Owari: One of the old Provinces of Japan located in present-day Nagoya and its surrounding region.

Higo: One of the old Provinces of Japan located in present-day Kumamoto Prefecture.

Sakushū: Province also known as Mimasaka currently the northern region of the Okayama Prefecture.

Kamiizumi Ise no Kami Hidetsuna: The son of Kamiizumi Ise no Kami Hidetsugu, the lord of Kamiizumi Castle in present-day Gunma Prefecture.

Yagyū Sekishūsai Muneyoshi: The founder of the Yagyū Shinkage Ryū school of sword fighting.

Hōzōin Kakuzenbō In’ei:Founder of the Hōzōin art of spearmanship.

Myōei: A student in the Hōzōin art of spearmanship.

Inshun: The second-generation master of the Hōzōin spear technique.

Agon: A student in the Hōzōin art of spearmanship.

Gion Tōji: One of the senior Yoshioka disciples.

Ueda Ryōhei: One of the senior Yoshioka disciples.

Yoshioka Denshichirō: Seijūrō’s younger brother.

Yoshioka Seijūrō: Yoshioka Kempō’s oldest son.

Yoshioka Kempō: A swordsman during the Sengoku period.

Honami Kōetsu: Famed artist and calligrapher.

Musō Gonnosuke: Founder of the Shintō Musō-ryū school of martial arts which mainly utilized the wooden staff.

Itō Ittōsai: Founder of the Ittō-ryū style of swordsmanship.

Tsukahara Bokuden: Founder of the Kashima Shinto-ryū style of sword fighting.

Kitabatake Tomonori: Ruler of Ise in Mie Prefecture.

Otsū: Childhood friend of Takezō and Matahachi.

Ukita Hideie: Daimyo of Bizen and Mimasaka.

Tsujikaze Kōhei: Younger brother of Tsujikaze Tenma.

Tsujikaze Tenma: A brigand and head of a gang.

Hon'iden Matahachi: Childhood friend of Musashi.

Sasaki Kojirō: The archrival of Miyamoto Musashi.

Based on the book 'Musashi' by Eiji Yoshikawa, Vagabond is a fictional retelling of the life of Miyamoto Musashi, often referred to as the 'Sword Saint' - perhaps the most famous and successful of Japan's sword fighters. But after their paths separate, Takezo becomes a wanted criminal, and must change his name and his nature in order to escape an ignoble death. Takezo and his friend manage to survive the battle, and afterwards swear to do great things with their lives. However, the Tokugawa win a crushing victory, leading to nearly three hundred years of Shogunate rule.

Running away from home with a fellow boy at age 17, Takezo joins the Toyotomi army to fight the Tokugawa clan at the battle of Sekigahara.

Growing up in the late 16th century Sengoku era Japan, Shinmen Takezo is shunned by the local villagers as a devil child due to his wild and violent nature.

Vagabond volume 1 english