Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai (2026) s01e10 Episode Script
Sekigahara
- [Japanese rock theme music playing]
- [lyrics in Japanese]
[in English] Don't be, be, be afraid ♪
Don't be, be, be, be, be afraid ♪
BAKI-DOU: THE INVINCIBLE SAMURAI
Just as I thought.
It was an easy victory for you.
[Musashi] Hmm?
Look at the amount of damage
my face suffered. I wouldn't call it easy.
[Tokugawa] Hmm.
Then allow me to ask you this.
What do you think of Retsu
now that the match is over?
He did remind me of something.
It was the battle of Sekigahara.
[battle cries]
Hey!
Come at me!
You cowards, I'm just a kid!
[soldier 1 snickering]
You goddamn brat!
[Musashi] You got that right!
I'm practically an amateur.
[soldier 2 straining]
[pained groan]
[bones crunching]
[Musashi inhales deeply]
You scared of a 17-year-old kid?!
[whimpering fearfully]
I won't let you get away!
[breathing heavily]
- [whooshing]
- [grunts]
[pained grunt]
[growls softly]
[Musashi groans]
[grunts ferociously]
[grunting softly]
[gasps]
[breathing heavily]
You think I'll lose, you idiots?
Come fight me,
Sekigahara!
A duel like a battlefield?
Really?
Precisely.
[Tokugawa] Hmm?
All right,
but I'd like to hear you elaborate.
Up and down, front, back, left, right…
I couldn't let my guard down,
not even for a moment.
Swords, spears, arrows, naginata,
and yes, there were even guns.
You never knew what kind of threat
would come flying at you next.
[Tokugawa] Ahh.
[chuckling]
The thrill of battle,
I cannot deny that I enjoy it.
That's exactly what
the battle of Sekigahara was like for me
all those years ago.
[Tokugawa] Mmm.
So, then,
it's safe to say
that you found Retsu
to be a formidable opponent.
Is that so,
or am I mistaken?
I was entranced by him.
Sorry?
I felt his inhuman grip
directly through my sword.
Even as it dug into his bones,
he was able to stop my blade
from advancing.
It was that discipline,
that ingenuity, and fearless spirit,
that's why I found him so captivating.
And also, terrifying.
[pensive music playing]
[Tokugawa] Hmm.
[chuckling]
Thank you. Thank you, Musashi.
I'm sure Retsu feels… content.
So do I.
A fact is a fact.
There's nothing else to it.
Sir Musashi,
how would you say Retsu compares
to the genius swordsman from your time,
a certain Sasaki?
I'd like to know how he compares
to your rival of legend.
[Musashi] Hmm…
[Tokugawa chuckling]
What do you say, Musashi?
Imagine Retsu and the swordsman
Kojiro Sasaki fighting each other.
Which of those two is stronger?!
[Tokugawa] My goodness, what an honor!
He's really doing it.
He's actually comparing
the genius swordsman of legend,
Kojiro Sasaki,
against our hero, Retsu!
Way of the sword versus way of the fist.
What will his answer be?
Oh!
[Tokugawa] Which one is it?!
- Funashima!
- Huh?
[Musashi] That's who you're talking about!
[Tokugawa] Funa…
You're asking me to compare Retsu
to that once Sasaki guy, right?
The one I dueled on Funashima!
Uh…
Hold on.
Are you saying you forgot about him?
What? No! Of course I remember him!
It just took me a moment, that's all!
Well, you were so casual.
If I remember correctly,
he was, uh, Gan… ryu?
[Tokugawa] Wait, wait.
Everyone knows about the duel
between you and Sasaki.
He was your greatest rival!
Greatest rival?
Wasn't he the strongest opponent
you ever faced?!
Kojiro Sasaki of the Ganryu school
on Funashima?!
- Nah, he was an ordinary man.
- [liquid sloshing]
Ordinary? What?
What do you mean?
I mean,
he wasn't especially weak or anything,
but he wasn't particularly strong either.
[Tokugawa] Uh… Huh? Hmm?
So… what does that mean for Retsu?
Was he ordinary?
[Musashi] Hmm?
Didn't I just compare
our battle to warfare?
How could he possibly be ordinary?
Oh!
Let me be clear.
So far, you've introduced me
to three fighters.
I would not consider any of them ordinary.
