Japan’s Prime Minister Weighs In on Assassin’s Creed Shadows Controversy

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Summary

  • Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba recently addressed concerns regarding a specific scene in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
  • The scene depicts Yasuke destroying Itatehyozu Shrine, a real-life location in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture.
  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows is scheduled to be released on March 20.

The debate over “Assassin’s Creed: Shadow” has caught the notice of Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, particularly due to the depiction of a Shinto shrine being desecrated within the game. The prime minister is proposing discussions with key government officials regarding appropriate reactions to this issue, which some view as one of the more contentious parts of “Assassin’s Creed: Shadow.

The video game titled “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” is set to launch on March 20th, but the pre-release phase has been marked by significant controversy. Disregarding the criticism about the title of Yasuke, one of the two protagonists in “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, the game has faced intense scrutiny for various reasons, ranging from alleged resemblances to the anime and manga series “One Piece” to doubts concerning its cultural accuracy.

A specific controversy surrounding the latest game, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” focuses on a scene where Yasuke demolishes Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture. This real-life shrine is under the jurisdiction of Hiroyuki Kada, a member of Japan’s House of Councillors. Concerned that the game might inspire actual vandalism and destruction of shrines, Kada posed a question to the prime minister about this issue, as reported by IGN. In response, Ishiba stated that such actions would be disrespectful to Japan’s culture and religion, emphasizing the importance of respecting these aspects when dealing with foreign countries.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Controversy Attracts the Japanese Prime Minister’s Attention

On multiple occasions, the game has sparked controversy even before its official launch. For instance, last May, the Wikipedia page for Yasuke was edited over fifty times in just one day by critics of the game who objected to the idea of a black samurai. Their argument stemmed from the depiction of Yasuke, despite historical records clearly indicating that he served as a member of daimyo Nobunaga Oda’s court.

Ubisoft Quebec’s development team has openly stated that their upcoming action RPG is a blend of fact and fiction based on late-16th-century Japan. To ensure authenticity, they have devoted significant effort to crafting an engaging narrative within an accurate historical context. Consequently, this commitment to detail has caused delays in the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as the developers have acknowledged that cultural and historical accuracy played a role in postponing its initial planned releases on November 15, 2024, and February 14, 2025.

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2025-03-19 21:55