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There are some games where the voice cast feels like a footnote, and then there are games like Onimusha Way of the Sword, where the voices are a huge part of the atmosphere. Capcom’s return to the Onimusha series has plenty going for it already: brutal sword fights, a dark supernatural version of historical Japan, stylish visuals, and, of course, Miyamoto Musashi cutting his way through an army of Genma. But the more I played and watched footage of the game, the more I found myself paying attention to the characters themselves and the actors behind them.

That is especially interesting because the English voice track has already become a surprisingly controversial topic. Some players immediately connected with its unusual regional accents, while others felt that the delivery did not fit their idea of a samurai adventure. Personally, I think it is one of those casting choices that becomes more interesting the longer you listen to it. Thankfully, Onimusha Way of the Sword includes both English and Japanese voice options, so players can decide which version best matches the experience they want.

With that in mind, here is a closer look at the main Onimusha Way of the Sword voice actors, including the English and Japanese performers behind Musashi, Ganryu, Shizuka, the major supporting characters, and some of the game’s most intimidating enemies.

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Miyamoto Musashi – The Voice Behind the New Onimusha Hero

English Voice Actor: Kenichiro Thomson
Japanese Voice Actor: Yoshimasa Hosoya

Miyamoto Musashi is obviously the character carrying the entire adventure on his shoulders. Capcom’s version of the legendary swordsman is not presented as a clean-cut heroic figure. He looks weathered, dangerous, and appropriately tired of having to deal with supernatural monsters every five minutes. His physical appearance was famously modeled after Japanese film icon Toshiro Mifune, which gives Musashi a wonderfully old-school samurai presence even though the game itself is being built for modern audiences.

In English, Kenichiro Thomson gives Musashi a distinctive performance that has generated plenty of discussion. The regional British-style inflections are probably the first thing many players will notice, particularly because you don’t necessarily expect that kind of accent when playing a story set in historical Japan. I can understand why some players find it distracting, but I also think it gives this version of Musashi a slightly different personality.

The Japanese performance comes from Yoshimasa Hosoya, whose deeper and rougher delivery feels immediately at home in the role. If you prefer your samurai protagonists to sound stern, experienced, and almost intimidating even when they are standing still, the Japanese track is likely going to be your favorite.

Sasaki Ganryu – Musashi’s Most Dangerous Rival

English Voice Actor: Tashinga Bepete
Japanese Voice Actor: Nobuhiko Okamoto

A Musashi story would hardly feel complete without Sasaki Ganryu, and Onimusha Way of the Sword certainly does not waste the opportunity. Ganryu is not simply another swordsman standing in Musashi’s way. He receives a supernatural gauntlet of his own, but rather than using its power to fight the Genma, his version is connected to the consumption of human souls. That alone tells you that this rivalry is going to get ugly.

Tashinga Bepete handles Ganryu’s English voice, giving him a sharper and more theatrical personality than Musashi. I actually like that contrast. When two rivals sound exactly alike, their conversations can become strangely flat, but Ganryu feels like someone who enjoys pushing buttons and testing boundaries.

For Japanese players, Nobuhiko Okamoto takes the role. His energetic and often intense style is a natural match for a character who is considerably less restrained than Musashi. If the Japanese performance is your preferred option, Ganryu becomes especially memorable whenever the rivalry starts boiling over.

Oni Lady / Shizuka – Musashi’s Supernatural Guide

English Voice Actor: Yuriri Naka
Japanese Voice Actor: Aya Endo

Not every important character in Onimusha Way of the Sword needs to be swinging a sword. The Oni Lady, also known as Shizuka, has a very different role because she exists within Musashi’s mysterious Oni Gauntlet. She serves as a guide and supernatural presence, helping connect Musashi to the strange forces surrounding his journey.

Yuriri Naka voices Shizuka in English, and her performance uses a subtle Japanese accent that helps maintain some connection to the game’s setting. It is one of the English performances that feels particularly useful for maintaining the atmosphere rather than simply sounding like a standard Western fantasy character.

The Japanese version features Aya Endo, who brings a softer but still haunting quality to Shizuka. Her performance works especially well for a character who should feel mysterious without constantly shouting or announcing how important she is.

Ono no Takamura and Izumo no Okuni

Ono no Takamura
English Voice Actor: Shogo Miyakita
Japanese Voice Actor: Akihiko Ishizumi

Izumo no Okuni
English Voice Actor: Leader Looi
Japanese Voice Actor: Chiharu Hokaze

The supporting cast is just as important when it comes to making Kyoto feel like a living place rather than a collection of levels connected by loading screens. Ono no Takamura serves as the stoic guardian of the Oni Gate, a critical location separating the human world from the supernatural depths beyond it. Shogo Miyakita voices him in English, while Akihiko Ishizumi takes the Japanese role.

Izumo no Okuni is another important figure in the story, working alongside Takamura to protect Kyoto from the spreading Malice. Leader Looi provides the English performance, while Chiharu Hokaze voices the character in Japanese. I particularly appreciate characters like Okuni in games such as this because they help prevent the story from becoming nothing more than “hero fights monster, hero fights bigger monster.”

