I went by the fighting name of Ganryu- (?? lit. "Large Rock Flow"), which was also the name of the kenjutsu school I had founded. It is said that I studied the Chu-jo--ryu style of sword fighting from either Kanemaki Jisai or Toda Seigen. Toda Seigen was a master of the kodachi. If I had indeed learned Chu-jo--ryu from Seigen, I would have been my master's sparring partner. Due to my master's use of the kodachi, I used a longer katana against him, therefore eventually excelling in its use. It was after defeating my master's younger brother that I left and founded the Ganryu-.

I was challenged to a duel in 1612, and it would prove to be my last. I was 19 years old and was known as the best swordsman in Japan for my time, and because of that I was challenged to a duel by Miyamoto Musashi. Of course I accepted the duel and it was set up to take place on the comparatively remote island of Ganryujima of Funashima. This was all fine and good but Musashi was over three hours late and when he did arrive he cheated in order to win the duel -- thusly it ended with my death.

My name is Takeo Ryuu, and it means warrior dragon. I am 19 years old and find that I am lost to this world. I have never felt a part of it. I feel lost in this world, alone, and apart of nothing. There is no one left who cares, but I often wonder if those who were here ever did care?

I have long been facinated, some would say obsessed, with the great Samurai warriors of my country, and I believe myself to have at one time been the great Sasaki Kojiro-. He was the greatest swordsman of the Edo period of Japan [the Edo Period lasted from 1603 to 1867]. However I lived during two different time periods Azuchi-Momoyama [the Azuchi-Momoyama period 1568 to 1603] period and the Edo Period. I am also very facinated with the Shinto religion of the time, and to this day I still practice it.

The Shinto religion was around when I was alive as Sasaki Kojiro- and it feels natural to me to practice it. Shinto translated means 'the way of the gods'. Shinto can be seen as a form of animism and may be regarded as a variant of shamanist religion. Shinto beliefs and ways of thinking are deeply embedded in the subconscious fabric of modern Japanese society. The afterlife is not a primary concern in Shinto; much more emphasis is placed on fitting into this world, instead of preparing for the next. However as you can see I have some Buddhist beliefs, which is not uncommon in my country. In Japan it is common to believe in both Shinto and Buddism at the same time, and I guess that is kind of how it works for me.