No, the Prime Minister of Japan has not criticized the representation of Assassin's Creed Shadows

Recently, the gaming community has erupted in reactions following comments made by Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan, regarding the video game Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Although it was interpreted that Ishiba was openly criticizing Ubisoft’s title during an official session of the National Diet, transcripts reveal that his response focused on the need to respect local culture and customs, rather than criticizing the video game itself.

An absurdly manufactured controversy

The controversy arose after a gameplay video in which the protagonist, Yasuke, attacks priests and destroys the Itate Hyozu shrine went viral, accumulating thousands of reactions on social media. From the shrine, its officials expressed their discontent, stating that Ubisoft did not obtain permission to use their name in the game and that, had they requested it, they would have rejected the proposal. This lack of permission has led to criticism of the developer from officials and citizens.

Hiroyuki Kada, a member of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, also expressed his concern that the game could inspire acts of vandalism at cultural sites after its release, mentioning the video that shows violence against the shrine. Although the Prime Minister did not make a direct criticism of Ubisoft, his statement about the importance of respecting Japanese culture has generated confusion. Ishiba emphasized that acts of vandalism are unacceptable, referring to potential behaviors of tourists visiting Japan after playing.

While the controversy continues to resonate on social media and in the media, the “appropriate actions” that the sanctuary will take against Ubisoft have not yet been specified. This situation reflects the increasingly complex intersection between digital entertainment and cultural respect, raising a debate about the limits of freedom of expression in video games.

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