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Musashi no Ken catalogues the life of Natsuki Musashi in his quest to become the best Kenshi (swordsman) in the world.
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Yuriko Fuchizaki
Musashi (child) (voice)
Ryo Horikawa
Musashi (youth) (voice)
1985
Born into a kendo family, the boy Musashi inherits his late father's passion for the sword and trains hard every day. Through his friendships with the neighborhood children and an encounter with a puppy, Musashi takes his first step as a swordsman.
On a snowy night, Musashi is attacked by a dog and hospitalized with injuries. His pet dog Juichi is also hurt while protecting him. His parents' deep love as they pray for his recovery, and a fateful bond with a powerful rival he meets in the hospital, spur Musashi's growth as a swordsman.
A boy arrives at a kendo dojo and challenges the adults to practice with him. Putting on armor for the first time and facing a serious match, the boy grows little by little through kendo.
Musashi is pestered by the kindergarten bullies, but he beats them all and is recognized as their new boss. Later, walking his dog along the river, he meets a big man taking a nap in the sun: Iwao Oishi.
In practice with Iwao, Musashi cannot land a single strike. Crushed by frustration, he nonetheless glimpses the depth of kendo in Iwao's words and movements, and vows to grow further.
Musashi meets a strong rival, Yonai, at a kendo tournament. Shocked by Yonai's overwhelming strength, Musashi still shows the fruits of his daily training, winning match after match as he charges toward a showdown with his rival for the title.
In the final of the kendo tournament, Musashi faces a beautiful young swordswoman. With their abilities evenly matched and a fierce exchange unfolding, the match is carried into overtime.
Musashi trains hard, holding a rematch with his rival in his heart. He shows overwhelming strength at the promotion exam, but is not satisfied with the rank he is given. The instructor tells him that the way of the sword is not bound by rank — it is about defeating oneself.
Musashi takes on a challenge set by a certain man: defeat the Four Heavenly Kings, the four strongest grade-schoolers in Morioka. Disguising himself, he sets out and beats the strong opponents one after another.
Oishi shows Musashi the dents left in the wall by generations of club members ramming it with their face guards, telling him they are proof of relentless daily practice. The mark Musashi has left is still small, and Oishi says sternly: "Your sword is worth no more than that."
Musashi's father wins the All-Japan Kendo Championship. The joy is short-lived, though, as a letter arrives from his father's university senior — Kunihiko Todo, a man who once conquered all Japan at the youngest age ever. And Todo has a son the same age as Musashi: Shura.
Musashi is astonished by the extraordinary talent of Shura, the boy he meets at the dojo. The two young swordsmen acknowledge each other's strength, and learning of their fathers' past, both burn with even more drive to practice.
In a dream, Musashi undergoes fierce practice with Shura. Reunited with him in reality, the two speak of their feelings about kendo, and as each watches the other's father's harsh training, they are pushed forward as swordsmen.
Musashi faces the death of Shura's mother — who was also his own father's younger sister. Around her death, complicated feelings intertwine among the family and relatives. Musashi and Shura each have their own path of the sword and their family bonds put to the test.
Learning of his father's burning devotion to kendo, Musashi resolves to devote himself to the way of the sword as well. But his mother's new challenge and his school life keep standing in his way.
Over summer vacation, Musashi forces his way to Eiichiro's side and begs to be trained in kendo. He is refused at first, but Musashi refuses to leave the dojo. In time he touches the very essence of Eiichiro's midnight training, and grows as a swordsman.
Musashi trains hard alongside Shino — waterfall austerities, rabbit jumps and more. But Shino tells him that tomorrow will be the last day they can practice together. Shaken, Musashi grabs his practice clothes and runs off, beginning solitary training in a graveyard.
Having mastered footwork through harsh training with his father, Musashi returns from his mountain retreat to school life — and meets a new strong rival, Kawaguchi. Kawaguchi taunts him that without a stick he cannot even fight, and Musashi flies into a rage.
Musashi's father fights a bitter battle against a powerful rival at a kendo tournament and wins brilliantly. Deeply moved by his father's strength, Musashi looks ahead to his next goal: making his mark at the national tournament.
While Musashi trains hard at the dojo, he is reunited with Shura. Through practice the two feel each other's growth and deepen their friendship. Before long, on the stage of the All-Japan Kendo Championship, the bond and the grudge between their fathers come to light.
