Shinmen Musashi Fujiwara Harunobu (新免武蔵藤原玄信), also known as Miyamoto Musashi, is the most famous sword master in the world. He was born in 1584 and died June 13 in 1645. His text "Gorin no Sho" is also very popular for all people even today. He also made many art paintings.
His sword style is called "Niten Ichi Ryu." It is also know as two hands swords style.
He was born in Harima (or Mimasaka) in 1584.
When he was 13 years old, he fought Arima Kihei of Shinto ryu and won. This was his first sword fighting. In 16 years old, he won against Akiyama who was very strong sword master at that time. After that, he fought over 60 times until he was 29 years old and never lost.
Legend said, he joined the battle of Sekigahara with his father Shinmen Munisai.
His accepted son, Iori wrote couple of great fighting of Musashi. In 1604, he fought against Yoshioka which was very strong sword school at Kyoto. He won the head of Yoshioka and his brother and subverted Yoshioka.
The most famous battle of Musashi and also the last battle of him, was happened at Ganryu Island. He challenged the master of Gan Ryu (Sasaki Kojiro). He won Kojiro with an oar.
In the siege of Osaka in 1614, he joined Tokugawa army. He was soldier of Mizuno Katsushige.
He joined the revolt of Shimabara in 1638. His fighting was recommended to Hosokawa Tadatoshi, the lord of Higo, kumamoto.
The last fight of Musashi was held here. He fought against Ujii Yashirou Mitsunari, the Menkyo Kaiden of Shintoryu and Shinkageryu. Mitsunari was also the chief instructor of Tadatoshi. Mitsunari attacked 3 times, but Musashi avoided easily. He didn't attack back Mitsunari to keep his face to Tadatoshi. Then, Tatatoshi himself challenged Musashi. Tadatoshi was also the master of Yagyu Shinkageryu. Musashi also won. Tadatoshi was overwhelmed and became the student of Musashi and his style Niten Ichiryu.
Later, Niten Ichiryu became the official sword style of Kumamoto samurai.
Musashi spend rest of his time at Kumamoto. In 1643, when he was 62 year's old, he started writing his own record for his style Niten Ichiryu at Reigan Cave. The scrolls are called "Gorin no Sho." Gorin no sho has 5 volume, earth, water, fire, wind and universe. It has all his knowledge of fighting. He died one week after he finished writing Gorin no Sho.
He died June 13 in 1645. Legend said, Musashi was buried with his armer to look after his lord Hosokawa clan all the time. The location of the grave is located on Otsu Road where Hosokawa clan used for Daimyo parade. He showed his loyalty to his lord.