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Ito Ittosai (伊東 一刀斎, Itō Ittōsai), formerly know as Ito Yagoro, is a legendary swordsman and master of the Itto ryu. Ittosai is a skilled swordsman who has incredible strength and speed. Able to cut a firearm in half and draw his sword before his adversaries with little effort. He was the head disciple of  Kanemaki Jisai even going as far as defeating Jisai in swordplay. Ittosai is most notably for being the man who help push Sasaki kojiro to become a formidable swordsman. Also notable for challenging Miyamoto Musashi. As a result of his skill set, Ittosai is one of the most renowned swordsman within Vagabond and is seen as a legend or a myth.

Appearance[]

Similar to Miyamoto Musashi, Ittosai puts little care into his dress and grooming, often seen in dirty, wrinkled, and torn clothing. His face is unshaven and his long hair is bound in an untidy bun, lending him a grizzled appearance. In terms of height, he falls between Musashi at 5'11" and Sasaki Kojiro.

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Not being serious

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Ittosaii being serious

Personality[]

Ito Ittosaii has a humorous personality and finds entertainment even in mortal combat. He is quick to smile and or laugh as if he has troubles taking most situations seriously since there aren't many who can pose a serious threat on his life.

It is also important to keep in mind that Ittosai can turn completely serious given the need. He seems to be a very intelligent man who understands how things work. He also doesn't seem to care much for social conduct or etiquette. His teacher, Kanemaki Jisai states that he is callous and has respect for his elders. He lives in a world of his own and follows the path of his own judgment.

Principles[]

As a teacher, Ito Ittosai often said he does not know how to teach the way of the sword, and often places his disciple in dangerous situations, similar to those he faced when he was a student himself. When Kojiro was under his care, Ittosaii stabbed his own student Kojiro in the leg and told him to fight knowing the fear of death.  He also left Kojiro in the middle of a war battle field, under the "learn or die" mentality of teaching the way of the sword.

One of the main reasons as to why Ito Ittosai trains Kojiro is so that he may have an enemy. Since Ittosai is one of the most renowned swordsman, he never has had a rival who he may consider his equal is skill. Every swordsman Ittosai has ever met has been below him when it comes to skill. When speaking to his teacher Kanemaki Jisai, Ittosai cries and states that it is lonely at the top; everyone fears him or reveres him but no one is an equal match. By training Kojiro to become invincible under the sun, Ittosai will finally create a rival that is an equal to him.

Biography[]

Early Life[]

Kojiro arc[]

Kojiro's Upbringing[]

While on the Mushashugyo - The Warrior's Pilgrimage, Ittosai walks towards his former teacher's village. On the way there, he crosses paths with a three year old boy with a long sword in hand, walking at the beach. Ittosai speaks to the child who ignores him and he wonders who that child may be.

Ittosai then proceeds to visit Jisai who is surprised by Ittosai's attacks. Ittosai questions why his master couldn't see the attack and asks if the rumor that he gave up on the sword is true. As they speak, a child emerges from Jisai's shack, the same boy - named Kojiro - that Ittosai saw at the beach. Ittosai is reluctant to believe the child is Jisai's. Upset that Ittosai, the former pupil that defeated him is visiting his home, Jisai yells at Ittosai to leave. Ittosai offers Jisai a gift that he could trade for food and on his way out, he tells Jisai that raising a deaf child is no easy feat. Shocked that the child is deaf, Jisai asks Ittosai what he means and Ittosai responds with "you're still blind to everyone but yourself".[1]

Ittosai's Return[]

Approximately 14 years later, Ittosai visits the beach near Jisai's village. While attempting to fall asleep at a pile of rocks at the beach, Ittosai is awoken by Kojiro practicing with his long sword at night and is impressed with how well Jisai raised him.

The next morning, Ittosai visits the village and crosses paths with Tenki Kusanagi. Tenki is immediately intimidated by Ittosai's presence and believes that Ittosai is going to attack. Ittosai turns around to greet Tenki and assumes correctly that he is Jisai's pupil. Tenki proclaims that he is Jisai's best student to which Ittosai disagrees and states that he is Jisai's best.

