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Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi died on this day, April 21, 1650Born in 1607 to Yagyu Munenori, sword tutor to the Shoguns, Ieyasu, Hidetada and Iemitsu, Yagyu Jubei is said to have been the most talented and gifted of the Yagyu clan’s many prized swordsmen.In 1616, records show that Jubei was acting on his father’s behalf as an attendant and sword instructor to Tokugawa Hidetada and his son, Iemitsu, however, there is a large blank until 1631, when it appears he was either dismissed or suddenly resigned his position.The following 12 years of Jubei’s life are also unknown, until he was re-instated at the age of 36 as attendant to the Shogun following a brief demonstration of his martial skills.While he remained in Edo for some time, he again left the Shogun’s court and retired to his family lands in Nara after the death of his father, Munenori in 1646. During his time in Edo, he wrote a book on swordsmanship and the teachings of the wandering monk, Takuan Soho, titled “Tsuki no Sho” or “Excerpts from the Moon”, in which some light is shed on his missing 12 years, suggesting he had undertaken a Musha Shugyo, or Warriors’ Pilgrimage.Yagyu Jubei died under what are cited as uncertain circumstances, and even the usually highly detailed Yagyu clan diaries fail to clarify the reasons. Rumors suggest his having died from a heart attack, either while falconing or fishing,…or that he was assassinated by his half brother, Yagyu Tomonori’s retainers.Yagyu Jubei’s “missing years” has led to much speculation, and has been the background to many stories, movies, dramas and TV shows.Despite the story that Yagyu Jubei wore an eye patch to cover an eye damaged in a duel, or, according to other stories, by his father accidentally during a training session, contemporary portraits of Jubei show him with two functioning eyes.