Japan Leader Revises Stance on Assassin's Creed Shadows

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed a question regarding Assassin’s Creed Shadows during an official government conference. While some sources suggested the Prime Minister criticized Ubisoft’s feudal Japan-themed game over its portrayal of shrines, the reality is far less contentious.

IGN, through its IGN Japan team, obtained the original question and response to ensure not only an accurate translation but also proper contextual understanding of the situation. Ubisoft has also been contacted for comment.

For context, Ubisoft has issued multiple apologies leading up to the repeatedly delayed launch of Shadows, addressing elements of the game and its marketing that have drawn criticism within Japan.

Many voiced concerns about historical inaccuracies in the game's depiction of feudal Japan, prompting the development team to issue an apology and clarify that the game is not meant as a factual retelling of history, but rather as “compelling historical fiction.”

Ubisoft also highlighted its work with external consultants and historians. However, the company stated: “Despite these ongoing efforts, we recognize that certain aspects of our promotional content have caused distress among the Japanese community. We sincerely apologize for this.”

Another issue emerged when the developer included a flag from a Japanese historical reenactment group in Assassin's Creed Shadows promotional artwork without authorization. Ubisoft later apologized for this oversight.

Separately, collectible figure manufacturer PureArts withdrew an Assassin’s Creed Shadows statue from sale due to its depiction of a one-legged Torii gate, which some considered disrespectful. Torii gates mark the transition from the mundane to the sacred at Shinto shrines throughout Japan. The one-legged Torii design holds particular meaning, most famously seen at the Sannō Shrine in Nagasaki—located just 900 meters from the hypocenter of the WWII atomic bomb that claimed more than 60,000 lives.

Against this backdrop, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is launching amid controversy not only in Japan but also among some Western fans concerned with its representation of the country.

The question concerning the game was raised by Hiroyuki Kada, a Japanese politician and member of the House of Councillors, who is campaigning for re-election this summer. He stated:

“I am concerned that allowing players to attack and destroy real-life locations in the game without permission could inspire similar actions in reality. Shrine caretakers and local residents share this apprehension. While freedom of expression is important, actions that belittle local cultures should be avoided.”

Prime Minister Ishiba responded:

“We must consult with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on how to legally address this matter.

“Defacing a shrine is completely unacceptable—it is an affront to the nation itself. During the Self-Defense Forces' deployment to Samawah, Iraq, we ensured they were educated in Islamic customs beforehand. Respecting a country's culture and religion is essential, and we must clearly state that we will not tolerate actions that disregard them.”

These are accurate translations of the exchange, but what is the wider context? Our colleagues at IGN Japan provided additional insight.

It's important to understand that Japan has experienced record numbers of international tourists since reopening its borders after the pandemic, aided by a weaker yen. In the budget meeting, Hiroyuki Kada linked his criticism of Shadows with concerns over what he termed “over-tourism” and a perceived increase in vandalism and graffiti across the country.

He contends that if players can damage temples or attack individuals with katanas in the game, they may be encouraged to do the same during real-life visits to Japan—echoing long-standing arguments linking games like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto to real-world violence.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba affirmed that he would oppose such actions if they occurred in real life—though the “if” here carries significant weight. His remarks were directed at hypothetical copycat behaviors, rather than the game itself.

The shrine shown being vandalized in online Shadows gameplay footage is the Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, which lies within Kada’s electoral district. He noted that shrine representatives confirmed Ubisoft did not seek permission to feature the shrine or use its name in the game.

Masaki Ogushi, Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, replied that government bodies would cooperate “if the shrine seeks consultation.” Again, this is a significant conditional, and in any case, under Japan’s Constitution, Ubisoft likely has legal artistic freedom to include such locations.

Both ministers responded in general terms, and their statements seem unlikely to lead to concrete measures, particularly as Ubisoft has reportedly addressed many of these issues proactively with a day-one patch—demonstrating greater sensitivity to Japanese cultural sentiments than Kada acknowledged.

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News of this day-one update emerged in Japan this morning but has yet to be confirmed by Ubisoft’s Western offices. According to Automaton, Ubisoft has detailed modifications that will go live in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows upon its March 20 launch.

The report states that the patch will make tables and shelves inside in-game shrines indestructible and will tone down non-essential bloodshed in shrines and temples. Additionally, depictions of blood when attacking unarmed NPCs will be removed. IGN has reached out to Ubisoft for confirmation on whether this update is specific to the Japanese release.

Regardless of the game’s performance in Japan, there is significant pressure on Assassin's Creed Shadows to succeed globally for Ubisoft, following multiple delays and the commercial disappointment of last year’s Star Wars Outlaws. The company has experienced several high-profile failures, staff layoffs, studio shutdowns, and project cancellations leading up to the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

IGN’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows review scored the game 8/10, with the verdict: “By refining its established mechanics, Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers one of the most polished iterations of the open-world formula it has been perfecting over the last ten years.”