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, and was celebrated with a unique theatrical event. To showcase both the game and Japan's rich cultural heritage to a global audience, Capcom commissioned a traditional Bunraku puppet theater performance from the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka.

This captivating Bunraku show, a prequel to the game's storyline, features specially crafted puppets representing the game's protagonists, Soh and the Maiden, in a production titled "Ceremony of the Deity: The Maiden's Destiny." Master Puppeteer Kanjuro Kiritake brought these characters to life using classic Bunraku techniques, set against stunning computer-generated (CG) backdrops from the game itself. This innovative fusion of tradition and technology creates a "new form of Bunraku," according to Capcom.

The collaboration wasn't a random choice. Game director Shuichi Kawata's passion for Bunraku deeply influenced the game's development, inspiring the team's artistic direction and even influencing the game's mechanics. Producer Tairoku Nozoe described Kunitsu-Gami as already "heavily infused with elements of Bunraku" before the collaboration began. The shared experience of witnessing a Bunraku performance solidified their decision to partner with the National Bunraku Theater.

This theatrical production serves as a powerful testament to the game's deep roots in Japanese folklore and aims to share the captivating world of Bunraku with a global audience. The game itself, set on the corrupted Mount Kafuku, tasks players with purifying villages and protecting the Maiden, utilizing sacred masks to restore balance. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is available now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles, including Xbox Game Pass. A free demo is also available on all platforms.