Ever had a video game become a matter of national security? It sounds like the plot of a techno-thriller, but for Ubisoft, it became a very real headache. When Assassin’s Creed Shadows was first teased, fans were losing their minds. Finally, the series was headed to feudal Japan. We’ve wanted this for over a decade. But instead of a smooth rollout, the game ended up being debated in the Japanese Diet—the highest level of their government.
Japanese Prime Minister Assassin's Creed is a phrase that keeps popping up in search results because it’s just so weird to think about. Politicians usually have bigger fish to fry than pixelated katanas. Yet, in early 2025, former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba found himself answering questions about a video game. It wasn't just about "woke" casting or historical accuracy either. It was about something much more grounded: property rights and cultural respect.
Why the Diet Got Involved
Let’s be real. Most political "controversies" around games are just noise. This one had teeth. Hiroyuki Kada, a member of the House of Councillors, specifically raised the issue of the Harima Kokun Shrine. In the game’s promotional footage, players saw the protagonist—the African samurai Yasuke—smashing up the interior of a Shinto shrine. We’re talking about sacred mirrors and altars being treated like destructible crates in a God of War game.
For many in Japan, this wasn't just a "creative choice." It was a legal and moral mess. Shrines in Japan aren't just public landmarks; they are often private intellectual property. Using a real-life shrine's name and likeness to show it being defaced is a massive no-no.
The Government's Response
Prime Minister Ishiba’s take was actually pretty nuanced, even if the headlines made it sound like he was banning the game. He basically said that respecting a country's culture and religion is fundamental. He even compared it to how the Japanese Self-Defense Forces were trained in Islamic customs before deploying to Iraq. The message was clear: if you’re going to profit off our culture, don't treat our sacred spaces like a playground for digital vandalism.
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Interestingly, by the time the game actually launched on March 20, 2025, the political landscape had shifted. Sanae Takaichi eventually took over as Prime Minister, becoming Japan's first female leader. While the "Shadows" debate happened largely under her predecessor, the sentiment remains. Japan is protective of its "soft power" and how its history is exported to the West.
The Yasuke Problem
You can't talk about the Japanese Prime Minister Assassin's Creed situation without mentioning Yasuke. Honestly, the internet went nuclear over this. Yasuke was a real person—a man of African descent who served Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century. That’s a fact. But whether he was a "legendary samurai" or more of a high-ranking attendant/bodyguard is where the history gets murky.
Critics in Japan pointed out that while previous Assassin's Creed games used local protagonists (think Ezio in Italy or Connor in America), Shadows chose an outsider for its first major Japanese title. This felt like "Asian male erasure" to a lot of people.
- Architecture: People noticed Chinese-style buildings in what was supposed to be Japan.
- Seasons: Cherry blossoms blooming at the same time as summer rice being planted? Total immersion breaker.
- Tatami Mats: Even the square shape of the floor mats was wrong.
Ubisoft did eventually apologize. They clarified that the game is "historical fiction," not a documentary. But for a series that prides itself on "Discovery Tours" and historical consultants, the sloppiness was a bad look.
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Was it Actually Illegal?
This is where the business side gets spicy. In Japan, you can't just slap a famous shrine in your game without permission if you're using it for commercial gain.
Lawmaker Hiroyuki Kada argued that showing players destroying these sites could encourage "copycat" behavior in real life, especially with "over-tourism" becoming a major stressor in Japan. Vandalism at real shrines is a rising issue. If a game tells you it’s okay to smash a sacred drum for points, does that change how a tourist acts when they visit the real thing? That was the core of the government's concern.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think the Japanese government tried to "cancel" the game. They didn't.
They mostly used it as a talking point to discuss intellectual property laws and cultural preservation. Ubisoft, sensing the heat, released a massive day-one patch. They made the shrine furniture indestructible. They toned down the blood splatter in sacred areas. It was a "we're sorry, please don't sue us" move that mostly worked.
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By the time 2026 rolled around, the game had settled into the middle of the pack. It got decent reviews (sitting around an 81 on Metacritic), but it will always be remembered more for the political firestorm than the gameplay itself.
Actionable Takeaways for Game Fans and History Buffs
If you're following the Japanese Prime Minister Assassin's Creed saga, there are a few things you can actually do to see the "real" side of this history:
- Check the Day-One Patch Notes: If you play the game today, you'll see it's much more "respectful" than the early trailers. It's a fascinatng look at how corporate PR reacts to government pressure.
- Read Thomas Lockley’s Research: He’s the historian who popularized Yasuke's story. While controversial, his work is the primary source Ubisoft used. Comparing his book to the game shows exactly where "creative liberty" takes over.
- Visit the Real Shrines (Digitally): Look up the Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji. Seeing the actual location compared to the in-game version reveals exactly why the local residents were so protective of their image.
- Follow the Intellectual Property Debate: This case might actually change how international law treats digital recreations of cultural landmarks. Keep an eye on the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) reports from Japan—they are still looking into how to better protect their cultural IP in global media.
The intersection of gaming and global politics is only going to get weirder from here.