Summary
With therecent announcementofGhost of Yotei, the successor to Sucker Punch’s 2020 hitGhost of Tsushima, players will once again be able to immerse themselves in a beautiful open world set in Japan’s storied past. However,Ghost of Yoteiis making some major changes from its predecessor, including a major time jump from 1274 to 1603, as well as a new protagonist and new location. While the game is sure to please fans of historical Japanese settings,Ghost of Yoteiis in the odd position of not technically taking place in Japan while still carrying a distinctly Japanese aesthetic.
Although many fans expected a “Ghost of Tsushima 2” that would continueJin Sakai’s story,Ghost of Yoteishows a lot of potential for the series going forward. Leaning on the game’s new protagonist, Atsu, in a new time period and location around Hokkaido’s Mt. Yotei should help setGhost of Yoteiapart from its predecessor. Even more so, the fact thatGhost of Yoteiisn’t technically set in Japan should help inject a different cultural perspective into the game than some players may be expecting.
Ghost of Yotei’s Hokkaido Setting Was Culturally and Politically Distinct from Japan in 1603
Hokkaido Wasn’t Annexed by Japan Until 1869
Today, Hokkaido represents the northernmost prefecture of modern Japan, but it was not always part of the larger nation of Japan. Prior to 1869, Hokkaido was ruled by the native Ainu people, who also resided among the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island. During this time, the region was known by the native Ainu as Ezo, and wouldn’t adopt the modern name of Hokkaido until it was annexed by the Japanese imperial government in 1869 as part of the Meiji Restoration, a time period that has become prominent in severalrecent games set in Japan.
Despite not being officially annexed by Japan until 1869, Hokkaido was still influenced by a number of outside sources including the Chinese Qing dynasty and Japanese daimyo Matsumae Kinhiro during the period between 1635 and 1799. Eventually, the Tokugawa shogunate took direct control of southern Hokkaido, subjugating many of its native Ainu residents to the law of the shogun. While this time period extends beyond the confines ofGhost of Yotei’s 1603 setting, it’s possible Sucker Punch could play a bit loose with the real-world timeline of the region and include some of the cultural elements to come out of these later encounters.
How the Distinct Culture of Hokkaido Could Influence Ghost of Yotei
With Hokkaido being removed from the rest of Japan during this time period, it’s likely the broader story and characters ofGhost of Yoteiwill look much different than what some players may expect. Unlike the strict samurai clans of Japan proper, Hokkaido had a much looser structure for its samurai. Since the samurai code of Bushido was formalized during the Edo Period whenGhost of Yoteiis set, it will be interesting to see how Sucker Punch compares the proper samurai lifestyle of greater Japan with the more loosely structuredregion whereGhost of Yoteitakes place.
One major part of Ainu culture is the prominence of face and mouth tattoos for women, which could come into play in the designs ofGhost of Yotei’s NPCs. Elements of other cultures making their way into the region are alsoapparent inGhost of Yotei, including the introduction of matchlock gunsthat were brought over by the Portuguese in 1549. The unique blend of this time period and the Hokkaido setting givesGhost of Yoteiall the trimmings necessary to both have the feel of a game set in feudal Japan, while still respecting the fact that it will likely be further removed from the Japanese culture fans may be expecting.
