Miyamoto Musashi is possibly Japan's most famous samurai. His exploits, somewhere between history and legend, are part of the country's most deeply rooted epic traditions. He lived between the 16th and 17th centuries, a time of bloody civil wars that culminated in the unification of the country under the Tokugawa clan. Thus began the Edo period, giving way to a time of peace, stability and strong isolation, which lasted until the beginning of the Meiji period in the second half of the 19th century.

Between 1935 and 1939, Eiji Yoshikawa serialized a historical novel about Musashi's youth that became a great success and has been translated and adapted into books, series, movies, comics and video games. The work, written in an agile and entertaining way and with the delicacy of the best Japanese tradition, stands out for its psychological, ethical and spiritual depth. One of its central aspects is the change in the character of the leadership during Musashi's life. From a violent and anarchic period, he passed to an era of peace, where warriors were replaced by administrators. Many samurai failed to adapt, turning to banditry. He, however, showed a deep understanding of a new subject of leadership, based on adaptation and constant learning.

His transformation began in adolescence, after he was imprisoned and almost lost his life. A Buddhist monk, his future mentor, made him see the need for a profound change through the knowledge of himself and a long apprenticeship. This process of training and maturation was arduous, full of ascetic and meditative practices and encounters with various characters. A significant scene in the novel illustrates Musashi's approach about true leadership. In his youth, he discovered that the "Way of the Sword"-the training way of the samurai-was broader, more complex and deeper than becoming a skilled warrior: it involved becoming a whole human being in the service of the common good. To this end, he decided to temporarily abandon the sword and devote himself to farming, together with an orphan boy he had found.

Musashi settled in Hotengahara, a barren land, with the intention of transforming it into fertile and arable land. Despite his efforts, he reaped only failures and ridicule from the peasants, but an attack by bandits changed the status. The young samurai organized them to defend themselves and, under his instructions, united and with confidence, they managed to finish them off, which caused a radical change in the attitude of the peasants, who began to treat him with respect and veneration.

After their success in battle, Musashi taught them to apply the same unity, solidarity and cooperation to work agriculture; to rely on themselves; and to become integral human beings. With his attitude, sample several fundamental leadership traits, with a holistic and humanistic approach , essential to his success: commitment to the betterment of the community; ability to foster unity and cooperation; and the use of his example staff to teach others. He also makes it clear that his work is not to make warriors, but to inspire farmers to apply what they learn in their daily lives. When he saw that the peasants could continue without him, Musashi withdrew, avoiding becoming an indispensable figure. He was clear about the importance of allowing others to take the initiative and carry on. This act of humility and detachment from success staff is also a crucial trait of a true leader.

In the face of all this, the figure of Musashi, idealized by Yoshikawa, presents ambivalent aspects. He always sees himself at training, unable to commit to any bond staff, which causes suffering to his loved ones. An excess of individualism and idealism, overly ambitious standards about one's own mission statement and the ghost of the desire for perfection hover over this fascinating figure from whom we can continue to reflect and learn.