Each of them could have made a decent name
for themselves in the Warring States era.
[laughing]
Just a decent name?
So who will be next?
Hmm? Hold on.
You already want to fight?
I wouldn't mind fighting
every day of my life.
MOTOBE-RYU JUJUTSU
[Motobe] Well, this is a dojo after all.
And we're open
to teach men and women of all ages.
So, there's not exactly a reason
to refuse you,
but I am a little curious.
What makes you want to learn
ancient martial arts now?
[Baki sighs]
Come on, man. Don't make this awkward.
Why you grilling me?
Why am I here? Well, that's because, uh…
[flatly] …I think history's super cool,
and training with you
would be a good workout.
That good enough for ya?
It's not.
Huh? Are you serious?!
Despite my best efforts,
I couldn't protect Retsu.
I should've stopped him,
even if it meant pulling a gun on him.
Huh?
Don't you realize it's impossible?
None of you guys can beat him.
[huffs]
I will protect you.
I will protect all of you
from Musashi's evil.
I'm sorry.
How are you gonna offer this… protection?
[intriguing music playing]
Modern martial artists like you
simply don't understand him.
No, man. What I'm asking is
how do you expect to protect anyone
with that technique?
And that body?
[Motobe chuckles]
I understand now.
You're saying, "What the hell
is this old man going on about
when I'm stronger than him?"
Or maybe it's,
"I'm Baki and I'm the strongest."
"Don't underestimate me." Is that it?
'Cause that's pretty much
what it sounds like to me, kid.
[Baki] I mean,
it's not exactly what I meant,
but yeah, close enough, I guess.
Either way, I don't care who says it,
I will not allow anyone to protect me.
Hmm.
Did you see the fight, Baki?
Did you see Musashi Miyamoto's strength?
Witness the greatest swordsman ever?
The proud and revered Sea King Retsu
was sliced in two with a single stroke.
Your face…
You happy about this?
Allow me to clarify.
Retsu's death is something to be mourned.
There's no doubt about that.
But I remind you, Baki.
I'm a martial artist, through and through.
Is it wrong to be one?
And to want to die like one?
I was happy to see
where my path will lead me.
I hope that you can forgive me for that.
However, the truth is
there's a lot more to him.
We haven't seen Musashi Miyamoto
at full strength yet.
That's some high praise coming from you.
He was able to completely overwhelm Retsu,
and he's not at full strength?
He probably dragged it out
in order to learn from the fight
as much as he could
about modern-day fighting techniques.
Are you saying
that it wasn't even a struggle?
I'm saying Retsu was a good fighter,
but he wasn't good enough
to force a mistake out of Musashi.
So that's why, kid.
That's the reason why
I feel this duty to protect all of you.
Well, Izo?
You wanna go ahead
and see if I'm good enough?
[tense music playing]
Oh, so you want me to judge
how good Baki Hanma's
hand-to-hand combat skill is?
You get 100 out of 100, kid.
Hell, I'd even say it's 120.
On that note,
what score do you think
Izo Motobe's hand-to-hand skills get?
Sixty out of a hundred?
Seventy?
Doesn't matter how generous you'd be,
I'll never score over 80.
That being said,
when it comes to swords, spears, staffs,
sickles, ropes, or even ninja weapons,
add 'em all together,
300's not a bad guess.
Huh…
[knuckles cracking]
So then use 'em all,
and I'll show you
how off your numbers are.
[Baki grunts]
[gasps]
[sword glistening]
[Baki gasps]
[uneasy music playing]
So who got their numbers wrong?
[Baki gasps softly]
Hmm.
All-round martial arts.
I thought I was defending myself.
[chuckles] Hmm, but a smoke bomb, huh?
I got a call from you this morning, Baki.
Something told me
I should expect a situation like this,
so I made some of these just in case.
It's a smoke bomb that ninjas used to use.
I made them earlier today.
You take an unglazed pottery ball,
fill it with a special gunpowder,
and you're done.
[chuckles]
It looks like my instincts were correct.
This is also a way to fight.
Martial strategy.
And you can bet your ass
that Musashi Miyamoto knows
how to fight like this too.
So then you killed me.
Or could've.
I wouldn't go quite that far.
I think you would have reacted differently
had I moved
with the intent to actually kill
rather than just trying to make a point.
But would it have been any different?
[Motobe] I wouldn't overthink it.
