Japan’s Prime Minister ‘Will Not Tolerate’ Shrine Destruction in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

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Tomorrow, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be released for public purchase, and there’s ongoing debate within the Japanese government about potentially addressing certain game scenes on a legal front. The contentious elements of Assassin’s Creed Shadows include Yasuke, an African samurai character, who is depicted as desecrating and damaging shrines. This action has sparked strong criticism from the Japanese public.

During a recent discussion on diet-related matters, the Japanese government, led by Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, raised the issue of how to address the controversial scenes featured in the game “Assassin’s Creed: Shadow.

‘The Assassin’s Creed Issue’

A report shared by Dexerto, originally published by ITMedia, outlines a debate that took place within the Diet, focusing on the legal status of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Hiroyuki Kata, as a member of the Liberal Democrats, voiced worries regarding the “Assassin’s Creed matter,” specifically referencing scenes in the video game where Yasuke wreaks havoc on a sacred temple.

I’d like to ask about the Assassin’s Creed issue.

In this game, the main character, a samurai, destroys drums, mirrors of reverence, and altars within a shrine’s sanctum, bearing its actual title. He slices through individuals resembling priests, fires arrows, and partakes in various acts of violence. Upon inquiry, the head priest revealed that the game developers had not sought their permission to use the shrine’s name.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but express my concern about the ongoing situation in Japan. Authorities are closely monitoring the landscape, demonstrating their intense interest in preventing potential replications of attacks on shrines nationwide. Moreover, the government is vigilantly watching over the impact of tourism, fearing that the popularity of Assassin’s Creed Shadows could lead to an influx of visitors, potentially overwhelming these sacred sites and causing environmental degradation.

Ishiba Shigeru, Japan’s Prime Minister, had some tough words on the matter:

It is absolutely unacceptable to graffiti a shrine. It is nothing but an insult to the country.

Showing reverence for a nation’s culture and faith is only fitting, and I firmly believe it’s crucial to convey that such disrespectful behaviors are unacceptable – be it cultural or religious insensitivity; this stance won’t waver.

The lobby expressed concern over the portrayal of Japanese culture and infrastructure destruction in this game, stating that such actions were not feasible in earlier versions. They haven’t outlined specific plans beyond keeping an eye on the matter, but it was pointed out that the Prime Minister’s stern remarks do not necessarily signal additional action.

In the past, there were a lot of questions surrounding whether or not Yasuke truly existed within the world of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, as some gamers pointed out his questionable historical validity and the possible inaccuracies in his portrayal. I, too, found myself questioning how authentic he was.

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2025-03-19 18:18