Ganryū-jima, Historical island in Kanmon Strait, Japan
Ganryū-jima is a flat island in the strait between Honshū and Kyūshū that belongs to Yamaguchi Prefecture. The western part of the island is used industrially, while the rest remains accessible to visitors and offers space to walk around.
In 1612, two famous swordsmen, Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojirō, met here for their final duel. Musashi won the fight, giving him a legendary reputation in the history of Japanese martial arts and making the island well known.
The island takes its name from the fighting style developed by one of the two opponents. Visitors can view the two bronze figures showing how the fighters faced each other before the duel began.
Ferries from Karato Sanbashi pier in Shimonoseki bring visitors to the island, and the crossing takes only a few minutes. The accessible part of the island is easy to explore on foot because the ground is flat and open.
Musashi deliberately arrived very late for the fight to throw his opponent off balance. This tactic is now one of the most famous anecdotes about his character and his fighting strategy, passed down in countless stories.
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