Main Characters (Sekiro / Wolf) | Secondary Characters | Enemies and Bosses | Manga Characters
Warning: unmarked spoilers ahead.
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Dilapidated Temple
The Sculptor
"No matter what I do, every Buddha I carve is an incarnation of wrath."
"So you're awake. Looks like death is not your fate... just yet."
Voiced by: Jin Urayama (Japanese), Brian Cummings (English)
An elderly hermit residing in the Dilapidated Temple. The Sculptor is the one who finds Wolf left for dead, nurses him back to health, and replaces Wolf's severed left arm with the Shinobi Prosthetic. He is also the one who left the Sculptor's Idols scattered throughout the setting of the game.
- Affectionate Nickname: Emma calls him "Orangutan", probably as a nod to his disheveled and hairy appearance. It might also be reference to his original and returned hair color as well.
- Considering his origins, and his training leading him to move like the monkeys of the Sunken Valley, it might have been his name as a shinobi.
- A couple of the drinking dialogues reveals that he was the one to snap her out of her shell shock â she describes him as an "Orangutan" instead of a person, likely due to his prior training.
- Animal Motif: The monkey, although more specifically, the orangutan. Not only do his thick, elongated limbs and hairy body make him look like a monkey, he's also affectionately called "Orangutan" by Emma and described as a monkey by Isshin. In fact he was known as the "Bounding Monkey of the Sunken Valley" going by the description lore for the Shinobi Axe, and he's intelligent enough to make prosthetic upgrades; organtutans are regarded as some of the smartest animals by human standards, capable of even using tools. The word "Orangutan" was conceived to mean "Man of the Forest", and the Sculptor lives in a temple surrounded by a small forest. It's implied through his transformation that he used to have red hair, like an orangutan's fur, with the transformation making him look like a giant demonic orangutan.
- The Alcoholic: The Sculptor is quite fond of his "tea". Wolf can give him alcohol from all origins and he will gladly gulp them down.
- All for Nothing: His attempt at atonement fails. His karmic debt and repressed hatred overcome him when the Ministry launches a full-scale invasion, and he stumbles off to become the Demon of Hatred.
- An Arm and a Leg: He's missing his left arm. Giving him some Unrefined Sake leads him to reveal that Lord Isshin cut it off to save the Sculptor from being consumed by hatred and transforming into Shura.
- The Atoner: The multitude of Buddha statues surrounding him is his form of atonement. He has killed so many people over the course of his life that he is saddled by a deep karmic debt. It is also why he rescued Wolf and gave him his prosthetic arm; for once, he wanted to do right by a fellow shinobi.
- The Blacksmith: Prosthetic Tools for the Shinobi Prosthetic must be given to the Sculptor in order for Wolf to use them.
- Color Motif: Orange - the color of his clothes, the color of his hair as a younger man, and the color of fire.
- Cool Old Guy: A genius sculptor who serves as a major ally, and as you come to learn was a former Shinobi with what we learn to be an extensive life story.
- Dying as Yourself: As Sekiro deals the final Deathblow to the Demon of Hatred, the Sculptor regains his sanity just long enough to thank him for it.
- Expy: Of Ludleth of Courland. Both are predecessors to the protagonist with a storied past and missing limbs who turn materials given to them into weapons. Both also burn alive in the game's final act but leave behind enough to let the protagonist use their services without them.
- FaceâHeel Turn: The Demon of Hatred players encounter in the Ashina Outskirts near the very end of the game is the Sculptor, having succumbed to his own rage, yet failed to become a Shura.
- Foil: To Owl. Their stories share parallels in that they both fought in the Ashina rebellion and adopted orphans off the battlefield (Wolf and Emma respectively), but while Owl was a ruthless parent who subjected his son to Training from Hell to turn him into another shinobi, Orangutan wanted to spare Emma that life and so entrusted her to the care of Dougen.
- The Hermit: He lives alone in the Dilapitated Temple, occupying his time sculpting idols.
- Hero of Another Story: What pieces of information we're given suggest the Sculptor had quite the extensive life story in the decades prior to the game's events.
- Hidden Depths: It doesn't look like it, but the Sculptor was once a shinobi too. He is also harboring an unholy combination of his own resentment and regrets, the karmic debt left by the many people he had slain, and all the unbridled hatred accumulated over decades of Ashina's bloody conflicts.
- Honorary Uncle: What Emma considers him as. Whilst he ultimately didn't end up adopting her, he's the one who originally found her, fed her, and entrusted her in the care of one of his close friends, ensuring she was Happily Adopted, and as such he means a great deal to her.
- I'm Having Soul Pains: Sometimes, when warping back to his temple, you can find him gripping the stump of his left arm with his right in what looks to be extreme pain, though he doesn't acknowledge it and immediately resumes his normal animations when you speak to him, suggesting the pain isn't physical in nature but caused by the Demon of Hatred trying to take over.
- Incurable Cough of Death: The Sculptor can be inflicted with Dragonrot if Wolf dies too many times. Dragonrot itself is said to be incurable and eventually leads to death, unless the one carrying the Divine Heir's blood eats Dragon Tears. Curiously, the Sculptor is quite dismissive of the disease, claiming it a mere thing that could never kill him. He could have said it to reassure Emma, but the scant details regarding the Demon of Hatred suggest an outside force is invested in keeping him alive.
- In Vino Veritas: The Sculptor doesn't usually chitchat, but giving him specific sake will trigger dialogue in which he reveals bits of his colorful past.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: The Sculptor is a retired shinobi who struggles with his inner demons and prefers to keep to himself. However, he went out of his way to save Wolf and supply him with the shinobi prosthetic, acts as a sort of mentor to him, and it's revealed that he saved Emma when she was a child.
- The Lost Lenore: The Finger Whistle Prosthetic Tool, as well as its upgrades, the Malcontent Ring and the Mountain Echo, speaks of a female shinobi partner of the Sculptor back when he was young. She was dear enough to him that this weapon can temporarily halt his crazed demonic state later in the game, similar to the Tiny Music Box's effect on Father Gascoigne in Bloodborne. Unfortunately, she died to the Guardian Ape for an unknown reason.
- Meaningful Name: If you choose to use the Mortal Blade to grant Hanbei the death he desires, he calls the Sculptor "Sekijo" when mentioning how he needs to say goodbye to him and thank him for his hospitality. Much like how "Sekiro" means "one-armed wolf", "Sekijo" means "one-armed orangutan". Given that Isshin is the one who cut the Sculptor's arm off in the first place, it's highly likely he was the one to give him this nickname, just like he gave Sekiro his.
- These days, the Sculptor's Japanese name, Shojo, often refers to orangutans, but in the past it used to refer to a breed of furry, red-haired youkai with an alcoholic streak who were, despite their drunkeness, none the less known for their benevolence and great wisdom. Given that the sculptor really does love his favorite "tea", is implied to have been a redhead in his youth, and was both benevolent enough to save Emma from the kind of life he had lead and also passes his wisdom in the form of two scrolls containing the Shinobi and Prosthetic combat arts down to Sekiro, this is likely not coincidental. This may also rather foreshadow his eventual transformation into the Demon of Hatred, a very youkai-like monster.
- Mercy Kill: Because the chances of him ever finding peace and resolving his karmic debt remain grim, Emma has taken it upon herself to execute him before he turns into a demon. The Sculptor cannot bear the prospect of having his blood on her hands; if Wolf becomes close enough to the Sculptor (done by eavesdropping into his conversations), he will ask the shinobi to take up the responsibility in Emma's stead.
- One-Track-Minded Artist: Spends his time compulsively carving wooden statues of Buddha, which look angry no matter how he wants them to look.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Three of them, in fact. While Sekiro knows him as the Sculptor, Emma calls him by his former shinobi name, Orangutan. Hanbei, meanwhile, calls him "Sekijo", which is most likely another nickname given to him by the same person who gave Sekiro his.
