Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 225 (click to see context) from:
* AloofBigBrother
to:
* AloofBigBrotherAloofBigBrother: A prodigy of a swordsman with natural skills, he is somewhat cold to and talks down to his younger brother Denshichirō, who does not have his natural gifts and struggles in Seijūrō's shadow.
Changed line(s) 231 (click to see context) from:
* IaijutsuPractitioner: When Musashi first encounters Seijuro, he marvels at how fast Seijuro's draw is.
to:
* IaijutsuPractitioner: When FragileSpeedster: The fragile part is downplayed somewhat, but he's a short and skinny swordsman who is incredibly quick (even after all his trials and fight experience, Musashi first encounters Seijuro, he marvels at how fast Seijuro's draw is. still can't actually dodge Seijūrō's fastest strikes, only react just enough to turn what would have been lethal blows into wounds instead), who simply is not built to take punishment the way Musashi or his brother can.
* HiddenDepths:
** Although he appears as carefree, pleasure seeking wastrel, he is a deadly fighter. He hates the pressure of living up to the Yoshioka name and looks for every opportunity to ditch it or to make people not expect that from him.
** While seemingly happy to tease and torment his younger brother, in private Seijūrō admits that ha actually cares a great deal about Denshichirō and worries about his safety. Furthermore, after being killed by Musashi, it's shown that there are a great number of scars on his body, and Ryōhei instantly deduces that Seijūrō has likely secretly fought off many other threats to the school and Denshichirō the same way he attempted to do with Musashi.
* IaijutsuPractitioner: When Musashi first encounters Seijuro, he marvels at how fast Seijuro's draw is.
** Although he appears as carefree, pleasure seeking wastrel, he is a deadly fighter. He hates the pressure of living up to the Yoshioka name and looks for every opportunity to ditch it or to make people not expect that from him.
** While seemingly happy to tease and torment his younger brother, in private Seijūrō admits that ha actually cares a great deal about Denshichirō and worries about his safety. Furthermore, after being killed by Musashi, it's shown that there are a great number of scars on his body, and Ryōhei instantly deduces that Seijūrō has likely secretly fought off many other threats to the school and Denshichirō the same way he attempted to do with Musashi.
* IaijutsuPractitioner: When Musashi first encounters Seijuro, he marvels at how fast Seijuro's draw is.
Changed line(s) 247 (click to see context) from:
* HonorBeforeReason: He insists on fighting his rematch with Musashi even though he is clearly outmatched and stands nothing to win.
to:
* HonorBeforeReason: HonorBeforeReason:
** He insists on fighting his rematch with Musashi even though he is clearly outmatched and stands nothing to win.
** He insists on fighting his rematch with Musashi even though he is clearly outmatched and stands nothing to win.
Changed line(s) 249 (click to see context) from:
* OverShadowedByAwesome: Skilled and dedicated swordsman, but hopelessly outranked by his brother and eventually Musashi.
to:
* OverShadowedByAwesome: Skilled and dedicated swordsman, but hopelessly outranked by his brother and eventually Musashi.Musashi as well.
Changed line(s) 274 (click to see context) from:
* AwesomeEgo: Nobody around can stand him because of his arrogance, but he is an excellent swordsman. After his death a number of the senior Yoshioka apprentices admit that they could only dream of matching Toji's skill with a sword.
to:
* AwesomeEgo: Nobody around [InUniverse] None of the other senior Yoshioka disciples can stand him because of his arrogance, but he is an excellent swordsman. After his death a number several of the senior Yoshioka apprentices admit that they could only dream of matching Toji's skill with a sword.sword.
* BackForTheDead: After being absent from the story for a long stretch of time, he reappears as a dirty wanderer. Hearing the news that Musashi killed Seijūrō, he launches a reckless suicide attack on Musashi, and is cut down in a single move, [[TheWorfEffect highlighting exactly how much Musashi has improved]].
* BackForTheDead: After being absent from the story for a long stretch of time, he reappears as a dirty wanderer. Hearing the news that Musashi killed Seijūrō, he launches a reckless suicide attack on Musashi, and is cut down in a single move, [[TheWorfEffect highlighting exactly how much Musashi has improved]].
* BreakTheBadass: His entire ego and sense of self-worth is built around his ability as a swordsman, so the realization that that Inshun would have easily defeated him is a shattering blow to his confidence and ego. Failing to kill Musashi doesn't do his pride any good either. He never returns to the Yoshioka, and when he finally reappears in the story, he's a mess from a year of homeless wandering.
Changed line(s) 277 (click to see context) from:
* IHaveNoSon: After [[spoiler:his death]] one of the Yoshioka goes to inform his mother. She denies being related to him.
to:
* IHaveNoSon: After [[spoiler:his death]] his death one of the Yoshioka goes to inform his mother. She denies being related to him.
Changed line(s) 290,291 (click to see context) from:
%%* WarriorMonk
to:
Changed line(s) 297,300 (click to see context) from:
%%* CallToAgriculture
%%* OldMaster
%%* RetiredBadass
%%* OldMaster
%%* RetiredBadass
to:
%%* OldMaster
%%* RetiredBadass
* OldMaster: A tiny, wrinkled old man with decades of combat experience. Although he no longer breaks out his fighting ability, he still has it and is a
* RetiredBadass: Once was a great spear master and martial artist, now he just peacefully tends to his fields and tries to teach Inshun.
Changed line(s) 303,304 (click to see context) from:
The second generation master of the Hōzōin spear technique.
to:
The second generation master of the Hōzōin spear technique.
technique, and current leader of the temple.
Changed line(s) 308,312 (click to see context) from:
* [[spoiler:LaserGuidedAmnesia]]
* MeaningfulRename: [[spoiler:his birthname is Shinnosuke Mitsuda, and he belonged to the Mitsuda samurai family, but he gets orphaned when a bandit rapes his mother and kills both of his parents, thus In'ei adopts him and, using the first character of his name,]] renames him "Inshun".
* NoSocialSkills: He is aloof and cold to his peers, to the point they come to resent him.
* [[spoiler:NearDeathClairvoyance]]
* SlasherSmile: Frequently sports one.
* MeaningfulRename: [[spoiler:his birthname is Shinnosuke Mitsuda, and he belonged to the Mitsuda samurai family, but he gets orphaned when a bandit rapes his mother and kills both of his parents, thus In'ei adopts him and, using the first character of his name,]] renames him "Inshun".
* NoSocialSkills: He is aloof and cold to his peers, to the point they come to resent him.
* [[spoiler:NearDeathClairvoyance]]
* SlasherSmile: Frequently sports one.
to:
* [[spoiler:LaserGuidedAmnesia]]
LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler:When he was a boy, Inshun's father was visiting the temple as part of a warrior's pilgrimage, until a random wandering ronin attempted to rape Inshun's mother. All three adults died in the ensuing fight, leaving a traumatized Inshun to be adopted by the temple, particularly In'ei. Inshun has no memory of this whatsoever until his loss and near death at Musashi's hands in their second bout makes him recall it all.]]
* MeaningfulRename:[[spoiler:his [[spoiler:His birthname is Shinnosuke Mitsuda, and he belonged to the Mitsuda samurai family, but he gets orphaned when a bandit rapes his mother and kills both of his parents, thus parents]]. Afterward In'ei adopts adopted him and, using the first character of his name,]] name, renames him "Inshun".
* NoSocialSkills: He is aloof andcold cool to his peers, to the point they come to resent him.
him. There is absolutely no malice in this, and Inshun frequently even comes across as somewhat jovial, but he simply has no idea how to talk to other people and socialize successfully.
*[[spoiler:NearDeathClairvoyance]]
NearDeathClairvoyance: [[spoiler:His near death experience in his second bout with Musashi helps him unlock repressed memories.]]
* SlasherSmile: Frequently sportsone.a smile at all sorts of inappropriate times. Doing so during or just before combat can make it come as this trope.
* MeaningfulRename:
* NoSocialSkills: He is aloof and
*
* SlasherSmile: Frequently sports
Changed line(s) 322 (click to see context) from:
* SparedByAdaptation: In the original novel, Musashi never fights Inshun, but ends up killing Agon with a single blow...with a wooden sword no less.
to:
* SparedByAdaptation: In the original novel, Musashi never fights Inshun, but ends up killing Agon with a single blow... with a wooden sword no less.less.
* TheStoic: A calm, reserved monk who doesn't readily display his emotions.
* TheStoic: A calm, reserved monk who doesn't readily display his emotions.
Changed line(s) 329 (click to see context) from:
* SmugSnake
to:
* SmugSnakeSmugSnake: Thinks a lot of himself, but his skills lie in playing politics, not in matters of combat or religion. When Inshun discovers and confronts his conspiracy among the other monks to displace Inshun, the young warrior monk whips all the treacherous ones by himself.
Deleted line(s) 348,349 (click to see context) :
* HeirToTheDojo
* ReallyGetsAround: he likes to indulge in sexual pleasures, much like Matahachi, Seijūrō and Kojirō.
