was one of the most famous and romanticized of the

samurai were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retainers of the '' daimyo'' (the great feudal landholders). They h ...

in Japan's feudal era.

Life

Very little is known about the actual life of Yagyū Mitsuyoshi as the official records of his life are very sparse. Yagyū Jūbē Mitsuyoshi (born "Shichirō") grew up in his family's ancestral lands, Yagyū no Sato, now in

Nara The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an " independent federal agency of the United States government within the executive branch", charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It ...

. He was the son of Yagyū Tajima no Kami Munenori, master swordsman of the Tokugawa ''

shōgun , officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamak ...

s'', especially

Ieyasu was the founder and first '' shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and f ...

and

Tokugawa Iemitsu Tokugawa Iemitsu (徳川家光, August 12, 1604 – June 8, 1651) was the third ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada with Oeyo, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Lady Kasuga was his wet nurse, who a ...

, who prized Munenori as one of his top Counselors . Munenori fought for the first Tokugawa shōgun,

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fello ...

, at the Battle of Sekigahara, expanding the shōgun's territory. For his efforts, Munenori was made the shōgun's sword instructor and a minor ''

daimyō were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and nominal ...

'' (provincial ruler), by extending his family hereditary domain up to 10,000 koku. Despite not being the heir of his father as the headmaster of the Yagyū style (and thus far from being an unrivaled swordsman under the Heaven), he received the post for its importance in Japanese politics and Court intrigues, at which Munenori was better than the other members of his clan. Munenori would go on to train three successive Shoguns: Ieyasu,

Hidetada was the second ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate. Early life (1579–1593) Tokugawa Hidetada was bo ...

, and Iemitsu. In 1616, Mitsuyoshi became an attendant in the court of the second Tokugawa Shōgun,

Tokugawa Hidetada was the second ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate. Early life (1579–1593) Tokugawa Hidetada was bo ...

and became a sword instructor for the third Tokugawa Shōgun,

, occasionally filling his father's role. Records of Yagyū Jūbē Mitsuyoshi, however, do not appear again until 1631, when Jūbē, by now regarded as the best swordsman from the Yagyū clan, is summarily and inexplicably dismissed by the Shōgun either due to Jūbē's boldness and brashness or his decision to embark on a Warrior's Pilgrimage (, ''Musha Shugyō''). His whereabouts are then unknown over the next twelve years—even the Yagyū clan's secret chronicles, which contained lengthy passages on numerous members, has little solid information on Jūbē—until Yagyū Jūbē reappears at the age of 36 at a demonstration of swordsmanship in front of the Shōgun. Following this exhibition, Jūbē was reinstated and serves for a short time as a government-inspector (, ''Gosho Inban''), taking control over his father's lands until Yagyū Tajima no Kami Munenori's death in 1646. Jūbē also authored a treatise known as ''Tsuki no Shō'' () or ''The Art of Looking at the Moon'' outlining his school of swordsmanship as well as teachings influenced by the monk

Takuan Sōhō was a Japanese Buddhist prelate during the Sengoku and early Edo Periods of Japanese history. He was a major figure in the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Noted for his calligraphy, poetry, tea ceremony, he is also popularly credited with the ...

who was a friend of his father's. In this work he briefly provides hints on his whereabouts during his absence from Edo Castle from 1631 to 1643 – traveling the countryside in perfecting his skills.

Death

After residing in Edo for several years after his father's death, Jūbē left his government duties and returned to his home village where he died in early 1650 under uncertain circumstances. Some accounts say he died of a heart attack; others say he died while falcon hunting; some during fishing, while still others presume he was assassinated by his half-brother Yagyū Tomonori's attendants. Jūbē was laid to rest in his home village of Yagyu behind the family temple of Hotojukuji alongside his father and brother. In keeping with tradition, Yagyū Jūbē was buried alongside his grandfather,

Yagyū Munetoshi Yagyū Sekishūsai Taira-no-Munetoshi (柳生石舟斎平宗厳 1529 – May 25, 1606) was a samurai in Japan's Sengoku period famous for mastering the Shinkage-ryū school of combat, and introducing it to the Tokugawa clan. He was also kno ...

, and was survived by two daughters and his brother and successor Yagyū Munefuyu. Jūbē was given the Buddhist

posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary name given mostly to the notable dead in East Asian culture. It is predominantly practiced in East Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand. Reflecting on the person's accomplishments ...

of Sohgo.

Eyepatch legend

Legend has it that Yagyū Jūbē had the use of only one eye; most legends state that he lost it in a sword sparring session where his father, Yagyū Munenori, struck him accidentally. However, portraits from Jubei's time portray him as having both eyes. Several authors of late have chosen to portray Jūbē as having both eyes, though the classical "eyepatch" look remains standard. Others have chosen to have Jūbē lose an eye as an adult in order to incorporate the eyepatch legend.