- Retired Badass: The fact that he has a special shinobi prosthetic and possesses esoteric texts describing shinobi techniques imply that he's a former shinobi who's taken to sculpting. That he has the nickname "Orangutan" also serves as foreshadowing, since most of the shinobi — like Wolf, Owl, Lady Butterfly — have animal names.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: It's subtle, but it's implied that the brutality of the Ministry's invasion is what triggers his final transformation into the Demon of Hatred, as he speaks about them with scorn, and when you find the Demon, it's in the middle of slaughtering an entire battalion of Ministry troops.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: It's implied that the "flames of hatred" inside him come from his time fighting in Isshin's rebellion, as he only loses control and becomes a demon once the Interior Ministry returns for round 2.
- Take Up My Sword: The Sculptor is missing his left arm; when Wolf wakes up wearing the prosthetic, the Sculptor comments that "it's no good for carving Buddhas", so it was his arm that he popped off and put on Wolf, implicitly giving him his secret weapon. And if Wolf goes through with Immortal Severance and kills Kuro, he will become the new Sculptor, carving Buddhas one-handed while keeping the prosthetic wrapped up for the next poor bastard that gets his left arm chopped off, essentially starting the whole game all over again in typical FromSoftware fashion.
- Terrible Artist: The Buddha sculptures he carves are crude and misshapen, especially compared to the single kind-faced statue made by someone else. This isn't a matter of skill; the Sculptor is actually well-practiced in the art for years, but he can only ever seem to create faces of wrath. The fact that his works bear closer resemblance to Asuras than Buddhas says something about him.
- Trickster Mentor: Both Wolf and Emma can go on an investigation regarding the means of Immortal Severance, but it will finally reach an apparent dead end when Emma asks the Sculptor for help. When talking to him, all he will do is casually mention how drafty it is in his house. He's actually encouraging Wolf to sneak behind the walls and eavesdrop on the conversation between him and Emma. That way, Wolf can glean enough details to confront Emma about sacrificing his own life in place of Lord Kuro.
Hanbei the Undying
"Hmm. Damn, still alive."
- Voiced by: Juku Ikkyu (Japanese), Brock Powell (English)
A Samurai with an odd case of Resurrective Immortality, Hanbei the Undying acts as a sparring partner for Wolf, while providing combat and environmental tips.
- All There in the Manual: A lot of things about him that were only hinted at in the game, such as who his master was, and his reason for being infested, have been detailed in his prequel manga.
- Ascended Extra: Is the star of the FromSoftware-supervised prequel manga Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying.
- Combat Pragmatist: Despite detesting his own immortality, he's more than willing to take advantage of it in order to win a fight.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: In Sekiro Side Story, he barely lasts three seconds against Isshin, who crushes him with only two sword strikesnote .
- A Day in the Limelight: He stars in the manga Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying, which tells of his past before Wolf meets him.
- Death Seeker: Hanbei is not pleased with his immortality because he failed to protect his master and is unable to atone for his failure the way a samurai is expected to. Unlike many other NPCs, he expresses satisfaction if Wolf gratuitously attacks him, seeing it as an effort to grant him death.
- Establishing Character Moment: A ludonarrative example â unlike many hub-dwelling characters from other FromSoftware games, Hanbei is the first friendly one to introduce himself by initiating combat with Wolf after first speaking with him. Once Wolf kills him, Hanbei gets back up, mutters "Damn, still alive", and sheathes his katana, hinting to the startled player that they can talk with this undying warrior again.
- Hidden Depths: Is familiar enough with the Sculptor to know him by another name: Sekijo.
- Immortality: Can't die, hence why he's known as "the Undying". Turns out Hanbei's also infested by a massive centipede like the elder monks of Senpou Temple. Once Wolf acquires the Mortal Blade, players have the option of letting Hanbei know that Wolf can end his life.
- Master Swordsman: Naturally, given that he's an experienced veteran who's able to give even Wolf a few lessons.
- Parental Abandonment: Was orphaned as a result of a previous war, though he can't remember whether his family was killed or if they just abandoned him so they'd have one less mouth to feed. In fact, he would have died of starvation had a Senpou monk not implanted a centipede in him.
- Permadeath: He can be given one after obtaining the Mortal Blade, as he will beg Wolf to use it on him. Ending his life removes him as a training buddy, but grants players the Hidden Tooth item to instantly kill themselves — this has its applications, such as Faking the Dead mid-fight only to launch a Deathblow against a particularly deadly foe In the Back.
- Red Baron: Sekiro Side Story reveals his title of "the Undying" was actually given to him by other people, presumably during the days when he was one of General Tamura's most fearsome warriors.
- Taught by Experience: The manga implies that he's had little to no formal sword training, instead gaining a swordmaster's level of expertise simply by being able to learn from experiences that would have been fatal for anyone else.
- Turncoat: During the coup, he initially fought on Isshin's side, but defected to General Tamura after being defeated by him in a duel.
- Training Dummy: His immortality allows him to be this and a sparring partner, letting Wolf try out new attacks. He actually encourages this.
- Video Game Cruelty Potential: Sort of. He does feel the pain and agony that your sword inflicts on him, but he claims that he's used to it and puts up with it since he sees it as an effort to grant him death. The cruel part comes if the player chooses not to kill him after acquiring the Mortal Blade. Meaning that the suffering he went through for you means nothing. He's still slightly glad that his curse was of use for someone. But still, to deny him the Mercy Kill from his undead existence that he desires more than anything and is long overdue so you can keep him as your personal punching bag is kind of a dick move on him.
Ashina Outskirts
Inosuke Nogami
"She kept muttering incoherently... something about offering it to Buddha..."
A gravely wounded Samurai who asks Wolf to look after his mother.
- Almost Dead Guy: He's in this state both times you meet him. His wounds eventually catch up to him in the present day.
- Determinator: In the flashback sequence, he tried to save Kuro, but failed and was badly wounded. Despite being blinded, he seems to have eventually gotten up, retrieved his mother, and escaped the Hirata Estate on foot.
- Eye Scream: Whatever happened in his battle with Lady Butterfly was serious enough that both his eyes seem to have ended up being gouged out. Whether it was either done by Lady Butterfly herself or self-inflicted to escape her illusions is left unclear.
- Together in Death: Despite being severely wounded, he somehow manages to eventually drag himself up to the second floor of the nearby house so he can die next to his mother.
Inosuke's Mother/Timid Maid
"Horribly, dreadful! It won't stop pouring out!"
An ailing woman who hallucinates Wolf is her son.
- Driven to Madness: Was apparently driven mad by Lady Butterfly's illusions.
- Together in Death: Her son Inosuke can be found dead by her side in the endgame.
- Undying Loyalty: Even in her insanity, she is fiercely loyal to Kuro, and will help Wolf however she can. Not even Dragonrot can change her mind.
Anayama the Peddler
"Thanks to you, sales are soaring higher than a dragon!"
A brigand-turned-merchant seeking to take advantage of the war, Anayama has currently set up shop in the Ashina stronghold, but can also be found among the ranks of the bandits in the Hirata Estates Memory.
- As You Know: Played with. He feels it's necessary to tell Wolf, an agent of the Hirata family for at least a decade, that the Hirata are retainers of the Ashina clan, but in context it's clear that he's completely unaware of Wolf's relation to the Hirata.
- Defiant to the End: When the Interior Ministry makes its second invasion, Anayama can be found next to Kotaro's dead body, himself injured. He makes one last sale to Wolf for a measly one sen, promising Wolf that he's going to turn that one sen into a mountain of gold someday, and says that when that day comes, he would really like Wolf to come and buy from him again. He dies immediately afterwards.
- Expy: Probably the closest thing the game has to Patches. He's a bald looter who becomes a merchant, and will send you into an encounter with a tough enemy with the promise of treasure (although to his credit, he probably didn't know there was an enemy there). In addition, he wears a coat made out of a patchwork of various different cloths. In a bit of irony, the treasure he tells you about is on top of a cliff, which is the polar opposite of Patches's usual MO.
- Honest John's Dealership: Asks Wolf to spy on the Ashina soldiers to find out what they desperately need, so he can sell it to them at inflated prices.
- Information Broker: Invoked on the player's part â by eavesdropping on Ashigaru conversations, Sekiro can tell Anayama information that will lead to him acquiring more wares to sell.
