@tom.fitzgerald13: On a small island in 1612, two of Japan’s greatest swordsmen met in what would become one of history’s most famous duels. Sasaki Kojirō arrived first. Miyamoto Musashi arrived late. The delay was deliberate, to unsettle his opponent and by the time Musashi stepped ashore, he had carved a wooden sword from an oar during the journey across. Musashi struck Kojirō before he could recover from his own famous Tsubame Gaeshi (“Swallow Cut”), and one of the greatest rivalries in Japanese history came to an end. Like many famous historical duels, the details differ between later accounts. Some were written decades after the event, and separating fact from legend isn’t always straightforward but whatever happened Musashi survived, Kojirō did not, and the encounter became one of the defining stories of Japanese martial tradition. Further reading: The Book of Five Rings — Miyamoto Musashi

Tom Fitzgerald

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Friday 17 July 2026 15:12:15 GMT