Modern martial artists like you
aren't used to this kind of thing.
Might be a bit humiliating,
but it's just the plain truth.
I'm probably the only one
who's an expert at this particular style.
Baki Hanma doesn't know it.
Yujiro Hanma doesn't know it either.
Neither does Goki Shibukawa.
I'm the only person.
I will beat him.
Even my father isn't strong enough?
That's why I have to fight him.
That's why it's my responsibility.
[tense music playing]
What do you think you're doing here,
Superintendent General Utsumi?
I deeply apologize for this, my lord.
We need to take him into custody
for suspected murder.
We have to at least execute the warrant
as a formality.
Suspected murder?
There's testimony from eyewitnesses…
several of them.
It's true. He did it.
ABE YASUMUNE, 33
CIVIL SERVAN
I clearly saw it.
Used a katana to do it.
Cut him in half.
It was… bad.
Like a public execution.
Well, the thing is,
I… I still don't know what happened.
YAMANE TAKASHI, 41
SELF-EMPLOYED
I'm not 100% sure what I saw on that day.
Was it some sort of crude death match?
Or was it a noble way
to test the mettle of man?
A demonstration.
It was a performance
using an actual sword,
but there was an accident,
and someone died.
My lord,
know that I won't let anything bad happen.
You can trust that I'll resolve this.
This weak metal will never hold me.
[all gasping]
[laughing]
There's nothing to worry about, Tokugawa.
I'll be back.
- Right.
- This is also a learning experience.
Oh!
What's the huge crowd for?
[narrator] In 1921,
the Omoto incident broke out.
The Kyoto Police Department
encountered a problem
while trying to arrest Onisaburo Deguchi,
the founder of a sect.
The problem was
one of Deguchi's closest allies,
who happened to be a martial artist.
His name was Morihei Ueshiba,
the founder of Aikido.
Back then, the police force
was being trained by Ueshiba.
They were well aware of his skill,
having experienced it themselves.
Because of this,
the Kyoto Police devised a plan so strange
it wouldn't be a stretch
to call it bizarre.
They would first surround Ueshiba
with fire trucks,
and then spray him with water,
then throw a net over him.
Armed with long poles they had prepared,
they would hit him all at once,
and only then arrest him.
Thirty years ago,
a writer had this anecdote
recounted to him many times
by Gozo Shioda,
a direct disciple of Ueshiba himself.
However, Ueshiba went into hiding,
so the plan was never executed,
but the fact that a master martial artist
could inspire such fear in the authorities
was never forgotten.
[gasping]
What's with that look on your faces?!
Just step back!
Not yet!
[all gasping]
Mr. Utsumi, or whatever your name is,
did you think this was enough men?
Did you really think you could restrain
Musashi Miyamoto like this?!
No.
We, uh…
Hah!
[officers gasp, murmur fearfully]
Oh.
You're not warriors.
You're all just useless.
Musashi, we felt like
we should probably let you know
you won't be charged.
No criminal proceedings will happen.
This might come as a surprise,
but would you make a deal with us?
There is little that I want,
but could you possibly
drive a little slower?
[narrator] The four-time,
all-Japan kendo champion,
Takejo Miwa,
seventh dan, 38 years old.
Rank, sergeant.
Excuse me, Sergeant Miwa.
- Were you by any chance smiling just now?
- Hmm?
[chuckles]
Did it look like I was?
[officer] Yes, sir. Even from behind,
I could tell you were happy.
[Miwa] I mean, I can hardly believe it.
Musashi Miyamoto's alive,
and he's agreed to fight me
as a condition to get released.
Do you really believe it? That it's him?
Every police officer
who came into contact with him agrees.
It's really him.
That's the assessment of men
who know full well how crazy it sounds.
It's a real surprise to hear that.
It's surprising indeed,
but try and think of it differently.
As police officers,
they're more than proficient
in martial arts.
Much more so than an average civilian.
And they faced off
with a samurai from 400 years ago.
They can try their hardest
to dismiss the situation as impossible,
but their bodies
won't allow them to do so.
Their bodies recognize that it's Musashi,
even if their minds refuse.
[officer] Mmm.
Maybe so, but I don't think
I'll believe it until I see it.
Soon I'll have the answer I seek.
I've always wondered,
is kendo just a pretend sword fight,
or is it the evolved form
of swordsmanship?
