Onimusha: Way of the Sword Brings Toshiro Mifune’s Legacy to Life

In 1997, the world lost the legendary Toshiro Mifune to multiple organ failure when he was 77. But not even death has kept Capcom from bringing the iconic actor’s essence back to life in the digital realm with “Onimusha: Way of the Sword.”

The game introduces us to a dynamic young samurai caught in a whirlwind of fierce and often brutal battles, according to its official site. And who better to embody this intense warrior spirit than Mifune himself? His legendary status in samurai films made him the perfect choice for the face model of the reimagined Miyamoto Musashi in this installment.

Fans of the Onimusha series might have expected this, especially if they caught the Onimusha anime on Netflix in late 2023. Mifune’s likeness graced the series as well, with the creators expressing immense pride in their work to digitally revive his face for animation, capturing public interest in the lead-up to the show’s debut.

For Onimusha enthusiasts, this digital resurrection isn’t entirely new territory. The game series has long history of incorporating famous actors’ likenesses, both living and departed. In “Onimusha: Warlords,” Takeshi Kaneshiro portrayed Samonosuke Akechi, while subsequent entries saw Yūsaku Matsuda, who passed away in 1989, and Jean Reno as models for its heroes.

Bringing Mifune to life in “Onimusha: Way of the Samurai” was possible thanks to the full support of Mifune Productions, the company he founded in 1962, which likely holds the rights to his likeness today.