The Lone Samurai: the Life of Miyamoto Musashi

The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi

William Scott

Wilson Kodansha International

17-14 Otowa 1-chome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8652

ISBN 477002942X $24.00 287 pages

If you are a student of martial arts or history, and were looking for the same Miyamoto Musashi who slashed his way to stardom in ancient Japanese tomes (writing a few of them himself), then you would find him in the first few chapters of Lone Samurai. In the rest of the book, you'll find the rest of Musashi. Even after living in Japan for over two years, I found the book very insightful. Aside from being perhaps the greatest swordsman who ever lived, he was also a dedicated poet, sculptor, and gardener, as well as knowing the "Way of the Tea; and was adept the recitation of Noh drama, garden design, and perhaps even carpentry."

Wilson points out this made him the true version of the Bushido code warrior, a design and dream of martial arts since the Confucian days in ancient China. Other things learned, for many it may be the first time, is that he had a "Family" in the loosest sense of the word. A courtesan in Edo had attracted his attention, and Miyamoto is known to have made at least one trip to Edo with no military value whatsoever just to see her. He also adopted two young men as his own sons, although the woman who briefly shared part of his life did not raise them.

Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of Wilson's book is that he goes through other literature written about Miyamoto. This is not done out of competition, but rather as a cultural study, and a very intriguing one at that.

Whatever you may already know about the life of Japan's greatest swordsman, you will find yourself intrigued and able to learn more in the pages of Mr. Wilson's work.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Midwest Book Review
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