Pathway to Japanese Literature

T Geishū Hiroshima

Of Yayoi Hill

Flower Shower

Scene: Yayoi Hill

Petals scattered, petals scattered.

The crowd raised a cheer: "Waaah!"

At the loud voice,

“Kiheiji!

You idiot!

Get yourself cut down!”
(Slightly larger text)

With Arima Kiheiji at their head, the fifteen-strong purple haori group steadily closed in with drawn swords.

The crowd shouted, “Master Miyamoto... That guy— strike him down!” (Text slightly larger) Miyamoto Musashi drew both swords and stood resolutely.

The crowd shouted again:

“Kiheiji’s a demon!”
(Louder)

With that,

“This town’s vermin!”
(Slightly larger text)

One of the purple haori men, enraged, launched an attack at Musashi.

Stepping back a pace, Musashi struck down that man.

A raucous cheer erupted.

A flashy brawl.

The crowd cheered.

Musashi fought fiercely.

Finally, he struck down Kiheiji.

A raucous cheer rose from the spectators.
(F.O.)

S=Ōkawa

Ferry boat.

Among the many passengers was a single traveling merchant,

(Dressed like a medicine peddler)

That was the speaker.

“That Master Miyamoto’s...

“Strong! So strong!”

With that,

“To start with, he must surely be Japan’s greatest!”

he said.

The impressed ferry passengers.

At the edge of the boat, Oshima the White Fox Bandit—who had been listening to this tale without appearing to do so—smiled faintly.

And muttering to herself,

"I'd like to meet such a strong master at least once," she said.

“...I want to meet him,” she said.

The flow of the river.

(F.O.)

In any case,

At that time, Miyamoto Musashi's name resounded throughout every corner of the land.

S=Front of the Dojo

The Nen-ryū swordsmanship instruction was located outside Moriwaki Sajurō’s gate.

At this very moment, a single samurai undergoing warrior training (Hayami Dankuro) had come to a stop before its entrance.

Dankuro boldly entered through the gate.

S=At the Entrance

Dankuro shouted in a loud voice toward the attendant samurai.

“I am Miyamoto Musashi Masana - a wandering samurai of the realm!”

"Miyamoto Musashi Masana..."

“...that is my name.”

“He’s here,” said the attendant samurai, his face paling immediately.

Dankuro continued booming:

“I humbly request a single sparring match with the Master!”

“A match...”

“...if you would grant it.”

The attendant samurai said, “Please wait briefly,” then

flustered, rushed inside to report.

Having pulled it off, Dankuro smirked to himself.

(F・O)

Before long,

The attendant samurai timidly came out and flattened himself in prostration on the spot.

“What’s the answer?” said Dankuro.

The samurai stammered, “The Master is... currently indisposed by illness.”

“Indisposed?!” Dankuro barked.

With trembling hands, the attendant produced a paper-wrapped bundle. “Though meager beyond words...” He pressed it forward, head bowed. “...mere travel funds.”

Dankuro snatched the package, his smirk audible through feigned disappointment. “What a tragic shame,” he drawled, already pocketing the coins.

S=Front

Dankuro, having emerged, took out the paper package and placed the gold coins inside into his wallet.

He sneered and walked away.

(F・O)

S=Front of Another Dojo

This time, it was before the gate of Uchida Genbei, master of Ittō-ryū.

Dankuro strolled leisurely through the gate.

S=Entrance

In response to a voice calling out, "I shall make my request," the attendant samurai appeared.

Dankuro raised his voice,

“I am Miyamoto Musashi Masana—a ronin of this realm.”

“That is my name.”

The attendant samurai showed his customary surprise.
(F・O)

S=Gatefront

Dankuro received the paper package and came out.
He tore open the seal and stowed the gold coins into the wallet,

He sneered and walked away.
(F・O)

S=Front of Yet Another Dojo

This time, it was before the gate of Master Kaizawa Man'emon of the Shinkan-ryū.
Dankuro, true to form, thrust out his chest and swaggered through the gate.

(F・O)

Before long, once again,

Dankuro,

arched his back and came out,

stowed the gold coins from the paper package into his wallet,

sneered and walked away.
(F・O)

(Dankuro was, at first glance, a formidable-looking man. All three dojos were pathetic establishments.)

S=Room at Minoya Inn

A close-up of the guest register.

Dankuro took up the guest register and quickly wrote his name.

When the innkeeper who received it looked,

A close-up of the guest register.

Higo Kumamoto rōnin

Miyamoto Musashi Masana was written there.

The innkeeper gasped in surprise.

Dankuro sat imposingly with his back to the alcove.

The innkeeper,

“Then... you are...!”

Dankuro snorted.

The innkeeper continued,

“You’re that famous two-sword style master—”

“—the renowned two-sword style master...”

“Indeed,” Dankuro declared pompously.

The innkeeper also exclaimed joyfully, “Well, well!
“Welcome...
“...you have deigned to stay with us!”
It was a reception so deferential it left no room for disregard.
Dankuro was thoroughly pleased with himself.
The innkeeper examined the guest register intently,
“This guest register will be preserved
as our family’s heirloom for generations—we will pass it down to our descendants forevermore!”