- Intrepid Merchant: He decides to stay when the Interior Ministry starts invading Ashina in hopes of looting valuables from the battlefield. It gets him killed.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Comes to truly care for Kotaro if you send him to work for Anayama, if him being in denial of Kotaro's death is any indication. Also, his last act is to hide away a valuable item specifically for Wolf and "selling" it to him for only one sen, showing that he comes to care about Wolf as more than just a customer as well.
- Loveable Rogue: He's a thief, graverobber, and opportunistic bastard all around. However, he's friendly enough face to face, is generally honest and helpful towards Wolf, and develops an affection for Kotaro, despite taking advantage of the monk's good nature to loot dead bodies.
- Please Wake Up: Insists Kotaro is merely sleeping when he is clearly dead, although his request for Wolf to not "make that face" suggests he is aware Kotaro is dead and just doesn't want to accept it.
- Robbing the Dead: Anayama is willing to scour the battlefield of corpses to loot for their armor and weapons in order to sell them to Wolf. Case in point, the most important item he has for sale is Lady Butterfly's kunai, which he obviously nabbed off her corpse after Wolf killed her.
- Token Good Teammate: He's not necessarily a good person by any means, but he's the only one of the Hirata bandits who acts friendly towards Wolf and there's no indication that he killed anybody during the raid. In the present day, he shows genuine fondness towards Wolf and Kotaro, and objects to the Interior Ministry's indiscriminate massacre of Ashina, which unfortunately gets him killed.
- Video Game Cruelty Punishment: You can kill Anayama in Hirata Estate (3 years in the past) and he won't put up much of a fight... but that obviously means he'll be dead in the present too, so you won't be able to access his shop or complete his questline.
Tengu of Ashina
Voiced by: Tetsuo Kanao (Japanese), André Sogliuzzo (English)
"Ah, but those eyes... a starving wolf. Before I kill you, tell me your name. Tell me your name!"
A mysterious masked man who tasks Wolf with getting rid of "Rats" throughout Ashina.
- Ability Mixing: If Wolf maxes out one of the available skill trees and speaks with the Tengu in the Great Serpent Shrine, he will be satisfied enough to gift the shinobi the Mushin Arts Esoteric Text â this book combines the final skills of the other skill trees into powerful new Combat Arts that will let the Wolf wreak absolute havoc on the battlefield.
- Atop a Mountain of Corpses: Piles of Lone Shadow shinobi corpses are a good sign he's nearby.
- Combat Pragmatist: His Ashina Style skill book he gifts you is full of relatively simple moves and passive abilities that are useful in all situations, like taking less and giving more posture damage or a simple overhead strike. He describes it as less of a formal martial art than a hodgepodge of âusing whatever worksâ, compiled from countless battles.
- Combination Attack: Once you learn a Secret Technique, he gives you another skill book thatâs about merging other secret techniques together.
- Cool Mask: The Tengu mask he's wearing, with its crimson color and disapproving glare, makes him look all the more intimidating.
- The Mentor: Detecting Wolf's talents, he passes the shinobi esoteric texts on swordplay to help facilitate his growth into a deadlier fighting machine.
- Mythical Motifs: The epithet "Tengu" refers to the visage of the long-nosed mask he wears.
- Something Only They Would Say: That Tengu and Isshin are the ones who call the Wolf "Sekiro" is an indication they are one and the same person.
- King Incognito: It is revealed that the Tengu is none other than Isshin Ashina himself, going around in a disguise.
- The Nicknamer: It is the Tengu who, upon meeting a one-armed, wolflike man with no name to answer to, decides to give him a suitable one: "Sekiro". He also previously gave the Sculptor the nickname "Sekijo" (one-armed orangutan) after cutting his arm off. Noticing that Sekiro is using the Sculptor's prosthetic arm is likely what inspired such a similar nickname.
- Title Drop: He's the only character to call Sekiro by that name instead of "Wolf" or "Shinobi of the Divine Heir".
Old Nun
"Oh... You're still alive? You know don't you? You know who the one-armed demon was before..."
An old Buddhist nun found in the same building as Tengu of Ashina.
- Hidden Depths: She is very knowledgeable regarding the supernatural existence of karma around the main characters. Later in the game, she can identify the Sculptor almost by name, which even Wolf can fail in if he doesn't eavesdrop on the Sculptor at the right moment in the game, mentioning the 'hatred' creating the Demon of Hatred and warning Wolf of the same fate, as the negative emotions created by the Interior Ministry invasion could pool up inside him and turn him into the very same demon.
- War Is Hell: She laments that the country is perpetually in war, causing many senseless deaths and much destruction.
Ashina Castle
Old Crone
"You have a pious temperament. I offer this to you."
An elderly woman who can be first seen praying on a bridge in Ashina Castle, she can also be found in Sunken Valley, the Abandoned Dungeon, and Senpou Temple.
- Almost Dead Guy: Once you give the Divine Child the two fruits of the Great Serpent, she can be found in the Senpou Temple main hall, happy she fulfilled her purpose before spontaneously dying.
- Catchphrase: In nearly all her appearances, she says 'Acchi ja!'/'Over there!' in a heavily exaggerated manner.
- Cryptic Conversation: The woman is mostly mumbling nonsense to herself, but give her rice and she will instead give tips to Wolf, although still in a somewhat obscure manner.
- Hint System: This is her in game purpose, to guide the player out of their way towards unlocking one of the endings.
- Obfuscating Insanity: Sure, she may have genuinely gone a bit gaga, but it's also fairly obvious that she knows exactly what she's saying, seemingly nonsensical though her statements may be.
- Rambling Old Man Monologue: Gender inverted example, but most of what she says comes across as this. Downplayed in that she's very much on the ball with what must be done, she's just very cryptic about it.
- Scatterbrained Senior: Make no mistake, she's not faking her senility. It's just that it doesn't significantly impede her ability to point you in the right direction, either.
- Senior Sleep-Cycle: Give her some rice and she'll barely be able to get her hints out before drifting off to sleep.
- Trademark Favorite Food: The woman wants rice in order for her to give Wolf counsel.
Blackhat Badger
"Told those morons to give it a rest. But they don't, they just keep sending more. Such a pain in my... Huh? You one of those nightjar cronies?"
An ex-Senpou Assassin wearing a black-coloured kasa, Blackhat Badger is a snarky Non-Player Character with whom Wolf can strike up a conversation. He initially acts as a merchant, but soon has other matters to attend to. It is up to Wolf to decide whether he will help him or not.
- Assassin Outclassin': He mentions that the Senpou Temple has been sending his former associates after him for deserting. Tucked away behind a wall where he sets up shop, you can find some dwarf corpses that were once his attempted killers.
- Deadpan Snarker: Has nothing but dry words to say about the company that finds their way to his front doorstep. Upon meeting Wolf, he sarcastically equates the depressive wolf to the riffraff causing a ruckus outside his hiding spot.
- Defector from Decadence: He defected from Senpou Temple when participating in murder and child experiments didn't sit well anymore with him. The Senpou Temple is actually hunting him down now.
- Due to the Dead: His ultimate goal is to pray at his son's tomb.
- Elites Are More Glamorous: His dialogue implies that the term "Blackhat" is actually a designation for a specific type of elite Assassin serving Senpou Temple.
- Expy: He's a "badger" who sells you things, has a grayscale name and a dead loved one, and he dies himself at the end of his questline. Doesn't that sound a lot like another slinking rodent we know?
- Go Out with a Smile: Dies while cracking a joke about how he's too weak to pass something on to Wolf. Because he spent his last moments fighting to protect a child from harm, though, he is overall satisfied with his lot in life.
- Hat Damage: Close inspection reveals that his kasa has several arrows with broken shafts stuck in it. Justified, as several Assassins are trained to use their reinforced kasa as shields.
- Ironic Nickname: When meeting him again at his son's grave, he'll recognize Wolf and call him "Chuckles" to represent the shinobi's shining and gregarious personality.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Rather than keep hiding during the Interior Ministry's final assault on Ashina Castle, Blackhat ends up jumping into the fray to protect a child; he manages to kill several Red Guard soldiers, but dies of his wounds shortly after Wolf encounters him one final time.
