The short answer
Onimusha: Way of the Sword's cast is built around Miyamoto Musashi, a hot-blooded wandering swordsman whose face is officially modeled on 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, and is bound to the Oni Gauntlet guided by the Oni Lady — the Oni spirit inside it, named Shizuka in reviews. His allies are the elderly master swordsman Ono no Takamura and kabuki dancer Izumo no Okuni — both fellow gauntlet wielders — and his destined rival is Sasaki Ganryu, also known as Sasaki Kojiro, who wears the same Oni Gauntlet and anchors the climactic duel. Musashi is the only playable character, and the story stands alone from earlier Onimusha games and the Netflix series.
- Playable characters
- 1 — Musashi
- No party system
- Face model
- Toshiro Mifune
- Licensed from Mifune Productions
- EN voice
- Kenichiro Thomson
- Yoshimasa Hosoya in Japanese
- Gauntlet spirit
- Oni Lady (Shizuka)
- Soul-absorption power source
- Fellow gauntlet wearers
- Takamura · Okuni · Ganryu
- Center of the story conflict
- Story connection
- Standalone
- No prior Onimusha or Netflix knowledge needed
Capcom-confirmed lineup
The five core characters
Capcom's official character page presents the cast as Musashi and his allies, with a separate section for formidable foes. The core five carry the narrative: the protagonist, the spirit in his gauntlet, his two fellow Onimusha, and his rival.
| Character | Role | English VA | Japanese VA | Key fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miyamoto Musashi | Protagonist — only playable character | Kenichiro Thomson | Yoshimasa Hosoya | Face modeled on Toshiro Mifune |
| Oni Lady | Oni spirit inside the gauntlet | Yuriri Naka | Aya Endo | Named Shizuka in IGN's review |
| Ono no Takamura | Elder master swordsman / mentor | — | — | Fellow gauntlet wearer; guards the Oni gate |
| Izumo no Okuni | Kabuki dancer / ally | — | — | Fellow gauntlet wearer; assists Takamura |
| Sasaki Ganryu | Destined rival / final duel | Tashinga Bepete | Nobuhiko Okamoto | Also known as Sasaki Kojiro; wears the same gauntlet |
Foes and Genma
Boss-side figures
Opposing the five are the Genma — monstrosities from the underworld drawn to Kyoto's clouds of Malice. Three named boss figures stand out in the roster: Daidara, a colossal hungry Genma; Dokyo, a creation of the underground laboratory; and Shuten Doji, a giant claiming to be the legendary demon king, based on Mount Oe.
Sasaki Ganryu straddles both sides: he is a core character and narrative rival, and his duel with Musashi forms the campaign's climax.
Straight answer
Only Musashi is playable
Characters serve the story rather than a party system — you play exclusively as Miyamoto Musashi from start to finish. Capcom has confirmed the roughly 20-hour campaign is built around his journey, with cosmetic outfit customization but no alternate playable fighters.
The recurring detail that multiple swordsmen — Takamura, Okuni and Ganryu — each wear an Oni Gauntlet sets up the game's central conflict: Musashi must learn not only how to wield the gauntlet but how to be free of it.
Casting
A Mifune likeness, two-language casting
Musashi's face is modeled on the late samurai-film icon Toshiro Mifune, with likeness rights secured from Mifune Productions after two years of negotiations. Capcom's casting leans into his screen presence — critics have compared the result to a Kurosawa frame come to life.
The game ships with English and Japanese voice tracks. Kenichiro Thomson leads the English cast as Musashi with Yuriri Naka as the Oni Lady and Tashinga Bepete as Ganryu; the Japanese track stars Yoshimasa Hosoya (Musashi), Aya Endo (the Oni Lady) and Nobuhiko Okamoto (Ganryu).
Critical take
What reviewers say about the cast
Reviews have been notably warm on the character work. IGN's 10/10 review calls the game more character-driven than plot-driven — 'this cast sings' — and highlights Musashi as crude and confident to the point of arrogance, resentful of power he never earned.
The story needs no homework: it is not connected to earlier Onimusha games or the Netflix series, so newcomers can jump in without prior knowledge.
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions
Who are the characters in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?
The core five are Miyamoto Musashi, the Oni Lady, Ono no Takamura, Izumo no Okuni and Sasaki Ganryu (Sasaki Kojiro). Boss-side figures include the Genma Daidara, Dokyo and Shuten Doji.
Is Miyamoto Musashi the only playable character?
Yes. You play exclusively as Miyamoto Musashi — there is no party system and no alternate playable fighters.
Who voices Musashi?
Kenichiro Thomson voices Musashi in English and Yoshimasa Hosoya voices him in Japanese. His face is modeled on the late actor Toshiro Mifune.
Who is the Oni Lady?
The Oni spirit housed inside Musashi's gauntlet, voiced by Yuriri Naka (English) and Aya Endo (Japanese). IGN's review names her Shizuka; she is the source of the gauntlet's soul-absorbing power.
Do I need to know the old Onimusha games or the Netflix series?
No. The story of Way of the Sword is fully standalone — Capcom has confirmed it is not connected to earlier games or the Netflix series, so newcomers can jump straight in.
Who is Sasaki Ganryu?
Musashi's destined rival, also known as Sasaki Kojiro, voiced by Tashinga Bepete (English) and Nobuhiko Okamoto (Japanese). He wears the same Oni Gauntlet as Musashi, and their duel is the campaign's climax.
Where this comes from
Sources
- Onimusha: Way of the Sword Wiki — Characters hub
Character profiles, voice actors, cast mechanics and the gauntlet conflict framing.
- Capcom — Characters page
Official allies and formidable-foes lineup for the game.
- Onimusha Wiki (Fandom)
Full character list, story summary and platform review scores.
- YouTube — Before You Buy (gameranx)
Series revival background — 20 years after the last mainline entry.
- YouTube — Onimusha: Way of the Sword Review (IGN)
Shizuka naming, Takamura and Okuni story roles, and cast reception.