Sasaki Kojiro was a samurai who lived during the Sengoku and early Edo periods. Kojiro was famous for his death against Miyamoto Musashi in 1612. In this article, Dunia Games wants to talk about a few interesting facts about Sasaki Kojiro that you might do not know. Take a look at the facts below!

1. Kojiro Sasaki's Signature Technique

Sasaki's mainstay technique was known as Tsubame Gaeshi or Turning Swallow Cut. This technique is named because of the attack movement that mimics the tail of a swallow in flight. In the Feudal era, this technique was feared by people. It is said that Sasaki developed and mastered this technique in 1605.

The Tsubame Gaeshi technique can also be found in games and anime. One game that adapts this technique is Final Fantasy XIV. There are also several anime that adapted this technique such as Prince of Tennis, Hajime no Ippo, Inazuma Eleven, and others.

2. Kojiro Sasaki's Favorite Sword

In addition to the katana, there is also a type of sword called nodachi. Sasaki often used nodachi in duels. The average katana is 70 cm long, while nodachi is usually longer than 90 cm. The advantage of using this sword is a longer attack range.

Sasaki Kojiro's favorite Nodachi was known as Monohoshizao. Despite having a longer attack range, nodachi is heavier than the katana. Meanwhile, the opponents that Sasaki faced during the duel on average used a lighter katana. Even so, Sasaki's attacks could always hit his opponent precisely and quickly.

3. Kojiro Sasaki vs Musashi Miyamoto Famous Duel

Sasaki and Musashi were both samurais who have won dozens of duels. It could be said that they were true rivals. For your information, Musashi was a ronin or masterless samurai who's famous for his two-sword fighting style and had won about 60 duels without ever losing once.

One day, the two of them decided to duel on the island of Ganryu (Ganryujima) in 1612. Their fight was supposed to start in the morning. But Musashi deliberately came a few hours late to make Sasaki angry because he felt unappreciated. Because of that anger, Sasaki was provoked and took the first step.

This was used by Musashi to break Sasaki's left rib which then gave a crushing blow to his lung.

4. Kojiro Sasaki's Death

After taking advantage of Sasaki's anger, Musashi managed to defeat and kill him. Seeing the defeat of his true rival, Musashi felt deep regret and sadness. He regretted his cunning act. He then bowed to Sasaki's lifeless body.

Musashi also decided never to fight again in that way. In the same year, he founded a fencing school. In the end, Musashi became a better person after he dueled against Sasaki.

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5. Kojiro Sasaki's Statue

If you visit the island of Ganryu or Ganryujima where Sasaki's final duel against Musashi was held, you will find a statue of Sasaki and Musashi located just a few meters from Shimonoseki beach.

Tourists who visit can take a 10-minute ferry to Shimonoseki port for JP¥400 yen or Rp52 thousand per person. Visitors who admire Kojiro Sasaki must visit this place to take pictures of his statue. To commemorate the greatness of Sasaki, his statue was also erected in Iwakuni park.

6. Sasaki Kojiro in Japanese Pop Culture

To remember Kojiro Sasaki for his swordsmanship and phenomenal death, he is often depicted as a character in various Japanese pop cultures. For example, he appears in the film Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1953) and the manga Vagabond (Takehiko Inoue) who is depicted as a deaf man with a long sword.

Kojiro Sasaki is also featured in the Fate/Stay Night anime. As for the game, Sasaki is the main character in the game Samurai Showdown and is also present in the Brave Fencer Musashi. His name became more famous after he was featured in the Samurai Warriors series.

7. Kojiro Sasaki in Record of Ragnarok

Kojiro Sasaki is also present in the Record of Ragnarok which aired on June 19, 2021, on Netflix. Sasaki is one of thirteen fighters chosen to represent humanity in the battle of Ragnarok. His epic scene in this anime is when he fought Poseidon and delivered a slash to his chest.

Record of Ragnarok is adapted from a manga titled Shuumatsu No Valkyrie by Shinya Umemura and Takumi Fukui. For those of you who are interested in the figure of Kojiro Sasaki and want to see his swordsmanship can watch this anime which has 12 episodes.

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