Chinese gamers applaud Onmyoji tour

This second edition has a young Japanese cast, under the stewardship of director Nobuhiro Mouri, composer Sahashi Toshihiko and choreographer Shinnosuke Yamamoto.

Dressed in a traditional Japanese style that draws on elements from the Kimono and Samurai armor, the actors dance, sing and fight, bringing the game characters to life.

The songs and dialogue of the musical are performed in Japanese, but Chinese translations are projected onto screens beside the stage.

During the musical's Shanghai performance, the majority of the audience were devoted gamers, including people who had traveled from Japan, with some cosplayers attending the performances as their favorite characters.

Xiao Yugan, 23, is a graphic designer in Shanghai, and playing the game is one of her favorite pastimes. She usually plays Onmyoji for two to three hours after work, and spends more than 1,000 yuan ($145) per month on the game.

"When I knew the musical was coming to Shanghai, I bought my ticket as soon as online sales began," she says. "I didn't get the best seat, however, because they sold out almost straight away."