Vagabond

Takehiko Inoue is best known as the creator of the beloved and massively popular shonen sports manga Slam Dunk. Vagabond, his follow-up historical manga, is a completely different beast. In fact, much like how a band's sound changes dramatically between albums, it's difficult to believe that these two manga were created by the same mangaka. The difference between the two is mind-boggling.

Vagabond is a slow-burn historical manga set during Japan's 17th century, at the tail end of the Sengoku Jidai, based on Eiji Yoshikawa's novel Musashi. So begin at the end of the Sengoku period, following the decisive and legendary Battle of Sekigahara (which led to the rise of the Tokugawa shogunate, beginning with shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu). During the battle, two teenage boys who fought for the losing side narrowly survived, and readers begin the epic journey with them bruised but still alive.

The two young men split up after sheltering with a houseful of kind women and surviving a vicious attack, and the protagonist, Takez Shinmen, decides to become a wandering vagabond. Takez is renamed Musashi Miyamoto after returning home, being labeled a criminal, and surviving deadly pursuers. From here, follow his journey to becoming a legendary Japanese swordsman. Vagabond is an essential historical manga for anyone who enjoys Japanese history (especially the sword-swinging, honor-bound samurai variety).

Author: Takehiko Inoue
Original run: September 3, 1998 – May 21, 2015 (on hiatus)
Volumes: 37
Status: Ongoing
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/vagabond-manga/s?k=vagabond+manga