The most famous samurai duel, between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojirō, took place more than 400 years ago on a small island in the Kanmon Straits. The duel, as you probably know, ended with Musashi’s victory, and Kojirō lost his life.

However, to commemorate the event, the name of the island was changed from Funa-jima (which means “boat island") to Ganryū-jima, after Gan-ryū, the name of the sword fighting style of Sasaki Kojirō. And the duel was immortalized in the spectacular statue photographed here..

Miyamoto Musashi versus Sasaki Kojiro, Ganryu Island, Shimonoseki

EXIF Info:

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Kokura Castle garden