Did Ghost of Tsushima Secretly Set Up Ghost of Yōtei?

We break down the hidden connection between the Six Blades of Kojiro quest in Ghost of Tsushima and the story of Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei. Discover how this mythic tale mirrors the journey of the upcoming PlayStation 5 sequel, with thematic parallels, character echoes, and narrative setup you may have missed.

In a Game Informer interview, Ghost of Yōtei game directors Nate Fox and Jason Connell state that the game is very much its own story and a spiritual sequel to Ghost of Tsushima. 

Yōtei may not be tied to the first game as far as we know, but I want to share at least one interesting similarity between the two games. 

It’s Ghost of Tsushima’s 5th anniversary, so check out our other video essays covering Jin Sakai’s turning point and tragedy. 

Now, in Ghost of Yōtei, a lone warrior named Atsu rises from tragedy and becomes a full-fledged spectre of vengeance. But what if her journey was foreshadowed all along in Ghost of Tsushima?

One mythic tale from the original game, The Six Blades of Kojiro, might be the blueprint for Atsu’s transformation into the Onryō, a fearsome female spirit of revenge. Let’s explore how a hidden gem from Ghost of Tsushima could illuminate Atsu’s future, drawing eerie and powerful parallels between two tragic warriors.

I Am Vengeance (What is Ghost of Yōtei about?)

Set in 1603, just after Japan’s unification, Ghost of Yōtei unfolds in the wild north, a lawless Ezo where Atsu, a wandering warrior, is on a revenge quest in the shadow of Mount Yotei. 

In a previous interview with Variety, game directors Fox and Connell mentioned that the game is heavily inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s "Yojimbo", capturing the tone of a lone sellsword caught between chaos and morality.

Connell emphasises that Atsu is an underdog, someone you wouldn’t expect to be powerful.

Yet, she carves a path of destruction and justice, earning the title of the Onryō, a vengeful spirit from Japanese folklore; a ghost born of unresolved trauma and wrath. 

A reputation that positions Atsu as both the hunter and the haunted. 

The Six Blades of Kojiro (What is an Onryo?)

Back in Ghost of Tsushima, Jin undertakes a mythic tale called "The Six Blades of Kojiro," a side quest that at first seems like a simple combat challenge.

Jin tracks down five deadly ronin, each encounter marked by eerie silence and a violent intensity. Only after defeating them does he finally confront Kojiro. 

Kojiro was once a Straw Hat ronin so feared and bloodthirsty that even his comrades turned against him. After slaughtering dozens, maybe hundreds of them in a single day, it’s claimed the spirits of death blessed his armour and granted him a tireless sword arm.

While Onryo are mostly depicted as female, there are also male versions, although less common. In the final confrontation with Jin, Kojiro embraces his legend as a demon. 

Their duel ends with Jin victorious, bringing Kojiro’s reign of terror to a close.

This quest marks Jin’s passing into legend and maybe foreshadows Atsu’s own transformation.

Becoming Legend (How is Atsu related to Jin Sakai?)

Set about 300 years apart, The Six Blades of Kojiro and the Ghost of Yōtei feel like narrative echoes. Two story arcs, defined by combat, vengeance, and transformation. 

In Ghost of Tsushima, Jin hunts down five masterless ronin, straw hat assassins, each shaped by a different school of combat. These duels act as a crucible, refining his technique and pushing him further from the samurai code. By the time he faces Kojiro, Jin has become something darker, a warrior feared by friend and foe alike.

This mirrors Atsu’s journey in Ghost of Yōtei. She tracks down the Yōtei Six, outlaws who murdered her family, and with each victory, grows more lethal, more mythic. Her legend isn’t forged in honour, but in retribution.

The Six Blades of Kojiro and the Yotei Six. Coincidence?

As you can see, like Ghost of Yōtei, The Six Blades of Kojiro is more than just a mythic tale. It’s a Ghost story.

And maybe that’s the point, that every Ghost is born of pain and destined to be misunderstood. 

Jin was a samurai forced to abandon his code. Atsu never had one to begin with. 

Kojiro was a warning. And Atsu? Atsu is the answer.

Jin was the first Ghost. Kojiro, the first Onryō. Atsu may be the fusion of both.

If you’re as excited about Ghost of Yōtei as we are, be sure to subscribe and stay notified. And if you want more deep dives, check out our full Ghost of Tsushima playlist to explore every turn of Jin Sakai’s journey.

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