Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings: The Manga Edition

“Engrossing and highly readable…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.” —Bernie Gourley“This is not an adaption of the Book of Five Rings (which is a philosophical/strategic piece) but rather an exploration of its themes…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 Online Eccentric Librarian

Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) was a Samurai, writer, philosopher and strategist who is known today as the greatest Japanese swordsman to have ever lived. He founded the revolutionary Niten Ichi-ryu style of swordsmanship. In the last year of his life, he penned The Book of Five Rings, his masterpiece on military strategy which offers insights into the Zen Buddhist state of ‘no-mind’ that enables warriors to will themselves to victory, and the philosophy of Bushido - ‘the way of the warrior’.

Koji Kondo is a manga artist based in Japan. He has published several manga titles including the popular Run! T School Basketball Club series.

Translation by Makiko Itoh. Itoh is the author of the Just Bento cookbook series and has translated many Japanese works into English including Zen Wisdom for the Anxious and Modern Japanese Ikebana. She writes regular columns on food for The Japan Times.