* ReallyGetsAround: he likes to indulge in sexual pleasures, much like Matahachi, Seijūrō and Kojirō.
Added DiffLines:
* HeirToTheDojo:
* ReallyGetsAround: he likes to indulge in sexual pleasures, much like Matahachi, Seijūrō and Kojirō.
* ReallyGetsAround: he likes to indulge in sexual pleasures, much like Matahachi, Seijūrō and Kojirō.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* BlindedByRage: Downplayed somewhat. When he fights Musashi, Musashi is compensating for an injured leg by remaining still within a circle that he draws in the ground with a walking stick, and telling challengers that they can leave and Musashi will do them no harm, but if they enter the circle, Musashi will kill them. The circle is exactly as large as the reach of Musashi's sword, so it acts as a visual aid to Musashi, letting him time his strikes perfectly and make up for the fact that he has no mobility thanks to his lingering injury. Ittōsai immediately grasps the purpose of the circle, but he becomes so infuriated by Musashi refusing to meet his bloodlust and aggression in kind that he eventually charges into the circle, and takes a serious [[spoiler:perhaps even fatal]] wound from Musashi doing so instead of finding a sway to outsmart Musashi's stratagem.
Changed line(s) 381 (click to see context) from:
* TheDreaded: Between his skill in battle, incredible bloodlust, and complete amorality, he's likely the single most dangerous man in Japan.
to:
* TheDreaded: Between his skill in battle, incredible bloodlust, and complete amorality, he's likely the single most dangerous man in Japan. Everyone who knows his reputation treats him accordingly.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 239,240 (click to see context) from:
The second son of Kempō Yoshioka. Lacking the innate skill of his prodigy of an older brother, Denshichiro is nevertheless fervently devoted to his training and is much more involved with the Yoshioka School than Seijuro.
to:
The second son of Kempō Yoshioka. Lacking Although he lacks the innate skill of his the prodigy of an older brother, Seijuro, Denshichiro is nevertheless fervently devoted to his training and is much more involved with the Yoshioka School than Seijuro.
Changed line(s) 244 (click to see context) from:
* BigLittleBrother
to:
* BigLittleBrotherBigLittleBrother: Towers over his smaller and thinner older brother Seijuro
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 231 (click to see context) from:
* IaijutsuPractitioner: When he first encounters Musashi, he marvels at how fast Seijuro's draw is.
to:
* IaijutsuPractitioner: When he Musashi first encounters Musashi, Seijuro, he marvels at how fast Seijuro's draw is.
Added DiffLines:
* BigLittleBrother
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 229,234 (click to see context) from:
* CombatPragmatist: [[spoiler: Not above ambushing people. See BigBrotherInstinct.]]
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass
* IaijutsuPractitioner
* TheHedonist: Prefers spending time in the pleasure quarters over running his dojo.
* OlderThanTheyLook: Just looking at him, you would not consider him to be the oldest of the Yoshioka brothers
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass
* IaijutsuPractitioner
* TheHedonist: Prefers spending time in the pleasure quarters over running his dojo.
* OlderThanTheyLook: Just looking at him, you would not consider him to be the oldest of the Yoshioka brothers
to:
* CombatPragmatist: [[spoiler: Not above ambushing people. See BigBrotherInstinct. It's revealed by Ueda that Seijuro's father told him to only fight those whose defeat is certain.]]
*CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass
CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: First appears as a drunk pretty boy chasing women in the street and tickling them...before drawing his sword and pointing it at Musashi's throat faster than he can even react.
*IaijutsuPractitioner
IaijutsuPractitioner: When he first encounters Musashi, he marvels at how fast Seijuro's draw is.
* TheHedonist: Prefers spending time in the pleasure quarters over running hisdojo.
dojo, and enjoys drinking sake.
* OlderThanTheyLook: Just looking at him, you would not consider him to be the oldest of the Yoshiokabrothers
brothers. Toji even mentions that people tend to think he and Seijuro look younger than they are.
*
*
* TheHedonist: Prefers spending time in the pleasure quarters over running his
* OlderThanTheyLook: Just looking at him, you would not consider him to be the oldest of the Yoshioka
Changed line(s) 239,240 (click to see context) from:
The second son of Kempō Yoshioka.
to:
The second son of Kempō Yoshioka.
Yoshioka. Lacking the innate skill of his prodigy of an older brother, Denshichiro is nevertheless fervently devoted to his training and is much more involved with the Yoshioka School than Seijuro.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 145 (click to see context) from:
* DieOrFly: Was on the receiving end of this by Ittōsai Itō, who only believed Kojirō could truly hone his skills as a swordsman through rigorous combat and extreme conditioning. As such, [[spoiler:Ittōsai left Kojirō to face hundreds of hungry, bitter villagers in the middle of a vast valley ''alone'' and waited to see if he'd make it. [[GoneHorriblyRight He came back, as one of the deadliest swordsmen in all of Japan.]]]]
to:
* DieOrFly: Was on the receiving end of this by Ittōsai Itō, who only believed Kojirō could truly hone his skills as a swordsman through rigorous combat and extreme conditioning. As such, [[spoiler:Ittōsai left Kojirō to face hundreds of hungry, bitter villagers in the middle of a vast valley ''alone'' and waited to see if he'd make it. ]] [[GoneHorriblyRight He came back, as one of the deadliest swordsmen in all of Japan.]]]]Japan]], and the first thing he did was [[spoiler:defeat and cripple Ittōsai.]]
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ittosai.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:250:''"This game never ends."'']]
[[caption-width-right:250:''"This game never ends."'']]
* AnimalMotifs: Ittōsai thinks of himself as a tiger. Both Mushashi and Sekishūsai liken him to a bear.
* BrokenPedestal: Very downplayed, but as a child Musashi idolized Ittōsai and envisioned him as something like a demon god and aimed to follow Ittōsai's example. By the time that Musashi encounters him (aside from the brief encounter Musashi doesn't remember in the wake of Sekigahara), Musashi is trying to let go of his dark bloodlust and violent tendencies, and no longer wants to be like Ittōsai, and the encounter seems to convince Musashi that he's taking the right path in doing so.
* TheCorrupter: Acted as this to a young Kojiro. [[spoiler:It didn't go the way he expected, and ended with Kojiro cutting off half of his right hand.]]
* TheCorrupter: Acted as this to a young Kojiro. [[spoiler:It didn't go the way he expected, and ended with Kojiro cutting off half of his right hand.]]
Changed line(s) 374,375 (click to see context) from:
* GeniusBruiser: Not only does he have great strength even in his fifties, he is also very smart and cunning. He even manages to completely change his fighting style [[spoiler:to work around the crippling injury Kojiro dealt him]].
* ItsAllAboutMe: while other characters start to seek deeper things in life the more the series goes on, he never seeks spiritual growth and calls Sekishūsai's "way of without a blade" as nonsense.
* ItsAllAboutMe: while other characters start to seek deeper things in life the more the series goes on, he never seeks spiritual growth and calls Sekishūsai's "way of without a blade" as nonsense.
to:
* TheDreaded: Between his skill in battle, incredible bloodlust, and complete amorality, he's likely the single most dangerous man in Japan.
* FashionableAsymmetry: When Musashi encounters him, not only do Ittōsai's clothes look very rough, but his left arm has the sleeve cut short, while the right has a long sleeve that completely hides his arm. This is partially the natural result of Ittōsai being a homeless wanderer, and partly [[spoiler:to hide the crippling injury Kojiro inflicted to his right hand.]]
* GeniusBruiser: Not only does he have great physical strength even in his fifties, he is also verysmart and cunning. He even manages to completely change his fighting style [[spoiler:to work around the crippling injury Kojiro dealt him]].
* ItsAllAboutMe:while While other characters start to seek deeper things in life the more the series goes on, he never seeks spiritual growth and calls Sekishūsai's "way of without a blade" as nonsense.
* FashionableAsymmetry: When Musashi encounters him, not only do Ittōsai's clothes look very rough, but his left arm has the sleeve cut short, while the right has a long sleeve that completely hides his arm. This is partially the natural result of Ittōsai being a homeless wanderer, and partly [[spoiler:to hide the crippling injury Kojiro inflicted to his right hand.]]
* GeniusBruiser: Not only does he have great physical strength even in his fifties, he is also very
* ItsAllAboutMe:
Changed line(s) 378 (click to see context) from:
* TheSociopath
to:
* TheSociopathTheSociopath: Ittōsai is utterly amoral. Good and evil effectively don't exist for him, only battle and the sword.
Changed line(s) 380 (click to see context) from:
to:
* UncertainDoom: [[spoiler:He's wounded in his fight against Musashi, and while he manages to walk away, it's clear that the wound is seriously bothering him, as he collapses at one point and is last seen laying under a tree. It's left ambiguous if he dies from the wound (or an infection setting in afterward) or not.]]
* WalkingTheEarth: Ittōsai wanders endlessly in search of battle and mastering the sword.
