Sasaki Kojirō

Sasaki Kojirō (佐々木 小次郎; also known as Ganryū Kojirō; c. 1585 – April 13, 1612), also known by his fighting name Ganryū Kojirō, was a celebrated Japanese swordsman of the late Azuchi–Momoyama and early Edo periods. Born in Fukui Prefecture, he founded the Ganryū school of swordsmanship, specializing in a distinctive long-sword technique most notably the famed Tsubame Gaeshi (“Turning Swallow” cut)^[1]. He earned renown across Japan for his flamboyant style and formidable skill, reportedly serving as sword instructor to Hosokawa Tadaoki’s court.

"Ganryu" redirects here. For the sumo wrestler in the Tekken video game series, see List of Tekken characters. For the Neo Geo arcade game, see Ganryu (video game). For Ganryu Island, see Ganryū-jima.

In this Japanese name, the surname is Sasaki.

Sasaki Kojirō
Sasaki Ganryû (Sasaki Kojiro) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1845)
Born	c. 1585 Fukui Prefecture, Japan
Died	May 13, 1612(1612-05-13) (aged 26–27) Ganryū-jima, Japan
Native name	佐々木 小次郎
Residence	Japan
Style	Ganryū

Kojirō is best remembered for his legendary duel against Miyamoto Musashi on Ganryū-jima (also called Funashima) on 13 April 1612, where he was defeated and killed. Despite his loss, Kojirō has been revered in Japanese history and culture; Musashi himself later described Kojirō as the strongest opponent he ever faced.^[2][3]

Sasaki (right) engages Miyamoto Musashi on the shores of Ganryū Island. Woodblock print triptych by Utagawa Yoshitora, 1843-1847

Kabuki actor Ohtani Tomoemon as Sasaki in the ill-fated duel with Miyamoto Musashi at Ganryu Island.

In popular culture

Like most of the well-known samurai of his era, Sasaki was depicted in several places:

• He plays a central role in the novel, Musashi, by Eiji Yoshikawa. His life is described in a parallel storyline.^[4]
• In various film adaptations of his story or that of Miyamoto Musashi. For example, in Zoku Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijōji no kettō (Samurai 2: Duel at Ichijoji Temple; 1955; Director / Screenplay: Hiroshi Inagaki).
• In the manga Vagabond, he plays a central role alongside Musashi and is shown here as deaf.
• Tachibana Ukyo from the computer game Samurai Shodown is modelled after Sasaki, just like the character Haōmaru is modelled after Miyamoto Musashi. His signature technique is also called Tsubame Gaeshi.
• In the visual novel and anime Fate/stay night, Sasaki also played the role of a minor character.
• In the video game Brave Fencer Musashi, the archrival of the protagonist (Musashi) was named after him.
• In the Pokémon series, the original Japanese name for the Flying-type move Aerial Ace is Tsubame Gaeshi. Additionally, the anime characters Jessie and James are known in Japan as Musashi and Kojirō, respectively.
• An ōdachi named the "Washing Pole" is a weapon attainable by the player in the 2011 action RPG Dark Souls and its sequels Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III.
• In the anime and manga "Hajime no Ippo", a reference to Kojiro is made, and his sword movements are repurposed as boxing punches. The first time seen in a fight against the protagonist "Ippo Makunouchi" the user of the "flight of the swallow" is "Kazuki Sanada".

See also

• Sasaki Kojirō in fiction
• Miyamoto Musashi in fiction