Ittosai observes from a distance as Kojiro and Jisai engage in a swordfight, with the argument centered around Kojiro's desire learn about the way of the sword. Jisai is vehemently against teaching Kojiro how to use a sword as he believes it is futile while Kojiro shows an intense desire to learn. Ittosai states that Jisai is teaching Kojiro quite admirably. Much to the dismay of his former master Jisai, Ittosai meets Kojiro. Contrary to Jisai, Ittosai affirms that Kojiro is a natural fighter stating that Kojiro is a tiger and attacks Kojiro for being disrespectful for not fighting Jisai with his full strength. That night Ittosai is at the beach, when he is challenged by a group of 5 swordsmen from the Yoshioka school that includes the Yoshioka members Denshichiro Yoshioka and Ryohei Ueda. The group have been following Ittosai in an attempt to be trained by him. Ittosai sees Kojiro nearby and invites him to fight the men and numbers the men by points. Some men being worth 7 or 6 points while Ittosai is worth 10,000; making the fight into a game. Kojiro sticks his fingers into Denshichiro's nostrils which makes them bleed.

Ittosai attacks one man who was in his sword range. Then, Ittosai orders the men including Kojiro to fight each other for points until there is one left standing, who will fight him. In the fight, a Yoshioka student is killed, then Kojiro enters and defeats other two. Then Kojiro fights Denshichiro but Kojiro is too calm which causes Ittosai to stop observing and attack Kojiro and make him wounded to remind him that those who die first are the ones that are numb to fear. Once Kojiro realizes what's at stake after being wounded, the fight resumes with Denshichiro. The two are novice and have numerous problems during the fight. After they have lost too much blood, they hurry to a final collision. Kojiro wins. In the fight's aftermath, while Kojiro and Denshichiro recover, all characters coincide that Kojiro's destiny is to become a formidable fighter. Jisai finally understands this and concedes. He entrusts Kojiro to Ittosai.

Wanderings[]

Now travelling with Ittosai, Kojiro is attacked by bandits who attempt to steal his money. Kojiro defeats them and Ittosai notices that Kojiro's eyes are more developed to compensate for his hearing. Ittosai names Kojiro's style as Ganryu (巌流, rock style) and, to get challengers, advertizes him as Invincible Under The Heaven. The fighter Gonnosuke Muso also claims that, and fights Ittosai and Kojiro: both defeat him. After realizing that Kojiro is accompanied by the legendary Ittosai, Gonnosuke joins them, but is told he is not mentalized yet for mortal combat.

Eventually, the 3 go to the Battle of Sekigahara, but they arrive when it is already over. A young soldier approaches them: Takezo Shinmen (who will be Musashi Miyamoto). Takezo asks if the 3 are from the East or West army to which Ittosai responds saying they are just observers. The 4 fight together against squads of survival hunters, killing many. Eventually, Takezo is defeated when his left leg is shot by an arquebus. Ittosai kills the gunman and scares off the last hunters remaining. The 3 leave the battlefield, while Takezo lies wounded, setting the events shown at the story's start.

Survival Mission[]

In the battle's aftermath, groups of peasants that lost all because of the battle are vengefully hunting soldiers and hoping to capture Ishida Mitsunari the leader of the Western Army since his capture exempts the person's home village from the annual tax. Ittosai abandons Kojiro in the confusion of these fights, to toughen him up and convert him into his ultimate rival. Reluctantly, Gonnosuke follows Ittosai.

Kojiro vs. Sadakore's Squad[]

While Kojiro fights in terrible conditions against a squad from the war, Ittosai and Gonnosuke find a house that has been ransacked and they stay there. Later, as the two continue on their journey, Ittosai tells Gonnosuke to go home stating 'Become me. If you can't do that, then go home'.

Etymology[]

  • Ito means "that one" (伊) (i) and "east" (東) (to).
  • Ittosai means "one sword, cut with a sword" (一刀) (itto) and "religious purification/purification, Buddhist food, room, worship, avoid, alike" (斎) (sai).

References[]

  1. Chapter 131
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