* WalkingTheEarth: Ittōsai wanders endlessly in search of battle and mastering the sword.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Ambiguous Disorder is not a trope anymore, but a redirect to a YMMV entry.
Deleted line(s) 140 (click to see context) :
* AmbiguousDisorder: His deafness and muteness notwithstanding, Kojirō has a lot of trouble when it comes to interacting with others--that is, unless they're a pretty lady or a samurai. With the former, he'd mostly resort to taking them to his bed on the spot, and with the latter, he'd only give them the time of day if they proved themselves willing to give their lives in a fight against him. His ability to pick up on social cues outside of that is almost nonexistent.
Changed line(s) 147 (click to see context) from:
* DisabilitySuperpower: Kojirō can't hear nor speak, and it's implied he has a bit of an AmbiguousDisorder which prevents him from interacting with others properly. However, he compensates for all of that by way of his incredible swordsmanship--his lack of hearing forced him to become extra-perceptive to both his environment and his reflexes, enabling him to survive countless near-death scenarios by way of him simply being ''that'' observant.
to:
* DisabilitySuperpower: Kojirō can't hear nor speak, and it's implied he has a bit of an AmbiguousDisorder some unspecified disorder which prevents him from interacting with others properly. However, he compensates for all of that by way of his incredible swordsmanship--his lack of hearing forced him to become extra-perceptive to both his environment and his reflexes, enabling him to survive countless near-death scenarios by way of him simply being ''that'' observant.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 289 (click to see context) from:
%%* BladeOnAStick: Their WeaponOfChoice
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 86 (click to see context) from:
* CowardlyLion: Tragically subverted. Whenever Matahachi is faced with a adversity or danger, he feels compelled to save the day or take a stand. [[CowardlyLion He never does]], and it haunts him every time.
to:
* CowardlyLion: Tragically subverted. Whenever Matahachi is faced with a adversity or danger, he feels compelled to save the day or take a stand. [[CowardlyLion He never does]], actually does, and it haunts him every time.
Added DiffLines:
* LegendaryImpostor: For awhile he impersonates Kojiro, somewhat by accident, believing that the actual Kojiro is dead.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
!!Gion Toji
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/toji_copy.png]]
Another senior disciple of the Yoshioka School, Toji considers himself the personal disciple of Seijuro and arrogantly believes that Seijuro is the greatest swordsman in the world and that Toji is second only to Seijuro himself. After Musashi's first clash with the Yosjioka, Toji goes on a self-appointed mission to kill Musashi.
!!Tropes
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Prior to the start of the series, he truly believed that only Seijuro was better than him. Inshun easily dodging his attack and Toji realizing that he wasn't quite as high up on the warrior's pecking order as he believed was an enormous blow to his ego.
* AnArmAndALeg: Toji loves this trope. Swinging for the wrists of his opponent and chopping off their hands while they're attacking him is his favorite technique.
* AwesomeEgo: Nobody around can stand him because of his arrogance, but he is an excellent swordsman. After his death a number of the senior Yoshioka apprentices admit that they could only dream of matching Toji's skill with a sword.
* BloodKnight: More than most, even among the bloodthirsty cast of this manga. One scene hints that he might get an actual sexual thrill out of combat.
* DuelingScar: Toji has a long, straight scar on one side of his face. While the source of it is never explained, it's implied to be from either a sword fight or training.
* IHaveNoSon: After [[spoiler:his death]] one of the Yoshioka goes to inform his mother. She denies being related to him.
* LightningBruiser: He isn't as fast as Seijuro, but he's extremely quick while being considerably larger than the diminutive Seijuro.
* TheRival: He's a self appointed rival to Musashi, having vowed to catch and kill Musashi after Musashi endangers the reputation of the Yoshioka by defeating multiple students.
* SmugSmiler: A constant smug smile is his most prominent trait.
Added DiffLines:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Bald Of Awesome has been disambig'd and is no longer a trope
Changed line(s) 270,273 (click to see context) from:
* BaldOfAwesome
* BladeOnAStick: Their WeaponOfChoice
* WarriorMonk
* BladeOnAStick: Their WeaponOfChoice
* WarriorMonk
to:
*
Changed line(s) 279,282 (click to see context) from:
* CallToAgriculture
* OldMaster
* RetiredBadass
* OldMaster
* RetiredBadass
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 233 (click to see context) from:
to:
* OlderThanTheyLook: Just looking at him, you would not consider him to be the oldest of the Yoshioka brothers
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yoshioka_seijuro.jpg]]
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/04_6.png]]
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ueda_ryohei_5.jpg]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Musashi's page is only 20,242 bytes, not meeting Character Specific Pages 40,000 bytes requirement, merging back
Changed line(s) 7,13 (click to see context) from:
See [[{{Characters/VagabondMiyamotoMusashi}} here]].
!!Matahachi Hon'iden
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/389909_1.jpg]]
Takezō's childhood friend who persuades him to leave Musashi village and join the war, thus setting of the events of the story. [[HeroWithAnFInGood A decent person deep down, Matahachi continually lets himself and others down due to his very weak moral fiber.]]
!!Matahachi Hon'iden
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/389909_1.jpg]]
Takezō's childhood friend who persuades him to leave Musashi village and join the war, thus setting of the events of the story. [[HeroWithAnFInGood A decent person deep down, Matahachi continually lets himself and others down due to his very weak moral fiber.]]
to:
!!Matahachi Hon'iden
[[quoteright:200:https://static.
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.
Takezō's childhood friend who persuades him
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I am nothing."'']]
->''"Don't laugh, Otsū. I want to
The series' protagonist, Takehiko Inoue's take on the legendary sword saint, Musashi
Added DiffLines:
* AdaptationalBadass: Musashi had never single-handedly [[spoiler:defeated the entire Yoshioka school]], before ''Vagabond''.
* TheAntiNihilist: Musashi's faced time and again with the meaninglessness of his desire to become invincible, along with the fact that his search for strength has cost him the lives of hundreds of people for no reason whatsoever ''and'' separated him from the one woman he truly held any affection for. But Musashi never backs down; even when confronted with how small he is in the grand scheme of the endless universe, and no matter how many times his ideals get insulted or proven false, he always picks himself back up and does his best to learn from his past mistakes.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Musashi's constant pursuit to better his skills pays off when he manages to [[spoiler:single-handedly overcome a seventy-man army out for his blood]], and as such becomes a national figure so widely known that samurai from far and wide begin holding his name in deep reverence. You'd think Musashi, given his goal of being "invincible under the sun," would be pleased about it--but in the aftermath of the [[spoiler:Yoshioka school massacre]], he begins to see just how meaningless the title of invincibility truly is, beginning to understand the value of life and non-violence.
* BigBrotherMentor: to Jōtarō in the earlier parts of the story, to Iori in the latest ones.
* BloodKnight: At first; during his younger years as Takezō Shinmen, he willingly risked his life in meaningless battles solely for the instant gratification he gets from bloodshed. As time goes on and he gradually grows more enlightened, he actually expresses discontentment towards his life of violence and actively seeks to solve problems without needlessly hurting others.
* BreakTheHaughty: Musashi's greatest flaws are his overconfidence in his skills and his constant desire to prove himself. It is only when he suffers his first real defeat at the hands of [[spoiler:Inshun]] that he recognizes the value of respecting his opponents and how narrow-minded his own view of his swordsmanship truly was.
* ByronicHero: Introspective? Yes. Intelligent? In the heat of battle, he proves to be quite the GeniusBruiser. Arrogant? His extreme desire to prove himself tends to overshadow his more sensible side. Extremely passionate about his dreams? Understatement of the century. Intensely dedicated to his own philosophy, without any concern for any established standards set by society? Yup. The only things he distinctly averts from the Byronic archetype is being cynical and sexually active; on one hand Musashi's one of the most [[ToBeAMaster optimistic characters in the whole series]], and in the other he constantly rejects women's advance on him because [[ChasteHero he just wants to focus on the way of the sword]].
* CantHoldHisLiquor
* CharacterDevelopment: Musashi starts out the series as a violent youth looking for glory and to prove himself as the strongest warrior in the land. As his martial prowess grows, he also learns a lot from all the people he meets (both warriors and otherwise) and gradually realizes the value of life and the importance of solving problems without violence.
* ChasteHero: a great contrast to Matahachi. Musashi constantly rejects women's advances and a couple of marriage proposals. He wants to stay focused and live by the sword.
* CombatPragmatist: In keeping with both his characterization from the novel (as well as historically) Musashi occasionally eschews fighting purely honorably in favor of using what simply ''works''. For example, he begins his fight against the seventy Yoshioka swordsmen by incapacitating/killing them with unarmed blows before attacking with weapons he has taken from his opponents, and attacking from the shallowest direction (that is, that with the fewest swordsmen between him and his target)... and he doesn't hesitate to resort to the GroinAttack either!
* DesperatelySeekingAPurposeInLife: The whole manga centers around him discovering what it truly means to become "invincible under the sun," as he spent most of his youth just purposelessly killing others like a savage. At first, he comes to the conclusion that he must slay everyone at the top in order to bolster his own standing, but later on understands that his relentless killing of numerous samurai has trapped him in an endless spiral of death.
