Yagyū Munenori

Munenori Yagiū (柳生 宗矩 Yagiū Munenori, 1571 - May 11, 1646) The character of Yagyū Munenori is a historical figure who appears in a flashback recounting the frustrated ambitions of a young Iwamoto Kogan. Munenori was a revered swordsman and the first headmaster of the Edo branch of Yagiū Shinkage-Ryū, a school of swordsmanship which is practiced to this day in Japan and in the United States. He was retainer of the Tokugawa house and served as instructor of swordmanship to Tokugawa Hidetada, son of Togugawa Ieyasu, as well as a political advisor to the third Shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate, Tokugawa Iemitsu. He appears in the second episode of the anime (The Yodare Azuki Ceremony) and in chapter 3 (Wrath) of volume 3 in the manga.

Historical Background
Yagyū Munenori was the son of Yagyū Sekishūsai Taira-no-Munetoshi (1529 - 1606), who was the student and heir of Kamiizumi Nobutsuna (c.1508 – 1572/1577), founder of Shinkage-ryū (New Shadow School). Munetoshi added further developed the style and added his name to the school, thereby founding Yagiū Shinkage-Ryū. After Munetoshi's death in 1606, the school split into the Owari branch, first headed by his grandson, and the Edo branch, with Munenori as its first headmaster.

Yagiū Shinkage-Ryū was one of two sword styles under direct patronage of the Tokugawa shogunate and Munenori was in direct service to the Tokugawa family. He served as swordplay instructor to Tokugawa Hidetada and was a political advisor to Tokugawa Iemitsu.

Relationship with Kogan Iwamoto
In 1595, the young swordsman Kogan fought a duel against Munenori and proved to be in a league of his own. Intimidated by Kogan's skill, he decided to use his certain victory stance, Yagiū Shinkage-Ryū: Jumonji, to which Kogan responds with his own certain victory technique, the Nagareboshi. Munenori is very intimidated by Kogan's skill, recognizes that he cannot beat him in a fight and is about to give up, but is interrupted by Kogan who declares the match to be a draw.

This was a diplomatically astute move by Kogan, as it allowed the headmaster of Yagiū Shinkage-Ryū to save face. In exchange, he hoped that Munenori would help him with his ambitions to serve the Tokugawa Family. In a conversation between the two, Munenori says he will recommend him to the Tokugawa family as he feels his skills are worthy of it. However, he recommends Kogan hide the sixth finger on his right hand.

The interview was conducted by Honda Masazumi, eldest son of Honda Masanobu, a close ally to Tokugawa Ieyasu. During the audience, Kogan did as Munenori advised and hid his extra finger, prompting Masazumi to ask him why. Kogan's answer that the sight of hand with six fingers might be displeasing proved fatal to his ambitions to be hired by the Tokugawa family. Masazumi harshly admonishes Kogan, declaring his answer to be insulting, because the retired regent, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, also has six fingers (an extra thumb on his right hand). This was of course a trick by Yagiū Munenori, and he became intstructor to the house of Shogun in 1601. Kogan never really recovered from this humiliation. He angrily remembers it during the punishment of Seigen Irako and it is likely that his anger towards Irako is at least in part a projection of his anger towards Munenori.