In 1997, the world lost the legendary Toshiro Mifune to multiple organ failure at the age of 77. Yet, that hasn’t stopped Capcom from resurrecting his likeness in the digital realm for their latest game, Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
“The game’s hero is a spirited young samurai who navigates a series of intense and brutal battles,” reads the official website. “To perfectly encapsulate this image, Capcom decided to use the visage of the iconic Japanese film legend, Toshiro Mifune, to personify the character of Miyamoto Musashi.”
For those who tuned into the Onimusha anime on Netflix in late 2023, this development might not come as a big surprise. Miyamoto Musashi, portrayed in the anime, also bore Mifune’s familiar features, thanks to the creators meticulously crafting his digital reincarnation—a fact heavily emphasized in the lead-up to the show’s premiere.
The Onimusha series has a history of featuring notable actors as models for its characters, blending both living and deceased talent. Perhaps you recall Takeshi Kaneshiro’s portrayal of Samonosuke Akechi in Onimusha: Warlords. In later games, the creators turned to Yūsaku Matsuda, whose life was tragically cut short by bladder cancer at 40, and international star Jean Reno, to bring their protagonists to life.
Mifune’s inclusion in Onimusha: Way of the Sword was accomplished with the full blessing and cooperation of Mifune Productions, the company he founded in 1962, which today still manages rights to his image.
