father! Can’t wait for more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2019
Did not expect the majority of this edition to be a flashback. It was really great to meet this new character. He is going to be epic.
June 14, 2020
This is a great volume, I love how we got to see the backstory for Sasaki Kojiro. The Art is breathtaking. Vagabond keeps getting better and better.
September 26, 2020
Strange, but not bad
So the 1st volume in this 3 volume piece was a continuation of the former story arc, whereas the next two volumes start a brand new story with (to my knowledge) no overarching characters from the first.
So I'll split this video into two separate chunks.
The first chunk is that the climax to the story arc that was Miyamoto clashing with his old time rival....I honestly can't remember his name. Forgive me! This was a dude that appeared in the first half of story, after Miyamoto had killed brother. We find out he had a pretty hard time coping with this. And the brunt of this volume was all flashback of a character who was dead, if not on the way to being dead when we were given this bit of the story. So for me, this was a bit of a dud. Though I enjoyed the context. I really needed this context a far long while before the death of said character we explored. I did not really enjoy his backstory as it was inevitably bonus material for a character we wouldn't be seeing anymore.
I also found it was quite the...how to say, convenience that the story Miyamoto found them so easily, it seemed as if the story didn't exactly understand who the viewpoint should be between Miyamoto, This guy, and Matahachi. I wasn't pleased.
However, starting Sasaki's inception in the next stage I was thoroughly interested in. It's not that Miyamoto's story was boring, but it definitely was getting stale. I felt like Miyamoto as a protagonist was compelling at first but I definitely enjoyed the change of pace. His story-line could only do so much, where I feel like Sasaki has a lot more potential.
Overall, I needed this to reinvigorate the series was really approaching staleness. Hence why it took me nearly a month to actually finish this.
So the 1st volume in this 3 volume piece was a continuation of the former story arc, whereas the next two volumes start a brand new story with (to my knowledge) no overarching characters from the first.
So I'll split this video into two separate chunks.
The first chunk is that the climax to the story arc that was Miyamoto clashing with his old time rival....I honestly can't remember his name. Forgive me! This was a dude that appeared in the first half of story, after Miyamoto had killed brother. We find out he had a pretty hard time coping with this. And the brunt of this volume was all flashback of a character who was dead, if not on the way to being dead when we were given this bit of the story. So for me, this was a bit of a dud. Though I enjoyed the context. I really needed this context a far long while before the death of said character we explored. I did not really enjoy his backstory as it was inevitably bonus material for a character we wouldn't be seeing anymore.
I also found it was quite the...how to say, convenience that the story Miyamoto found them so easily, it seemed as if the story didn't exactly understand who the viewpoint should be between Miyamoto, This guy, and Matahachi. I wasn't pleased.
However, starting Sasaki's inception in the next stage I was thoroughly interested in. It's not that Miyamoto's story was boring, but it definitely was getting stale. I felt like Miyamoto as a protagonist was compelling at first but I definitely enjoyed the change of pace. His story-line could only do so much, where I feel like Sasaki has a lot more potential.
Overall, I needed this to reinvigorate the series was really approaching staleness. Hence why it took me nearly a month to actually finish this.
June 28, 2020
This volume is a bit different in the sense we take a breather from the Musashi side of this tale and focus elsewhere, but equally, if not more, amazing. We get to hear the tale of Kanemaki Jisai and Sasaki Kojiros origin. I don't think our protagonist got this level of character back story as Jisai and Kojiro did. It was a very good telling of the origin of this legend, this part of the series was pretty deep on an emotional level, delving into both Jisai and Kojiro and their relationship we see develop throughout their lives. Also the main antagonist of this volume, Master Fudo, was written (drawn) well. He was menacing especially with the one arm chopped off and took on this demonic aura. Overall this arc was very good. We are introduced to the formidable character of Sasaki Kojiro and I can't wait to see how all this ties in with Musashis main arc.
August 10, 2023
This one just leaves the Miyamoto Musashi storyline and goes to two other characters and one of the most amazing origin stories i have read recently. Kojiro and Jisai will forever be one of my favorite characters in this entire series and i know its a bold statement to make when i am just in Vol 5 (Im still figuring out Ito). Its a nice little detour away from the Musashi storyline and some very prominent characters from the first books makes their appearance in this one in another timeline. This one has a lot of emotions in it and i am sensing the clash of the Musashi storyline with these characters and i wonder whose side i will take :D.
I have to say Tsujikaze Kohei is also one another well written character in this series and Master Fudo is a proper proper Badass!.. goosebumps on many of the pages!
I have to say Tsujikaze Kohei is also one another well written character in this series and Master Fudo is a proper proper Badass!.. goosebumps on many of the pages!
May 16, 2025
This is perfect, my English it's not good enough to express all the beauty of this manga, reading this in 2025 now that all these narratives with single dads are trending makes them so foolish, I might be overreacting because I've finished right now but the relationship between Kojiro and Jisai is builded made me think how people misunderstood the way of the sword, I think deeply after those 142 chapters that It has consumed so much men into a void of emptiness and isolation for an obsession that guide them exclusively into a path of death, loneliness that transformed them in a sword, cold, flat , emotionless.
November 12, 2025
This book finishes the fight between Musashi and Shishido Baiken, or Kohei, and gives a very memorable backstory for the latter. Overall, Kohei is one of the most compelling characters in the series to me so far and the effect of their fight on Musashi seems like a game changer. The other two volumes of this book go back in time to introduce Sasaki Kojuro. I knew Kojiro was an important part of this series, but I was not expecting to get a full narrative perspective from him. I also did not expect him to be dead and mute. I found this section to be one of the best stretches of the series so far and I’m excited to continue Kojiro’s story!
March 15, 2024
What a wonderful vibrant story this volume covers. Reflections on parenthood, purpose and other wonderful themes. It is amazing how Inoue weaves all these human themes through a story about sword fighting. And it is similarly baffling how some of these panels have been woven. It is like a collection where each panel shows similar quality to an individual museum piece.
Look for the panel with the bag of coins that has been folded open. It could be a still-life painting in a museum for all its craftmanship and detail.
Enough gushing and on to the next volume!
Look for the panel with the bag of coins that has been folded open. It could be a still-life painting in a museum for all its craftmanship and detail.
Enough gushing and on to the next volume!
March 29, 2023
This manga just keeps getting better. Imo this one has been the most beautiful so far, with Kojiro’s backstory. The relationship between him and his adoptive father is nothing short of a narrative masterpiece. That’s nothing new with Vagabond, but I found myself completely roped in, more so than previous volumes. The fight with Baiken at the beginning goes a bit quickly, but it’s still a treat on every front, especially the artwork and action. Another 10/10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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