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

Capcom has unveiled a captivating traditional Japanese theater performance to celebrate the launch of its new game, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, and to showcase Japan's rich cultural heritage to a global audience.

Capcom Celebrates Launch of Kunitsu-Gami with Traditional Japanese Theater Performance

Hopes to Highlight Kunitsu-Gami's Cultural Appeal Through Traditional Arts

Bunraku, a revered form of traditional puppet theater, features large puppets that enact narratives accompanied by the music of the samisen, a three-stringed Japanese lute. This performance served as a tribute to the new game, which is deeply rooted in Japanese folklore. Special puppets were crafted to represent Soh and the Maiden, the protagonists of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. Master Puppeteer Kanjuro Kiritake brought these characters to life in a new play titled "Ceremony of the Deity: The Maiden's Destiny," using traditional Bunraku techniques.

"Bunraku is an art form that was born and raised in Osaka, just like how Capcom has continued to nurture this same land," Miritake said. "I felt a strong connection with the idea of sharing and spreading our efforts further, beyond Osaka, to the rest of the world."

National Bunraku Theater Performs Kunitsu Gami's Prequel Program

The Kunitsu Gami Bunraku performance serves as a prequel to the game's events. Capcom described this theatrical performance as a "new form of Bunraku," blending "tradition with new technology," with performances set against computer-generated (CG) backdrops of the game world.

In a statement made on July 18, Capcom expressed its intention to deliver the captivating world of Bunraku to global audiences by leveraging its reach and premiering a significant theatrical performance. The company aimed to highlight the Japanese cultural appeal of the game through traditional arts.

Kunitsu Gami is heavily inspired by Bunraku

Producer Tairoku Nozoe shared in a recent interview with Xbox that the concept for Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess was influenced by game director Shuichi Kawata's passion for Bunraku.

Nozoe also revealed that the team drew significant inspiration from the direction and movements of "Ningyo Joruri Bunraku" Japanese puppet theater. Even before discussing the collaboration, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess was "already heavily infused with elements of Bunraku," the producer noted.

"Kawata is a fervent fan of Bunraku, and his enthusiasm led us to attend a performance together. We were both deeply moved by the performance, and it made us realize that such a fascinating art form existed out there, convincingly withstanding the test of time," Nozoe shared. "This inspired us to reach out to the National Bunraku Theatre."

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is set on Mt. Kafuku, a mountain once blessed by nature but now corrupted by a dark substance known as the "defilement." Players must purify the villages during the day and prepare to protect the revered Maiden at night, using the land's remaining sacred masks imbued with remaining power to restore peace.

The game officially releases on July 19 for PC, PlayStation consoles, and Xbox consoles, and will be available at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass subscribers at launch. A free demo of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is also available across all platforms.