In the semifinal of the national tournament, the Tiger of Iwate and the Ogre of Yagyu clash head-on. A battle in which the swordsmen stake their pride and stubbornness whips the venue to its peak of excitement.
In the semifinal of the national tournament, Natsuki fights a fierce battle against his powerful rival Todo. Neither gives an inch in a white-hot match that goes all the way to a deciding bout. Then, in the final, he takes on the up-and-coming Kitaura in a summit showdown.
The phone rings with news that Musashi's father has collapsed during a kendo match. Rushing to the hospital, Musashi learns his father has died. Struck down by grief and anger, he then learns that his father's death was an accident in kendo...
Musashi moves to his late father's hometown, a mountain village deep in snow. He goes to school in his new surroundings but has drifted away from the kendo he once loved. Then an old acquaintance visits, and a chance to face kendo again comes his way.
Noticing incense offered at his father's grave, Musashi asks the priest and learns that Shura and Todo had come. Musashi chases after the two, but they board a train and leave...
On a snowy day, Musashi rescues a girl from a man with a gun, and his skill draws public attention. Yet he has a match he must settle with his fated rival, and he resolves to set out on a journey for it.
A strange slump strikes Musashi. Todo points out that Musashi's desire for revenge is "clouding" his sword. Unable to accept this, Musashi tries to prove the rightness of his own kendo — and Shura challenges him to a match.
With his passion for kendo in his heart, Musashi steps into a new dojo. Fierce practice unfolds there, and the heat of it sets Musashi's heart racing. Then into the training hall comes Ranko Todoroki, whom he faced five years earlier in the final at the Budokan.
The members for the kendo tournament are announced, and Musashi is named captain. Vice-captain Ranko is dissatisfied and burns with fierce rivalry toward him. The two, each stubborn in their own way, throw themselves into harsh training.
The semifinal of the kendo tournament. Musashi takes the floor despite an old injury to his leg. In his first match he overwhelms his opponent with his usual spirit and technique and wins handsomely. But the leg injury is serious...
The final of the kendo tournament. Musashi, enduring the pain in his leg, takes on the match and puts on a brave face so his teammates won't worry. The team trades blow for blow, and spurred by his comrades' efforts, Musashi renews his resolve to overcome his injury.
With their place in the national tournament secured, Musashi shares the joy with his teammates. They train harshly, but the others are exhausted. Musashi spurs them on, vows a rematch with his rival, and aims for still greater heights.
Musashi and the others begin a grueling training camp at a dojo deep in the mountains. Under a new coach, the practice — warm-ups with shinai, running up the stone steps of a temple, push-ups — is far harsher than they imagined.
With the national tournament ahead, Musashi trains hard with his teammates. To master the "body check" his late father taught him as a finishing technique, he piles on rigorous practice. To stand against powerful foes together, they throw themselves into the way of the sword day and night.
With the national tournament approaching, Musashi and his friends witness the intense practice of rival schools' players at a shrine near their lodging. Astonished by the overwhelming force of it, they nonetheless reexamine their own kendo and vow to grow further.
The young swordsmen gather for the All-Japan Junior Kendo Tournament. Musashi's Kitakami Junior Kendo Club defeats a strong school in their first match and gains momentum. Their rival team advances too, and anticipation for a showdown between the two builds.
The semifinal of the All-Japan Junior Kendo Tournament. Kitakami Junior Kendo Club faces the powerhouse Yagyu Kenyukai. Musashi longs for a showdown with his fated rival, but his team is forced into a hard fight.
In the semifinal of the kendo tournament, Kitakami Junior Kendo Club at last confronts the powerhouse Yagyu Kenyukai. Musashi reasons that the only way to force a direct meeting with his rival Shura is for the team to fight to a draw and for him to play in the deciding match.
Having narrowly lost a fierce battle against his fated rival Shura at the national tournament, Musashi keeps practicing roughly out of frustration. During harsh training in the mountains he meets a strange man, and at the school's opening ceremony that day he learns the man is his new teacher.
Visiting the Iwate Prefectural Junior High Kendo Tournament, Musashi sees the strength of Akutsu of the powerful Kuromiyama Junior High. Then one day, learning that a puppy is about to be born under the school floor, Musashi and Mr. Yaegashi attend the birth together.
