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Secondary sourceSculpture3 January 2014 (photograph)

Statue of Musashi and Kojiro's Battle, Ganryu Island

RoninjapanWiki · 3 January 2014 (photograph)

A bronze statue group on Ganryu Island depicting the legendary duel between Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro.

Commemorates Musashi's legendary duel with Sasaki Kojiro at the site where it is said to have occurred.

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Two green bronze statues of samurai on large grey rock pedestals at a waterfront on grass. The left figure holds a long curved sword raised; the right figure holds a long sword raised overhead in a striking pose. Sea and hills with a bridge are behind.
Bronze statue group commemorating the Musashi–Kojiro duel, Ganryu Island, 2014.

About this source

What it is

This photograph shows two bronze statues on Ganryu Island, representing Miyamoto Musashi and his rival Sasaki Kojiro in combat. Both figures hold swords raised in striking poses, set on stone pedestals near the shoreline where their duel is said to have taken place. The photograph dates from 2014.

Why it matters

The duel between Musashi and Kojiro is one of the most famous episodes associated with Musashi, and this statue shows how the story has been memorialized at its traditional location. It is a modern artwork built long after the events it depicts, reflecting how later generations have imagined and honored this encounter.

Look closer

  • Why might a statue showing dramatic action be more memorable than a plaque with text?
  • What choices did the sculptor make about poses and positioning, and what story do they tell?
  • How can a statue shape how people imagine a historical event, even without written evidence?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Musashi Miyamoto on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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