Throne of Blood - Characters & Cast

Initially content, his motivation shifts to ambition and self-preservation, driven by his wife's cunning and his own growing fear and paranoia. He kills not just to gain power, but to prevent the prophecies about others from coming true and to eliminate anyone he perceives as a threat.

Washizu begins as a brave and loyal samurai commander. After hearing the spirit's prophecy, he is manipulated by his wife's ruthless ambition. He murders his lord, seizing power, but is immediately consumed by paranoia and guilt. His arc is a downward spiral of increasing violence and madness, as he betrays and murders his allies to protect his position, ultimately becoming a feared tyrant who is destroyed by the very men he commands.

Her motivation is pure, unadulterated ambition for power, both for her husband and herself. She sees the prophecy as a path to greatness and is willing to achieve it by any means necessary, showing no remorse until her mind finally breaks.

Asaji is ruthlessly ambitious and calculating from the start. She is the primary catalyst for Washizu's downfall, masterfully manipulating his fears and desires. She appears strong and unwavering as she plots murder. However, her steely resolve eventually cracks under the weight of her guilt, leading to a complete mental breakdown where she is haunted by the blood on her hands, culminating in a stillbirth and madness.

Miki is motivated by loyalty and honor. He is a steadfast friend and a dutiful samurai, representing the noble path that Washizu could have followed.

Miki is Washizu's loyal friend and fellow commander who also receives a prophecy. Unlike Washizu, he remains honorable and does not act on the prediction that his son will one day rule. He remains loyal to Washizu even when others suspect foul play. His arc is tragic, as his loyalty and trust are betrayed by Washizu, who, consumed by paranoia, has him murdered. Miki returns as a ghostly apparition to haunt Washizu at a banquet.

Her motivation is enigmatic. She appears to be a malevolent or at least indifferent force, an embodiment of fate that reveals the dark potential within humanity. She does not command the characters to act, but merely plants the seeds of ambition and watches the ensuing chaos.

The spirit is a supernatural entity who appears to set the tragedy in motion. She doesn't have a developmental arc but serves as a catalyst. She delivers prophecies that prey on the ambitions of mortals. She reappears later to offer Washizu a second, more cryptic prophecy that bolsters his confidence but ultimately seals his doom.