Fictional appearances

Due to Yagyū Jūbē's frequent disappearances and the fact of little existing records of his whereabouts, his life has bred speculation and interest and has been romanticized in popular fiction. * Jūshirō Konoe played the role of Yagyū Jūbē in 11 films and 27 TV episodes: ** ''Yagyu Tabi Nikki'' (柳生旅日記)

Shochiku () is a Japanese film and kabuki production and distribution company. It also produces and distributes anime films, in particular those produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks (which has a long-time partnership—the company released most, if not ...

film series *** ''Yagyu Travel Journal 1: Heaven and Earth Dream Sword'' (柳生旅日記天地夢想剣) (1959) *** ''Yagyu Travel Journal 2: Dragon Tiger Killing Sword'' (柳生旅日記竜虎活殺剣) (1960) ** ''Yagyu Bugeicho'' ( 柳生武芸帳) Toei film series *** ''Yagyu Chronicles 1: The Secret Scrolls'' (柳生武芸帳) (1961) *** ''Yagyu Chronicles 2: The Secret Sword'' (柳生武芸帳夜ざくら秘剣) (1961) *** ''Yagyu Chronicles 3: The Valley of Outlaws'' (柳生一番勝負無頼の谷) (1961) *** ''Yagyu Chronicles 4: One-Eyed Swordsman'' (柳生武芸帳独眼一刀流) (1962) *** ''Yagyu Chronicles 5: Jubē's Redemption'' (柳生武芸帳片目の十兵衛) (1963) *** ''Yagyu Chronicles 6: The Yagyu Scroll'' (柳生武芸帳片目水月の剣) (1963) *** ''Yagyu Chronicles 7: The Cloud of Disorder'' (柳生武芸帳剣豪乱れ雲) (1963) *** ''Yagyu Chronicles 8: The One-Eyed Ninja'' (柳生武芸帳片目の忍者) (1963) *** ''Yagyu Chronicles 9: Assassin's Sword'' (十兵衛暗殺剣) (1964) ** ''Yagyu Bugeicho'' (柳生武芸帳) (1965)

NET Net or net may refer to: Mathematics and physics * Net (mathematics), a filter-like topological generalization of a sequence * Net, a linear system of divisors of dimension 2 * Net (polyhedron), an arrangement of polygons that can be folded up ...

TV series - 26 episodes ** ''Shadow Assassins'' ( 忍法かげろう斬り) (1972)

Kansai TV JODX-DTV, virtual channel 8 ( UHF digital channel 17), branded as or , is the Kansai region key station of the Fuji News Network (FNN) and Fuji Network System (FNS), operated by the . Kansai TV is a company affiliated in Hankyu Hanshin Holdin ...

TV series - 1 episode (#22) *

Gō Wakabayashi is a Japanese film and television actor from Nagasaki. A graduate of Senshu University, Wakabayashi became a member of Shin Kokugeki, then Wakabayashi Promotions. Currently he is a member of Toho Entertainment. After some roles in minor televi ...

played the role of Yagyū Jūbē in 23 TV episodes and 1 TV movie: ** ''Edo is Cut: Azusa Ukon's Secret Spy Chronicles'' (江戸を斬る梓右近隠密帳) (1973-1974) TBS TV series - 7 episodes ** ''Hikozaemon Okubo'' (大久保彦左衛門) (1974) Kansai TV TV series - 1 episode (#31) ** ''Tokugawa Sangokushi'' (徳川三国志) (1975) NET TV series - 15 episodes ** ''Kanei Chronicles: Clash! Wise Izu vs Yui Shosetsu'' (寛永風雲録激突！知恵伊豆対由比正雪) (1991)

Nippon TV JOAX-DTV (channel 4), branded as , is the flagship station of the Nippon News Network and the Nippon Television Network System, owned-and-operated by the which is a subsidiary of the certified broadcasting holding company , itself a listed su ...

TV movie *

Shinichi Chiba , known internationally as Sonny Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later before an international audience. Born in Fuku ...

played the role of Yagyū Jūbē in 4 films, 91 TV episodes, and 1 TV movie:
Note: The loss of Jubei's left eye is depicted in the first 3 productions. In ''Shogun's Samurai'', Jubei is struck with a sword. In ''The Yagyu Conspiracy'' Jubei is hit by an arrow. And in ''Samurai Reincarnation'', it occurs during a practice duel with his father. ** Toei films directed by

Kinji Fukasaku was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Known for his "broad range and innovative filmmaking," Fukasaku worked in many different genres and styles, but was best known for his gritty yakuza films, typified by the ''Battles Without Honor ...

*** ''

Shogun's Samurai ''Shogun's Samurai'', known in Japan as , is a 1978 Japanese historical martial arts period film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. The film is the first of two period films by Fukasaku starring Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba as Jūbei Mitsuyoshi Yagyū, the ...

