Quick 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 faces Musashi in rival duels. 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)
- Grants soul-absorption power
- Fellow gauntlet wearers
- Takamura · Okuni · Ganryu
- Center of the story conflict
- Story connection
- Standalone
- No prior Onimusha or Netflix knowledge needed
Core lineup
The five core characters
The cast divides into Musashi and his allies, with a separate group of 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 | Also known as Shizuka |
| 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 / story duels | 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 he also faces Musashi in boss encounters.
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. 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
Why the cast works
The story is more character-driven than plot-driven. Musashi is crude and confident to the point of arrogance, yet resentful of power he never earned, and the supporting cast continually tests that tension.
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.
Recommended links
Recommended guides
Full Roster
Five core characters and three featured Genma, with each character listed once.
Read →Who is Musashi in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?Musashi
The Mifune-faced protagonist bound to the Oni Gauntlet — his story, four Oni abilities, Armaments and key relationships.
Read →What moves and combos does Musashi have in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?Musashi Moveset
Light/heavy katana strings, eight named techniques, the Issen family, four Oni abilities and three Armaments — plus control layouts.
Read →How does combat work in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?Combat Guide
Issen, parry, deflect, souls, Oni Armaments and the full combat loop explained.
Read →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). She grants the gauntlet its 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 and 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 duels bring that rivalry into the combat.