It Took Capcom Two Years to Secure the Legendary Face of Onimusha’s New Hero

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As a gamer, I’ve learned that acquiring licensing rights for someone’s likeness isn’t something that happens overnight. The process is actually quite intricate and time-consuming, often taking much longer than one would initially expect.

Initially unveiling Onimusha: Way of the Sword, certain aficionados of classic samurai cinema swiftly recognized a strong likeness between the game’s primary character and the iconic Japanese actor, Toshiro Mifune.

It turns out that it wasn’t just luck; instead, as revealed in a recent Game Watch interview (translated by Automaton), Capcom had been meticulously negotiating with the Mifune estate for an impressive _two years_, aiming to secure his image.

Throughout a distinguished acting career filled with samurai-themed movies, Mifune passed away in 1997. Interestingly, however, the director of Way of the Sword, Satoru Nihei, and producer Akihito Kadowaki were determined from the initial stages of development to incorporate Mifune’s likeness.

It’s worth noting that Kadowaki mentioned the contract wasn’t finalized until 2022, implying the game was possibly thought up as far back as 2020. In other words, it seems Capcom has been working on this project for some time.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but wonder why they were so determined to feature Mifune’s face on screen. Beyond his iconic status in samurai cinema, their aim was to bring to life a hero who embodied “tenacity” – that unyielding spirit of a warrior who fights relentlessly, covered in the grit and grime of battle, blood and mud.

In numerous films, Mifune embodied that particular character type, which is essentially the basis for Capcom’s thinking as well.

The approach in creating the main character for Way of the Sword draws inspiration from Miyamoto Musashi, a well-known historical Japanese swordsmaster. As Kadowaki elaborates, “We were meticulous about crafting our new protagonist as a completely unique individual,” rather than a direct replica of Musashi.

In this context, we were firmly resolved to depict him using Mifune’s likeness. Given our meticulous attention to detail, we believe he has become an extraordinarily effective series main character.

Here’s some intriguing information on the upcoming Onimusha. What are your thoughts about incorporating Mifune’s likeness? Is it suitable for the game? Feel free to share your opinions by commenting with not just one, but two swords below.

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2025-06-17 19:06