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Dustin Dye
I'd recommend Taiko first, as historically the events in Musashi follow those in Taiko. Musashi appears to have been written earlier, but the preceding historical events would have been well-known to its Japanese audience, whereas foreigners might feel lost without the context. Both are stand-alone novels, however, and can be read, understood and enjoyed in any order.
I personally enjoyed Taiko the most, and would recommend that if you had to choose only one of them. I found it more epic and the translation was stronger. Taiko was highly edited from the Japanese original, which was sprawling and had a lot more subplots and minor characters than the better-focused English translation. Musashi is a full translation. Keep in mind both were serialized, and there are some problems in that format, which are more evident in Musashi. The book contains a few too many coincidences to completely suspend disbelief. This would have been less obvious to an audience reading it piece-by-piece in a newspaper than reading it consolidated in novel form with the ability to flip back. And while Yoshikawa remained amazingly consistent in the characters and subplots, no small feat for a story this size, some characters are dropped with no explanation (Musashi's sister), and he does have to do some backtracking at times when a certain detail from Musashi's past becomes important, but Yoshikawa had neglected to include it in earlier installments, so he has to elude to an episode that didn't happen in the book.
If you have to read anything first, The Heike Story is another good starting place. It is a well-known story in Japan, but Yoshikawa gives it a compelling twist by telling it from the point-of-view of its traditional villain (for that reason, the Japanese title literally translates to NEW Heike Story). The English translation actually came out before Yoshikawa had finished the Japanese version, so it is definitely not a complete translation, but that's OK, as it ends in a good spot. Heike's translation isn't as stong as Taiko or Musashi, however. You might also consider reading Shogun by James Clavell in between Taiko and Musashi as it is a fictionalized version of the events between the two novels (use Google to connect the fictional characters with their historical counterparts). But flip past the laughably bad romantic subplot.
I personally enjoyed Taiko the most, and would recommend that if you had to choose only one of them. I found it more epic and the translation was stronger. Taiko was highly edited from the Japanese original, which was sprawling and had a lot more subplots and minor characters than the better-focused English translation. Musashi is a full translation. Keep in mind both were serialized, and there are some problems in that format, which are more evident in Musashi. The book contains a few too many coincidences to completely suspend disbelief. This would have been less obvious to an audience reading it piece-by-piece in a newspaper than reading it consolidated in novel form with the ability to flip back. And while Yoshikawa remained amazingly consistent in the characters and subplots, no small feat for a story this size, some characters are dropped with no explanation (Musashi's sister), and he does have to do some backtracking at times when a certain detail from Musashi's past becomes important, but Yoshikawa had neglected to include it in earlier installments, so he has to elude to an episode that didn't happen in the book.
If you have to read anything first, The Heike Story is another good starting place. It is a well-known story in Japan, but Yoshikawa gives it a compelling twist by telling it from the point-of-view of its traditional villain (for that reason, the Japanese title literally translates to NEW Heike Story). The English translation actually came out before Yoshikawa had finished the Japanese version, so it is definitely not a complete translation, but that's OK, as it ends in a good spot. Heike's translation isn't as stong as Taiko or Musashi, however. You might also consider reading Shogun by James Clavell in between Taiko and Musashi as it is a fictionalized version of the events between the two novels (use Google to connect the fictional characters with their historical counterparts). But flip past the laughably bad romantic subplot.
Gregg
In historical order, Taiko is first & Musashi picks up on events directly after Taiko but it is not a sequel per se. Yoshikawa wrote (or at least published) Musashi first (1935 vs. 1967). Taiko is the story of the unceasing civil wars that culminate in the unification of Japan under Hideyoshi (titular character). Musashi is the (historical) tale of a ronin's quest to achieve enlightenment via the Way of the Sword during the peaceful aftermath of Ieyasu's Shogunate.
So I believe Musashi has a narrower focus, fewer names & battles to keep track of (though still plenty) & likely far less political intrigue than that of Taiko. In that regard, it may be the better to start with; either way I do not believe you can go wrong.
I am nearing the end of Musashi with Taiko unread on my shelf. I have wanted to read Musashi for some time even though I owned Taiko first, so I chose it first (It seems I am going backward through history as I will read Taiko next and I have just learned about another Yoshikawa novel, The Heike Story, which takes place in the 12th century). I also like to read novels in the order in which they were written to see the author's development. However, the translators are different so the text will likely flow differently.
So I believe Musashi has a narrower focus, fewer names & battles to keep track of (though still plenty) & likely far less political intrigue than that of Taiko. In that regard, it may be the better to start with; either way I do not believe you can go wrong.
I am nearing the end of Musashi with Taiko unread on my shelf. I have wanted to read Musashi for some time even though I owned Taiko first, so I chose it first (It seems I am going backward through history as I will read Taiko next and I have just learned about another Yoshikawa novel, The Heike Story, which takes place in the 12th century). I also like to read novels in the order in which they were written to see the author's development. However, the translators are different so the text will likely flow differently.
Svetlana Dmitrova
I'd vote for Taiko as well! But indeed, it may depend on your preference. I'm more into Hideyoshi and Sengoku battles than Musashi in general, so...
Barry who enjoys well-written thrillers, mysteries , & espionage & loathes romance, horror & supernat
I read Taiko, then Musashi, the Taiko again, then Musashi again over a period of 30 years. The order really is irrelevant as Taiko follows many key events in the history of Japan and Musashi is a biography that is somewhat independent of Japan's overall history.
Xil
It depends on your preference. Do you prefer starting from the very beginning, understanding the foundation of the world, the characters, the area, and the culture? Do you prefer starting from any point, wondering what could have happened before, and then delving into that world before it all happened where you started? Eiji Yoshikawa's works, Musashi and Taiko, aren't backed off of one another, but they do share the same world in chronological order.
It is entirely up to you, but Musashi comes second in the chronological order but was published first, while Taiko was published second and comes first in the chronological order.
Your preference.
It is entirely up to you, but Musashi comes second in the chronological order but was published first, while Taiko was published second and comes first in the chronological order.
Your preference.
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