* DramaticallyMissingThePoint: Takuan forces Takezō to reevaluate his entire life right at the beginning of the story, forcing Takezō to realize how he was wasting himself in headlong, youthful recklessness. Takezō decided to actually make something of his life by going out and facing truly strong, renowned samurai all across Japan, seeking to become "invincible under the sun" in an AuthorityEqualsAsskicking kind of mindset. When he finds that becoming invincible doesn't satisfy him at all, Musashi comes to seek personal and spiritual enlightenment by understanding the value of peace and harmony, learning the necessity of acting without violence.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: Musashi doesn't necessarily care about earning the respect or love of others, but his main goal is to make his name known as the one "invincible under the sun."
* FastestGunInTheWest: A samurai version of this trope. As his reputation grows, ''ronin'' hoping to make a name for themselves seek him out and try to kill him. [[DoomedByCanon Needless to say]], [[CurbStompBattle they all fail.]]
* {{Foil}}:
** To Matahachi. Matahachi is a [[TheHedonist hedonistic man who largely pursues temporary pleasures to fill the hollow void he's left in himself]], constantly indulging in self-pity and [[GreenEyedMonster fuming over the success of others]], outright willing to steal other samurai's names in order to better his own lot in life--it's telling that it takes [[spoiler:the death of his mother, as well as whole ''years'' of lying to her and nearly everyone around him]] to get him to start manning up. Musashi, on the other hand, relentlessly tries to better himself as a warrior without much concern for how others view him, willing to learn from every single misstep he makes while out on his quest and freely putting himself in less-than-ideal situations all to gain a better understanding of his swordsmanship and his place in the world.
** To Kojirō Sasaki. Kojirō's a happy-go-lucky ManChild who can easily win the love of an ''entire village'' within a day; Musashi's mature, aloof, gruff, and doesn't tend to socialize at all (unless they happen to be particularly skilled swordsmen). Kojirō constantly goes after women without rest, while Musashi's fixated singularly on Otsū. Kojirō grew up loved by his father-figure and was treasured in his community, while Musashi grew up constantly being manhandled by his abusive father and ostracized by those who saw him as a "demon child." But both Kojirō and Musashi ''love'' using their swords in battle, are always restlessly searching for opponents to spar with all in the name of bettering their own skills, and are so deeply connected to the sword that the two of them can ''hold a conversation'' practically just by swinging sticks at each other in place of blades. Their passion for the sword is the one thing the two have in common.
** To Tōji Gion. At the start of the story they are both violent and bellicose swordsmen that only want to fight tough opponents. However, after Musashi loses against Inshun in their first fight, he starts looking for deeper things in life than just being the strongest in the world. On the contrary, Tōji after that very fight gets demoralized, thinking that it is impossible to achieve Inshun's level, and he becomes crazy and loses his path, [[spoiler: eventually getting killed by Musashi during the Yoshioka arc]]. Tōji Gion is an example of what would have happened to Musashi if he didn't change his visions about life.
** To Baiken Shishido. Similarly to Tōji, Baiken is an example of what would have happened to Musashi if he didn't follow the light and instead chose to follow the downwards spiral of death.
** To Ittōsai Itō. Similarly to Tōji and Baiken, Ittōsai is an example of what could happen to Musashi in the future if he becomes an accomplished swordsman but remains extremely violent and without seeking spiritual growth.
** To Hyōgonosuke Yagyū. Both are stated to be very similar in terms of ability and understanding of the sword. The difference is that Hyōgonosuke likes to indulge in sex pleasures, while Musashi is strictly a ChasteHero.
** To Jōtarō and Iori. Their enthusiasm on following the path of the sword and being his apprentices is a reminder of when he was a kid like them and wanted to live by the sword, but still was innocent and not tainted by the evilness of the world.
** To Sekishūsai Yagyū and In'ei Hōzōin. When the two old masters were young men, they were hotblooded and vehement like him. They started to change their ways after meeting the master Hidetsuna Ise no Kami Kami'izumi, who didn't even need a weapon to fight because he was one with earth and heaven. The two old masters are an example of what would Musashi become if he follows the right path in life.
* FreudianExcuse: Bullied into submission by his abusive father, Takezō spent his younger years filled with fury, and vented out his rage on those around him simply for the sake of doing so.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Takezō endured a protracted version of this trope, with Takuan basically taunting him, berating him, and even hanging him from a tree for ''days'', just to hammer into the boy's head that his life is not something to be wasted so foolishly.
* HandicappedBadass: Becomes this for a while after suffering a near-crippling injury to his right leg during the battle with the Yoshioka.
* HonorBeforeReason: Zigzagged. Musashi is a CombatPragmatist, and so doesn't normally care for traditional codes of honor when it comes to the battlefield. However, whenever someone challenges him, Musashi doesn't even consider the notion of running away, and even in defeat constantly seeks ways to better himself as a warrior. Gradually, he comes to view his opponents less as stepping stones towards his personal glory, and more as avenues to help better himself as a person.
* HotBlooded: Musashi's defining element in his early parts.
* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: Musashi's initial goal is to become ''the'' greatest warrior in all of Japan, a title his father once held ("invincible under the sun"), and to this end, Musashi goes to various schools and faces his contemporaries simply to prove himself better.
* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies: Though Musashi at times catches himself wanting Otsū to accompany him throughout his travels, the knowledge that he can die at any moment in his journey causes him to steady his hand.
* LivingLegend: Eventually, Musashi's name becomes so well-known that samurai from far and wide come for his head in their own desperate attempts to claim glory.
* LonelyAtTheTop: Though Musashi tries to keep it under wraps, it's clear that he dearly misses Otsū's presence--but believes his journey to be of more paramount importance. Over time, he becomes more comfortable with his feelings towards Otsū and even outright acknowledges feeling wistful without her, expressing regret over always causing her to worry for him.
* LoveIsAWeakness: Musashi gradually grows more and more drawn to Otsū as the story goes on, and on numerous occasions has expressed how he feels that his desires for her (both sexual and romantic) are detrimental to his quest, if not outright perverse. But with CharacterDevelopment he comes to accept his feelings towards her and even express some regret that his years-long quest to better his skills has ultimately been time spent being separated from the woman he loves.
* MeaningfulRename: at the start of the story he goes by his birthname, Takezō Shinmen. Some time later the monk Takuan makes him turn his life around, and renames him Musashi Miyamoto: "Musashi" is an alternate reading of the Japanese characters of "Takezō", and Miyamoto due to Miyamoto village being Musashi's birthplace.
* MookHorrorShow: The Yoshioka battle, full stop.
* NoBadassToHisValet : Musashi comes across as either a savage killer or peerless warrior, depending on who you ask, but his TricksterMentor Sōhō Takuan sees him for what he really is: A [[PaperTiger frightened, confused youth]] with something to prove. Despite how easily he could maim or murder the monk, Takuan continuously [[ArmorPiercingQuestion criticizes]] and [[ToughLove taunts]] Musashi from their very first meeting, utterly unfazed by the latter's empty threats. This is also the case with Otsū, as while Musashi can easily cut a man down without a second thought, Otsū really only sees him as her childhood friend Takezō.
* NoSocialSkills: Musashi has trouble relating to the trials and tribulations faced by non-samurai, and his determination to better his own swordsmanship confuses him on his own feelings at times. He's ignorant of Otsū's desire to get closer to him, and can't go five minutes of having a decent conversation with another swordsman without challenging him to a fight. [[spoiler:He grows out of this when he decides to humble himself, helping an entire village farm their crops without resorting to violence or unnecessary cruelty in order to get the job done.]]
* NominalHero: The story doesn't really try to frame Musashi as necessarily heroic, and a lot of his more gruesome actions in the heat of battle (such as [[spoiler:his slaughters when he is the target of a manhunt at the start of the story, or later the extermination of the entire Yoshioka clan]]) are presented as bluntly and brutally as possible.
* OedipusComplex: He had a complicated relationship with his father, Munisai Shinmen, to say the least. Takezō tried to kill him several times as a child, and as a young man he becomes obsessed with surpassing him. [[spoiler:He eventually overcomes the haunting memories of his father, when he defeats Baiken Shishido.]]
* OldMaster: In'ei and Sekishūsai are this to him, learning a lot about life from them, and even becoming literally [[SpiritAdvisor Spirit Advisors]] later in the story.
** On the contrary, his own father Munisai Shinmen was an EvilMentor, hurting him physically and psychologically. In the early parts of the story, Musashi would stop what he was doing and would get lost in his memories of his father and how he mistreated his own son. [[spoiler:He finally moves on after defeating Baiken Shishido.]]
* OneManArmy: [[spoiler:Musashi cuts down about seventy highly trained and nationally respected Yoshioka swordsmen -- that is, the ''entire'' school membership, after diving right into their center at the start of the conflict and mortally wounding their leader. This single-handedly catapults him to a national figure]] and doubles as a Crowning Moment of Awesome.