“I shall pass this down through generations of our descendants,”

the innkeeper declared, pressing the register to his forehead in reverence.

Master Dankuro sat looking more self-satisfied than ever.

S=At the Front Desk

Another uproar ensued.

Due to the report from the maid who had come down from the second floor,

the clerks and maids,

“Miyamoto Musashi?” they were whispering.

At that moment,
Oshima the White Fox - having just arrived at the inn and washing her feet - made a puzzled face upon hearing those words.

S=Dankuro's Room

Before the innkeeper, Dankuro, his gestures theatrical,

was getting carried away with his self-aggrandizing tales of valor.

The innkeeper had been listening respectfully, but

“Well then, I shall return later,” he said as he withdrew.

S=Corridor

The innkeeper who had come out held the guest register,

He entered the neighboring room.

Guided by the maid, Oshima passed through.

S=Neighboring Room

The innkeeper entered.

The one staying there was the real Miyamoto Musashi.

Musashi received the guest register from the innkeeper.

He opened it, looked—"Huh?"—and was astonished.

Muttering "Miyamoto Musashi" to himself,

"What's this about 'Mr. Miyamoto Musashi'?" he asked the innkeeper.

he asked.

The innkeeper, when asked, replied, “You’ve asked most appropriately.”

The truth was,

“The guest in the neighboring room is Master Miyamoto Musashi.”
At this, Musashi found it so absurd that he was momentarily at a loss for words.
Eventually, having reached some resolution within his mind—
“To be staying under the same roof as Master Miyamoto—
to be sharing lodgings with Master Miyamoto—
a fortune beyond wishing.”
“That it is, Master,” the innkeeper said.
Musashi—

"Innkeeper—

There’s something particular—

A formal petition I must make."

he said.

“What might that be?” the innkeeper said.

S=Oshima's Room

Oshima had finally settled down after changing into a padded robe.
Looking delighted, she muttered to herself,
"It seems I might actually get to meet this Master Miyamoto Musashi..."
she said.

S=Dankuro's Room

Accompanied by Musashi, the innkeeper appeared before Dankuro,

They prostrated themselves and pleaded earnestly.

Dankuro sat arrogantly, as was his custom.

“Want to become my disciple?”

“Want to?”

Musashi said, “As your disciple, I humbly wish to accompany you on your journey.”

Dankuro grunted approvingly.

The innkeeper also pleaded from beside them.

Since Dankuro consented that it was acceptable,

The two happily expressed their gratitude.
（Ｆ・Ｏ）

And so—

The next day—

S=Highway

Hayami Dankuro made Miyamoto Musashi carry all the luggage and pompously strutted off.

Dankuro looked back at Musashi while walking.

“What style have you studied until now?”

Musashi replied, “Yes—”

“Master Yoshioka Kenpō’s Yoshioka-ryū,”

“Just a bit of Yoshioka-ryū.”

Dankuro grunted approvingly.

“Kenkō of Yoshioka?”

He spoke as if Kenpō were his own disciple.

“Kenkō isn’t as strong as they say, huh.”

At this, Musashi involuntarily gave a bitter smile.

Musashi plucked a clump of grass from the roadside and, from behind Dankuro, gently brushed the back of his neck with it.

(a wispy pampas-like grass)

Dankuro shrank his neck.

Dankuro continued walking as he was.

Musashi repeated his trick.

Dankuro stopped.
He touched his neck to check,
then asked Musashi to see if something was there.

Musashi peered closely and shouted,
“Ah! A caterpillar!”

At this, Dankuro—who until now had been swaggering about—leapt up with a “Wah!” face gone deathly pale.
(With exaggerated alarm.)

(F.O.)

S=Roadside Teahouse

Shirakitsune no Oshima was resting.

Beside her sat a samurai who appeared to be on a warrior's pilgrimage.

Oshima glared piercingly at the samurai with fierce eyes,

smirked to herself,

then tossed out, "Tea money's here," and rose to her feet.

The samurai suddenly noticed his pocket and reached inside to check.
The wallet was gone.

Oshima left tea money and made to depart.

“Ah! You!” the samurai exclaimed,

He caught up with Oshima.

He suddenly grabbed her dominant arm and twisted her down.

"What are you doing?" Oshima said.

The samurai snatched back his wallet from Oshima's bosom,

"Brazen wench!"

and pinned Oshima beneath his knee,
“I’ll drag you to the magistrate’s office!”

At that moment, Dankuro appeared with Musashi in tow. Upon seeing this situation, he dashed out,
pushed the samurai away, and stood with Oshima behind him.

The samurai training in martial arts was pushed and became enraged.
“What the— You bastard!”

At that voice, Dankuro was slightly startled, but in front of the woman, he declared pompously:
“Behold! I am none other than Miyamoto Musashi Masana!”

Hearing this, the samurai was astonished.
“So you are Master Miyamoto?”
“Master Miyamoto.”

"That's right," said Dankuro.

The samurai let out a "Hah!" and prostrated himself. "Though ignorance is no excuse, I most humbly apologize for my discourtesy," he said.

