Scenes from the Hosokawa arc. Clockwise, from right: Musashi, Iori and Toyozaemon on the road to Kokura, Jōtarō trains with the Yagyū, Kojirō makes mischief in Kaede and Ogawa's etiquette classes.
The Hosokawa arc is the tenth of the story arcs in Vagabond, and it shows the events concerning Musashi Miyamoto's arrival to the Hosokawa clan.
It is currently the last story arc. Due to the hiatus, it is incomplete.
Summary[]
Musashi, Iori and Toyozaemon's journey to the retirement estate of Yūsai Hosokawa, Otsū and Jōtarō's situation living with the Yagyū, Kojirō's situation with the Hosokawa.
Duration[]
Chapters: 323—present
Still unpublished in volumes
Musashi, Iori and Toyozaemon's journey[]
Musashi, Iori and Toyozaemon travelling.
Summer. Musashi, Iori and Toyozaemon are on the way to Kokura. Musashi and Iori want to take detours to visit other places, but Toyozaemon hurries them to arrive quickly and without detours. Some bandits attack Musashi but he makes quick work of them. Eventually, they arrive to Kyōto and meet Yūsai Hosokawa, grandfather of the current head Tadatoshi Hosokawa, in his retirement estate in the vicinity of the Sanjo bridge.
Otsū and Jōtarō's situation[]
Otsū and Jōtarō living with the Yagyū.
Meanwhile, it is revealed that both Otsū and Jōtarō are living in the Yagyū estate. Otsū does some cooking and plays with the local kids, while Jōtarō, now 15, is a promising sword apprentice.
Kojirō's issues[]
Kojirō sabotaging the etiquette classes taught by Ogawa and Kaede.
Back in Kokura, doubts about Kojirō's capabilities still linger on, but he quickly wins all the matches arranged to prove his mastery. Tadaoki concludes that Kojirō is a valuable asset but presently he is unrefined and has to be educated. Thus, he appoints Ogawa and Kaede as his etiquette teachers. Matahachi arrives to Kokura and briefly encounters Kojirō, he tries to give him the certificate but Kojirō flees with his horse. Matahachi then sees a Christian missionary and ponders about religion, his reflections make him gain sympathy with a local family, which house him. Much as Ogawa and Kaede try, Kojirō doesn't cooperate and sabotages the classes, writing that he misses his friend Musashi. Some days later, the Hosokawa have lunch, and everyone finds that Kojirō hasn't made progress into etiquette. Furious, Tadaoki complains that Kojirō behaves like a monkey and demands Ogawa and Kaede an explanation.