Rise of the Ronin, one of the big upcoming PS5 exclusives, is already banned in a certain country. But what could have happened?
One of the most anticipated PlayStation exclusive titles is definitely Rise of the Ronin. The frame is far from the only selling point. Let’s not forget that Team Ninja is behind this project. A studio to which we owe great titles like Wo Long Fallen Dynasty or Nioh. So it’s obvious that this new production will make more than one drool, especially its fights, which seem very nervous. However, this obviously does not suit the taste of a very specific country, which simply banned the release of the game on its territory.
Rise of the Ronin is banned in South Korea
Yes, Rise of the Ronin was actually banned in South Korea. If we know this, it is thanks to various Korean media outlets that noticed the removal of the title from the PlayStation Store. Apart from the trailer, everything that could advertise it has now disappeared from the company’s YouTube channel in this country. Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Korean branch finally confirmed the news, shocking many gamers. But what exactly happened? Maybe we have the answer.
Officially, Sony has not communicated any reason for this choice. However, according to some people, there is likely a connection with the words of Fumuhiko Yasuda, the director of Rise of the Ronin, in a video about the game. We can see him visiting the town of Hagi and more specifically the Shoka Sonjuku Academy. The latter was founded by the Japanese essayist Shōin Yoshida, who had a great influence on certain important figures during the Meiji Restoration. “ I wanted to describe his teachings and life since he began working on Rise of the Ronin », explained Yasuda in particular.
This is where the problem lies, because the director “glorifies” it a bit. He even goes so far as to compare him to Socrates. Yoshida is considered one of the main reasons for Seikanron. This was a debate that took place within the Meiji government in 1873. The question was whether an invasion of Korea should take place in order to strengthen Japan’s national power. Although the invasion did not take place, Japan eventually occupied the country from 1910 to 1945. Our man’s ideologies are therefore not viewed positively in Korea. And the fact that he, as well as his student Kogoro Katsura, is included in Rise of the Ronin obviously didn’t go through. But then not at all.
