I've seen the movies, I've red the book and I've red the book of five rings. Musashi were a great swordsman that walked the path of the warrior by using very unorthodox methods for his time and place.

What is the modern japanese view of Musashi? is he considered a hero or just a great swordsman?

The reason I was wondering is that, while I partly admire Musashi for his ability of doing things his own way and not caring for what other think about it in a society where you're not suppose to walk against the stream, I can hardly imagine that's what first comes to a Japanese persons mind when thinking of Musashi. Or is it?

He is famous and most people have seen at least one of the dozens of movies made about him.
Probably respected more now than he was then