[officer] Hmm.
I have a pretty good guess what you think.
An evolution.
[Utsumi] Looks like you're ready to go.
- Superintendent General!
- [Utsumi] Sorry for the wait.
Uh, paperwork took a lot of time…
[chuckles] …as usual.
When you think about it,
this technically counts
as taking him into custody.
[Miwa] So this is the man
I've heard so much about,
Musashi Miyamoto.
[awed gasping]
[chuckles]
I'd very much like to hear
your opinion of him.
As the champion, of course.
Um, I'm not really sure
how to phrase it, but…
his… I guess
you could call it fighting aura?
Well, I didn't think it'd be this direct.
Ready?!
Finally.
This is what I've been waiting to see.
A kendo master of our era going all-out
with his shinai kendo sword.
[Miwa] The evolution of this weapon
makes it different than a katana.
It's brought with a leap forward in speed!
This is our chance
for kendo practitioners…
to finally surpass the master of swords.
[narrator] The offense and defense
of kendo at mid-range is fast.
They reach speeds that far surpass
what the human eye can process.
[daunting music building]
[Miwa] He's an amateur at this.
The aura he gives off is definitely worthy
of the legendary sword master himself,
but the man before me is an amateur
when it comes to shinai swords!
[Utsumi] Who will be faster?
This is a completely different style
from the slow movements
of wielding a three-pound chunk of iron.
Kendo is a world where you compete
for one one-hundredth of a second.
Ultra-high speeds achieved
through the lightest swords possible.
[breathing shakily]
All right.
The aura he had a moment ago
has completely vanished!
[Musashi] Hmm…
Huh? Wait.
What?
What?!
Wait! [confused whimper]
Uh, wait…
[Musashi grunts ferociously]
[uneasy music playing]
[pained yelling]
[shocked gasping]
[unsettled gasping]
[shocked gasping]
[strangled gasping]
[music fades]
- ["Mountain Top" by Novel Core playing]
- [lyrics in Japanese]
[in English] Yeah ♪
Yeah, yeah ♪
I'm on the mountaintop, yeah ♪
Yeah, yeah ♪
I'm on the mountaintop, yeah ♪
[music fades out]
- [lyrics in Japanese]
[in English] Don't be, be, be afraid ♪
Don't be, be, be, be, be afraid ♪
BAKI-DOU: THE INVINCIBLE SAMURAI
Just as I thought.
It was an easy victory for you.
[Musashi] Hmm?
Look at the amount of damage
my face suffered. I wouldn't call it easy.
[Tokugawa] Hmm.
Then allow me to ask you this.
What do you think of Retsu
now that the match is over?
He did remind me of something.
It was the battle of Sekigahara.
[battle cries]
Hey!
Come at me!
You cowards, I'm just a kid!
[soldier 1 snickering]
You goddamn brat!
[Musashi] You got that right!
I'm practically an amateur.
[soldier 2 straining]
[pained groan]
[bones crunching]
[Musashi inhales deeply]
You scared of a 17-year-old kid?!
[whimpering fearfully]
I won't let you get away!
[breathing heavily]
- [whooshing]
- [grunts]
[pained grunt]
[growls softly]
[Musashi groans]
[grunts ferociously]
[grunting softly]
[gasps]
[breathing heavily]
You think I'll lose, you idiots?
Come fight me,
Sekigahara!
A duel like a battlefield?
Really?
Precisely.
[Tokugawa] Hmm?
All right,
but I'd like to hear you elaborate.
Up and down, front, back, left, right…
I couldn't let my guard down,
not even for a moment.
Swords, spears, arrows, naginata,
and yes, there were even guns.
You never knew what kind of threat
would come flying at you next.
[Tokugawa] Ahh.
[chuckling]
The thrill of battle,
I cannot deny that I enjoy it.
That's exactly what
the battle of Sekigahara was like for me
all those years ago.
[Tokugawa] Mmm.
So, then,
it's safe to say
that you found Retsu
to be a formidable opponent.
Is that so,
or am I mistaken?
I was entranced by him.
Sorry?
I felt his inhuman grip
directly through my sword.
Even as it dug into his bones,
he was able to stop my blade
from advancing.
It was that discipline,
that ingenuity, and fearless spirit,
that's why I found him so captivating.
