Japanese Politician Launches Investigation into Assassin's Creed Shadows!

Japanese politician Satoshi Hamada recently signaled that Ubisoft’s upcoming game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, could be brought before the Japanese Diet for altering the country’s history and promoting the story of Yasuke. Using DeepL to translate, Hamada wrote on X, “Request for Opinions: We have received a consultation regarding the alteration of Japanese history by a French game company. We share the consultation below with images. We have also quoted a post that we believe points out the problem with the game in question. We would be happy to receive your comments and suggestions, including specific requests.”

The referenced petition called the game “a serious insult to Japanese culture and history and can lead to racism in Asia.” It urged Ubisoft to immediately discontinue the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows and show sincere research and respect for Japanese history and culture. This petition has received over 81,000 signatures.

Ubisoft Japan also issued an apology for using the back flag of the Sekigahara Teppo Corps without the reenactment group’s permission. The flag was shown in a promotional video for the game, as noted by former World of Warcraft Team Lead Mark Kern. Ubisoft Japan apologized for using the flag without permission earlier this week. They wrote on X, “We have received notice that two pieces of concept art previously released for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows use the flag of the Sekigahara Battlefield Hospitality Union ‘Sekigahara Rifle Corps’ without permission. The group gave us the opportunity to apologize, and it was accepted.” The company added, “The art in question will not be used or distributed any further beyond this date, except for being included in the artbook in the Collector’s Edition. We deeply apologize for this matter.”

Hamada also indicated in a subsequent message that he would potentially investigate the historical accuracy of Yasuke. He wrote, “Thank you for your many comments about the new ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series of games set in Japan. In relation to the above, we received a consultation from another person about cultural theft and cultural invasion regarding ‘Yasuke,’ a black man who served Nobunaga Oda. We share the content of the consultation with you.”

Consequences for Ubisoft

If Hamada brings these concerns before the Japanese Diet, the consequences for Ubisoft could be significant. Potential outcomes include:

Legal Action: The Japanese government could impose fines or sanctions on Ubisoft, leading to financial losses and legal battles.
Market Impact: Negative publicity could harm Ubisoft’s reputation, leading to decreased sales and trust issues among players.
Cultural Sensitivity: Ubisoft might need to revise the game’s content to align with historical accuracy and cultural sensitivity, causing delays in the game’s release.
Community Backlash: Gamers and cultural advocates might boycott Ubisoft’s products, further impacting sales and brand loyalty.
What do you make of Hamada receiving these consultations and contemplating bringing them up in front of the Diet? Share your thoughts in the comments below!