'' (aka ''The Yagyu Conspiracy'') (柳生一族の陰謀) (1978) *** ''

Samurai Reincarnation is a 1981 Japanese fantasy film written and directed by Kinji Fukasaku and starring Sonny Chiba, Kenji Sawada, and Hiroyuki Sanada. It is based on the novel of the same name by Futaro Yamada. The film was nominated for three Awards of the Jap ...

'' (魔界転生) (1981) ** ''The Yagyu Conspiracy'' (柳生一族の陰謀) (1978–79)

TV series - 39 episodes ** ''Yagyu Abaretabi'' (柳生あばれ旅)

TV Asahi JOEX-DTV (channel 5), branded as (also known as EX and and stylized as TV asahi), is a television station that is owned and operated by the subsidiary of certified broadcasting holding company , itself controlled by The Asahi Shimbun Comp ...

TV series *** ''Yagyu Abaretabi'' (柳生あばれ旅) (1980-81) First Series - 26 episodes *** ''Yagyu Jubei Abaretabi'' (柳生十兵衛あばれ旅) (1982–83) Second Series - 26 episodes ** ''Iemitsu, Hikoza, and Isshin Tasuke'' (家光と彦左と一心太助天下の一大事危うし江戸城!) (1989) - TV movie ** ''Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness'' (猿飛佐助闇の軍団) Cinema Paradise film series *** ''Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 3: Wind Chapter'' (猿飛佐助闇の軍団３風の巻) (2005) *** ''Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 4: Fire Chapter'' (猿飛佐助闇の軍団４火の巻完結篇 (2005) * Yūki Meguro, son of Jushiro Konoe, played the role of Yagyū Jūbē in 8 TV episodes: ** ''Yagyu Shinkage Ryu'' (柳生新陰流) (1982)

TV Tokyo JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as and known colloquially as , is a television station headquartered in the Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by the subsidiary of listed certifie ...

TV series - 8 episodes * Kinya Kitaōji played the role of Yagyū Jūbē in 2 large-scale TV movies (i.e. mini-series): ** ''Fuun Yagyu Bugeicho'' (風雲柳生武芸帳) (1985)

** ''Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the Three Branches'' (徳川風雲録御三家の野望) (1987) TV Tokyo *

Hiroki Matsukata , better known by his stage name , was a Japanese actor. He was the son of ''jidaigeki'' actor Jūshirō Konoe and actress Yaeko Mizukawa and has a younger brother, Yūki Meguro, who is also an actor. With ex-wife actress Akiko Nishina he had t ...

, son of Jushiro Konoe, played the role of Yagyū Jūbē in 5 TV movies and 1 film: ** ''Yagyu Bugeicho'' (柳生武芸帳)

TV movie series *** ''Yagyu Bugeicho'' (柳生武芸帳) (1990) *** ''Yagyu Bugeicho: Jubei's 50 Kills'' (柳生武芸帳十兵衛五十人斬り) (1990) *** ''Yagyu Bugeicho: Great Conspiracy in the Capital! Jubei and the Puzzling Princess'' (柳生武芸帳京に渦巻く大陰謀！十兵衛と謎の姫君) (1991) *** ''Yagyu Bugeicho: Jubei's Violent Travels'' (柳生武芸帳十兵衛あばれ旅) (1991) *** ''Yagyu Bugeicho: Jubei's Violent Travels, Date's 620,000 Koku Conspiracy'' (柳生武芸帳十兵衛あばれ旅伊達六十二万石の陰謀) (1992) ** ''Yagyu Jubei: The Fate of the World'' (柳生十兵衛世直し旅) (2015) All in Entertainment film *

Hiroshi Katsuno is a Japanese actor.　He graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University. Katsuno's debut was as a detective Texas in the television series Taiyō ni Hoero! in 1974 and he won great popularity through the role. The episode his character Texas was killed ...

played the role of Yagyū Jūbē in 44 TV episodes: ** '' Shogun Iemitsu's Secret Journey'' (将軍家光忍び旅) TV Asahi TV series ***''Shogun Iemitsu's Secret Journey'' (将軍家光忍び旅) (1990-1991) Series 1 - 22 episodes ***''Shogun Iemitsu's Secret Journey II'' (軍家光忍び旅II) (1992-1993) Series 2 - 22 episodes *

Hiroaki Murakami is a Japanese actor. He specializes in ''jidaigeki'' roles, and has also taken parts in ''tokusatsu'' and modern productions. Career Born in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, he enrolled in Hosei University but withdrew when he successfully audi ...

played the role of Yagyū Jūbē in 1 large-scale TV movie (i.e. mini-series) and 21 TV episodes: ** ''Three Generations of the Yagyu Sword'' (徳川武芸帳柳生三代の剣) (1993)