- Redemption Equals Death: For most of the game, Blackhat is primarily looking out for just himself, despite having cut his ties with Senpou Temple. However, after he sees the Red Guard attack a kid, he decides to do something that himself admits is "a little out of character" by jumping in to protect the child, likely out of a desire to atone for his role in Senpou Temple's countless atrocities. It gets him killed, but at least he finally saved a kid instead of helping to kill them...
- Sensing You Are Outmatched: Though he can more than hold his own against both his old comrades and the Nightjars, he has absolutely no desire to mess with the Tengu of Ashina, whom he fears wouldn't differentiate between a "rat" and a "badger", so he tries to stay as far away from the guy as possible.
- Tragic Keepsake: On the year of the Dragonspring Pilgrimage (the last known having been conducted three years ago), Badger had wrapped himself a white Mibu Balloon meant to ensure his child grows up healthy. He never got the chance to give it to the boy. He will entrust the balloon to Wolf in his last moments.
Jinzaemon Kumano
Voiced by: Fred Tatasciore (English)
"Ahhh... Ahhh... It truly... stirs my soul... Beautiful... And yet, somehow sad... As if it yearns, it calls for someone..."
An Ashina samurai guarding the moat who's become enticed by the sounds of a shamisen that only he can hear.
- Ambiguously Related: In the original Japanese, O'Rin of the Water refers to Jinzaemon as "ãã®å" (ano ko, "that child"), which often takes on a parental sense when used to refer to an adult male. Taken in consideration with the rather tender way O'Rin apparently treats him when they finally meet, the description of Jinzo's Jizo Statue, and the fact that he's the only one who can hear O'Rin playing even from miles away, there seems to be some sort of familial connection hinted between Jinzaemon, O'Rin, and the latter's beloved Lord Sakuza.
- Anime Accent Absence: Averted. He speaks Japanese with a western accent.
- Black Vikings: A black samurai, actually. His accent would seem to indicate that he's a foreigner, possibly from Africa, though it's also possible he's half-Japanese since it's implied that O'Rin is his mother.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: If he is lured to the Abandoned Dungeon, then he becomes one of Doujun's latest guinea pigs, gaining red eyes and attacking Wolf if they meet again.
- Curiosity Killed the Cast: He's curious about the shamisen he's been hearing for some time. If Wolf points him into the right direction, he dies after meeting O'Rin of the Water.
- Failure Is the Only Option: From the very start, it doesn't appear likely that Jinzaemon's quest to find the shamisen musician will end well. Sure enough, he will perish once he meets O'Rin of the Water. The only way the player can dissuade him from his quest is to lure him to the Abandoned Dungeon, where he suffers a worse fate at Doujun's hands. Even if O'Rin is defeated before he makes it to Mibu Village, he will blame Wolf for making the melody disappear and turn hostile, which means he'll likely be killed anyways. Slightly subverted should he find O'Rin, as despite dying he seems content with his fate.
- Hero of Another Story: He has no involvement with the main story of the game, and he reaches his destination without any real assistance from Sekiro. At most, Sekiro only gets in his way, either by inadvertently stalling Jinzaemon by afflicting him with Dragonrot, diverting him to Doujun, or killing O'Rin before the samurai reaches her.
- Martial Arts Headband: Wears a white hachi-gane with a metal plate protecting his forehead, and can more than handle himself in a sword fight.
- Moveset Clone: Fights in the same style as the armored Samurai Generals.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Inspired by Oda Nobunaga retainer and real life black samurai Yasuke
. - Red Eyes, Take Warning: He becomes a red-eyed crazed patient if Doujun experiments on him.
Fujioka the Info Broker
"I tell you, I don't understand what goes on in the mind of an honest samurai."
A merchant trapped within Ashina Castle. If Wolf dispatches of the Ashigaru preventing Fujioka from leaving, he will set up shop and sell his wares at the Dilapidated Temple.
- The Hedonist: Downplayed example. He doesn't understand why Hanbei is so tormented about his immortality, claiming that in the same situation he would just use it to have fun. Also, he left the Memorial Mob because he wanted to make money in a much more conventional way without any dreary obligations to the dead.
- Hidden Depths: Fujioka was originally a member of the Memorial Mob Merchants, but left when he got fed up with all the offerings and memorials.
- Hidden Heart of Gold: Despite his rather unsavory means of acquiring goods, his Rot Essence description describes him as a man who "cannot remove himself from compassion".
- Information Broker: In addition to regular items, he sells memos that lead to hidden upgrades and other such things, allowing him to function as a sort of Hint System. In fact, the very first thing he gives you is a note detailing the smoke signals used by the Nightjar.
- Robbing the Dead: Openly admits that he can't resist pilfering from dead bodies.
Isshin Ashina
Voiced by: Tetsuo Kanao (Japanese), André Sogliuzzo (English)
"They kill solely for the joy it brings them. I saw it in your eyes, too. The shadow of Shura."
The old patriarch of the Ashina clan. Twenty years ago, he rose to power by staging a coup against the warlords occupying his ancestors' lands, reestablishing the Ashina clan as a force to be reckoned with. Alas, his work is nearly undone by the time the game starts. Wolf can find him resting in one of the watchtowers of Ashina Castle and can ask his counsel on how to sever Kuro's ties of immortality.
- Amazon Chaser: Some of his lines imply he was quite enamored with Lady Tomoe, and not just out of respect for her swordsmanship. The way he reminisces about her eyes, for example, sounds like he's describing a long-lost lover.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Not just the leader of the Ashina clan, but also by far their mightiest warrior. He's so badass that the Ministry waited until he was 90 years old and on his death bed to even consider retaking the land of Ashina.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Isshin sees in Sekiro a possibly Worthy Opponent whom he would relish fighting a duel against. In all endings, he gets his opportunity, though not in ways he likes. Either because he realizes the Wolf is on his way to becoming a Shura and has to be slain, or because he is honor-bound to Genichiro's wish to revive Ashina even though Isshin views it as a dark and self-destructive path.
- Beergasm: Isshin loves his sake, and will happily chug down any booze that you bring him with raw enthusiasm.
- Big Good: He makes the plot of the game possible by sending Emma to secretly aid Wolf in his quest to free Kuro, and later helps them sever the bonds of immortality.
- Blood Knight: He hides it well, but Isshin loves a good fight. If you face Isshin, the Sword Saint, he absolutely relishes the chance to have a no-holds-barred duel with Wolf.
- Chekhov's Gunman: The first time Wolf meets him, it's as the masked man nicknamed the Tengu of Ashina. He's also the samurai who claims victory over General Tamura in the opening cinematic.
- Combat Pragmatist: The Ashina combat style he teaches Wolf is essentially just doing whatever works, and despite his title of "Sword Saint", he's totally willing to bring out a huge yari and a gun when he looks to be losing a sword fight. They're much more effective than his sword, in fact.
- Cool Helmet: During the opening CG cutscene, a younger Isshin is seen wearing a distinctive Samurai helmet with a golden crest.
- Cool Old Guy: Despite his respected status, Isshin acts friendly and casual to Wolf. Their first proper meeting begins with him requesting they share some sake first as a token of friendship. Isshin also bears no grudge against Wolf for fighting his wayward grandson.
- The Dreaded: His reputation is enough to scare the Interior Ministry from invading Ashina, but his old age and sickness have caused them to grow bolder in recent years.
- It is noted that this is even reflected in-game. When modders placed him from the Shura ending up against 15 red-eye buffed Red Guards, he beat them all.
- It is noted that this is even reflected in-game. When modders placed him from the Shura ending up against 15 red-eye buffed Red Guards, he beat them all
- Everyone Has Standards: He lives for the glory of battle, sought the most fearsome opponents to fight, and spent his entire life perfecting his combat skills with laser-focused dedication. But even Isshin knows how dangerous a Shura is, to the point where he will kill or cripple a respected friend just to prevent one from manifesting.
- Face Death with Dignity: When cut down at the end by Sekiro in his prime, he offers his neck to the blow and congratulates Sekiro on his victory.
