Kunitsu-Gami's Genesis Unveiled in Traditional Japanese Bunraku

Capcom's new action strategy game, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, launched July 19th, and the company celebrated with a unique twist: a traditional Japanese Bunraku puppet theater performance. This innovative approach showcased both the game and Japan's rich cultural heritage to a global audience.

Capcom Showcases Kunitsu-Gami with a Bunraku Theater Production

Bridging Tradition and Gameplay: A Cultural Fusion

The National Bunraku Theater of Osaka, celebrating its 40th anniversary, created a special Bunraku show for the game's launch. Bunraku, a form of Japanese puppet theater featuring large puppets manipulated to a samisen (three-stringed lute) soundtrack, perfectly complemented the game's deeply rooted Japanese folklore themes. Custom puppets representing Soh and the Maiden, the game's protagonists, were created, brought to life by Master Puppeteer Kanjuro Kiritake in a new play, "Ceremony of the Deity: The Maiden's Destiny."

Kiritake commented on the collaboration, highlighting the shared Osaka origins of Bunraku and Capcom, and expressing the desire to share this art form with a wider global audience.

A Bunraku Prequel: Blending Tradition and Technology

The Bunraku performance serves as a prequel to the game's storyline. Capcom described the production as a "new form of Bunraku," seamlessly integrating traditional puppetry with cutting-edge CG backdrops from the game world itself. This fusion aimed to present the captivating world of Bunraku to a global audience, emphasizing the game's strong Japanese cultural influences.

Bunraku's Influence on Kunitsu-Gami's Development

Producer Tairoku Nozoe revealed that game director Shuichi Kawata's passion for Bunraku significantly shaped Kunitsu-Gami's development. The team drew inspiration from the movements and direction of Ningyo Joruri Bunraku, even before the collaboration with the National Bunraku Theater was finalized. Nozoe emphasized that Bunraku elements were already integral to the game's design. A shared experience of a Bunraku performance solidified their decision to collaborate.

Set on the defiled Mount Kafuku, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess challenges players to purify villages by day and protect the Maiden at night, utilizing sacred masks to restore balance. The game is available now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles, and is included with Xbox Game Pass. A free demo is also available across all platforms.