One day Musashi walks alone into the kendo club of Kuromiyama Junior High, known for its strength, and asks to be allowed to practice with them. The members scorn him for being a grade-schooler and sneer at his cheek — and then...
Musashi, having stormed into Kuromiyama Junior High, overwhelms his opponents with his swordsmanship, but captain Akutsu cannot accept losing to a grade-schooler. He proposes an unlimited match — "until one of us falls" — and shuts the dojo doors.
Musashi boldly challenges a high school's kendo dojo in search of strong opponents. A policeman who suddenly appears there turns out to be a man connected to Musashi's late father's past. Impressed by the distinctive high guard his father used, the man takes Musashi to the police kendo dojo, where powerful opponents gather.
On a snowy night, on his way home from harsh practice at the kendo dojo, Musashi hears that a friend's pet dog is unwell and rushes about. Despite his desperate efforts the dog dies, and as he buries it, Musashi recalls memories of his late father.
The members for the spring prefectural tournament are announced, and Musashi is eager. After a reunion with his childhood friend Monami, Musashi and the others take on the team final. Against the powerful Aobakan, can Musashi and Ranko lead the team to victory?
With the national tournament close at hand, Musashi looked forward to a rematch with his old rival. One day, on the way to the dojo, an old man calls out to him. The old man says he was an old acquaintance of Musashi's father, and challenges him to a practice match.
In the team final of the All-Japan Junior Kendo Tournament, Musashi's Kitakami Junior Kendo Club fights a fierce battle against Kumamoto Renshinkan. In the anchor match, Musashi faces off against Udou, but...
Musashi advances through the All-Japan Junior Kendo Tournament. In the semifinal he wins a fierce exchange with Fujimaki of Tokyo and clinches a place in the final. In the other semifinal, Nara's Shura Todo faces Kagoshima's Kensuke Hidaka.
The final of the All-Japan Junior Kendo Tournament. Musashi stands against his fated rival Shura. The match swings back and forth, neither giving way. Holding his master's teachings in his heart, he aims to win by mastering the battle of spiritual distance (maai).
A man has rowed a boat 60 kilometers down the Kitakami River, a journey of three days. His name is Musashi Natsuki, and his high school life in Morioka is about to begin. Gazing up at the towering Mt. Iwate, Musashi vows to lead the kendo club of Kaiyo Gakuen High School to a national high school championship.
A new head coach arrives at Kaiyo Gakuen High School's kendo club: Iwao Oishi, a man Musashi has been bound to by a bitter history since boyhood. The club throws itself into hard training for the spring rookie tournament. Then one day, Musashi is reunited with his childhood friend Monami Komiya.
Caught up in a brawl, Musashi is suspended and his senior Musha is expelled outright. With his entry to the rookie tournament also barred, he sinks into despair. Sensing something wrong with him, Ranko takes action — and just then, Inui of Hokuryo High School appears before her.
It was Shunichi Inui of Hokuryo High School who made it possible for Musashi's suspension to be lifted. Wanting to thank him in person, Musashi goes to visit him, and learns that Inui once crossed swords with Shura. At the rookie tournament, can Musashi beat Inui?
Inui repeatedly provokes Musashi with words and actions that stray from the way of the sword. Unwilling to drag his other clubmates into it, Musashi endures the taunting — but that is precisely Inui's plan to unsettle his mind.
After the match with Inui, Musashi's heart is in turmoil; even with a shinai in his hands, he can no longer throw himself into practice. To cut away his own hesitation, he resolves to set out on a journey of swordsmanship training.
Musashi heads for the kendo club of Yakumo Gakuin University in Tokyo, his late father's alma mater. His purpose is to have his own conceit and confusion broken down. There he meets Mina Kazato, a female swordsman from Nagasaki. Against the fourth-dan Mina he is utterly helpless, and yet...
Next Musashi travels to Kyushu, known as the "kingdom of kendo" — and specifically to Kagoshima, home of Kensuke Hidaka, a high schooler famed for the Jigen-ryu style. Musashi is to face Hidaka, one of the top two in all Kyushu. With smoke billowing from Sakurajima, how will their contest end?
