Kunitsu-Gami's Prequel Shown Through Traditional Japanese Bunraku Theater

Capcom's new action strategy game, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, launched July 19th, celebrated its release with a unique collaboration: a traditional Japanese Bunraku puppet theater performance. This event aimed to showcase 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, provided a captivating backdrop for the game's narrative. Custom puppets representing Soh and the Maiden, *Kunitsu-Gami's* protagonists, were crafted, brought to life by Master Puppeteer Kanjuro Kiritake in a new play, "Ceremony of the Deity: The Maiden's Destiny."

Kiritake highlighted the connection between Osaka's Bunraku tradition and Capcom's roots in the same region, expressing a desire to share this art form globally.

A Bunraku Prequel: Unveiling the Game's Lore

The Bunraku performance serves as a prequel to the game's story, blending traditional Bunraku with modern CG backdrops depicting the game world. Capcom's July 18th statement emphasized its goal of introducing Bunraku to a wider audience, using this performance as a testament to the game's Japanese cultural influences.

Bunraku's Deep Influence on Kunitsu-Gami

Producer Tairoku Nozoe explained that game director Shuichi Kawata's passion for Bunraku heavily influenced the game's development. Nozoe revealed that the game's design, even before the collaboration, incorporated many Bunraku elements, inspired by the puppet theater's unique movements and staging. A shared experience of a Bunraku performance solidified their decision to partner with the National Bunraku Theater.

Set on Mt. Kafuku, a once-sacred mountain now corrupted, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess tasks players with purifying villages and protecting the Maiden, utilizing sacred masks to restore balance. The game launched July 19th on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles, also available on Xbox Game Pass. A free demo is available across all platforms.