And also, terrifying.
[pensive music playing]
[Tokugawa] Hmm.
[chuckling]
Thank you. Thank you, Musashi.
I'm sure Retsu feels… content.
So do I.
A fact is a fact.
There's nothing else to it.
Sir Musashi,
how would you say Retsu compares
to the genius swordsman from your time,
a certain Sasaki?
I'd like to know how he compares
to your rival of legend.
[Musashi] Hmm…
[Tokugawa chuckling]
What do you say, Musashi?
Imagine Retsu and the swordsman
Kojiro Sasaki fighting each other.
Which of those two is stronger?!
[Tokugawa] My goodness, what an honor!
He's really doing it.
He's actually comparing
the genius swordsman of legend,
Kojiro Sasaki,
against our hero, Retsu!
Way of the sword versus way of the fist.
What will his answer be?
Oh!
[Tokugawa] Which one is it?!
- Funashima!
- Huh?
[Musashi] That's who you're talking about!
[Tokugawa] Funa…
You're asking me to compare Retsu
to that once Sasaki guy, right?
The one I dueled on Funashima!
Uh…
Hold on.
Are you saying you forgot about him?
What? No! Of course I remember him!
It just took me a moment, that's all!
Well, you were so casual.
If I remember correctly,
he was, uh, Gan… ryu?
[Tokugawa] Wait, wait.
Everyone knows about the duel
between you and Sasaki.
He was your greatest rival!
Greatest rival?
Wasn't he the strongest opponent
you ever faced?!
Kojiro Sasaki of the Ganryu school
on Funashima?!
- Nah, he was an ordinary man.
- [liquid sloshing]
Ordinary? What?
What do you mean?
I mean,
he wasn't especially weak or anything,
but he wasn't particularly strong either.
[Tokugawa] Uh… Huh? Hmm?
So… what does that mean for Retsu?
Was he ordinary?
[Musashi] Hmm?
Didn't I just compare
our battle to warfare?
How could he possibly be ordinary?
Oh!
Let me be clear.
So far, you've introduced me
to three fighters.
I would not consider any of them ordinary.
Each of them could have made a decent name
for themselves in the Warring States era.
[laughing]
Just a decent name?
So who will be next?
Hmm? Hold on.
You already want to fight?
I wouldn't mind fighting
every day of my life.
MOTOBE-RYU JUJUTSU
[Motobe] Well, this is a dojo after all.
And we're open
to teach men and women of all ages.
So, there's not exactly a reason
to refuse you,
but I am a little curious.
What makes you want to learn
ancient martial arts now?
[Baki sighs]
Come on, man. Don't make this awkward.
Why you grilling me?
Why am I here? Well, that's because, uh…
[flatly] …I think history's super cool,
and training with you
would be a good workout.
That good enough for ya?
It's not.
Huh? Are you serious?!
Despite my best efforts,
I couldn't protect Retsu.
I should've stopped him,
even if it meant pulling a gun on him.
Huh?
Don't you realize it's impossible?
None of you guys can beat him.
[huffs]
I will protect you.
I will protect all of you
from Musashi's evil.
I'm sorry.
How are you gonna offer this… protection?
[intriguing music playing]
Modern martial artists like you
simply don't understand him.
No, man. What I'm asking is
how do you expect to protect anyone
with that technique?
And that body?
[Motobe chuckles]
I understand now.
You're saying, "What the hell
is this old man going on about
when I'm stronger than him?"
Or maybe it's,
"I'm Baki and I'm the strongest."
"Don't underestimate me." Is that it?
'Cause that's pretty much
what it sounds like to me, kid.
[Baki] I mean,
it's not exactly what I meant,
but yeah, close enough, I guess.
Either way, I don't care who says it,
I will not allow anyone to protect me.
Hmm.
Did you see the fight, Baki?
Did you see Musashi Miyamoto's strength?
Witness the greatest swordsman ever?
The proud and revered Sea King Retsu
was sliced in two with a single stroke.
Your face…
You happy about this?
Allow me to clarify.
Retsu's death is something to be mourned.
There's no doubt about that.
But I remind you, Baki.
I'm a martial artist, through and through.
Is it wrong to be one?
And to want to die like one?
I was happy to see
where my path will lead me.
I hope that you can forgive me for that.
However, the truth is
there's a lot more to him.
