Ubisoft’s newly released Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, the latest instalment in the action game franchise, is facing a controversy in Japan. The controversy surrounding the new game has garnered the attention of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. He stated that the country “will not tolerate any acts” of cultural disrespect in the game and has called for discussions with other top government officials. This statement follows backlash over the game’s portrayal of a real-life Shinto shrine. Early previews of the game, set during the Sengoku period of 15th and 16th century Japan, have been criticized for alleged historical inaccuracy and cultural insensitivity.
What is the controversy around Assassin’s Creed Shadows and what Japan PM said
The controversy arose after a promotional video depicted players in the game demolishing the interior of Itatehyozu Shrine, a real shrine in Himeji City, Japan. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, Ishiba addressed the controversy while replying to a question from lawmaker Hiroyuki Kada of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who represents Hyogo Prefecture, regarding the government’s position on the game’s unauthorised use of a shrine’s name.
In a statement delivered at the upper house of Japan’s parliament, Ishiba said: “It is natural to have respect for the culture and religion of a country, and it is important to send out the message that we will not tolerate any acts that do not respect the culture and religion of a country. In the worship hall of the shrine, which appears in the game under its real name, the protagonist, a samurai, smashes drums, sacred mirrors and an altar. Graffiti on shrines is out of the question. It is nothing but an insult to the country.”
As per a report by IGN, the developer may release a day-one patch to address concerns by making in-game shrine tables and shelves indestructible and reducing depictions of bloodshed within these locations.
Apart from this, the game also features Yasuke, a historical figure often celebrated as the first samurai of African descent. However, little historical evidence exists about his life or whether he was truly considered a samurai. Yasuke is believed to have arrived in Japan from Mozambique with Portuguese priests around 1580 and later served Oda Nobunaga, a key figure in Japan’s unification. The choice to make Yasuke the game’s protagonist has also faced criticism, with some arguing that a foreigner should not lead a story centred on Japanese history.
In July 2024, the Assassin’s Creed Shadows development team apologised in Japanese and English on social media platform X (earlier Twitter), clarifying that the game is not intended as a factual historical portrayal.