- Final Boss: Regardless of which ending you're after, Isshin's your final obstacle.
- Founder of the Kingdom: He was the founder of Ashina's current domain, wrestled from the previous lord. Alas, he's lived long enough to see his domain collapse.
- Frontline General: In the opening cutscene, he's shown fighting General Tamura in one-on-one combat, eventually prevailing despite Tamura's larger size.
- Handicapped Badass: In all incarnations, he is missing an eye and has a very big and ugly scar on his lower stomach that suggests he was likely partially disemboweled in the past. None of these injuries hinder his speed, skill, or power.
- Implied Death Threat: While drinking Monkey Booze, Isshin will go into detail about its alternative name, "Shura's Wine", and what becoming a Shura exactly entails. He then mentions that he sees the potential in Wolf's eyes for becoming such a demon, and gravely warns the shinobi that he will cut him down if he gives him a reason to. Unless if Wolf shares Monkey Booze after rejecting Owl's commands, to which Isshin'll laugh it off and say he was mistaken, indicating that Wolf has successfully resisted the lure of becoming Shura.
- In Vino Veritas: Share a drink with him to learn more about Ashina's history and how life was like before the country's current fall from grace.
- Large and in Charge: It's hard to tell what Isshin's exact height is, given that most interactions involve him sitting down in his chambers. But encountering him as the Tengu of Ashina or as the final boss in the Shura ending indicates that Isshin is very tall.
- Life Will Kill You: As the invasion of Ashina by the Interior Ministry reached a full-on assault, Isshin evidently attempted to pick up a sword and defend his castle. Unfortunately, he collapsed and died before he could even descend the castle's main watchtower.
- Magically-Binding Contract: Being called back by the Black Mortal Blade binds him to Genichiro's final wish to save Ashina, meaning he must act to take Kuro and destroy Sekiro.
- Master Swordsman: He personally codified the entire Ashina style of swordfighting, inventing numerous techniques you can use like the Double Ichimonji. That said, his true weapons of choice are a large yari and a semi-automatic handgun, which he brings out for the second and third phases of his boss fight, making him much more dangerous than he was in the first.
- Meaningful Name: The kanji used to write Isshin's name literally translate as "One Mind", the name of his most finely honed sword technique. The term could also be considered equivalent to "no hesitation", describing his life's philosophy.
- Obfuscating Disability: Players learn about Isshin and his supposed weak state, but it is shown that he's remarkably healthy for someone whose grandson is a grown adult. He's still sick, though, and in the non-Shura routes, he dies from illness.
- Old Master: He is the founder of the current Ashina sword style, and has imparted his findings to his retainers. In fact, he even gives Wolf a scroll to learn the Ashina sword style too, while under the guise of the Tengu.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Isshin is well aware that using the Rejuvenating Waters will turn his family and military into demons and begs Genichiro not to use it. When Genichiro does use it and runs off to find the black Mortal Blade, Open Gate, he immediately informs Wolf on how to sever the Dragon's Heritage from Kuro. He also gives good advice to Wolf about morality and honor, and stays a helpful ally throughout the game. This also extends to the endings â in the Shura route, he attacks Wolf because he's giving in to his bloodlust, while in the other routes, he's honor-bound to fulfill his grandson's final wishes after the latter kills himself to resurrect Isshin at his prime.
- Rugged Scar: His left eye has been slashed across during the Ashina coup, leaving a vertical sword scar on his face.
- So Proud of You: Even though Genichiro is actively defying his wishes and going down a path Isshin would rather not take, there is a hint of pride in the old man's voice as he expresses that he expected nothing less from his own grandson.
- Title Drop: He's the only character to call the protagonist "Sekiro".
- To Absent Friends: Sharing Dragonspring Sake with Isshin will have him toast "to the fools" who have since passed away in the wake of Ashina's waning glory.
- Truth in Television: One of the heads of the Ashina clan was actually named Isshin. He even had a grandson named Genichiro. However, not only was he born after the Sengoku period, there's nothing mentioning him being a Sword Saint.
- Undignified Death: It seems so at first; in the non-Shura endings, he doesn't get to go out in a blaze of glory fighting off the Interior Ministry's invasion, instead dropping dead on the spot from his illness. Defied later when he is resurrected through Open Gate, and gets to experience the adrenaline-pumping, bare-knuckled finale he always wanted in his showdown against Wolf.
- World's Best Warrior: Isshin is the mightiest swordsman alive, despite being ancient and sickly. Just his very existence scares the Interior Ministry from trying to take Ashina's land. When revived in his prime, you see that it's not empty hype. The only one capable of overcoming him is Sekiro in an incredibly difficult battle.
- Worthy Opponent: He likes the idea of being able to make Wolf this, telling Emma that if Wolf were to master the techniques of the Mushin esoteric text that he would very much want to have a duel with the shinobi. Given that Isshin will always be the final boss, it's very possible to grant the old man his wish.
Hirata Estate
Pot Noble Harunaga
A merchant stuck in a pot by the river leading to the estate.
- Chekhov's Gunman: The Pot Noble is an odd figure; his sole visible feature is a blue-skinned, spidery arm that couldn't possibly be considered human, and he dreams of becoming an immortal carp. It is only upon reaching the Fountainhead Palace does his appearance and motivations make more sense.
- Creepily Long Arms: The only thing seen of him is one of his unnaturally long and thin arms with equally long and thin fingers reaching out from his pot to accept Treasure Carp Scales.
- The Exile: This... thing is far away from his home. According to Pot Noble Koremori, Harunaga was banished for attempting to kill the Great Colored Carp. Even now, he still has his sights set on amassing enough Treasure Carp Scales and poisoning the "master" to take its place.
- Global Currency Exception: He won't accept Sen like other merchants, but he will gladly trade for Treasure Carp Scales.
Gensai Nogami
A retainer for the Hirata who managed to survive the attack and is trying to figure out a way to get past a large group of bandits.
- Assist Character: His mechanical purpose is mainly to help the player by either dividing the big enemy group's attention, or distracting the area's boss, Juzou the Drunkard.
- The Cavalry Arrives Late: If the player doesn't talk to him before fighting the enemies up ahead and doesn't kite any of them back toward him, then upon the end of the battle, Gensai will take the opportunity to rush forward and declare himself, only to sheath his sword and say that the area looks clear.
- Dead All Along: In the second memory of the Estate, Gensai's body can be found among the corpses littering the area where Juzou and his cronies are hanging out.
- Expy: His attitude and gameplay purpose resembles Siegward from Dark Souls III â a Non-Player Character who's in over his head, trying to think through his situation, but is eager to rush in to his possible death the moment someone else comes along to help him in battle. And just like Siegward, he canonically doesn't survive.
- Incoming Ham: When he joins the fight, he runs up, raises his sword into a fighting stance, and proudly yells his name and intention before committing.
- Moveset Clone: His combat techniques are 100% identical to those of the "basic" Ashina Fencers.
- Name Order Confusion: For some reason, the English translation forgot to change his name to reflect Western naming order; "Nogami" is actually his surname, indicating that he's from the same clan as Inosuke.
Owl
Voiced by: Takaya Hashi (Japanese), Darin De Paul (English)
Wolf's adoptive father and master who taught him the shinobi arts.
- Almost Dead Guy: When found at the entrance to the Estate, he's been heavily injured and only holds on long enough to give Wolf a key and point him in the right direction. It's a trick, as he isn't actually wounded at all, which is why he tells Wolf to not bother to treat him.
- Animal Motif: Take a wild guess.
- Blind Obedience: Owl preaches this to Wolf, stating that his word is absolute as his father, and that his master's word is a close second.
- Braids of Action: His hair braids are so long they're almost touching the floor.
- Can't Hold His Liquor: Isshin can mention that, despite his size, Owl would turn red at the first drop of Dragonspring sake. It could be a jest, but its existence already indicates that Owl did not relatively hold his liquor well.
- Cool Old Guy: An elderly man even when he found Wolf as a kid, and eagerly took him in when Wolf showed no fear as a child.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: In the opening cinematic, he threatens a defenseless boy with his sword and gratuitously cuts his cheek. However, he then takes the boy under his care too, turning him into a master shinobi.
