Onimusha: Way of the Sword Showcases Resurrected Performance by Toshiro Mifune

Toshiro Mifune may have left this world in 1997 due to multiple organ failure, yet that hasn’t stopped Capcom from bringing his iconic presence back to life for “Onimusha: Way of the Sword.” Despite the distance of years and the finality of death, the legendary actor’s essence is very much alive in the digital realm.

The game’s official website introduces us to its protagonist as a relentless young samurai, jumping from one intense battle to another. To really capture that essence, Capcom decided there was no better face to model their character after than the legendary Toshiro Mifune. Known for his awe-inspiring performances in samurai films, Mifune’s likeness now graces this latest depiction of Miyamoto Musashi.

For fans who caught the Onimusha anime on Netflix back in late 2023, this isn’t particularly shocking. Miyamoto Musashi was a key figure in the anime, and the creators there took great pride in digitizing Mifune’s distinguished face from reality into animation, which they highlighted significantly during the advertising campaign before the show’s release.

The Onimusha series isn’t new to featuring both living and deceased actors as the faces of its main characters. In “Onimusha: Warlords,” Takeshi Kaneshiro brought Samonosuke Akechi to life, while later games featured the likenesses of Yūsaku Matsuda, who passed away from bladder cancer in 1989, and Jean Reno as well.

Mifune’s digital reincarnation in “Onimusha: Way of the Samurai” happened with the blessing and full support of Mifune Productions, the very company he established back in 1962. Today, it likely retains the rights to his likeness, ensuring his legendary stature continues to shine, even in a digital world.