Quick Answer
This roster introduces five core figures from Onimusha: Way of the Sword — Miyamoto Musashi (protagonist, modeled on Toshiro Mifune), the Oni Lady (the spirit inside his gauntlet), master swordsman Ono no Takamura, kabuki dancer Izumo no Okuni, and rival Sasaki Ganryu (Sasaki Kojiro) — plus boss-side Genma Daidara, Dokyo and Shuten Doji. Miyamoto Musashi is the only playable character; Capcom has focused the entire roughly 20-hour campaign on his journey, with cosmetic outfit customization but no alternate playable fighters. The cast mixes historical figures reimagined as Onimusha-era warriors with original supernatural characters, and the story is fully standalone.
- Characters profiled
- 8
- 5 core figures + 3 featured Genma
- Playable
- Miyamoto Musashi only
- No party system
- Campaign length
- ~20 hours
- Linear with open areas, chaptered
- Face model
- Toshiro Mifune
- Licensed from Mifune Productions
- Boss-side Genma
- Daidara · Dokyo · Shuten Doji
- Ganryu is also fought as a story boss
- Story
- Standalone
- Unconnected to old games or Netflix
Characters covered here
Core cast and featured Genma
Five major figures anchor the story. This page also introduces Daidara, Dokyo and Shuten Doji. Ganryu is both a narrative rival and a boss opponent, so he appears once in the character table.
| # | Character | Side | One-line profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miyamoto Musashi | Protagonist (playable) | Undefeated wandering swordsman bound to the Oni Gauntlet, chasing a reason for the sword |
| 2 | Oni Lady | Ally (in the gauntlet) | Perhaps the last of the Oni; guiding or manipulating Musashi is the central mystery |
| 3 | Ono no Takamura | Ally / mentor | A historical scholar-poet reimagined as a master swordsman who foresees the Genma and Malice |
| 4 | Izumo no Okuni | Ally | The historical kabuki pioneer reimagined with a personal revenge motive |
| 5 | Sasaki Ganryu | Rival | Also known as Sasaki Kojiro; seeks power by any means, with hints of tragedy |
| 6 | Daidara | Boss | A colossal, ever-hungry Genma |
| 7 | Dokyo | Boss | A Genma manufactured in the underground laboratory |
| 8 | Shuten Doji | Boss | A giant claiming to be the legendary demon king, based on Mount Oe |
The main five
What drives each core character
Musashi's face is modeled after Toshiro Mifune, with likeness rights licensed from Mifune Productions after two years of negotiations; he is voiced by Kenichiro Thomson in English and Yoshimasa Hosoya in Japanese. The real Ono no Takamura was a scholar and poet, but Capcom has taken creative liberties, and as a kabuki dancer Okuni brings an artistic sensibility to a world defined by violence.
Ganryu is the mirror: he seeks power through any means necessary while Musashi's path is defined by discipline and restraint — and the story trailer hints at a tragic dimension to the rival.
The open question
The Oni Lady: ally or manipulator?
Her true intentions remain one of the game's biggest mysteries. Because she lives inside the gauntlet Musashi cannot remove, the story keeps open whether she is a benevolent ally or a manipulative force using Musashi as a pawn.
What is confirmed: the Oni Gauntlet absorbs the souls of fallen foes, and that power is the wellspring of Musashi's abilities — and of his resentment, since the strength was never earned.
World context
Campaign structure, Malice and customization
The campaign runs approximately 20 hours with a linear structure punctuated by open areas, divided into chapters with their own settings and objectives. Across it all hangs Malice — the corruption twisting Edo-era Kyoto that shapes both environments and the enemies within them, and touches each character differently.
Customization is cosmetic only: outfit variants change Musashi's look but not his combat mechanics. The mechanical identity stays anchored in the Issen perfect-counter system and preserves the series' high skill ceiling.
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions
How many characters does this roster cover?
Eight distinct characters are profiled here: Musashi, the Oni Lady, Takamura, Okuni and Ganryu, plus Daidara, Dokyo and Shuten Doji. Ganryu’s boss encounters do not make him a separate character.
Are any characters other than Musashi playable?
No. Miyamoto Musashi is the only playable character in the game; there is no party system and no alternate playable fighters.
Is Musashi's face really Toshiro Mifune?
Yes — his face is modeled after the late actor Toshiro Mifune, with likeness rights licensed from Mifune Productions after two years of negotiations.
Who are the boss characters?
Daidara, a colossal hungry Genma; Dokyo, a Genma made in the underground laboratory; and Shuten Doji, a giant claiming to be the legendary demon king. Ganryu is also a boss opponent during his rivalry with Musashi.
How long is the campaign?
Roughly 20 hours, structured as a linear story punctuated by open areas and divided into chapters, each with its own setting and objectives.
Is the Oni Lady good or evil?
That is one of the game's biggest open mysteries. The Oni Lady may be the last of the Oni, and whether she is guiding Musashi or manipulating him as a pawn is central to the story.