UY's best swordsman

[Lobster Johnson]

I was reading an older thread about who the best sword fighter in UY is, but it got sidetracked by another topic and a conclusive answer was never reached. Who do you think is the best swordsman in Usagi's world? Even if they're not the #1 best, where do the other characters rank, skill-wise?
How close in skill are Usagi and Katsuichi, considering how much time has passed since Duel at Kitanoji? Could Usagi beat his sensei now (I would say Katsuichi is still probably better, but I don't know for sure)?
Where would someone like Yagi be, compared to Katsuichi or Koji? Usagi had the upper hand when they fought (until Gorogoro interfered), but Yagi then defeated 40 warriors by himself(!).

[estee]

IMO the best swordsman was Inazuma. Even before her transformation she was able to defeat multiple attackers and Gen in single combat, which is no mean feat.

But Usagi has so many feats of stellar swordplay it'd be difficult not to put him in the top three at least.

[Lobster Johnson]

IMO the best swordsman was Inazuma. Even before her transformation she was able to defeat multiple attackers and Gen in single combat, which is no mean feat.

But Usagi has so many feats of stellar swordplay it'd be difficult not to put him in the top three at least.

I don't think Inazuma has ever fought Usagi, has she? (As far as I know - I've yet to read books 23 - 25, and it seems Jei/Inazuma makes an appearance in book 24). That would be an interesting fight. I wonder if Inazuma could defeat Katsuichi.
Where would Jei be, skill-wise? Usagi's beat him every time they've fought (again, as far as I know), but Jei usually has the upper hand until something such as a lightning strike occurs.

[Chopalong Slashity]

If I recall correctly Stan himself said Zato-Ino is the most-skilled swordsman in the series. If Stan could show up in this thread to elucidate it'd be helpful...

As for Jei, he managed to take on Gen *AND* Usagi (even with Gen trying to suckerpunch Jei) at the same time during "Grasscutter" and would have won except he got distracted by a falling tree endangering Keiki, which gave Usagi the opportunity to backstab him with Grasscutter. So I'd say Jei's more skilled than either of those two (although at least part of that is Usagi having trouble with spear wielders due to his own fighting style being very up close and personal). Also, Jei seems to not particularly care about getting hurt if doing so would let him rack up another kill...

I'd say Inazuma is at least on par with Usagi, as is Tomoe. Inazuma is at least above Gen, and Gen I'd say is one notch below Usagi. Tomoe and Usagi have consistently tied in duels with each other, so I'd say they're on par. Also, Noriko might be stronger than Tomoe, but I think part of that is just Tomoe being reluctant to be as vicious towards her sister as Noriko is towards Tomoe.

Usagi is likely more skilled than Yagi as the first time Usagi and Yagi met Usagi managed to disarm Yagi until Gorogoro distracted Usagi---and Usagi might have been holding back since he didn't want to kill Yagi over a misunderstanding/deception.

And then there's a laundry list of characters (Stray Dog, the named Neko Ninja characters, etc.) that are hard to rank on here because fighting fair isn't in their personal dictionary.

[Stan Sakai]

I've always said that Inazuma was the most skilled with the sword. Zato-Ino might be second. Both are undisciplined but naturals with the sword, which could be an advantage or disadvantage depending upon the opponent and circumstances.

[Chopalong Slashity]

Ooooh, okay, my reference is out of date then. IGNORE ME!

[Lobster Johnson]

More thoughts on this topic:
It seems to me that Inazuma and Katsuichi are the most skilled fighters in the series. Katsuichi has beaten Koji, who beat Usagi, who beat Zato-Ino (although Zato-Ino once almost beat Usagi, but that was in pitch darkness, where he had the advantage). Whether Katsuichi or Inazuma is the most skilled is anyone's guess.
I wonder where Sasuke is at in terms of sword skill. We rarely see him fighting with just his sword (there's almost always magic involved), but he's apparently had about 600 years to practice.
I wonder if the Jei spirit has fighting skill of its own, or if it just enhances the agility and durability of whoever it possesses.
With the Lord of Owls, it's difficult to say. He has only made a few appearances, but he's shown some incredible skill both times; he even beat Usagi if I remember correctly.
How good is Kagemaru? He seemed pretty evenly matched with Usagi, and he even gained the upper hand in Grasscutter II.

Also, Noriko might be stronger than Tomoe, but I think part of that is just Tomoe being reluctant to be as vicious towards her sister as Noriko is towards Tomoe.

Also, when Noriko and Tomoe fight at the end of Mother of Mountains, Tomoe had been doing grueling work for a week, while Noriko was well-rested and prepared.