There in front of the watching woman, Dankuro decisively heightened his masculine bravado,

Oshima's face now showed she'd grown truly fond of this so-called greatest master in Japan, gazing up at Dankuro with trusting adoration.
Musashi watched the entire scene with his perpetual smile.
(F・O)

S=Wakasaya Inn, A Room

Dankuro and Oshima had just arrived,

and finally found themselves in a place to relax.

Oshima said to Dankuro,

“Someone like me

“Together with dear…”

“—accompanying you…”

she said—

“…such a bother for dear you—”

“—it must be.”

Far from being inconvenienced，Dankuro was actually quite pleased.

Oshima seemed hesitant,
“If I’m not a bother to dear you—if that’s truly the case—”

she said, casting a fleeting glance at Dankuro with her alluring eyes,

“If I could always stay by your side… I would so love to accompany you forever.”

Having been told this,

Dankuro felt a shiver run through his body.

Musashi returned from the bath.

Oshima went out to the bath in turn.

Dankuro gazed entranced.

(F・O)

S=Same Room

Dankuro brought out the mirror from the corner of the room,
After scrutinizing his own face, he muttered to himself,
“Lately, it seems a face like this is popular with women.”

Musashi, who was leaning against the pillar in the corner of the room, said,
"What an idiot you are... Master."
"What?!" Dankuro bristled, glaring at Musashi.

Musashi said, “That face of yours isn’t popular with women.”

Dankuro retorted harshly, “But that woman is with me!”

As he lashed out, Musashi continued, “That’s why I said you’re an idiot, Master.”

Having been told this, Dankuro became enraged like raging fire. “How dare you spout such insolence to your master?!” he shouted. “Such insolent drivel!”

Dankuro lunged to grab him.

Grabbing Dankuro's skilled arm, Musashi threw him.

Thrown, Dankuro exclaimed "Oh!" with a startled expression.
He grappled again only to be thrown once more.
A heavy thud resounded.

At that moment, the shoji door clattered open, and Oshima, fresh from the bath, entered.

“What is happening? What was that noise just now?”

When asked, Dankuro—in the corner of the room—pulled a strange face.

Musashi said,
"I just received judo instruction from the Master."

Oshima breathed, "Oh..."

Musashi continued,
"That noise just now was...
The sound of me being thrown."

Having been told this—Oshima gazed enraptured.
“Oh...
“How strong you are—and what of Master?”

“And you... Master?”

Master Dankuro—thrown and nursing an aching back—forced a pained smile that stifled tears.
(F.O.)

S=Morning on the Highway

Dankuro and Oshima went ahead, with Musashi following behind.

Dankuro said to Oshima,

"I did say my face was popular with women,

popular with women

I did say my face was popular with women."

Oshima said, "Oh..."

"But Master," she pressed closer to Dankuro, "isn't there one woman here..."

Here stood one person.

"On that face of yours—"

Snuggling up to Dankuro,

"Isn't there..."

"A woman who's fallen head over heels..."

"Isn't there..."

"Isn't there one?"

said Oshima.

Dankuro was thoroughly pleased.

Oshima stopped as the cord of her straw sandal had come undone.

She stopped.

Dankuro and Musashi went on ahead.

When Oshima finally finished tightening her laces and stood up,
she passed a single samurai—
accompanied by several disciples.
“Hey!” The samurai Shirakura Gengozaemon grabbed Oshima’s arm.
In Oshima’s hand was Shirakura’s wallet.
After wresting it back, Shirakura knocked Oshima down.

Oshima, having been knocked down, spat out: “Damn you! Quit your sniveling!”
“What?!” barked Shirakura.
Oshima shot back: “I’ll fetch Master Miyamoto!”

“I’ll go get him!”

With that,

“The strongest man in Japan—

“Master Miyamoto Musashi!”

Gengozaemon barked,

“Interesting! You go call him!”

he said,

“Call Miyamoto Musashi here!”
“Go call him!”

The caterers paused slightly.

Dankuro and Musashi came back because Oshima was taking too long.

Quickly noticing this, Oshima dashed over with a “Master!” and clung to him.

Dankuro, with Oshima behind him,

Dankuro puffed himself up and stepped forward before Gengozaemon,
“I am Miyamoto Musashi Masana—a ronin of the realm.”
“Miyamoto Musashi Masana,”
“...the one who bears that name.”
Heh heh—contrary to expectations of shock, Shirakura Gengozaemon stepped forward,
“You’re Musashi?”
Huh? Dankuro blanched slightly.
Gengosa,

“Shirakura Gengozaemon—let’s settle this. Come to my dojo!”

“Let’s settle this!”

“Come to the dojo!” he barked.
Dankuro thought Damn it—but it was too late.
Oshima tugged at his sleeve and said,“Strike him!”

Dankuro blustered and consented with a "Very well, come at me!"

There, Gengoza and Dankuro began walking side by side.

From behind came Oshima and Musashi, followed by all the disciples.

Musashi walked on, smiling.

The crowd also trailed along in a disorderly mass from behind.

At the very end of the crowd, two rakish-looking men walked while conversing.

“Which one do you think will win?”

When A said this,

B responded,

“Well, it’ll be Miyamoto Musashi!”

A retorted, “Now, now—”

“But Master Shirakura’s strong too!”

“He’s strong!”

