Voice Actor Masumi Celebrates the ‘Japanese Essence’ in AC Shadows

When you dive into Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it’s immediately clear that historical accuracy isn’t the game’s main focus. Just like its predecessors, it kicks off with a statement underscoring that all the events and characters, although they might have historical echoes, are purely fictional. This new installment, however, provided voice actor Masumi—a key player embodying the assassin Naoe—a chance to reflect a lot on Japan during her recording sessions.

“I’m really appreciative of the detailed nuances they teach you,” Masumi shared with Polygon over a phone call earlier this week. In fact, one of her favorite elements is a topic that’s also buzzing among the Polygon team: the “Tea Ceremony” side quest early in the game.

“Tea ceremonies hold a deep-rooted significance in Japan,” Masumi explained, drawing from her experiences growing up in both Japan and the U.S. “If you’ve ever attended one, you’d know there are countless rules that dictate every action—from the way you turn the teacup three times to the left or right. And the game cleverly introduces you to these traditions.”

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has stirred quite a bit of dialogue concerning its fidelity to real history. When the game revealed its character, Yasuke, reactions were mixed and intense, with some players showing predictable racial bias against a Black protagonist and others, including Japanese critics, questioning the portrayal’s authenticity. Additionally, Ubisoft found itself having to address concerns from the Japanese government regarding an initial gameplay element allowing shrine destructions, which led to a day-one update ensuring those shrines were invulnerable.

Although Ubisoft explicitly notes the fictional nature of its games to fend off critiques, Assassin’s Creed Shadows still dives into historically rich details. Take, for instance, the tea ceremony quest. It kicks off with preparatory tasks: selecting a kosode worthy of impressing other guests and finding the perfect gift for the host. The game’s graphic detailing of kosodes, with their silk-like sheen and intricate embroidered patterns, brings them to life with astonishing realism. The act of cup turning, as Masumi mentioned, even becomes part of the gameplay—misstep in the sequence, and you might provoke a scuffle with fellow samurai sipping tea. Hearing how these details resonated with Masumi was heartening, both for their nod to history and as a reminder of her roots.

“There’s also talk of yokai—spirits from folklore—which I didn’t expect at all. Revisiting tales from my childhood unexpectedly through the game was wonderful,” she reminisced. “As a Japanese person, I felt a swell of pride seeing just how much of our culture is woven into this game.”