We haven't seen Musashi Miyamoto
at full strength yet.
That's some high praise coming from you.
He was able to completely overwhelm Retsu,
and he's not at full strength?
He probably dragged it out
in order to learn from the fight
as much as he could
about modern-day fighting techniques.
Are you saying
that it wasn't even a struggle?
I'm saying Retsu was a good fighter,
but he wasn't good enough
to force a mistake out of Musashi.
So that's why, kid.
That's the reason why
I feel this duty to protect all of you.
Well, Izo?
You wanna go ahead
and see if I'm good enough?
[tense music playing]
Oh, so you want me to judge
how good Baki Hanma's
hand-to-hand combat skill is?
You get 100 out of 100, kid.
Hell, I'd even say it's 120.
On that note,
what score do you think
Izo Motobe's hand-to-hand skills get?
Sixty out of a hundred?
Seventy?
Doesn't matter how generous you'd be,
I'll never score over 80.
That being said,
when it comes to swords, spears, staffs,
sickles, ropes, or even ninja weapons,
add 'em all together,
300's not a bad guess.
Huh…
[knuckles cracking]
So then use 'em all,
and I'll show you
how off your numbers are.
[Baki grunts]
[gasps]
[sword glistening]
[Baki gasps]
[uneasy music playing]
So who got their numbers wrong?
[Baki gasps softly]
Hmm.
All-round martial arts.
I thought I was defending myself.
[chuckles] Hmm, but a smoke bomb, huh?
I got a call from you this morning, Baki.
Something told me
I should expect a situation like this,
so I made some of these just in case.
It's a smoke bomb that ninjas used to use.
I made them earlier today.
You take an unglazed pottery ball,
fill it with a special gunpowder,
and you're done.
[chuckles]
It looks like my instincts were correct.
This is also a way to fight.
Martial strategy.
And you can bet your ass
that Musashi Miyamoto knows
how to fight like this too.
So then you killed me.
Or could've.
I wouldn't go quite that far.
I think you would have reacted differently
had I moved
with the intent to actually kill
rather than just trying to make a point.
But would it have been any different?
[Motobe] I wouldn't overthink it.
Modern martial artists like you
aren't used to this kind of thing.
Might be a bit humiliating,
but it's just the plain truth.
I'm probably the only one
who's an expert at this particular style.
Baki Hanma doesn't know it.
Yujiro Hanma doesn't know it either.
Neither does Goki Shibukawa.
I'm the only person.
I will beat him.
Even my father isn't strong enough?
That's why I have to fight him.
That's why it's my responsibility.
[tense music playing]
What do you think you're doing here,
Superintendent General Utsumi?
I deeply apologize for this, my lord.
We need to take him into custody
for suspected murder.
We have to at least execute the warrant
as a formality.
Suspected murder?
There's testimony from eyewitnesses…
several of them.
It's true. He did it.
ABE YASUMUNE, 33
CIVIL SERVAN
I clearly saw it.
Used a katana to do it.
Cut him in half.
It was… bad.
Like a public execution.
Well, the thing is,
I… I still don't know what happened.
YAMANE TAKASHI, 41
SELF-EMPLOYED
I'm not 100% sure what I saw on that day.
Was it some sort of crude death match?
Or was it a noble way
to test the mettle of man?
A demonstration.
It was a performance
using an actual sword,
but there was an accident,
and someone died.
My lord,
know that I won't let anything bad happen.
You can trust that I'll resolve this.
This weak metal will never hold me.
[all gasping]
[laughing]
There's nothing to worry about, Tokugawa.
I'll be back.
- Right.
- This is also a learning experience.
Oh!
What's the huge crowd for?
[narrator] In 1921,
the Omoto incident broke out.
The Kyoto Police Department
encountered a problem
while trying to arrest Onisaburo Deguchi,
the founder of a sect.
The problem was
one of Deguchi's closest allies,
who happened to be a martial artist.
His name was Morihei Ueshiba,
the founder of Aikido.
Back then, the police force
was being trained by Ueshiba.
They were well aware of his skill,
having experienced it themselves.
Because of this,
the Kyoto Police devised a plan so strange
it wouldn't be a stretch
to call it bizarre.
They would first surround Ueshiba
with fire trucks,
and then spray him with water,
then throw a net over him.
Armed with long poles they had prepared,
they would hit him all at once,
and only then arrest him.