B exclaimed, “What?!”

“Alright! First round—”

“Let’s bet!”

They're quick to act.

Person A's getting excited too—thinks it sounds fun—but he's broke.

“Got any money?”

“Ain’t got none, so what can ya do?”

“If you lose, strip off your kimono.”

"You're on!" Person A agreed.

They kept up their noisy banter.
At the crowd's forefront, Dankuro felt utterly lifeless.
(F.O.)

S = Yoshiwara Shintō-ryū Swordsmanship School

Shirakura Gengozaemon's signboard

S = Front of the Dojo

People were peering in through the lattice window.

The two rakish men, Person A and Person B, were also present.

S = Inside the Dojo

Having made all preparations, Shirakura calmly stepped forward.
Dankuro also had Musashi tie a tasuki headband for him and appeared at the center.

The disciples and Oshima held their breath.

Musashi wore his usual smile and was watching from a corner.

Dankuro and Gengoza exchanged a bow and quickly separated.

Dankuro raised his two swords overhead in a valiant stance.

And suddenly,

Dankuro was struck once with a sharp *thunk*.
Oshima exclaimed in surprise.
Then two, three more.

In any case, Dankuro was beaten senseless—darting around in panic only to get clobbered again,

(like some third-rate comedic villain's brawl)

until it had dragged on far too long.

Oshima slumped in dismay.

Gengoza sneered and planted his foot on Dankuro,

“Is this Japan's greatest?!”

before roaring with laughter.

S = Exterior

Person B spun around and stripped naked.

“Sorry ’bout this,” Person A said as he took Person B’s kimono.

S = Interior

Musashi, who had been silent until now, stood up.
He called out to Gengoza,
“What just happened was merely a warm-up.”
“Huh?!” Gengoza.
Musashi,

“I am the true Miyamoto Musashi.”

“Miyamoto Musashi.”

The one who gasped in astonishment was Oshima.

Gengoza braced himself for the attack.

Musashi leisurely grasped the large and small wooden practice swords and swung them once, twice.

He stood imposingly at the center of the dojo with calm composure.

Oshima was rendered speechless by the sheer extremity of it all.

Musashi swiftly assumed a stance.

Shirakura swiftly launched a strike.
And suddenly,
He was punched in the face and fell with a yelp.
At that moment, five or six disciples could attack Musashi.
In any case, Shirakura was utterly crushed.
Musashi discarded the wooden practice sword, brushed off the dust, and made to step out with composure.

Oshima called out to stop him.

Musashi,

“Master,”
“I humbly make this request.”

“You’re always joking,” said Oshima. “I hate that guy!”

Musashi turned to Dankuro, who lay collapsed beside him,

“Did you hear those words just now?”

“Those words just now?”

he said,

“That’s why I

“It’s that face of yours,” he said, “Women don’t find you attractive—that’s what I said.”

Then, turning to Oshima this time, he said, "From now on, if you're going to fall for a man," and continued, "fall for the person, not the name—understand?" With those final words, he dismissively left.

Oshima and Dankuro stood dumbfounded.

S=Outside

The now-naked wastrel Person B mumbled "My bad" while putting on a kimono, leaving Person A stripped bare.
Person B accepted the garment.
(F.O)

S=Highway

Musashi and Dankuro went.

This time, Musashi was the master and Dankuro was the disciple.
Master and disciple were cheerfully conversing as they went.

(F.O)

S=Tea Shop at the Entrance to the Mountain Pass

Musashi and Dankuro were resting.

The innkeeper spoke worriedly.
“Please take care when crossing the mountain pass.”

“Please take care.”

“What’s wrong?” asked Musashi.

The innkeeper said worriedly,
“Lord Tengu will appear.”
Dankuro was startled.
“Tengu?” he blurted out.
"Is that really true?" he wondered, leaning forward.

The innkeeper,

“Yesterday,
at the village head’s house beyond the mountain,
a white-feathered arrow...”

S=Village Head's House

Beneath a white-feathered arrow stuck in the roof, a crowd of villagers clamored.
"The village head's daughter—about to be wed—the poor girl's been chosen as the human sacrifice."

S=Original Tea Shop

The innkeeper spoke.

Dankuro,

“Don’t you worry,”
“Innkeeper,”
“Who do you think this honorable gentleman is?”
he pointed at Musashi and said,
“The founder of Shinmen Niten-ryū,”
“Master Miyamoto Musashi.”
Then he declared,
“I am Master’s esteemed disciple and”
“also of Shinmen Niten-ryū”
“also a master of Shinmen Niten-ryū!”
he boasted,
“The heroic name that echoes across the land—Hayami Dankuro!”
“Hayami Dankuro!”
The innkeeper was also impressed.

Musashi stood up and went toward the nearby grass thicket.

Dankuro, still addressing the innkeeper,
“Crow tengu? Twenty or thirty of them—I’ll crush every last one!”
“Twenty or thirty!”
he began boasting with grand gestures about how he’d break their noses.

Suddenly, he noticed Musashi wasn’t there.

When he looked back,

Musashi was looking into the grass thicket.

“Master! What are you doing?” Dankuro said.

Musashi turned back,

“There’s a big snake here!”

