Muramasa: The Demon Blade’s Creator Says The Game’s Setting Was Inspired By Kabuki

Muramasa: The Demon Blade originally released for the Wii back in Japan in April of 2009, featuring stunning visuals heavily-influenced by Japanese mythology. In a recent interview with Glixel, Muramasa’s creator George Kamitani discussed the various concepts which influenced the game, from kabuki theatre to Edo-period block prints. You can read Kamitani’s full commentary below:  

“I had consecutively done fantasy titles so I wanted to do something different. The concept for Muramasa: The Demon Blade came from the idea of presenting a ‘ninja Princess Crown’ concept to the person who created the arcade game Ninja Princess at Sega. The story for Odin Sphere was inspired by Shakespearean theatre so if I was going to make a Japanese version, I felt that the setting should be inspired by kabuki, so I collected a lot of kabuki scripts. I also referenced a lot of Japanese classical literature, but the old language was very difficult. And I was somewhat nervous to use Japanese mythology, so there’s more Buddhist theology in the game. Visually, I was influenced by block prints from the Edo period, and I imitated the ink-wash painting style using bright, vibrant colors. I was also influenced by the classic Manga Nippon Mukashi Banashi anime where there’s a certain comical element to the background. I tried to create an authentic environment that’s different from a realistic style.”

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is available in Japan for Wii and on the Nintendo Wii U eShop.