The Genma Villains and Boss Voice Cast

The Genma are obviously a major part of what makes Onimusha feel like Onimusha. These creatures are not simply disposable enemies thrown into combat arenas; the major demons have their own personalities, designs, and theatrical presence. Strong voice performances can make a boss feel considerably more threatening, especially when you have already spent several minutes fighting your way toward them.

Shuten Doji

English Voice Actor: Anthony Howell
Japanese Voice Actor: Shinnosuke Ogami

Shuten Doji gets an appropriately imposing performance from Anthony Howell in English. His delivery has the kind of theatrical weight you expect from a major supernatural villain. In Japanese, Shinnosuke Ogami brings an even darker presence to the character, giving Shuten Doji the sort of voice that immediately tells you this is not an enemy Musashi can casually ignore.

Daidara

English Voice Actor: Abe Jarman
Japanese Voice Actor: Kenta Miyake

Daidara is the kind of enemy where the voice needs to match the scale of the creature itself. Abe Jarman takes the English role, while veteran performer Kenta Miyake voices the character in Japanese. Miyake’s naturally powerful delivery is particularly well suited to monstrous characters, and his performance gives Daidara the intimidating vocal presence you’d expect from a huge Genma boss.

Dokyo

English Voice Actor: Clare Corbett
Japanese Voice Actor: Riho Fushida

Clare Corbett provides the English voice for Dokyo, with Riho Fushida handling the Japanese version. The two performances demonstrate one of the more interesting things about comparing the game’s language tracks: the same character can feel slightly different depending on the actor’s rhythm, emphasis, and interpretation.

Rasho-gan

English Voice Actor: Adam Longworth
Japanese Voice Actor: Yasuhiro Mamiya

Rasho-gan is voiced in English by Adam Longworth and in Japanese by Yasuhiro Mamiya. Both versions contribute to the darker tone that runs through the Genma cast. These performances might not be the first names players recognize from the game’s marketing, but they are important in making the enemies feel like characters rather than animated targets waiting to be sliced apart.

Why the English Dub Has Become So Controversial

The discussion around the Onimusha Way of the Sword English dub is actually more interesting than I expected. Usually, voice acting debates come down to whether someone thinks an actor sounds good or bad. Here, the bigger issue is the decision to use British and regional English accents in a story inspired by historical Japan.

I can see both sides of the argument. If you approach the game expecting a highly traditional Japanese presentation, hearing distinctly British voices coming from samurai characters can create a strange disconnect. After all, the visuals, names, locations, costumes, and mythology are heavily rooted in Japanese history and folklore.

At the same time, Onimusha has never been a strict historical simulation. Genma demons, magical Oni Gauntlets, supernatural portals, and soul-consuming weapons are hardly documentary material. The series has always mixed history with fantasy, and the unusual English casting can therefore be viewed as part of the game’s stylized identity rather than an attempt at historical realism.

There is also a practical argument in favor of the English dub. Good localization does not always mean copying the original performance as closely as possible. Sometimes actors are directed to give characters a specific personality for a different audience. Whether you personally like the accents or not, there is clearly an intentional theatrical quality behind several of these performances.

English or Japanese Voice Acting: Which Should You Choose?

For me, this is ultimately going to come down to what kind of atmosphere you want. If authenticity and a traditional samurai tone are your biggest priorities, the Japanese voice track is the obvious choice. Yoshimasa Hosoya, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Aya Endo, and the rest of the Japanese cast provide performances that naturally fit the game’s setting and character designs.

However, I wouldn’t dismiss the English dub without actually giving it a chance. Some of its unusual choices make the cast stand out, and I would rather have a localization with a strong creative identity than one that feels completely anonymous. If you normally play Japanese games in English, there is nothing wrong with sticking with the English track and seeing whether the accents grow on you.

Why the Cast Matters More Than You Might Think

One thing I have always liked about action games is when the characters are given enough personality to make the story memorable between fights. Onimusha Way of the Sword seems determined to do exactly that. The combat might be the reason most people will pick up the game, but the characters, rivalries, supernatural mythology, and performances are what can ultimately make the journey stick in your memory.

Musashi in particular benefits from having two noticeably different interpretations. The English version gives him a more unusual identity, while the Japanese performance leans into the classic image of the hardened wandering swordsman. Neither approach has to be objectively “correct.” They simply create slightly different versions of the same character.

Final Thoughts on the Onimusha Way of the Sword Voice Cast

Onimusha Way of the Sword has plenty of reasons to be excited about, and the voice cast is one of the more overlooked parts of the package. From Musashi and Ganryu to Shizuka and the various Genma bosses, Capcom has assembled a cast capable of giving the supernatural samurai adventure considerably more personality.

The English dub will probably remain a point of debate, particularly because of its regional accents and deliberately theatrical style. Personally, I think that is more interesting than having everyone sound completely generic. At the same time, the Japanese cast is packed with experienced performers and will probably be the preferred option for players looking for a more naturally immersive historical-Japanese atmosphere.

Ultimately, having both tracks is the best possible solution. Onimusha Way of the Sword gives players the freedom to decide how they want Musashi’s journey to sound, whether that means embracing the unconventional English localization or switching to Japanese audio and letting the performances blend more naturally with the game’s setting. And honestly, with a game this focused on atmosphere, I suspect I’ll end up trying both before deciding which one feels right for a full playthrough.