Dankuro jumped up.

“Snake!”

Musashi’s hand grabbed the rope in the grass thicket (make it clear that it’s a rope).

Dankuro thought Musashi had grabbed a snake,

“Master, please stop!” he yelped, scrambling to flee.

Musashi grabbed the rope,

“There!

“It’s a snake!”

Musashi threw it.

As the rope caught around Dankuro’s head and back,
Dankuro jumped up and ran away with a yelp.
Musashi and the innkeeper burst into laughter.

(F.O.)

S= Front of the Village Chief’s House—Evening

A white-feathered arrow on the roof.

A wicker basket had been placed at the front.

The front of the house was bustling with villagers seeing them off.

S= Interior

The village chief rushed out from his daughter’s room in alarm.

“My daughter can’t be found!”

“My daughter can’t be found!”

he said.

The whole group gasped in shock.

“Oh no! This is terrible!” they began to panic.

S= Exterior

Villagers began running out, voices overlapping:

“Okinu-san has

“Okinu-san has run away!”

they shouted,

“Everyone, search for her!”

“Everyone, search for her!”

voices overlapping,

“The tengu god’s wrath is terrifying!”

The divine wrath

“It’s terrifying!”

shouting,

They scattered in all directions.

S= Near the waterwheel by the village stream

Rokuso and Okinu’s love scene.

Okinu’s eyes glistened with tears.

“If I have to marry into the neighboring village,” she said, “I’d rather be devoured by the tengu god and die! That would make me happier.”

Rokuso pressed urgently,

“Let’s run away together,”

“Let’s escape.”

He urged her insistently.

“No,” Okinu refused,

“The tengu god’s divine wrath…”

“I'm terrified…”

Rokuso was troubled.

S= Vicinity――

Five or six villagers searched for Okinu.

S= Waterwheel Area

Startled by the sound of approaching footsteps, Rokuso hurried away.

The villagers spotted Okinu and came running.

Okinu burst into tears and collapsed.
(F.O.)

S= Front of the Village Chief's House

The wicker trunk was carried up the mountain by the villagers’ hands.

The village chief, her mother, and relatives escorted her with tearful faces.
(F.O.)

S= Mountain Path――Night

Villagers carried the wicker trunk up the mountain path.

They held torches aloft as they proceeded.
(F.O.)

T= That night

Late night――

S= Dilapidated Wayside Shrine

The surroundings were a deep mountain valley where ancient cedar trees towered thickly.

It was a place that looked terrifying at first glance.

The same wicker trunk was placed there.

Okinu was inside the wicker trunk.

And from the pitch-black depths of the cedar grove,
With a rustling sound—the tengu appeared.

He cautiously surveyed the surroundings.

He approached the wicker trunk, confirmed there were no figures around, removed the tengu mask, and placed it on the edge of the wayside shrine.

They were bandits.
When he gave the signal, two underlings appeared.

They opened the wicker trunk.

Okinu inside the trunk timidly looked out and saw—

The bandits' lecherous grins.

“Ah!” cried Okinu.

From inside the wayside shrine, a hand emerged and quietly grasped the tengu mask placed on the edge.

The bandits lifted Okinu out of the wicker trunk.

Okinu struggled.

And then—

The wayside shrine’s door flew open with a bang.

“Hey!”

Gasping in shock, the bandits whirled around—

In the pitch-black wayside shrine, the tengu’s face shone terrifyingly.
With a yelp, the bandits collapsed in shock.

The tengu of the wayside shrine (Dankuro),

“Behold, it is I—

the tengu who dwells in this sacred realm—

the tengu who dwells in this sacred realm!”

There he was—the bandits collapsed in shock.

Dankuro's tengu emerged calmly,

“You humans who dare impersonate my name!”
“Detestable wretches!”
The bandits trembled violently.
However, just as Dankuro was getting carried away, shaking his head,
the tengu mask fell.
Dankuro froze in shock.

The bandits were also startled.

With that, they drew their mountain swords and came slashing.

Dankuro fled into the wayside shrine, and in that very moment—

Musashi appeared,

He cut down the three of them.
(F.O.)

S＝Mountain Path—Dawn

Musashi and Dankuro, accompanied by Okinu,

Musashi and Dankuro began descending with her.

As they walked, Okinu spoke to Musashi.

“I am grateful you saved me, but...”

she said,

“I must be married off

to the neighboring village.”

she said sadly,

“That… is what fills me with sorrow.”

she said.

Listening, Musashi nodded.
(F・O)

S＝Foot of the Mountain―Morning

The parents and villagers, worried about Okinu's safety, were coming up the mountain.

Musashi and the others descended.

The villagers were shocked at the sight.

Okinu approached and wept into her mother's chest.

Musashi and Dankuro calmly approached the villagers.

(F.O.)

S=Interior of the Village Headman's House

It was a celebratory banquet.

As the great warrior who vanquished the tengu, Dankuro smugly drank cup after cup.

Musashi now addressed everyone present.

He narrated the details of how they had subdued the demonic creatures.

The village headman and other villagers listened with rapt attention.

Musashi spoke.

