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enemies,” so presumably the third duel was a multi-foe affair. Other accounts, such as in Nitenki, embellish the story further. Details are added, such as Musashi’s ploy to arrive late for the first two duels, and then take everyone by surprise on the third by turning up early.

Nitenki also alludes to how the Yoshioka men attacked in “great numbers” with bows and swords, and that Musashi cut a path through them with only one near miss, when an arrow pierced his clothing. Another fallacy is the idea that Musashi single-handedly destroyed the reputation of the illustrious Yoshioka clan through his victory.

Defeat was surely a stain on their name, but the final nail in their coffin came in 1614. As chronicled in Suruga Kojiroku, Yoshioka Kenpo (a different man to Munisai’s opponent) exchanged blows with a “disrespectful” guard during a Noh performance in the Kyoto palace and was killed.

Musashi claims to have engaged in over sixty mortal duels, a large number even for his time. The most celebrated, however, was in 1610 (not 1612 as is usually believed) against Ganryū Kojiro on an island called Funajima (later renamed Ganryijima).

The details of this encounter have long been debated, but the explanation on the Kokura Monument is probably closest to the truth. The men met at the designated time. Musashi brandished his 4-shaku (121-cm) wooden sword against Kojir0’s 3-shaku (91-cm) blade.

Musashi felled Kojird with one decisive blow. Kojirō was a martial art instructor for the Hosokawa clan in Kumamoto. Known as the “Demon of the West,” his reputation in combat was well established.?® According to Numata-kaki (1672), Musashi registered his intent to challenge Kojiro with an elder of the Hosokawa clan, Nagaoka Sado-no-Kami Okinaga (1582—1661).

Okinaga then received permission for the duel to go ahead from his lord, Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563—1646). Given that Kojiro occupied such a prestigious position in the Hosokawa domain, it is surprising that he agreed to such a challenge.

He stood to lose everything if defeated. Moreover, if he was killed, there was the distinct possibility that his disciples would run amok and seek revenge. Being tozama daimyo, the Hosokawa family would have been wary of attracting unwanted attention should news of hostilities in their domain reach the shogunate.”?

In spite of this, the duel was sanctioned but under a strict caveat. It was to take place on a small island called Funajima and the only people allowed to be present were officially appointed witnesses. An important consideration is why Musashi offered the challenge.

Was it a vendetta as often described in popular culture? The Numata-kaki explanation of Musashi’s post-duel movements provides some important clues. After Kojiro was killed, Musashi made his way to Moji and sought protection in Numata Nobumoto’s estate.