** ''Legendary Swordfights of Yagyu Jubei'' (柳生十兵衛七番勝負) TV series *** ''Legendary Swordfights of Yagyu Jubei'' (柳生十兵衛七番勝負) (2005) First Series - 6 episodes *** ''Legendary Swordfights of Yagyu Jubei: The Shimabara Rebellion'' (柳生十兵衛七番勝負島原の乱) (2006) Second Series - 7 episodes *** ''Legendary Swordfights of Yagyu Jubei: The Final Duels'' (柳生十兵衛七番勝負最後の闘い) (2007) Third Series - 8 episodes * Hideki Saijo played the role of Yagyū Jūbē in the 1992 TV series '' Tokugawa Buraichō'' (徳川無頼帳) (24 episodes). *Director/writer

Yoshiaki Kawajiri is a writer and director of Japanese animation. He is the creator of titles such as '' Wicked City'', '' Ninja Scroll'', and '' Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust''. Biography Kawajiri was born on November 18, 1950 and grew up in Yokohama, Kanagawa P ...

in his enormously popular animated film ''

Ninja Scroll is a 1993 Japanese animated ''jidaigeki''- ''chanbara'' film written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, starring the voices of Kōichi Yamadera, Emi Shinohara, Takeshi Aono, Daisuke Gōri, Toshihiko Seki and Shūichirō Moriyama. The film was a ...

'', created the lead character Jubei Kibagami as a homage to Yagyū Jūbē. He is voiced by Japanese

voice actor Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...

Kōichi Yamadera. The movie also had a sequel - '' Ninja Scroll: The Series'' - that features a recurring character named Yagyu Renya, a one-eyed master swordsman from the Yagyū Clan. *An alternate variation can be found in the anime ''

Shura no Toki is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masatoshi Kawahara. The story follows a young Karate practitioner named Tsukumo Mutsu, 40th master of the deadly Mutsu Enmei Ryu style. It was serialized in Kodansha's ''Monthly Shōnen ...

''. In this version Jubei was initially known as having only one eye, but actually covered the other to challenge himself. However, upon taking the eyepatch off to duel the fictional Mutsu Takato, Jubei actually loses his eye. *Yagyū Kyūbei from the manga

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takes her name from him, and also wears an eyepatch. *Jubei also appeared in the manga-anime ''

Yaiba ''Yaiba'' (stylized as ''Y∀IBA'') is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. It was serialized in Shogakukan's ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' from September 1988 to December 1993, with its c ...

'' as one of the hero's resurrected allies. *Another one is '' Jubei-chan: The Ninja Girl'' where a modern high school girl becomes an unwilling heir to the Yagyu Jubei school of swordsmanship. *In ''Yagyuu Hijouken Samon'' by Ryu Keiichiro and Tabata Yoshiaki, Jubei is said to have lost his eye in a fight with Yagyuu Samon, his younger brother. Samon is killed by Jubei in the end. *

Arc System Works , commonly referred to as ArcSys, is a Japanese video game developer and publisher located in Yokohama. Founded by Minoru Kidooka in 1988, the company is known for arcade 2D fighting game franchises, including ''Guilty Gear'' and ''BlazBlue'', a ...

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video game series features an anthropomorphic cat character named Jubei. He is said to be one of the greatest warriors in the world, and is depicted with a sword guard for an eye patch. *The SNK video game ''

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'' features a master swordsman named Yagyu Jubei who wears an eyepatch. *Jubei and his brothers Yagyū Munefuyu and Retsudō Gisen feature prominently in another novel by Ryu Keiichiro, The Blade of the Courtesans. *Jubei is the hero in ''

Futaro Yamada was the pen name of , a Japanese author. He was born in Yabu, Hyogo. In 1947, he wrote a mystery short story and was awarded a prize by the magazine . He was discovered by Edogawa Rampo and became a novelist. He wrote many ninja (忍法帖 ''Ni ...

'' 's novel ''

Makai Tensho is a 1967 historical fantasy novel by Futaro Yamada. It is a tale in which Mori Sōiken resurrects other dead historical figures to overthrow the Shogunate, while Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi rises to fight him and his warriors of the dead. Plot T ...

''. The novel's been adapted into several movies, manga, anime, a PS2 game and even a couple of stage plays. *Yagyu Jubei appears in the table top game ''Ninja All Stars'' by Sodapop Miniatures *Yagyu Jubei had a guest-starring drama on '' BoBoiBoy Galaxy.'' *In the video game series '' Senran Kagura'' one of the characters is a girl named Yagyū who wears an eyepatch over her right eye. *The main character of the video game '' Onimusha 2'' goes by "Jubei Yagyu", but is actually Yagyū Mitsuyoshi's grandfather, Yagyū Muneyoshi.

Life

Death

Eyepatch legend

Fictional appearances

Further reading