The Prime Minister of Japan Responded to a Question About Assassin’s Creed Shadows Today

Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, addressed concerns about Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows during an official government conference. Contrary to some reports suggesting a strong criticism of the game, the situation is less contentious. IGN, in collaboration with IGN Japan, provided an accurate translation and context to clarify the exchange.

Ubisoft has issued multiple apologies leading up to the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, particularly regarding elements of the game and its marketing that have caused upset in Japan. The developer acknowledged that despite collaborating with historians and consultants, some promotional materials have raised concerns among the Japanese community. Additionally, Ubisoft apologized for using a flag from a Japanese historical re-enactment group in promotional artwork without permission. Collectible figure maker PureArts also withdrew a Shadows statue from sale due to its controversial depiction of a one-legged Torii gate, which holds significant meaning at the Sannō Shrine in Nagasaki.

The question about Assassin's Creed Shadows was posed by Hiroyuki Kada, a Japanese politician and member of the House of Councillors. Kada expressed concerns that the game's depiction of attacking real-world locations might inspire similar actions in reality, particularly worrying shrine officials and local residents. He emphasized the need to respect local cultures while acknowledging the importance of freedom of expression.

Prime Minister Ishiba responded by emphasizing the need for legal discussions with various ministries, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He stated that defacing a shrine is unacceptable and likened the importance of respecting cultural and religious customs to the training given to the Self-Defense Forces deployed to Iraq.

The context of this exchange is important. Japan has seen a surge in overseas visitors post-COVID, coupled with concerns about "over tourism" and increased vandalism. Kada linked his concerns about Shadows to these broader issues, suggesting that in-game actions might encourage real-life misconduct. The specific shrine mentioned in Shadows gameplay videos, Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, is within Kada’s constituency, and he noted that Ubisoft did not seek permission to use its likeness.

While Masaki Ogushi, Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, mentioned that government agencies would handle matters if the shrine sought consultation, the response was vague and likely won't lead to specific actions, especially since Ubisoft has already addressed these concerns with a day-one patch. This patch, announced in Japan, will make certain in-game shrine elements indestructible and reduce depictions of bloodshed in shrines and temples, as well as remove blood effects when attacking unarmed NPCs. Ubisoft's western operation has yet to confirm these changes.

Amidst Ubisoft's global pressures following delays and the commercial failure of Star Wars Outlaws, Assassin's Creed Shadows faces high expectations. IGN's review of the game gave it an 8/10, praising it as one of the best iterations of the series' open-world style.

Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, responded to a question about Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images.