- Mentor Occupational Hazard: Owl is killed during the raid on the Hirata Estate.
- The Obi-Wan: Wolf's teacher and adopted father, who took him in as an orphan left in the aftermath of a battle. However, he tragically perishes during a bandit raid on the Hirata Estate.
- Stealthy Colossus: He is a ninja incredibly tall and huge.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Accidentally subverted. The one time he says his name, it's supposed to be cut off, but because names are said given-name-first in English and surname-first in Japanese, a fact carried into the different vocal tracks, it's possible to assemble his full name. In Japanese name order, it's Usui Ukonzaemon.
- You Got Guts: A young war orphan caught Owl's attention when he pointed a sword at him, refusing to flinch at the shinobi's provocation. The boy then grasped Owl's blade hard enough to draw blood, impressing Owl enough to adopt him.
Senpou Temple
Kotaro
A slow-witted monk seen weeping on the path leading to the temple grounds. Sad to be left behind, his ultimate fate will be determined by Wolf's actions.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Deconstructed. Anayama implies that he tried to attack the Interior Ministry troops extorting them both in self-defense, but they proved to be too strong for the unarmed, childlike ogre and cut him down with ease.
- Easy Level Trick: If you send him to Doujun, he retains his weakness to Divine Abduction. When he's fought later, it kills him instantly.
- Entertainingly Wrong: If sent to work for Anayama, he thinks the two of them are going around giving proper burials to the soldiers who were slain in battle, when they're really just looting corpses for things to sell.
- Friend to All Children: Is very affectionate to the ghost children in the Hall of Illusions, who evidently love him right back.
- Gentle Giant: Kotaro is basically a gentle version of the Taro Troops commonly seen throughout the game. He's mostly sad that he's been left behind, but warmly thanks Wolf for even attempting to help him find his "white flower".
- Hearing Voices: If Wolf sends him to the Hall of Illusions, he will mention that he's talking to the children kept at Senpou Temple, even though it is revealed that they all died. However, given that the Divine Child of Rejuvenation talks to them as well, it is likely that he's communicating with their ghosts. note
- Kill the Cutie
- It's possible to send him to the Abandoned Dungeon and become one of Doujun's experiments.
- Alternatively, if sent to work for Anayama, he will be killed fighting the Interior Ministry during their invasion.
- Kindhearted Simpleton: He's not too bright, like the rest of his brethren, but he's very gentle.
- Last Stand: Makes one to defend Anayama during the second Ministry invasion, should he have been sent to him earlier. It ultimately ends up only prolonging the inevitable.
- Nice Guy: He's shown to be utterly earnest and innocent, having nothing but kind things to say about everyone he meets.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Persimmons. He, like the other members of the Taro Troop, are practically raised on these, which is why they all know the best time to pick them. He gives you the unique item "Taro Persimmon".
Senpou Temple High Priest
The high priest of Senpou Temple, whom Wolf can only meet if he reaches the Temple before defeating Genichiro at Ashina Castle.
- The Atoner: He sincerely regrets how he and his fellow monks have strayed from Buddha's teachings and killed many children in their mad quest for immortality, and asks Wolf to give a special scroll to the Divine Child to show it.
- Body Horror: Not only does he look like a rotting corpse, he also has centipedes all over his body.
- Palette Swap: He looks identical to the other infested monks, only with a green robe.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: He disappears once you defeat Genichiro at Ashina Castle, with his scroll found at the bottom of a pond. Following the Divine Child's storyline reveals that he wandered into the caves and died.
Hall of Illusions Monk
The only monk in Senpou Temple who seems to have stayed true to the ways of the Buddha, he meditates alone in the Hall of Illusions.
- Hermit Guru: Meditates alone in the Hall, claiming that the quiet is close to nirvana in its own way. He's ready to give you guidance on how to escape the Hall and on the nature of it and its denizens, should you ask him.
- The Hermit: All in all he just wants to meditate in peace and quiet, and complains if you return to bother him.
- Heroic Build: He's really, really ripped, compared to the other Senpou monks.
- Token Good Teammate: One of the few monks in Senpou Temple who's not hostile to Wolf, he seemingly wants nothing to do with the temple's experiments on immortality, instead preferring the solace and quiet of the Hall.
Divine Child of Rejuvenation
Voiced by: Risa Shimizu (Japanese), Amber Hood (English)
"Please, forgive them. They only sought to keep me hidden. However, it seems it was not meant to be."
A young girl residing at Senpou Temple, she guards the Mortal Blade, but gifts it to Wolf when he asks for the weapon.
- Blind Seer: The agonizing process of becoming the Cradle for Kuro makes her blind. Wolf comments about her eyes the first time he sees her after she's finished processing the serpent hearts, and in the Return ending she leaves the temple marking her steps with a cane.
- Cast from Hit Points: The rice she can provide Wolf is implied to come from her blood.
- Children Are Innocent: She, just like Kuro, happens to be a child having a much more higher moral ground than the rest of the cast. Agreeing that the Dragon Heritage is causing unneeded violence, she immediately agrees to helps Wolf.
- Effective Knockoff: Her form of Immortality is artificially-induced by the monks of Senpou Temple, and judging by the item descriptions and similar-sounding title, she is meant to be an imitation of the Dragon's Heritage. However, she is just as capable as Kuro at completing an Immortal Oath with the Sakura Droplet, and she can even produce delicious rice.
- Good Thing You Can Heal: Being yet another immortal child, only she could possibly withstand consuming two hearts cut from the Great Serpents, which are noted to be highly toxic, to become a cradle for the Dragon's Heritage. That doesn't mean she is immune to their effects; after being given the two viscera to eat, she can later be heard writhing in agony behind closed doors.
- Green Thumb: Downplayed â her false Dragon Heritage allows her to gift a bountiful harvest, and her palms can spill nutritious grains of rice. Said rice will allow Wolf to recover Vitality upon consumption.
- Guide Dang It!: To even think of achieving the Dragon's Homecoming ending for the game requires a specific scroll to be given to the Child, while maintaining a hidden Relationship Value between her and Kuro, including a second one between the Child and Wolf. When the Child finally decides to be proactive, players must track down two "fruits" so the Child can consume and create the Frozen Dragon Tear for Kuro to use at the end of the game, leading to the aforementioned ending.
- Healing Hands: In an indirect manner, but the rice she produces from her hands grants a powerful regeneration buff when eaten, allowing Wolf to straight up face-tank attacks and still walk away with maxed-out health. Although you can only have one serving of Rice at a time, you can always come back to her and ask for more. If she becomes a suitable cradle for the Divine Heir, she can produce an even more potent healing item called "Fine Snow".
- Morality Pet: She becomes something of a secondary one for Wolf, who frequently shows compassion and concern for her, particularly if her side quest is completed. Fittingly, he goes on to become her retainer in the Dragon's Homecoming ending after she takes Kuro's soul into her body, and accompanies the Divine Child on her pilgrimage to the west.
- Recurring Element: Like Priscilla, Yorshka and the Painter, she's an strange but innocent girl hidden away in a hard-to-reach location who's strongly implied (or outright stated) to not be entirely human. Like the Painter, she also plays an important part in the ending.
- Sharing a Body: Achieve the Return Ending (also called Dragon's Homecoming) and the Divine Child will house Kuro's soul within her.
- The Shut-In: She's locked herself within the temple's Inner Sanctum out of hatred for the monks that forced immortality onto her. She only leaves in the Return Ending once she has Wolf to protect her.
- Sole Survivor: She is the last surviving child subjected by the Senpou Temple monks in their human experiments for the pursuit of Immortality with the Rejuvenating Waters.
- Sword of Plot Advancement: The Mortal Blade is necessary to advance the plot as it's the only weapon capable of destroying those with Immortality.
- Talking to the Dead: Pursue the Return Ending and the Child can be found in the Hall of Illusions where she's conversing with the children who didn't survive the monks' experiments. This will lead her to find a way to return the Dragon's Heritage rather than sever it from Kuro through death.