* RunningGag: This iteration of Musashi retains his real-life counterpart's infamous tendency to arrive extremely late to set duels; here, it's explained that Musashi doesn't do so intentionally. In his rematch against Inshun, he was late because he literally overslept; in his duel against Denshichirō, he was threatened at gunpoint by Ryōhei Ueda on the way there.
* SingleTargetSexuality: Otsū's the only one on his mind, even after years of his own deliberate separation from her.
* SlasherSmile: In his younger years, Musashi's love for intense mortal combat would make itself clear on his face. He slowly grows out of using it when he comes to recognize the weight of violence and slowly begins moving towards a MartialPacifist route.
* SlipknotPonytail: Sometimes during fights.
* SociopathicHero: Early on, Musashi's concerns lie heavily towards bettering himself as a warrior, and while he ''does'' care about other people (such as Otsū, Matahachi, and Jōtarō), it's clear that he treats everyone outside of those close to his heart is just either in his way or a new challenge. His learning empathy and compassion is one of the cornerstones towards his transformation into both a better samurai and a better person.
* SoreLoser: Zigzagged. Whenever he loses a fight, he makes every attempt to figure out how he failed and always pushes to better himself in every possible way. That won't stop him from being ''super'' salty about losing, however.
* StarCrossedLovers: Musashi and Otsū are mutually attracted to one another, and miss each other dearly, but thanks to Musashi's constant drive to better himself as a swordsman he and she are always driven apart. As Musashi comes to humble himself and understand the cost of violence, he becomes more comfortable with his feelings towards Otsū and plainly states how much he craves to be with her.
* ToBeAMaster: Deconstructed. His driving motivation is to become "invincible under the sun", but the closer he gets to achieving this goal the more realizes how little the title means, ''especially'' when [[spoiler:his massacre of the Yoshioka school ends with him crippled and forced to crawl away past their already-rotting corpses]].
* TookALevelInBadass: Keeps getting more and more Badass over the course of the series.
* VillainProtagonist: Starts off as an amoral thug, who challenges people to death matches for the sake of [[GloryHound personal glory.]]
* WalkingTheEarth: Musashi lives as a [[TitleDrop vagabond]], seeking out the strongest opponents all over Japan.
* WarriorPoet: He lives by the sword, paints, carves Buddha statues, practices calligraphy, engages in philosophical conversations [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and to top it all, he even learns farming]].
* WideEyedIdealist: Musashi's driven to become the strongest warrior in all of Japan, and to this end he overcomes obstactle after obstacle, never letting his failures overcome him and always working towards self-improvement as a warrior. It gets to the point where people are taken aback by his unnatural determination, some even calling him foolish for clinging to such outdated ideals. [[spoiler:After his massacre of the Yoshioka school, Musashi comes to terms with the fact that even his desire to become the strongest ultimately makes him feel hollow, and so his CharacterDevelopment leads him to stray away from bettering himself as a samurai to bettering himself as a ''person.'']]
* WorthLivingFor: Though Musashi cares little for his own life and is perfectly content with losing it in a fine duel, the moment he thinks about [[LoveInterest Otsū]], he gives everything he has to survive.
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Many say that Takehiko Inoue draws Musashi in a way that he looks older. At the start of the story, when he is 17 years old, he looks like he's in his late twenties, due to his long limbs, tall height and big muscular frame (the RealLife [[UsefulNotes/MiyamotoMusashi Musashi Miyamoto]] is also said to have been a strongly built man even at an early age). A year later when he returns to Miyamoto village, he has let his facial hair grow and wears his hair loose, making him look like he is in his mid thirties. 30 volumes later, by the time he is in his late twenties, he looks like he is in his late fourties. That being said, Musashi's also noted by his fellow swordsmen for being considerably young for a man of his ambition and skill.
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Akemi, who in chapter 2 says she thought he was 30 (he is 17).
** [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] because, [[FeudalJapan in those times]], people aged rapidly due to the harsh life and the lack of the technology complexity we have now.
!!Matahachi Hon'iden
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/389909_1.jpg]]
Takezō's childhood friend who persuades him to leave Musashi village and join the war, thus setting of the events of the story. [[HeroWithAnFInGood A decent person deep down, Matahachi continually lets himself and others down due to his very weak moral fiber.]]
----
* TheAntiNihilist: Musashi's faced time and again with the meaninglessness of his desire to become invincible, along with the fact that his search for strength has cost him the lives of hundreds of people for no reason whatsoever ''and'' separated him from the one woman he truly held any affection for. But Musashi never backs down; even when confronted with how small he is in the grand scheme of the endless universe, and no matter how many times his ideals get insulted or proven false, he always picks himself back up and does his best to learn from his past mistakes.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Musashi's constant pursuit to better his skills pays off when he manages to [[spoiler:single-handedly overcome a seventy-man army out for his blood]], and as such becomes a national figure so widely known that samurai from far and wide begin holding his name in deep reverence. You'd think Musashi, given his goal of being "invincible under the sun," would be pleased about it--but in the aftermath of the [[spoiler:Yoshioka school massacre]], he begins to see just how meaningless the title of invincibility truly is, beginning to understand the value of life and non-violence.
* BigBrotherMentor: to Jōtarō in the earlier parts of the story, to Iori in the latest ones.
* BloodKnight: At first; during his younger years as Takezō Shinmen, he willingly risked his life in meaningless battles solely for the instant gratification he gets from bloodshed. As time goes on and he gradually grows more enlightened, he actually expresses discontentment towards his life of violence and actively seeks to solve problems without needlessly hurting others.
* BreakTheHaughty: Musashi's greatest flaws are his overconfidence in his skills and his constant desire to prove himself. It is only when he suffers his first real defeat at the hands of [[spoiler:Inshun]] that he recognizes the value of respecting his opponents and how narrow-minded his own view of his swordsmanship truly was.
* ByronicHero: Introspective? Yes. Intelligent? In the heat of battle, he proves to be quite the GeniusBruiser. Arrogant? His extreme desire to prove himself tends to overshadow his more sensible side. Extremely passionate about his dreams? Understatement of the century. Intensely dedicated to his own philosophy, without any concern for any established standards set by society? Yup. The only things he distinctly averts from the Byronic archetype is being cynical and sexually active; on one hand Musashi's one of the most [[ToBeAMaster optimistic characters in the whole series]], and in the other he constantly rejects women's advance on him because [[ChasteHero he just wants to focus on the way of the sword]].
* CantHoldHisLiquor
* CharacterDevelopment: Musashi starts out the series as a violent youth looking for glory and to prove himself as the strongest warrior in the land. As his martial prowess grows, he also learns a lot from all the people he meets (both warriors and otherwise) and gradually realizes the value of life and the importance of solving problems without violence.
* ChasteHero: a great contrast to Matahachi. Musashi constantly rejects women's advances and a couple of marriage proposals. He wants to stay focused and live by the sword.
* CombatPragmatist: In keeping with both his characterization from the novel (as well as historically) Musashi occasionally eschews fighting purely honorably in favor of using what simply ''works''. For example, he begins his fight against the seventy Yoshioka swordsmen by incapacitating/killing them with unarmed blows before attacking with weapons he has taken from his opponents, and attacking from the shallowest direction (that is, that with the fewest swordsmen between him and his target)... and he doesn't hesitate to resort to the GroinAttack either!
* DesperatelySeekingAPurposeInLife: The whole manga centers around him discovering what it truly means to become "invincible under the sun," as he spent most of his youth just purposelessly killing others like a savage. At first, he comes to the conclusion that he must slay everyone at the top in order to bolster his own standing, but later on understands that his relentless killing of numerous samurai has trapped him in an endless spiral of death.
* DramaticallyMissingThePoint: Takuan forces Takezō to reevaluate his entire life right at the beginning of the story, forcing Takezō to realize how he was wasting himself in headlong, youthful recklessness. Takezō decided to actually make something of his life by going out and facing truly strong, renowned samurai all across Japan, seeking to become "invincible under the sun" in an AuthorityEqualsAsskicking kind of mindset. When he finds that becoming invincible doesn't satisfy him at all, Musashi comes to seek personal and spiritual enlightenment by understanding the value of peace and harmony, learning the necessity of acting without violence.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: Musashi doesn't necessarily care about earning the respect or love of others, but his main goal is to make his name known as the one "invincible under the sun."
* FastestGunInTheWest: A samurai version of this trope. As his reputation grows, ''ronin'' hoping to make a name for themselves seek him out and try to kill him. [[DoomedByCanon Needless to say]], [[CurbStompBattle they all fail.]]
* {{Foil}}:
** To Matahachi. Matahachi is a [[TheHedonist hedonistic man who largely pursues temporary pleasures to fill the hollow void he's left in himself]], constantly indulging in self-pity and [[GreenEyedMonster fuming over the success of others]], outright willing to steal other samurai's names in order to better his own lot in life--it's telling that it takes [[spoiler:the death of his mother, as well as whole ''years'' of lying to her and nearly everyone around him]] to get him to start manning up. Musashi, on the other hand, relentlessly tries to better himself as a warrior without much concern for how others view him, willing to learn from every single misstep he makes while out on his quest and freely putting himself in less-than-ideal situations all to gain a better understanding of his swordsmanship and his place in the world.