"Before I could even say 'Receive my sword of compassionate enlightenment'—"

"Before the words 'Receive!' had left my lips—"

Musashi continued with fluid motions,

"I drew both swords—"

"And leapt at them!"

With dramatic gestures,

"At that moment, sinister clouds—"

"Enveloped the valley—"

"The mountains boomed—"

"With thunderous echoes!"

S=Tsujidō

Fierce white smoke billowed thickly.

Musashi's fierce fighting.

The tengu raged wildly.

(Handle the trick shots appropriately. Please stage the tengu extermination in a slightly more old-fashioned manner.)

Finally striking down all Tenguses,
The writhing creatures thrashed about,
Leaping skyward,
They alighted upon cedar branches.

“Ugh, did I let them get away?!” Musashi.

The tengu called from midair—
“Now!
Miyamoto Musashi!”

“Listen well, Miyamoto Musashi!”

“Wh-wh-what?!” Musashi—

The tengu hovering midair continued,

“By thy extraordinary deeds,

we shall withdraw to Kurama Mountain!”

they proclaimed,

“Why—why—we are tengu born of the Year of the Snake!” With that,

“Therefore, thou shalt bestow the girl upon a man born in the Year of the Snake!”

“What?!” Musashi on the ground.

The tengu in midair—

“To a man born in the Year of the Snake—”

“Thou shalt bestow her upon a man born in the Year of the Snake!”

With a deep rumbling roar, they vanished far into the sky.
(F.O.)

S=Former Village Head's House

Musashi finished his tale.

The village head who had been listening,

“Is there a man born in the Year of the Snake?”

“Does such a man exist?”

"Indeed," Musashi nodded, then—

“I hear there’s to be a wedding soon.”

“Regarding this marriage—”

“There is, but...”

"Y-yes," said the village head worriedly,
"If--if he isn't born..."
"...in--in--the Year of--"
He inquired apprehensively.

Musashi warned,
“The tengu’s curse shall be dreadful!”

“Well, this is troublesome,” said the village head.
“In this village—speaking of men born in the Year of the Snake—”
“That would mean...”
He counted them off—that one and that one and...

One of the villagers,

“Rokuso-san was also born in the Year of the Snake, if I’m not mistaken.”

The two talked happily.
(F.O.)

T A few days later――

S=Outskirts Village Highway

The village head, Rokuso and Okinu—the young couple—

Accompanied by the other villagers—

Miyamoto Musashi and Dankuro set out on their journey.

The two figures departed.

Rokuso and Okinu repeatedly expressed their gratitude to the departing pair.
(F.O.)

T A Castle Town

S=Street Corner

A wooden notice board.

First: Henceforth, within this castle town,

assisting in blood feuds

Those who perform [such acts] shall be granted one hundred ryo in reward.

shall be granted said reward.

Miyamoto Musashi and Dankuro came to a stop before the notice board.
As they exchanged glances and remarked, “How amusing,” a ronin suddenly bumped into Dankuro with a thud, muttered “Pardon me,” and hurried away.

(It was Sakabe Bunroku.)

Dankuro noticed his wallet had been pickpocketed and stood frozen, thinking, "Ah, damn!"

S=Vicinity

Bunroku walked briskly away.

In a loud voice, Dankuro—

“Thief!”

Dankuro shouted and chased after Bunroku.

Bunroku fled while Dankuro pursued.

S=Street

From the opposite direction came about five samurai.

The instant he saw them, Bunroku—mid-flight—halted abruptly and spun around.

Dankuro closed in behind him.

Bunroku suddenly swept his long sword from its sheath.
"Huh?!" Dankuro recoiled a step.

Bunroku called out in a booming voice,

“Well, well! If it isn’t Tonma Noborobei—my father’s sworn enemy!”

“Tonma Noborobei!”

“Wha—? What nonsense are you spouting?!” Dankuro exclaimed.

The five passing samurai were overjoyed.

A close-up of the notice board (flash)

“One hundred ryō!”
(A bit louder)

Smoothly, the five men drew their large swords,

“We’ll lend our blades!”

With that, they closed in on Dankuro.

Dankuro jumped up in surprise.

He fled headlong.

Five samurai gave chase.

Bunroku didn't pursue them, sheathing his sword instead. He pulled out the wallet from his breast pocket and walked away counting coins.

S=Vicinity

The fleeing Dankuro spotted Musashi,

"Thank heavens!" he gasped, ducking behind the swordsman's back.

The five samurai closed in.

"You've mistaken your man," declared Miyamoto Musashi as he laid out the entire group.

"Phew, safe at last," Dankuro sighed in relief.
(F.O.)

THE LORD OF THIS DOMAIN

A recently popular

A sufferer of blood feud obsession—

S=Castle's Great Hall

The feudal lord.

(This feudal lord was something of a comical figure.)

He was an extremely young feudal lord.

He leaned against the armrest, looking thoroughly bored.

An elderly retainer was waiting at his side.

The feudal lord let out a big yawn.

His face practically screamed, "Ugh! Ugh! This is so boring!" when—

Suddenly, his face brightened.
"You there, old man!"
The elderly retainer jerked upright.

The feudal lord,

“You there,” “You have a daughter, don’t you?”

The elderly retainer who had been questioned replied, "She has reached eighteen years of age this year."