Thirty years ago,
a writer had this anecdote
recounted to him many times
by Gozo Shioda,
a direct disciple of Ueshiba himself.
However, Ueshiba went into hiding,
so the plan was never executed,
but the fact that a master martial artist
could inspire such fear in the authorities
was never forgotten.
[gasping]
What's with that look on your faces?!
Just step back!
Not yet!
[all gasping]
Mr. Utsumi, or whatever your name is,
did you think this was enough men?
Did you really think you could restrain
Musashi Miyamoto like this?!
No.
We, uh…
Hah!
[officers gasp, murmur fearfully]
Oh.
You're not warriors.
You're all just useless.
Musashi, we felt like
we should probably let you know
you won't be charged.
No criminal proceedings will happen.
This might come as a surprise,
but would you make a deal with us?
There is little that I want,
but could you possibly
drive a little slower?
[narrator] The four-time,
all-Japan kendo champion,
Takejo Miwa,
seventh dan, 38 years old.
Rank, sergeant.
Excuse me, Sergeant Miwa.
- Were you by any chance smiling just now?
- Hmm?
[chuckles]
Did it look like I was?
[officer] Yes, sir. Even from behind,
I could tell you were happy.
[Miwa] I mean, I can hardly believe it.
Musashi Miyamoto's alive,
and he's agreed to fight me
as a condition to get released.
Do you really believe it? That it's him?
Every police officer
who came into contact with him agrees.
It's really him.
That's the assessment of men
who know full well how crazy it sounds.
It's a real surprise to hear that.
It's surprising indeed,
but try and think of it differently.
As police officers,
they're more than proficient
in martial arts.
Much more so than an average civilian.
And they faced off
with a samurai from 400 years ago.
They can try their hardest
to dismiss the situation as impossible,
but their bodies
won't allow them to do so.
Their bodies recognize that it's Musashi,
even if their minds refuse.
[officer] Mmm.
Maybe so, but I don't think
I'll believe it until I see it.
Soon I'll have the answer I seek.
I've always wondered,
is kendo just a pretend sword fight,
or is it the evolved form
of swordsmanship?
[officer] Hmm.
I have a pretty good guess what you think.
An evolution.
[Utsumi] Looks like you're ready to go.
- Superintendent General!
- [Utsumi] Sorry for the wait.
Uh, paperwork took a lot of time…
[chuckles] …as usual.
When you think about it,
this technically counts
as taking him into custody.
[Miwa] So this is the man
I've heard so much about,
Musashi Miyamoto.
[awed gasping]
[chuckles]
I'd very much like to hear
your opinion of him.
As the champion, of course.
Um, I'm not really sure
how to phrase it, but…
his… I guess
you could call it fighting aura?
Well, I didn't think it'd be this direct.
Ready?!
Finally.
This is what I've been waiting to see.
A kendo master of our era going all-out
with his shinai kendo sword.
[Miwa] The evolution of this weapon
makes it different than a katana.
It's brought with a leap forward in speed!
This is our chance
for kendo practitioners…
to finally surpass the master of swords.
[narrator] The offense and defense
of kendo at mid-range is fast.
They reach speeds that far surpass
what the human eye can process.
[daunting music building]
[Miwa] He's an amateur at this.
The aura he gives off is definitely worthy
of the legendary sword master himself,
but the man before me is an amateur
when it comes to shinai swords!
[Utsumi] Who will be faster?
This is a completely different style
from the slow movements
of wielding a three-pound chunk of iron.
Kendo is a world where you compete
for one one-hundredth of a second.
Ultra-high speeds achieved
through the lightest swords possible.
[breathing shakily]
All right.
The aura he had a moment ago
has completely vanished!
[Musashi] Hmm…
Huh? Wait.
What?
What?!
Wait! [confused whimper]
Uh, wait…
[Musashi grunts ferociously]
[uneasy music playing]
[pained yelling]
[shocked gasping]
[unsettled gasping]
[shocked gasping]
[strangled gasping]
[music fades]
- ["Mountain Top" by Novel Core playing]
- [lyrics in Japanese]
[in English] Yeah ♪
Yeah, yeah ♪
I'm on the mountaintop, yeah ♪
Yeah, yeah ♪
I'm on the mountaintop, yeah ♪
[music fades out]