** To Kojirō Sasaki. Kojirō's a happy-go-lucky ManChild who can easily win the love of an ''entire village'' within a day; Musashi's mature, aloof, gruff, and doesn't tend to socialize at all (unless they happen to be particularly skilled swordsmen). Kojirō constantly goes after women without rest, while Musashi's fixated singularly on Otsū. Kojirō grew up loved by his father-figure and was treasured in his community, while Musashi grew up constantly being manhandled by his abusive father and ostracized by those who saw him as a "demon child." But both Kojirō and Musashi ''love'' using their swords in battle, are always restlessly searching for opponents to spar with all in the name of bettering their own skills, and are so deeply connected to the sword that the two of them can ''hold a conversation'' practically just by swinging sticks at each other in place of blades. Their passion for the sword is the one thing the two have in common.
** To Tōji Gion. At the start of the story they are both violent and bellicose swordsmen that only want to fight tough opponents. However, after Musashi loses against Inshun in their first fight, he starts looking for deeper things in life than just being the strongest in the world. On the contrary, Tōji after that very fight gets demoralized, thinking that it is impossible to achieve Inshun's level, and he becomes crazy and loses his path, [[spoiler: eventually getting killed by Musashi during the Yoshioka arc]]. Tōji Gion is an example of what would have happened to Musashi if he didn't change his visions about life.
** To Baiken Shishido. Similarly to Tōji, Baiken is an example of what would have happened to Musashi if he didn't follow the light and instead chose to follow the downwards spiral of death.
** To Ittōsai Itō. Similarly to Tōji and Baiken, Ittōsai is an example of what could happen to Musashi in the future if he becomes an accomplished swordsman but remains extremely violent and without seeking spiritual growth.
** To Hyōgonosuke Yagyū. Both are stated to be very similar in terms of ability and understanding of the sword. The difference is that Hyōgonosuke likes to indulge in sex pleasures, while Musashi is strictly a ChasteHero.
** To Jōtarō and Iori. Their enthusiasm on following the path of the sword and being his apprentices is a reminder of when he was a kid like them and wanted to live by the sword, but still was innocent and not tainted by the evilness of the world.
** To Sekishūsai Yagyū and In'ei Hōzōin. When the two old masters were young men, they were hotblooded and vehement like him. They started to change their ways after meeting the master Hidetsuna Ise no Kami Kami'izumi, who didn't even need a weapon to fight because he was one with earth and heaven. The two old masters are an example of what would Musashi become if he follows the right path in life.
* FreudianExcuse: Bullied into submission by his abusive father, Takezō spent his younger years filled with fury, and vented out his rage on those around him simply for the sake of doing so.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Takezō endured a protracted version of this trope, with Takuan basically taunting him, berating him, and even hanging him from a tree for ''days'', just to hammer into the boy's head that his life is not something to be wasted so foolishly.
* HandicappedBadass: Becomes this for a while after suffering a near-crippling injury to his right leg during the battle with the Yoshioka.
* HonorBeforeReason: Zigzagged. Musashi is a CombatPragmatist, and so doesn't normally care for traditional codes of honor when it comes to the battlefield. However, whenever someone challenges him, Musashi doesn't even consider the notion of running away, and even in defeat constantly seeks ways to better himself as a warrior. Gradually, he comes to view his opponents less as stepping stones towards his personal glory, and more as avenues to help better himself as a person.
* HotBlooded: Musashi's defining element in his early parts.
* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: Musashi's initial goal is to become ''the'' greatest warrior in all of Japan, a title his father once held ("invincible under the sun"), and to this end, Musashi goes to various schools and faces his contemporaries simply to prove himself better.
* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies: Though Musashi at times catches himself wanting Otsū to accompany him throughout his travels, the knowledge that he can die at any moment in his journey causes him to steady his hand.
* LivingLegend: Eventually, Musashi's name becomes so well-known that samurai from far and wide come for his head in their own desperate attempts to claim glory.
* LonelyAtTheTop: Though Musashi tries to keep it under wraps, it's clear that he dearly misses Otsū's presence--but believes his journey to be of more paramount importance. Over time, he becomes more comfortable with his feelings towards Otsū and even outright acknowledges feeling wistful without her, expressing regret over always causing her to worry for him.
* LoveIsAWeakness: Musashi gradually grows more and more drawn to Otsū as the story goes on, and on numerous occasions has expressed how he feels that his desires for her (both sexual and romantic) are detrimental to his quest, if not outright perverse. But with CharacterDevelopment he comes to accept his feelings towards her and even express some regret that his years-long quest to better his skills has ultimately been time spent being separated from the woman he loves.
* MeaningfulRename: at the start of the story he goes by his birthname, Takezō Shinmen. Some time later the monk Takuan makes him turn his life around, and renames him Musashi Miyamoto: "Musashi" is an alternate reading of the Japanese characters of "Takezō", and Miyamoto due to Miyamoto village being Musashi's birthplace.
* MookHorrorShow: The Yoshioka battle, full stop.
* NoBadassToHisValet : Musashi comes across as either a savage killer or peerless warrior, depending on who you ask, but his TricksterMentor Sōhō Takuan sees him for what he really is: A [[PaperTiger frightened, confused youth]] with something to prove. Despite how easily he could maim or murder the monk, Takuan continuously [[ArmorPiercingQuestion criticizes]] and [[ToughLove taunts]] Musashi from their very first meeting, utterly unfazed by the latter's empty threats. This is also the case with Otsū, as while Musashi can easily cut a man down without a second thought, Otsū really only sees him as her childhood friend Takezō.
* NoSocialSkills: Musashi has trouble relating to the trials and tribulations faced by non-samurai, and his determination to better his own swordsmanship confuses him on his own feelings at times. He's ignorant of Otsū's desire to get closer to him, and can't go five minutes of having a decent conversation with another swordsman without challenging him to a fight. [[spoiler:He grows out of this when he decides to humble himself, helping an entire village farm their crops without resorting to violence or unnecessary cruelty in order to get the job done.]]
* NominalHero: The story doesn't really try to frame Musashi as necessarily heroic, and a lot of his more gruesome actions in the heat of battle (such as [[spoiler:his slaughters when he is the target of a manhunt at the start of the story, or later the extermination of the entire Yoshioka clan]]) are presented as bluntly and brutally as possible.
* OedipusComplex: He had a complicated relationship with his father, Munisai Shinmen, to say the least. Takezō tried to kill him several times as a child, and as a young man he becomes obsessed with surpassing him. [[spoiler:He eventually overcomes the haunting memories of his father, when he defeats Baiken Shishido.]]
* OldMaster: In'ei and Sekishūsai are this to him, learning a lot about life from them, and even becoming literally [[SpiritAdvisor Spirit Advisors]] later in the story.
** On the contrary, his own father Munisai Shinmen was an EvilMentor, hurting him physically and psychologically. In the early parts of the story, Musashi would stop what he was doing and would get lost in his memories of his father and how he mistreated his own son. [[spoiler:He finally moves on after defeating Baiken Shishido.]]
* OneManArmy: [[spoiler:Musashi cuts down about seventy highly trained and nationally respected Yoshioka swordsmen -- that is, the ''entire'' school membership, after diving right into their center at the start of the conflict and mortally wounding their leader. This single-handedly catapults him to a national figure]] and doubles as a Crowning Moment of Awesome.
* RunningGag: This iteration of Musashi retains his real-life counterpart's infamous tendency to arrive extremely late to set duels; here, it's explained that Musashi doesn't do so intentionally. In his rematch against Inshun, he was late because he literally overslept; in his duel against Denshichirō, he was threatened at gunpoint by Ryōhei Ueda on the way there.
* SingleTargetSexuality: Otsū's the only one on his mind, even after years of his own deliberate separation from her.
* SlasherSmile: In his younger years, Musashi's love for intense mortal combat would make itself clear on his face. He slowly grows out of using it when he comes to recognize the weight of violence and slowly begins moving towards a MartialPacifist route.
* SlipknotPonytail: Sometimes during fights.
* SociopathicHero: Early on, Musashi's concerns lie heavily towards bettering himself as a warrior, and while he ''does'' care about other people (such as Otsū, Matahachi, and Jōtarō), it's clear that he treats everyone outside of those close to his heart is just either in his way or a new challenge. His learning empathy and compassion is one of the cornerstones towards his transformation into both a better samurai and a better person.
* SoreLoser: Zigzagged. Whenever he loses a fight, he makes every attempt to figure out how he failed and always pushes to better himself in every possible way. That won't stop him from being ''super'' salty about losing, however.
* StarCrossedLovers: Musashi and Otsū are mutually attracted to one another, and miss each other dearly, but thanks to Musashi's constant drive to better himself as a swordsman he and she are always driven apart. As Musashi comes to humble himself and understand the cost of violence, he becomes more comfortable with his feelings towards Otsū and plainly states how much he craves to be with her.