Leaving Kagoshima behind, Musashi heads next to Kumamoto, where Udou is — said to be the place where Miyamoto Musashi, founder of the two-sword style, ended his days. But the two-sword style is still alive. Who is Hyoue Furusawa, the old man who defeated Udou? To meet Furusawa, Musashi sets out for a small island floating in Ariake Bay...
Musashi's next destination is Nara, where Shura is. He cannot hide his joy at being reunited with Shura after so long, but at night he witnesses Shura in a murderous exchange with a man. Shura says the man is "a friend who came to ask for a match," but it is really a trap set by Tenryu Gakuen...
The long-awaited match with Shura has come at last. Before facing Shura, Musashi receives instruction from Nirayama, who was also his father's master... And then, finally, the duel with Shura! Serving as referee is Shura's father, Kunihiko Todo. Who will win?
Shura sees Musashi off at the station as he departs for Morioka. In his heart he vows to keep winning until the day Musashi returns to that grand stage... Meanwhile, back in Morioka, Musashi learns from his senior Shiraishi that Coach Oishi has been drilling relentlessly from morning till night at the Kuromori mountain lodge, and he sets off for Mt. Kuromori.
Even after the journey ends, Musashi's training goes on... Keeping away from competition, he has decided not to enter official matches until he is satisfied with himself. To become the "Tiger of Iwate," he resolves to train himself out in nature and remake his body into that of a wild beast. And then, before him appears...
The summer of the Inter-High has arrived. Yet Musashi does not enter this tournament either. His rivals are shaken by his absence... And Umeki of Akita, hearing from Shura and the others that Musashi is training in seclusion in the mountains, decides to go and see him.
Musashi has finally come down from the mountain. He resolves to return to the kendo club and aim for his last Inter-High as a high schooler. Meanwhile, Shura's father Kunihiko Todo learns that he has little time left to live, and decides how he will spend the time remaining to him.
Inui — the man who set Musashi off on his training journey — appears before him once more. He had entered the tutelage of the two-sword master Hyoue Furusawa and returned having mastered a technique called the "reverse two-sword." What is the other reason Inui is bent on defeating Musashi?
Former coach Oishi was competing in the All-Japan Championship. He fought his way into the final, one step from the title, but ended up as runner-up... Meanwhile, three months have passed since Musashi returned to the kendo club. On former coach Oishi's orders he had devoted himself to nothing but suburi; at last he begins practicing with his men on.
Musashi receives a shocking confession from his mother Kayo: Mr. Yaegashi, who had been his homeroom teacher in elementary school, has proposed to her. Kayo is even more troubled than the bewildered Musashi. To sort out her own feelings, Kayo resolves to enter the All Japan Women's Kendo Championship...
At last the Inter-High qualifier, the Iwate Prefectural Tournament, begins. The kendo club of Kaiyo Gakuen High School is fired up, aiming for a "clean sweep" of the boys', girls', team and individual titles. Musashi and Ranko vow to win the individual events together. Both advance to the final, just short of the title... But with victory in sight, something seems off about Ranko?
The wedding of Musashi's mother Kayo and Yaegashi is to be held cheerfully at Tawayama. Musashi's childhood friend Monami comes as well. There, Monami confides to Musashi an unexpected worry: she is troubled that Inui came all the way to Morioka to see her. And Ranko, too, is bewildered by her own feelings for Musashi...
Just as the Inter-High draws near, three mysterious, powerfully built men appear before Musashi. Following where they lead, he arrives at the dojo of the police academy where his father once served as an assistant instructor. And there, of all people, is Oishi...!
At last, the boys' individual event of Musashi's final high school Inter-High begins. Shura, aiming for an unprecedented third straight title; Hidaka of the Jigen-ryu; Udou of the high guard; and Inui with his reverse two-sword... His rivals have gathered at the Nippon Budokan! With Shura the favorite and Hidaka seen as the main challenger, Musashi and Inui also battle their way up... And in the third round, Musashi and Inui meet early!
The decisive battle with Shura is at hand. Shura defeats Udou with the kiriotoshi, the deepest secret of the Itto-ryu, and advances to the final... Shura's aim is not a third straight title; it is to settle things with Musashi. Two lifelong rivals since childhood begin their fateful duel. Musashi and Shura — how will it end?