- Thermal Dissonance: Completing the questline required for the Dragon's Homecoming route will render her body so cold, her tears come out frozen solid. She also produces chilled rice from her palms instead, which the girl labels as "fine snow".
- This Cannot Be!: Her expression upon seeing Wolf come Back from the Dead after he unsheathes the Mortal Blade for the first time; thanks to Kuro's Dragon Heritage, Wolf can wield the sword.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Persimmon â the Divine Child of Rejuvenation adores it, openly describing how good they taste for her and requesting them as a gift. Wolf can give some to her.
- Video Game Caring Potential: You only need to give her one normal persimmon to advance her quest, but there's nothing stopping you from giving her more persimmons afterwards. You can even give her the unique, more potent (and tastier) "Taro Persimmon". Feeding these to her gives you no benefit except for extra dialogue, and you sacrifice posture healing items you could have used. On the other hand, the poor girl finally gets something tasty to eat and she's happy.
Abandoned Dungeon
Doujun
Voiced by: Fred Tatasciore (English)
A surgeon working for the Ashina who tasks Wolf with finding people to help him with his research.
- All for Nothing: In the end, his research is for naught and doomed to failure. In his madness, Doujun subjects himself to his own experiments, turning into a red-eyed warrior that, while formidable, is now locked in a feral state of mind and no longer capable of creating an army of super soldiers, which was the whole point of his research. And even if he had succeeded, said super soldiers he would have created are both weakened and frightened by fire, which the Interior Ministry employs ''en masse' in its own weaponry once it invades.
- Bald of Evil: During his final appearance, Doujun loses his hood and it is visible that he's bald.
- Bare-Fisted Monk: If he ends up fighting Wolf, he's shown to have pretty much the moveset of the monks from Senpou Temple, with palm strikes and wheel kicks.
- Boss in Mook Clothing: You had best not give him the red eyes or else...
- Evil Sounds Deep: "Dosaku" speaks in a cavernously deep growl, and is clearly the more evil of the two personalities.
- Expy: The Spear Counterpart of the imposter Iosefka from Bloodborne - a Non-Player Character who requests the protagonist direct other NPCs to their location for human experiments.
- Gollum Made Me Do It: Nearing the end of his NPC questline, Doujun is actually reluctant about carrying the research further (especially since he himself is going to be the one on the table). However, his Dosaku personality forces him to go through with it.
- Jekyll & Hyde: There never was a "Dosaku" in the cell behind Doujun; if he did exist, he had already died long ago. The Academic's Red Lump item description contains the interesting implication that Doujun ended up constructing his "master" in his insanity. After all, he needed a stronger personality to egg him on...
- Lightning Bruiser: He has the moveset of the Senpou Temple monks, yet due to the red eyes, he's much more durable than them.
- Mad Doctor: Not only is he undertaking gruesome experiments, he's also clinically insane and under the impression that his "master" isn't just himself speaking with a different voice.
- Obviously Evil: Players meet him in the unspeakably filthy Abandoned Dungeon, covered in blood and politely greeting Wolf in a Creepy Monotone. It doesn't get any better from there.
- Professor Guinea Pig: He eventually starts administering his new treatment on himself, though the Dosaku personality had to overpower the weaker Doujun first. He becomes an aggressive beast as a result and develops glowing red eyes.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Doujun eventually loses it from his experimentation, gaining glowing red eyes as he attacks Wolf if the two of them cross paths.
- The Rival: Not him, but according to the note written by his mentor, Dosaku called fellow surgeon Dogen a hypocritical quack for stealing away his students and refusing to dirty his hands with heretical research. If one subscribes to the theory that Dosaku was merely a persona created by Doujun, and that he fabricated Dosaku's Note in his delusions, then it would be in fact Doujun who broke away from Emma's adoptive father to set out on his own.
- Talking to Themself: His master Dosaku is either long dead, or never existed in the first place. However, Doujun continues to speak for both of them, deluding himself that Dosaku is still alive.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: As revealed in the prequel manga Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying, the goal of his research is to find a way to mass-produce the Rejuvenating Sediments so that the Ashina can have the strength to repel the Interior Ministry.
Mibu Village
Basket-wearer Shosuke
A resident of Mibu Village, Shosuke managed to regain his senses by sheer luck. Horrified by what has happened to the rest of the villagers, he hides himself in his house, pretending to be a basket.
- The Alcoholic: Sort of; the reason why he turned back to normal is because he drank so much sake he vomited out the tainted water that had turned everyone to monsters.
- And Then John Was a Zombie: Alas, his thirst eventually gets the better of him, and he becomes a monster again. Although he still retains enough of his senses to be an Apologetic Attacker.
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: The man literally wears a basket on his head like a hat.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: His attempt to disguise himself as a basket involves simply wearing a basket over his head and declaring himself to be one. Granted, the villages are mindless zombies, so it might actually work on them.
- Security Blanket: You guessed it, the basket. He agrees to talk to you on the condition that he gets to keep it on his head.
- You Monster!: Calls you a monster if you kill him after he becomes corrupted again.
Head Priest of Mibu
A hermit who has locked himself in his home from the rest of the villagers, the Head Priest continues to sip on his sake reserves.
- And Then John Was a Zombie: Giving him the key item "Water of the Palace" and the Head Priest will transform into a Fountainhead Palace Noble. You can then kill him to obtain 5 Treasure Carp Scales.
- The Alcoholic: Not only does he keep drinking sake, his house is loaded with jars upon jars of it.
- Madness Mantra: He believes imbibing on sake will allow him to ascend into a nobleman of Fountainhead Palace.
Inuhiko the Hunter
An unseen hunter who was untainted by the blight on Mibu Village
- All of the Other Reindeer: He was the village outcast and the head priest didn't approve of him since he liked eating wild animal meat and such, so he never gave him any of the sake. His house is as far away from the others as possible.
- Kill It with Fire: He figured out that the infected villagers fear fire, so he started burning pine resin to keep them away with the long lasting flames. You can find an upgrade item called "Pine Resin Ember" at his house, which is used to upgrade your Flame Vent.
- Posthumous Character: Presumably dead since he's nowhere to be seen. It's possible that he has holed up in his house, but the player will never know for sure.
- Last of His Kind: The long burning black pine resin from the forests around Mibu Village was once of great importance to the village as the flames acted as landmarks to find one's way. In time the villagers came to loathe the fire and the black pines were lost. Inuhiko was the last one keeping the long tradition of the flames alive, making him reviled by the community.
Fountainhead Palace
Great Colored Carp's Caretaker
One of the Fountainhead Palace noblemen who has become entranced by the Great Colored Carp and now does nothing but feed it, calling it his "master".
- I Die Free: If Wolf gives him the Great White Whisker after killing the Great Carp, he'll thank Wolf for letting him know that his duties are complete, and he'll be able to die knowing that his duties as a slave to the Great Colored Carp are over.
- Moveset Clone: He's one to the Chained Ogre, as you'll learn if you attack him. He even uses the Chained Ogre's voice clips in combat, which sound nothing at all like his normal voice.
- Together in Death: Fulfill his sidequest, and he and his two daughters will all pass away around the same time, freed from the shackles of the Fountainhead Palace.
- You Have Failed Me: It's implied the other noblemen killed the Caretaker if players killed the Great Colored Carp, despite it not being his fault.
Caretaker's Daughters
A pair of sisters in the Palace. One of them asks Wolf to help free their father from the Great Colored Carp's spell, while the other points Sekiro towards an alternate route into the Palace while asking Wolf to open the front door for her once he's inside.
- Never Mess with Granny: Despite her frail disposition, one of the sisters manages to slaughter a large number of Palace Nobles the moment Sekiro opens the gate to their palace grounds, albeit dying afterward herself because of the act's great toll on her body.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Once Wolf opens the palace door and rests at a Sculptor's Idol, one of the sisters will have stabbed all of the Palace Nobles inside to death as revenge for turning her father into one of them, screaming at them to give him back before dying herself. Notable in that she kills them so hard they no longer even respawn.
- Together in Death: The other sister mourns at her dead father's feet, telling him that both of his daughters will soon be together with him, and dies immediately afterwards.