"Hmm, I see," said the feudal lord cheerfully. "How about it, old man—why don't you go get yourself killed by someone?"

The retainer stared blankly.

"You dense fool," continued the lord. "If you were to be cut down by someone—"

"That I should—?! Wh-what madness!" sputtered the retainer.

"Now now," waved the lord dismissively. "Don't fret—I'll have your daughter stage a magnificent revenge!"

The elderly retainer stood utterly dumbfounded as his lord beamed with delight.

“A woman’s blood feud would be quite rare!”

The elderly retainer shook his head vehemently,

“I must respectfully decline.”

Having been refused, the feudal lord sank into utter dejection.

He muttered to himself in deep dejection: "Ugh..."

"I just want to see a blood feud... so badly..."

"...I just want to see one so badly..." declared His Lordship.

(F.O.)

S=On the bridge――Night

The feudal lord, his elderly retainer, and about five other retainers were walking along the riverside.
They were traveling incognito.

The feudal lord stopped at the foot of the bridge when he noticed something.

There lay a beggar.

The feudal lord stared intently at the beggar.

"That must be it," he muttered to himself.
He briskly approached the beggar and tapped his shoulder. "Hey there."

The beggar mumbled incoherently as he got up.

When he suddenly looked around, several splendid figures had him surrounded.
Startled, he pleaded, “Please, at least spare my life!”

The feudal lord said to the beggar,

“Don’t hide it! Don’t hide it!”

Having been told this, the beggar had no idea what was going on.

The Feudal Lord said,

“You there—in truth, are you not a samurai?”

The beggar was staring blankly, but

The feudal lord was thoroughly pleased with himself,

“This must be a blood feud!”

“This must be a blood feud, right?”

“Huh?”
Though the beggar didn’t understand,

the feudal lord’s self-satisfied assumption continued unabated.

“To have fallen even to becoming an outcast—”

“must be terribly difficult for you.”

and with tears streaming down his face,

“Your utmost filial devotion

It does not reach heaven.

“There’s no justice in this!”

and grabbed the beggar’s hand,

“We shall pray for the day your blood feud is fulfilled.”

“We shall pray!”

and had his elderly retainer wrap some gold coins,

he gave them to the beggar,

“Though it is but a trifling amount,”
“it is Our wish.”
The beggar looked exactly like a pigeon hit by a popgun.
He blankly watched the Feudal Lord.

Sakabe Bunroku, in the shade of a tree, watched this scene and smirked smugly.

(F・O)

S = Side of the Inn - Night

Sakabe Bunroku, leaning on a cane,
Huffing and puffing, he walked over.
He was groaning in apparent pain.

At that moment, the Feudal Lord and his retinue on a stealthy visit happened to pass by.

The Feudal Lord suddenly noticed Bunroku,

"What has befallen you?" he said as he helped him up.

S = That Second Floor

Leaning on the handrail and watching the scene below were Musashi and Dankuro.

S = Below

Sakabe Bunroku prostrated himself before the Feudal Lord.

Bunroku was in the midst of a desperate performance.

“Seeking my father’s enemy...

“...eight years of wandering.”

“Eight years?” the Feudal Lord exclaimed in shock.

Bunroku continued to feign agony,

“Even now, without encountering my sworn enemy... my travel funds have been exhausted...”

without having encountered

The travel funds

“...have been exhausted.”

Before the Feudal Lord could hear him out—“Aiya—

“Don’t say any more—”

“I’m about to cry.”

and grabbed Bunroku's hand,

“How painful it must be,”
“How painful it must be, huh?”
After saying this, he turned to the elderly retainer and barked, “That!”

Bunroku saw that out of the corner of his eye and rejoiced at the success.

S = Second Floor

Musashi whispered to Dankuro.

Dankuro, having grasped the plan while still wearing his indoor robe and in high spirits—just as the Feudal Lord was about to hand the gold coins to Bunroku—

Dankuro nimbly leapt down from the second floor into their midst.

Everyone was stunned.

Dankuro turned to Bunroku,

“Well, well! If it isn’t my father’s enemy—

“Tonma Norobei!”

Bunroku exclaimed “Ah!” in surprise.

The Feudal Lord, the elderly retainer, and the vassals all froze in shock.

“What are you saying?!” Bunroku shouted, but Dankuro

launched into a frenzied attack.

The Feudal Lord

declared: “So you’re an impostor!”

Bunroku found himself cornered.

The retainers finally recalled

the notice

offering 100 ryō.

In unison they drew their blades,

“We’ll lend our steel!”

They lunged to cut down Bunroku.

Bunroku, startled, finally ran away.

The group gave chase.

Musashi on the second floor saw them off, resolved something, and silently entered the room.

(F.O.)

S = Original Riverside—Night

Bunroku came fleeing.

Dankuro and the retainers caught up.
The retainers swiftly surrounded him in a circle.
Bunroku desperately shouted.

“Hey! Don’t lie!”

“Don’t lie—”

“What lies!” Dankuro snorted furiously, slashing toward him.

Bunroku fled while—
"You bastard! You're my father's enemy!"
"For my sake—"
"You're my father's enemy!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Dankuro snapped.

