Japanese Myth Reimagined: Bunraku Unveils Kunitsu-Gami's Origins

Capcom has debuted a traditional Japanese theater show about its game, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, to celebrate its launch and showcase Japan's cultural heritage, along with the deeply Japanese-inspired game, to a global audience.

Capcom Celebrates Launch of Kunitsu-Gami with Traditional Japanese Theater PerformanceHopes to Highlight Kunitsu-Gami's Cultural Appeal Through Traditional Arts

Capcom celebrates the July 19th launch of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, its new Japanese folklore-inspired action strategy game, with a traditional Japanese "Bunraku" theater show. Capcom released a video performance by the National Bunraku Theater, an Osaka-based company celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Bunraku, a form of traditional puppet theater where large puppets act out a narrative to the accompaniment of a small 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. Using traditional techniques from Bunraku artists, Master Puppeteer Kanjuro Kiritake brought these characters to life in a new play titled "Ceremony of the Deity: The Maiden's Destiny."

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

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

Kunitsu Gami is heavily influenced by Bunraku

Producer Tairoku Nozoe said in a recent interview with Xbox that it was during the development of the concept for Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess when game director Shuichi Kawata shared his passion for Bunraku with him.

Nozoe also revealed that the team was heavily inspired by 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 said.

"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 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 the 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.