The short answer
Miyamoto Musashi is the protagonist of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the fifth mainline Onimusha — an ardent samurai who arrives in Edo-period Kyoto to prove he is unmatched in the way of the sword, only for his path to take a strange turn. His face model is the late Toshiro Mifune and he is voiced by Kenichiro Thomson (English) and Yoshimasa Hosoya (Japanese). Musashi and his arch-rival Sasaki Ganryu are killed by Genma; a strange man in hell revives Musashi and forces the Oni Gauntlet onto him — an artifact that absorbs Genma souls and already holds the spirit of a woman named Shizuka. Reluctant bearer of power he never earned, Musashi joins fellow Onimusha Takamura and his assistant Okuni to protect Kyoto from Malice. The gauntlet grants four Oni abilities — Oni Vision, Oni Strength, Oni Agility and Oni Awakening — plus three summoned Oni Armaments.
- Role
- Protagonist
- Fifth mainline Onimusha
- Face model
- Toshiro Mifune
- Late samurai-film icon
- English voice
- Kenichiro Thomson
- Yoshimasa Hosoya in Japanese
- Key item
- Oni Gauntlet
- Absorbs Genma souls; holds Shizuka's spirit
- Oni abilities
- 4
- Vision, Strength, Agility, Awakening
- Oni Armaments
- 3 summoned
- Two Celestials, Earth-Shakers, Wind-Whipper
Who he is
An undefeated swordsman whose fate takes a turn
Musashi arrives in Kyoto looking to prove he is unmatched in the way of the sword, but the path before him takes a strange and unexpected turn: he and his rival Sasaki Ganryu — both modeled on real historical samurai — are killed by monsters called Genma. A strange man in hell then brings Musashi back to life and forces an Oni Gauntlet onto his arm.
The gauntlet grants power beyond human limits, including the ability to absorb Genma souls and convert them into energy that further enhances its wearer. It already contains the spirit of a woman named Shizuka — making Musashi's power a partnership he never chose.
Casting
The Mifune face and his two voices
Capcom modeled Musashi's face on the late, iconic samurai-movie legend Toshiro Mifune, with likeness rights licensed from Mifune Productions after two years of negotiations. The studio has described the choice as central to cementing an image of a striking samurai.
Musashi is voiced by Kenichiro Thomson in the English track and Yoshimasa Hosoya in Japanese. Reviews have praised the character writing around him: he is crude, his confidence borders on arrogance, and he resents the gauntlet and the strength it gave him because he did not earn it himself.
The gauntlet's gifts
Four Oni abilities from the gauntlet
The Oni Gauntlet grants Musashi four supernatural abilities beyond raw combat power, each tied to exploration and puzzle-solving as much as fighting.
| Ability | What it does |
|---|---|
| Oni Vision | See what is hidden from human eyes; reveals hidden Genma obstacles and is essential for exploration and puzzles |
| Oni Strength | Superhuman arms that break through enemy defenses and clear blocked paths |
| Oni Agility | Leg-powered burst mobility; lets Musashi run along specific walls to open new routes |
| Oni Awakening | A form that unleashes full Oni power — boosted combat ability plus the Onimusha Onslaught technique |
Summoned weapons
The three Oni Armaments he can summon
Beyond the katana, Musashi summons Oni-forged Armaments charged by Oni Power from blue souls. Each covers a different tactical role:
- Two Celestials — paired daggers whose strikes make hit enemies release Yellow Souls, letting Musashi heal as he fights; output and sustain in one weapon.
- Earth-Shakers — space-ripping hammers that pierce stamina, shields and armor; charged strikes hit even harder.
- Wind-Whipper — a twin-bladed naginata that spins out a wide vortex, launching groups; projectiles inside the whirl are neutralized, and fire turns the vortex into a blaze.
Story web
Allies, rival and the question at the heart of the game
Musashi's world is a very loose historical fiction built from real names: his arch-rival Sasaki Ganryu (Sasaki Kojiro) was a real duelist, and together with fellow Onimusha Takamura — guardian of the Oni gate separating Earth and Hell — and Takamura's assistant Okuni, Musashi stands against the Genma drawn by Malice.
The recurring detail that Takamura, Okuni and Ganryu each wear an Oni Gauntlet sharpens the story's central question: Musashi must learn not only how to wield the gauntlet, but how to be free of it.
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions
Who is Musashi in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?
Miyamoto Musashi is the protagonist and only playable character — a hot-blooded samurai who arrives in Edo-period Kyoto to prove his mastery of the sword, then is killed by Genma, revived in hell, and forced to wear the Oni Gauntlet.
Is Musashi modeled on Toshiro Mifune?
Yes. His face model is the late samurai-film legend Toshiro Mifune, with likeness rights licensed from Mifune Productions after two years of negotiations.
Who voices Musashi?
Kenichiro Thomson voices him in English and Yoshimasa Hosoya in Japanese. Reviews note his crude, confident, borderline-arrogant characterization.
What powers does the Oni Gauntlet give Musashi?
Four Oni abilities: Oni Vision (see hidden things), Oni Strength (break defenses and barriers), Oni Agility (wall-running bursts) and Oni Awakening (a full-power form with Onimusha Onslaught).
Which Oni Armaments does Musashi use?
Three summoned Armaments: the Two Celestials dual daggers (healing Yellow Soul engine), the Earth-Shakers hammers (Break Damage through shields and armor) and the Wind-Whipper vortex naginata (crowd launch and projectile denial).
Who is Shizuka?
The spirit of a woman already sealed inside the Oni Gauntlet before Musashi received it. She joins him as the Oni Lady — his guide inside the artifact, and the source of much of the story's mystery.
Where this comes from
Sources
- Onimusha Wiki (Fandom) — Musashi Miyamoto
Character profile, Oni abilities, Armaments and the Mifune-model trivia.
- YouTube — Before You Buy (gameranx)
Series context and Musashi casting context.
- YouTube — Onimusha: Way of the Sword Review (IGN)
Story framework — death, revival, the gauntlet and Shizuka — plus character reception.
- Xbox Wire — Developers interview
Developers on Musashi casting and the unearned-power tension in his arc.