* ToBeAMaster: Deconstructed. His driving motivation is to become "invincible under the sun", but the closer he gets to achieving this goal the more realizes how little the title means, ''especially'' when [[spoiler:his massacre of the Yoshioka school ends with him crippled and forced to crawl away past their already-rotting corpses]].
* TookALevelInBadass: Keeps getting more and more Badass over the course of the series.
* VillainProtagonist: Starts off as an amoral thug, who challenges people to death matches for the sake of [[GloryHound personal glory.]]
* WalkingTheEarth: Musashi lives as a [[TitleDrop vagabond]], seeking out the strongest opponents all over Japan.
* WarriorPoet: He lives by the sword, paints, carves Buddha statues, practices calligraphy, engages in philosophical conversations [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and to top it all, he even learns farming]].
* WideEyedIdealist: Musashi's driven to become the strongest warrior in all of Japan, and to this end he overcomes obstactle after obstacle, never letting his failures overcome him and always working towards self-improvement as a warrior. It gets to the point where people are taken aback by his unnatural determination, some even calling him foolish for clinging to such outdated ideals. [[spoiler:After his massacre of the Yoshioka school, Musashi comes to terms with the fact that even his desire to become the strongest ultimately makes him feel hollow, and so his CharacterDevelopment leads him to stray away from bettering himself as a samurai to bettering himself as a ''person.'']]
* WorthLivingFor: Though Musashi cares little for his own life and is perfectly content with losing it in a fine duel, the moment he thinks about [[LoveInterest Otsū]], he gives everything he has to survive.
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Many say that Takehiko Inoue draws Musashi in a way that he looks older. At the start of the story, when he is 17 years old, he looks like he's in his late twenties, due to his long limbs, tall height and big muscular frame (the RealLife [[UsefulNotes/MiyamotoMusashi Musashi Miyamoto]] is also said to have been a strongly built man even at an early age). A year later when he returns to Miyamoto village, he has let his facial hair grow and wears his hair loose, making him look like he is in his mid thirties. 30 volumes later, by the time he is in his late twenties, he looks like he is in his late fourties. That being said, Musashi's also noted by his fellow swordsmen for being considerably young for a man of his ambition and skill.
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Akemi, who in chapter 2 says she thought he was 30 (he is 17).
** [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] because, [[FeudalJapan in those times]], people aged rapidly due to the harsh life and the lack of the technology complexity we have now.
!!Matahachi Hon'iden
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/389909_1.jpg]]
Takezō's childhood friend who persuades him to leave Musashi village and join the war, thus setting of the events of the story. [[HeroWithAnFInGood A decent person deep down, Matahachi continually lets himself and others down due to his very weak moral fiber.]]
----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 270 (click to see context) from:
* [[CombatPragmatist Trying To Catch Me Fighting Dirty]]: it seems that the Chujō-ryū that Jisai teaches is plenty of techniques like this.
to:
* [[CombatPragmatist Trying To Catch Me Fighting Dirty]]: CombatPragmatist: it seems that the Chujō-ryū that Jisai teaches is has plenty of techniques like this.designed for pragmatic and ruthless use in combat. Ittōsai points out the irony that while Jisai claims to be trying to use these techniques against Kojiro to discourage Kojiro from taking up the sword, what Jisai is actually accomplishing is to give Kojiro the most intense and thorough training possible in how to counter all these moves that the other pragmatists of the world would use against him.
* BloodKnight: Almost certainly the biggest example in the entire series, which is no small feat. Ittōsai lives only for battle and growing stronger, and seemingly has no other major interests in life.
Changed line(s) 281 (click to see context) from:
* GeniusBruiser: not only he has great strength even at his fifties, he is also very smart and cunning.
to:
* GeniusBruiser: not Not only does he has have great strength even at in his fifties, he is also very smart and cunning.cunning. He even manages to completely change his fighting style [[spoiler:to work around the crippling injury Kojiro dealt him]].
Changed line(s) 283,284 (click to see context) from:
* TheBrute
* {{Sadist}}
* {{Sadist}}
to:
* TheBrute
{{Sadist}}: At the very least he has no hesitation at causing pain, death, and emotional turbulence in others as part of his extreme DieOrFly style training. At worst he seems to ''relish'' it.
*{{Sadist}}ShadowArchetype: He embodies the very worst of Musashi's early bloodthirstiness and obsession with battle and strength. Mushashi crosses paths with Ittōsai right around the time Musashi begins to put all of that behind him, although Ittōsai nearly makes him revert to his old self.
*
Changed line(s) 286,287 (click to see context) from:
* ToBeAMaster: he lives an extreme lifestyle, only caring about being ''the strongest in the world''.
to:
* ToBeAMaster: he He lives an extreme version of this lifestyle, only caring about being ''the strongest in the world''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* DisabilitySuperpower: Kojirō can't hear nor speak, and it's implied he has a bit of an AmbiguousDisorder which prevents him from interacting with others properly. However, he compensates for all of that by way of his incredible swordsmanship--his lack of hearing forced him to become extra-perceptive to both his environment and his reflexes, enabling him to survive countless near-death scenarios by way of him simply being ''that'' observant.
Deleted line(s) 91 (click to see context) :
* TheRainMan: Kojirō can't hear nor speak, and it's implied he has a bit of an AmbiguousDisorder which prevents him from interacting with others properly. However, he compensates for all of that by way of his incredible swordsmanship--his lack of hearing forced him to become extra-perceptive to both his environment and his reflexes, enabling him to survive countless near-death scenarios by way of him simply being ''that'' observant.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* {{Determinator}}
Changed line(s) 138,139 (click to see context) from:
* TheDeterminer
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 48,49 (click to see context) from:
!!Takuan Sōhō
to:
Changed line(s) 55 (click to see context) from:
* BullyingADragon : A middle-aged Buddhist monk who mercilessly mocks, [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech scolds]] and even challenges a violent young swordsman who practically leaves a path of corpses everywhere he goes. Most of his shenanigans are actually just an unorthodox approach to guidance, as he actively seeks to [[ToughLove help Musashi realize who he really is]], but that doesn't make it any less brazen. This is true to history, as Takuan Sōhō was respected by warlords and samurai for his frank, astute advice, but his acerbic honesty made him plenty of enemies as well.
to:
* BullyingADragon : A middle-aged Buddhist monk who mercilessly mocks, [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech scolds]] and even challenges a violent young swordsman who practically leaves a path of corpses everywhere he goes. Most of his shenanigans are actually just an unorthodox approach to guidance, as he actively seeks to [[ToughLove help Musashi realize who he really is]], but that doesn't make it any less brazen. This is true to history, as Sōhō Takuan Sōhō was respected by warlords and samurai for his frank, astute advice, but his acerbic honesty made him plenty of enemies as well.
Changed line(s) 109 (click to see context) from:
* {{Foil}}: For Musashi. Though not violent or aggressive by nature, Jōtarō's free-spirit and idealistic image of being a samurai resemble a young Takezō. Otsū even remarks on their similarities when she and Jōtarō first meet. Jōtarō occasionally shows the same reckless disregard for his own life. The Yagyū men even refer to him as a 'Demon-Child' after he [[spoiler: kills the Yagyū family dog Kuro in revenge for mauling him]], an epithet once reserved for Takezō.
to:
* {{Foil}}: For Musashi. Though not violent or aggressive by nature, Jōtarō's free-spirit and idealistic image of being a samurai resemble a young Takezō. Otsū even remarks on their similarities when she and Jōtarō first meet. Jōtarō occasionally shows the same reckless disregard for his own life. The Yagyū men even refer to him as a 'Demon-Child' after he [[spoiler: kills the Yagyū family dog Kuro Tarō in revenge for mauling him]], an epithet once reserved for Takezō.
Changed line(s) 151,152 (click to see context) from:
The second genration master of the Yoshioka Kempo's school of swordfighting in Kyōto. While a superbly talented swordsman, he is also hedonistic and carefree, though he can and will be serious and take appropriate measures in times of crisis.
to:
The second genration generation master of the Yoshioka Kempo's school of swordfighting in Kyōto.Kyōto, successor to his father Kempō Yoshioka. While a superbly talented swordsman, he is also hedonistic and carefree, though he can and will be serious and take appropriate measures in times of crisis.
Changed line(s) 166,167 (click to see context) from:
The second son of Yoshioka Kempo.
to:
The second son of Yoshioka Kempo.
Kempō Yoshioka.
Changed line(s) 184 (click to see context) from:
* LikeASonToMe: Yoshioka Kempo considered him his third son.
to:
* LikeASonToMe: Kempō Yoshioka Kempo considered him his third son.