- Token Human: The only two inhabitants of the Fountainhead Palace who are completely human, the rest being nothing but monsters.
- Younger Than They Look: They both appear to be quite old, but since the Palace Nobles can suck the youth out of people (including you if you let them), it's hard to say how old they actually are.
Pot Noble Koremori
Another odd merchant stuck inside a blue pot. He sells his wares on a cliff at the far side of the Palace. If you make small talk with him, he'll warn you not to trust the other Pot Noble, Harunaga.
- Creepily Long Arms: The only thing seen of him is one of his unnaturally long and thin arms with equally long and thin fingers reaching out from his pot to accept Treasure Carp Scales.
- Global Currency Exception: He won't accept Sen like other merchants, but he will gladly trade for Treasure Carp Scales.
- The Starscream: Considers Harunaga's attempted assassination on the Great Colored Carp to be deserving of punishment, yet his own ambitions flare up after Wolf buys enough of his wares. Believing he has collected enough for the complete transformation, he gives Wolf some poisonous slugs to feed to the Great Colored Carp and sends him on his merry way.
Others
Memorial Mob Merchants
- Where you find the departed, you'll find the Memorial Mob.
Setting up tents throughout the game, these merchants offer up their wares throughout Ashina.
- The Alcoholic: The Exiled Memorial Mob near Mibu Village is described by his Rot Essence as being "a drunk who has forgotten the sincerity of offerings".
- Due to the Dead: The wares they sell are meant as offerings for those who died on the battlefield. Smoldering incense sticks are set up around their tents to drive home the spiritual significance of this.
- Enlightened Self-Interest: The Memorial Mob in Sunken Valley warns you not to go into the cave next to him because it's extremely dangerous, and you can't buy from his shop if you're dead.
- Friend to All Children: If you have met the Divine Child of Rejuvenation, the Senpou Temple Memorial Mob will give you a Persimmon for free to give to her, before regretfully saying that he wanted to give one to each of the children but never got the chance.
- Everyone Has Standards: The one at the entrace to the Abandoned Dungeon shows noticeable distaste if you send Kotaro or Jinzaemon to Doujun, warning Wolf that this will come back to haunt him.
- Welcome to Corneria: The various Memorial Mob merchants are all voiced by different people, but they all have (almost) the same lines, as if their organization insists they stick to the script.
- What the Hell, Player?: The Dungeon Memorial Mob will call out Wolf's (or rather the player's) actions if he sent anyone to Doujun to be experimented on and tortured to death.
Dogen
Dogen was Emma's adoptive father, and mentored her (and Doujun) in medicine. He also was the creator of the Shinobi Prosthetic.
- Determinator: Despite the countless versions of the Shinobi Prosthetic he made that were total failures, he kept redesigning it over and over again until he finally made one that worked.
- Gadgeteer Genius: He is the creator of the Shinobi Prosthetic, which works as a grappling hook and can be fitted with a number of tools.
- Posthumous Character: Dogen is dead by the time the story starts.
- The Smart Guy: He was a peerless physician and also a gifted mechanist, seeing his work on the Gourd Seeds and the Prosthetic.
- Inconsistent Spelling: The English subtitles can't seem to decide whether his name is "Dogen" or "Dougen".
Tomoe
A swordswoman originally from the Divine Realm. Takeru's retainer and Genichiro's mentor.
- Ambiguously Human: Implied to be related to the Okami clan, which would mean she's at least partially a divine being. If nothing else her powers over Lightning were certainly mystical in nature, with Genichiro wielding a lesser version of them that she could teach.
- Bungled Suicide: She tried to kill herself to achieve Purification and free Takeru from the Dragon's Heritage, but the attempt ended in failure because she lacked the Mortal Blade which was hidden away by the Senpou Temple monks.
- Lady of War: A noble swordswoman from the Divine Realm who served in the court of Lord Isshin and taught Genichiro how to fight. Though Wolf never gets to meet her, it's evident that she was an extremely powerful warrior. Isshin himself says that Tomoe is the person who came the closest to killing him.
- Master Swordsman: All indications say that Tomoe was an extremely powerful swordswoman. She was so good that she nearly killed Isshin Ashina in his prime, and he remembers her fondly for the effort.
- The Mentor: She was the one who taught Genichiro his ability to harness Shock and Awe.
- Named After Somebody Famous: Most likely named after the famous swordswoman Tomoe Gozen from the Genpei War era.
- Posthumous Character: Has been dead for years.
- Signature Move: Floating Passage and, more prominently, the Lightning of Tomoe. Unusual examples in that we never see Tomoe herself use either move, but both Genichiro and the Okami warriors make use of them.
- Shock and Awe: Could imbue her sword with lightning from the air before firing it at her enemies as a Sword Beam. This technique, the Lightning of Tomoe, is used by all members of her clan as well as Genichiro, whom she personally trained.
- What Beautiful Eyes!: Isshin says that looking into her eyes made him feel like he was being drawn into the ocean.
- Worthy Opponent: Treating Isshin to the sake he gives you after you defeat Genichiro on top of Ashina Castle has him reveal, with utmost reverence, how Tomoe brought him closer to death than any other warrior ever had.
Takeru
The last person who was bequeathed the Dragon Heritage before Kuro.
- Named After Somebody Famous: Most likely named after Yamato Takeru of legend.
- Posthumous Character: Died years ago while severing himself from the Dragon Heritage.
- Small Role, Big Impact: Although Takeru died at severing the Dragon Heritage from himself, he left notes behind of the procedure. These letters and memos would make it to Kuro's hands while searching Ashina Castle's library, who is convinced of doing the same. Simultaneously, Takeru's notes can key in players at an alternative of severing the Dragon Heritage from Kuro without killing him.
Shuzen Tamura
The ruler of the previous clan to rule Ashina, he was killed by Isshin during the latter's coup.
- All There in the Manual: The manga Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying reveals that he was Hanbei's master.
- Cool Helmet: Wears a fancy helmet with particularly large fukigaeshi (the wing/ear-like projections on the side of a typical samurai helmet) and a unique crest that combines stylized antlers, an ornately decorated crescent, and a large disk.
- Cool Mask: His face is covered by a bright red menpÅ decorated with a mustache.
- Large and in Charge: Besides being the leader of the previous forces occupying Ashina, he's also a hulking giant who absolutely dwarfs Isshin despite the latter being fairly tall himself.
- Take Over the World: Downplayed. According to Sekiro Side Story, Tamura had ambitions to conquer all of Japan.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: Appears only in the introductory cutscene, where he is killed by Isshin after a brief but fierce duel, though he gets a little more screentime in the prequel manga.
Kingfisher
A rogue shinobi that has long passed.
- Action Girl: A skilled shinobi who trained with the Sculptor, and is confirmed to have been a woman by the description of the Slender Finger.
- BFS: The huge nodachi embedded in the Guardian Ape's neck presumably belonged to her, and presumably ended up there during her final battle against it. It's big enough that the giant ape itself can comfortably use it like a one-handed katana once its removed.
- Body Horror: Drilling a hole into your own finger just to use it as a whistle isn't exactly the sanest idea, even for a shinobi. Can't argue with the results, though.
- Brown Note: Knew the Finger Whistle technique, which can drive beasts mad. Wolf himself can obtain this technique by offering the Slender Finger to the Sculptor.
- The Lost Lenore: Is this to the Sculptor, who was her partner.
- Noodle Incident: Whatever happened between her and the Guardian Ape is never explained, but evidently ended with her being killed and eaten by it.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Like all other shinobi in the game, she is only referred to by an animal codename, which you learn from the description of the Malcontent's Ring.
- Posthumous Character: Long dead before the game begins. Wolf finds her remains in the belly of the Guardian Ape and can give the Slender Finger to the Sculptor for the Finger Whistle prosthetic tool.
- She's a Man in Japan: Sort of. While the item descriptions in all versions of the game explicitly refer to her as female, the pre-Patch 1.03 English translation had the Sculptor refer to her as male, even though he only uses gender-neutral terms in the original Japanese. Though the patch only changes the English subtitles, and the voiced line still refers to her as a man.