[Chopalong Slashity]

Also, Noriko might be stronger than Tomoe, but I think part of that is just Tomoe being reluctant to be as vicious towards her sister as Noriko is towards Tomoe.

Also, when Noriko and Tomoe fight at the end of Mother of Mountains, Tomoe had been doing grueling work for a week, while Noriko was well-rested and prepared.

True. The intro to MoM had Noriko beating Tomoe in a fair (or whatever constitutes fair for Noriko) practice duel, though, but that was presumably before Tomoe went on to serve Lord Noriyuki. Seems like all that live combat experience paid off for Tomoe, even if Noriko cheated her of a proper victory.

[Lobster Johnson]

Now that I think about it, wasn't the Well of Ancients supposed to make Nilson Groundthumper the best swordsman in the world?

[dhfujii]

I wonder how Katsuichi would do against Inazuma or Ino?

I remember that Ino was dis-nosed by Usagi, so Usagi won one, but then he lost in the second battle due to the environment disadvantage. Ino is stronger than Gen, but Inazuma trounced Gen even quicker. Thus, Inazuma>Ino (when she can see).

Katsuichi has trounced Usagi pretty much every time, but he also lost his eye. Thus, he barely beat Koji, who beat Usagi in a fairly close duel. However, Koji was probably a bit tired out after his all day duels.

Comparing Usagi to Inazuma...as much as I hate to say it, I think she'd win. He has seen her fight, so he would know her style, but she has also seen his (and was disappointed). He saw Koji, yet lost due to Koji's skill level (despite Koji being tired). Usagi is excellent at figuring out weaknesses and exploiting them, but when there is a gap in skill, it doesn't work. Plus, he tends to be rash so he sometimes doesn't use that skill. Thus, a most likely scenario is Inazuma disarming Usagi and then not killing him because...Usagi is Usagi. Either that, or they would get interrupted.

Ah, there is another person who is quite strong...Kagemaru. He disarmed Usagi and was about to kill him. Was Usagi tired at that point? I don't remember.

I'd put my money on Katsuichi, because of his vast experience, and default unorthodox style + natural ability. But, if Stan says Inazuma is the most skilled, does that also mean she would win? She may have natural skill, but Katsuichi has years of experience, plus he made up his own style as well, putting him in a similar category.

Pro's For Katsuichi:

- Unorthodox

- Naturally talented

- Years of Experience

- Sensei level

Con's For Katsuichi

- Lost an eye. That would really put a damper on things. But, in this universe, loss of senses make up for others (ino nose) so it could be a "boost" in sensing, let's just say. So, minimize "loss", perhaps?

- Older

- Wonder how he would do against another unorthodox fighter? That's his advantage (and usually Usagi's).

The way I see it play out, is that Inazuma would naturally have the upper hand, but Katsuichi could read her better. Thus, he would wait until he could beat her. Similar to Usagi when he fights a "superior" opponent. Waits them out, learns to read their pattern/weakness, and then exploits it. Either that, or Inazuma like her name, would attack so fast on his blind side that she'd decapitate him.

Would be awesome nonetheless.

[Joesha]

So the Ranking will be...

1. Inazuma
2. Zato-Ino
3. Katsuichi
4. Nakamura Koji
5. Jei
6. Miyamoto Usagi

Of Course there are couple of other characters that will tie with Usagi. I have not ranked Yagi, Sasuke and Lord of Owls yet.

[Lobster Johnson]

So the Ranking will be...

1. Inazuma
2. Zato-Ino
3. Katsuichi
4. Nakamura Koji
5. Jei
6. Miyamoto Usagi

Of Course there are couple of other characters that will tie with Usagi. I have not ranked Yagi, Sasuke and Lord of Owls yet.

I would say that Katsuichi is better than Zato Ino. Usagi has beaten Zato-Ino in a fair fight, and Katsuichi is better than Usagi.
I really have no idea whether Katsuichi or Inazuma is better. Too bad we'll never find out.

[Joesha]

So the Ranking will be...

1. Inazuma
2. Zato-Ino
3. Katsuichi
4. Nakamura Koji
5. Jei
6. Miyamoto Usagi

Of Course there are couple of other characters that will tie with Usagi. I have not ranked Yagi, Sasuke and Lord of Owls yet.

I would say that Katsuichi is better than Zato Ino. Usagi has beaten Zato-Ino in a fair fight, and Katsuichi is better than Usagi.
I really have no idea whether Katsuichi or Inazuma is better. Too bad we'll never find out.

That was what I was thinking too. But Sakai did mentioned Zato-Ino being the best before Inazuma's introduction. But if we take Usagi's nose cutting victory over Zato, then Zato takes 4th with Katsuichi and Koji going up.