Japanese politician Satoshi Hamada recently signaled he might bring up Ubisoft and their upcoming game Assassin’s Creed Shadows before the Japanese Diet, the country’s legislative body, for altering the country’s history, architecture, and more as well as potentially using AI to generate images of the time period the game is supposed to be set.
A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
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.”
ご意見募集
フランスのゲーム会社による日本の歴史改変について、ご相談をいただきました。相談内容を以下に画像で共有します。
また、当該ゲームの問題を指摘していると思われるポストを引用させていただきました。
具体的なご要望等、皆様からのご意見を賜れればと思います。 https://t.co/O1MBWe5bO7 pic.twitter.com/WhuM4ticLA
— 浜田 聡 参議院議員 WBPC問題調査中 💉💉💉 YouTubeやブログは毎日発信 (@satoshi_hamada) July 10, 2024
Also translated by DeepL, the quoted post reads, “Don’t misunderstand why Assassin’s Creed is on fire. Black people are the main characters -> I don’t really care. Non-Japanese people are flaming on their own. I asked a Japanese expert to make it -> messed up seasons, messed up buildings, messed up mannerisms -> Did you really listen to him? It’s a premier box with concept art as a bonus (expensive) → Suspicion of an AI that learned the photos of Japanese period messed up.”
It continues, “We made a concept video → Chinese subtitles are added by mistake. Quicksilver gathers complaints -> Maker is upset! Don’t complain racist! This is where the Japanese get the most upset. The problem is the manufacturer’s negligence in not admitting even one of their own mistakes. →Signature drive begins to demand that the product not be released (here and now).”
アサシンクリードが炎上してる理由を履き違えちゃいけない。
黒人が主役→別にどうでもいい。日本人以外の人達が、勝手に炎上してる
日本の専門に聞いて作りました→季節めちゃめちゃ、建物めちゃめちゃ、作法めちゃめちゃ→本当に聞いた？…
— りゅうせい🐦𝕏 (@dotno_hamutarou) July 9, 2024
The referenced petition called the game “a serious insult to Japanese culture and history and can lead to racism in Asia.” It called “on Ubisoft to immediately discontinue the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows and show sincere research and respect for Japanese history and culture.
It has received over 81,000 signatures.
Screenshot of a petition calling for the shut down of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Change.org
Ubisoft Japan also issued an apology for using the back flag of the Sekigahara Teppo Corps without the reenactment group’s permission. The back flag was shown in a promotional video for the game as noted by former World of Warcraft Team Lead Mark Kern.
This is the banner Ubisoft used without permission.
Video is here: https://t.co/7x3GSi63gn pic.twitter.com/S1V0DRct3h
— Grummz (@Grummz) June 18, 2024
Ubisoft Japan apologized for using the flag without permission earlier this week. It 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 was given the opportunity to apologize, and it was accepted.” This is likely an issue with the translation and it is probably better interpreted as “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.”
Ubisoft Japan on X
Hamada would also indicate in a subsequent that he would potentially investigate the historical accuracy of Yasuke. As translated by DeepL 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.”
↑からの続き
日本が舞台のゲーム「アサシンクリード」シリーズ新作について多くのご意見ありがとうございます。
上記と関連して
織田信長に仕えた黒人「弥助(やすけ)」を巡る、文化盗用・文化侵略について、別の方からご相談をいただきました。
ご相談内容を共有します。（1/2） pic.twitter.com/kxBEdyGi8W
— 浜田 聡 参議院議員 WBPC問題調査中 💉💉💉 YouTubeやブログは毎日発信 (@satoshi_hamada) July 11, 2024
He then shared more screenshots of the consultation.
↑からの続き
ご相談内容の共有。（2/2） pic.twitter.com/VtA6vZ4Yeq
— 浜田 聡 参議院議員 WBPC問題調査中 💉💉💉 YouTubeやブログは毎日発信 (@satoshi_hamada) July 11, 2024
What do you make of Hamada receiving these consultations and contemplating bringing them up in front of the Diet?