Changed line(s) 187 (click to see context) from:
* TenMinuteRetirement: Is banished from the Yoshioka school by Denshichirō, but Den dies a day later with his will stipulating that Ueda is to be readmitted to the school and made headmaster.
to:
* TenMinuteRetirement: Is banished He is expelled from the Yoshioka school by Denshichirō, but Den dies a day later with his [[spoiler: when Denshichirō dies fighting against Musashi, Ueda reads Denshichirō's will stipulating which declares that, in case that Denshichirō dies,]] Ueda is to be readmitted to the school and made headmaster.
Changed line(s) 269 (click to see context) from:
** TookALevelInBadass: eventually, he recovers some of his thunder during the fight against Fudō Myō-ō.
to:
** TookALevelInBadass: eventually, he recovers some of his thunder during the fight against Fudō Myō-ō.Yūgetsusai Fudō.
Changed line(s) 271 (click to see context) from:
* OldMaster: Though he's rather washed up at the time the story begins, he is eventually treated this way by the villagers after he saves them when he slays the villain Fudō Myō-ō. He explicitly refuses to teach Kojirō, wanting him to have a peaceful life, not that it stops him.
to:
* OldMaster: Though he's rather washed up at the time the story begins, he is eventually treated this way by the villagers after he saves them when he slays the villain Fudō Myō-ō.Yūgetsusai Fudō. He explicitly refuses to teach Kojirō, wanting him to have a peaceful life, not that it stops him.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 117 (click to see context) from:
** The Apprentice: He's Musashi's only disciple for the majority of the story, until he's [[spoiler: kidnapped by criminals]] and Musashi takes on Iori.
to:
** The Apprentice: TheApprentice: He's Musashi's only disciple for the majority of the story, until he's [[spoiler: kidnapped by criminals]] and Musashi later takes on Iori. Iori.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** The Apprentice: He's Musashi's only disciple for the majority of the story, until he's [[spoiler: kidnapped by criminals]] and Musashi takes on Iori.
* WideEyedIdealist: A young boy desperate to be a samurai, Jōtarō has a very idealised view of what it means to be a warrior and a man.
* WideEyedIdealist: A young boy desperate to be a samurai, Jōtarō has a very idealised view of what it means to be a warrior and a man.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 110 (click to see context) from:
* KidSamurai: Bokuto 'n all! And given the novel was written in the 1930s, he might well be the first KidSamurai in fiction!
to:
* KidSamurai: Bokuto 'n all! And given the novel was written in the 1930s, he Jōtarō might well be the first KidSamurai in fiction!TropeMaker.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 68 (click to see context) from:
** Kojirō or characters based on him are often displayed with some form of malady. Ukyo Tachibana of Samurai Showdown is based on Kojirō, and shown to suffer from tuberculosis.
to:
** Kojirō or characters based on him are often displayed with some form of malady. Ukyo Tachibana of Samurai Showdown is based on Kojirō, and shown appears to suffer from tuberculosis.
Changed line(s) 116 (click to see context) from:
* TagAlongKid: Travelling with Musashi and Otsū in a world of swordsman, warrior-monks and bandits, Jōtarō certainly qualifies as this.
to:
* TagAlongKid: Travelling with Musashi and Otsū in a [[WorldOfBadass world of swordsman, warrior-monks and bandits, bandits]], Jōtarō certainly qualifies as this.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 110 (click to see context) from:
* KidSamurai: Bokuto 'n all! And given the novel was written in the 1940s, he might well be the first KidSamurai in fiction!
to:
* KidSamurai: Bokuto 'n all! And given the novel was written in the 1940s, 1930s, he might well be the first KidSamurai in fiction!
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 109 (click to see context) from:
* {{Foil}}: For Musashi. Though not violent or aggressive by nature, Jōtarō's free-spirit and idealistic image of being a samurai resemble a young Takezō. Otsū even remarks on their similarities when she and Jōtarō first meet. Jōtarō occasionally shows the same reckless disregard for his own life at times. The Yagyū men even refer to him as a 'Demon-Child' after he [[spoiler: kills the Yagyū family dog Kuro in revenge for mauling him]], an epithet once reserved for Takezō.
to:
* {{Foil}}: For Musashi. Though not violent or aggressive by nature, Jōtarō's free-spirit and idealistic image of being a samurai resemble a young Takezō. Otsū even remarks on their similarities when she and Jōtarō first meet. Jōtarō occasionally shows the same reckless disregard for his own life at times.life. The Yagyū men even refer to him as a 'Demon-Child' after he [[spoiler: kills the Yagyū family dog Kuro in revenge for mauling him]], an epithet once reserved for Takezō.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 109 (click to see context) from:
* {{Foil}}: For Musashi. Though not violent or aggressive, Jōtarō's free-spirit and idealistic image of being a samurai resemble a young Takezō. Otsū even remarks on this when she and Jōtarō first meet.
to:
* {{Foil}}: For Musashi. Though not violent or aggressive, aggressive by nature, Jōtarō's free-spirit and idealistic image of being a samurai resemble a young Takezō. Otsū even remarks on this their similarities when she and Jōtarō first meet. Jōtarō occasionally shows the same reckless disregard for his own life at times. The Yagyū men even refer to him as a 'Demon-Child' after he [[spoiler: kills the Yagyū family dog Kuro in revenge for mauling him]], an epithet once reserved for Takezō.
Changed line(s) 114 (click to see context) from:
* ProneToTears: Poor Jōtarō! Under that smart-mouthed, bratty facade is pretty sensitive boy. It's hard to blame him given how he has no one and keeps getting abandoned.
to:
* ProneToTears: Poor Jōtarō! Under that smart-mouthed, bratty facade is pretty sensitive boy. It's hard to blame him given how he has no one home or family and keeps getting abandoned.abandoned...
Changed line(s) 124 (click to see context) from:
The cantankerous and tyrannical matriarch of the Hon'iden family. Sworn enemy of Musashi and Otsū.
to:
The cantankerous and tyrannical matriarch of the Hon'iden family. Sworn enemy of Musashi and Otsū.
Changed line(s) 132 (click to see context) from:
to:
*TheDeterminer
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** Kojirō or characters based on him are often displayed with some form of malady. Ukyo Tachibana of Samurai Showdown is based on Kojirō, and shown to suffer from tuberculosis.
** Accounts of the historical Kojirō are so wide-ranging it's hard to portray him without this trope! His age is given as anywhere between 18 and 50 when he fought Musashi on Funashima; his trademark weapon ranges from the [[CoolSword Drying Pole]] of the manga and novel to the shikomitsue (cane-sword); there is even some doubt over whether his name was Sasaki Kojirō at all.
** Accounts of the historical Kojirō are so wide-ranging it's hard to portray him without this trope! His age is given as anywhere between 18 and 50 when he fought Musashi on Funashima; his trademark weapon ranges from the [[CoolSword Drying Pole]] of the manga and novel to the shikomitsue (cane-sword); there is even some doubt over whether his name was Sasaki Kojirō at all.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 65 (click to see context) from:
Musashi's rival. Portrayed as a {{Bishonen}}, deaf mute.
to:
Musashi's rival. Portrayed as a {{Bishonen}}, deaf mute.A [[HandicappedBadass deaf-mute]] but prodigious young swordsman.
Changed line(s) 124,128 (click to see context) from:
!! Tropes:
* MyBelovedSmother: And how! Osugi dotes over Matahachi, refuses to believe him guilty of any wrong-doings to the point of delusion, projects all her wrath and disappointment onto Takezō/Musashi and Otsū, and is blind to her son's own repeatedly self-destructive cries for help.
* TheResenter
* RevengeBeforeReason
* ScrewPolitenessImASenior
* MyBelovedSmother: And how! Osugi dotes over Matahachi, refuses to believe him guilty of any wrong-doings to the point of delusion, projects all her wrath and disappointment onto Takezō/Musashi and Otsū, and is blind to her son's own repeatedly self-destructive cries for help.
* TheResenter
* RevengeBeforeReason
* ScrewPolitenessImASenior
to:
* MyBelovedSmother: And how! Osugi dotes over Matahachi, dogs his every step, berates him and guilt-trips him, and yet refuses to believe him guilty of any wrong-doings to the point of delusion,
*
*
*
Changed line(s) 208 (click to see context) from:
* NoSocialSkills
to:
* NoSocialSkillsNoSocialSkills: He is aloof and cold to his peers, to the point they come to resent him.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 110 (click to see context) from:
* NeverBeHurtAgain: How Jōtarō came to be orphaned is unknown, but he is clearly insecure about abandonment. He tearfully expresses his desire to become strong enough to not rely on other's to Musashi: "I have to be able to survive by myself... Without anyone's help. I have to be strong. That's why I want to be your disciple... That's why I want to become a samurai...!!"
to:
* NeverBeHurtAgain: How Jōtarō came to be orphaned is unknown, but he is clearly insecure about abandonment. He tearfully expresses his desire to become strong enough to not rely on other's others to Musashi: "I have to be able to survive by myself... Without anyone's help. I have to be strong. That's why I want to be your disciple... That's why I want to become a samurai...!!"!!" Seeing his own feelings of abandonment and un-belonging reflected in the boy seems to be what convinces Musashi to take him on.
