MUSASHI
Book Project
YEAR 2025
CLIENT Tuttle Publishing (USA)
FORMAT Scratchboard Art
The novel “MUSASHI” is the first unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa’s great masterpiece – the No.1 selling book of all time in Japan. Masterfully translated for the first time in its entirety by Alexander Bennett, this vivid and fast-paced story reveals the exploits and inner life of a man who discovers not only his true purpose in life, but also his humanity.
Eiji Yoshikawa began serializing his epic novel “MUSASHI” in the Asahi Shimbun in 1935, continuing through the postwar period, and it quickly became a cultural sensation. The novel tells the story of Japan’s greatest swordsman and has been adapted into countless films and TV series over the years.
Inspired by Musashi, Takehiko Inoue’s manga “Vagabond” has sold over 60 million copies in Japan alone, elevating Musashi’s image to an iconic symbol of discipline, focus, restraint, and decisiveness. This helped the widespread popularity of “The Book of Five Rings” and the “Dual - Sword” style even today.
Book One:
- Earth, Water & Fire
opens in the year 1600 at the Battle of Sekigahara, a scene of unimaginable carnage where Musashi lies wounded on the battlefield. After being imprisoned for three years, he wanders the countryside aimlessly as a vagabond, desperate to make a name for himself. He becomes a dueling Ronin—a swordfighter without a master. And while his destiny seems clear, to achieve it he must leave his old life behind.
ISBN: 978-4-8053-1841-6
Number of Pages: 576
Book Two:
Wind & Ether
Musashi continues his travels across Japan, earning a name for himself as a fearless swordsman. One by one, he dispatches the most skilled fighters in Japan with minimal effort, and it all seems too easy. But stung by their defeat at his hands, the Yoshioka fighters vow revenge, and their leader, Seijuro, seeks out Musashi for a duel to the death. Wrestling with his demons, Musashi is torn by his love for Otsu and his goal of becoming Japan's most famous warrior. He decides to take on a young student, but in doing so, is he losing his focus? Musashi holds his destiny in his hands, yet difficult choices will have to be made.
ISBN: 978-4-8053-1941-3
Number of Pages: 640
Book Three:
Moon, Sun
& Perfect Clarity
In this final book, Musashi is left to surmount one final obstacle—the great swordsman Sasaki Kojiro, who is legendary for his skill with the sword. As Musashi journeys to fight Kojiro, he encounters old friends and new enemies. Devoting himself to meditation and Zen study, he realizes that the pursuit of glory through violence is fruitless, and the only path to success can be found through introspection and discipline.
To become truly happy, he must defeat not only his greatest rival but his self-doubt, tying up loose ends in the process. He meets with Otsu as he prepares to fight Sasak, wielding only a wooden staff, with his destiny in the balance.
To become truly happy, he must defeat not only his greatest rival but his self-doubt, tying up loose ends in the process. He meets with Otsu as he prepares to fight Sasak, wielding only a wooden staff, with his destiny in the balance.
ISBN: 978-4-8053-1942-0
Number of Pages: 480
The legend of MUSASHI
will arrive
in March 2026.
©2025 Ailun Jiang