Onimusha: Way of the Sword Revives Legendary Actor Toshiro Mifune

Toshiro Mifune passed away in 1997 at 77 due to multiple organ failure, leaving behind a legacy that continues to captivate audiences. Despite the years that have passed since his death, Capcom has ingeniously brought the legendary actor’s likeness back to life in their latest game, “Onimusha: Way of the Sword.”

On the game’s official website, it describes its main character as a formidable young samurai, constantly thrust into intense, gritty battles. To bring this compelling image to life, Capcom has ingeniously chosen none other than Toshiro Mifune, the iconic Japanese film samurai legend, to be the face of this new portrayal of Miyamoto Musashi.

For anyone who caught the Onimusha anime on Netflix in late 2023, this decision probably isn’t surprising. Miyamoto Musashi made an appearance there as well, with the creators proudly showcasing their ability to digitally bring Mifune’s face into the realm of animation, a feat prominently highlighted in the show’s marketing efforts before its launch.

The Onimusha video game series has a history of featuring actors, both living and deceased, as models for its characters. In previous titles, Takeshi Kaneshiro took on the role of Samonosuke Akechi in “Onimusha: Warlords,” and later installments featured Yūsaku Matsuda, who passed away at 40 in 1989 from bladder cancer, as well as Jean Reno, both contributing their likenesses to the game.

Mifune’s digital resurrection in “Onimusha: Way of the Samurai” was executed with the full backing of Mifune Productions, the very company he founded back in 1962, which presumably retains the rights to his likeness today.