Bunroku, to everyone,

“Everyone! This bastard’s the real enemy!”
“This bastard—”
“He’s your true enemy!”
Dankuro did not back down either.
“You’re the enemy!
“You bastard!”
Bunroku continued to scuffle while—

“Look at this bastard’s face! His face—!”
“Take a good look—”
“Look at his face—!”
he said,

“Doesn’t this bastard’s face look like my father’s sworn enemy?”

“Doesn’t this bastard’s face give him away?”

Dankuro,
“It’s your face that’s the enemy’s visage!”
“Your face is the enemy’s visage!”
The retainers couldn’t tell which of them was the enemy.
The Feudal Lord couldn’t tell either.
And so,
“This is troublesome.
Cut them both down!”
With a “Hah!”, the retainers attacked both men this time.
Well, the two turned pale.
Enemies cooperating to fight.
Miyamoto Musashi, having left the inn, arrived.
Already having rescued the two in peril,
[He] threw all the retainers into the river or beat them down, finally roughly slamming the feudal lord, then grabbed the dazed lord by the nape of his neck,

“Revenge fever patient!

“You sick bastard!”

he shouted， throwing him from atop the bridge into the river，

“Cool off—

“—that fever!”

T The next morning

S = Street – Samurai Residence District
Five young samurai on their way to the castle,
stopped abruptly.

In the distance,

Dankuro and Bunroku passed each other by.

Bunroku,

“Well, well!

My father’s sworn enemy—

“Hayami Dankuro!”

“Huh?!” The young samurai hurried over to the two men’s side.
Dankuro—what a splendid enemy.

“What a joke!”

“A counterblow!”

Both men drew their swords in unison.

The five young samurai remembered.

A close-up of the signboard.

Drawing their swords in unison,

“We shall join the fray!”

as if declaring, “We’ve been waiting for this!”

Dankuro shouldered his sword and fled.

With cries of "Coward!", Bunroku and the young samurai gave chase.

The young samurai gave chase.

S = Front of a Certain Shrine

Dankuro fled into the shrine grounds.
Next, Bunroku and the young samurai also gave chase.
(Rapid F.O.)

S = Same Shrine Front

Five samurai, having been terribly defeated, staggered away.

Bunroku and Dankuro saw them off and laughed heartily.

The two left amicably.

S = Shrine grounds

Miyamoto Musashi sat leaning back leisurely, large and small wooden swords resting at his hip.

S = Street

Two seemingly strong samurai were walking.
They stopped abruptly.

Ahead of them, as usual, Bunroku and Dankuro were making a racket with their "Well, well!" routine.

With a shout of “There!”, the two drew their swords,

Declaring their intent to assist, they lunged at Dankuro with their swords.

Dankuro fled as usual.

They all gave chase.

S = At the shrine grounds

Miyamoto Musashi held two wooden swords in his hands.

S = Front of the Shrine
Dankuro fled inside.
Bunroku and two samurai, swords drawn, gave chase.
(Rapid F.O.)
S = Same Shrine Front
Bunroku and Dankuro came out dragging the two previous samurai by their legs,
and dumped them onto the road.

The two samurai, thrown out and staggering, crawled away as they fled.

The two set out amicably once more.
(Rapid F.O.)

S = Same Shrine Front

Dankuro fled inside.
Bunroku and over a dozen samurai chased after him inside this time.
(Again, Rapid F.O.)

Over a dozen samurai came staggering out, thoroughly defeated.
(F.O.)

With this technique, I wouldn't mind demonstrating against another thirty or so fellows.

T Thus――

S = Great Hall

The Feudal Lord took his seat upon the Feudal Lord's seat.

The Feudal Lord was seated with a bandage around his head.

About a hundred retainers lay prostrated.

When those retainers all raised their heads in unison, every last one of them was covered in bandages.

The Feudal Lord let out a startled "Oh!"

From the elderly ministers down to every last servant, every nook and cranny was swathed in bandages.
The Feudal Lord could only stare in utter exasperation.

S = Town

The familiar signpost had been slammed into the earth.

S = Highway

Miyamoto Musashi and two others, in high spirits,

Miyamoto Musashi and two others departed from this castle town.

(F.O.)

T 13th Day of the Fourth Month, Keichō 17 (1612)

On the sea of Buzen Kokura—

To a remote island (O.L.)

T Father's Killer Sasaki Ganryū and

and over thirty swordsmen protecting him

Engaged in decisive combat.

S = At Sea

Divided among several small boats was Sasaki Ganryū's contingent.

The imposing Ganryū stood tall on the bow of the leading boat.

From another direction,

Musashi's boat sped forward.

Musashi stood on the boat.

Both vessels kicked up raging waves as they sped onward.

Before long, Ganryū and his group’s

The boat reached the island.

Next, Musashi's boat also reached the opposite shore.

Over thirty men advanced along the shore with Ganryū at their head.

Musashi strode resolutely along the water's edge.

The two forces met.

Ganryū cast off the sheath of his large sword and discarded it.

Musashi responded by drawing both blades.

Rough waves came roaring in.

Musashi fought desperately,

A symphony of waves and combat!

Finally, Musashi cut down the entire group.
(F.O.)