Here's a tv serial based on the Miyamoto Musashi story, which some describe as Japan's Gone with the Wind. It's a wonderful story about the spiritual growth of one of Japan's greatest samurai. Although not the best version, it will serve as a good introduction to the story. There are over 50 episodes with each episode running about 50 minutes. (You can watch the episodes on this link.)

http://www.crunchyroll.com/showseriesmedia?id=2756

masseur u seem fascinated with the Asian cultures. I think that is wonderful.

Thank you. I hope this story is something I can turn people onto. Since anime is so popular, I thought we can channel that interest into other Japanese stories.

I will try to watch it. Does it have martial arts? My cousin loves Asian movies that have martial arts. Maybe I could recommend this movie to him.

A little as it is about Japan's most famous swordsman. However, because it was a weekly serial, the fight choreography is pretty weak. (They also don't make samurai movies any more so they kind of forgot how to make them.) Also, you will find that japanese sword fights are won very quickly whereas chinese sword fights feature alot of acrobatics (dancing?) and take along time to determine a winner.

The story is very buddhist. What I mean by that is that the protagonist achieves enlightenment by devoting his life to perfecting his craft. The Musashi character's pursuit to become a great samurai changes him from a badass, out-of-control teenager to a man who as he pursues his goal of being a great samurai becomes more compassionate, ultimately losing interest in the martial arts and developing (very unmanly) interests in farming, painting, and poetry. So much for Japan's foremost action hero!