Eiji Yoshikawa's book "stone and the sword" is not exactly a biography of the life of Musashi, ronin born in the 1580s in the village of Miyamoto in the province Mimasaka, but rather a novel. And this does not detract from the quality of the history of the fictionalized side that allows (a beautiful love story "impossible"? I will tell you nothing, it will be up to you to discover). In fact, this novel exalts the will of Musashi to achieve perfection in learning "the way" and that his mind enabled him to endure during his long years of wandering. The writing style is precise while remaining very simple which is very interesting if one is not a specialist in customs and traditions of feudal Japan, or martial arts. Finally, if Musachi life has exhilarated you, know he founded the Niten school "two swords" in 1612 following the Ichijoji duel, battle described in the book in which he used his short sword for use both hands "independently but with the same purpose," just like a percussionist uses two drumsticks to create one sound. You have been conquered by the book, fighting, ...? then you are ready to discover the Kendo (literally the way of the sword).
