Interest
Fate/Grand Order Game's New Event Set in 1945 Stirs Controversy
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
The official website for the Fate/Grand Order smartphone game announced the "Gudaguda Teito Seihai Kitan" (Gudaguda Imperial Capital Holy Grail Strange Story) in-game event on Wednesday. While some fans are excited, others believe the content on the event is inappropriate and inconsiderate due to its story set in 1945, the year that marked the end of World War II.
The event scenario set in 1945 deals with the previously revealed Teito Seihai Kitan scenario, which is a parallel Grail War set during the Third Holy Grail War. The event will launch on June 13 and offer the limited-edition Servant Sakamoto Ryōma. The game's official English website has not announced the event.
The Teito Seihai Kitan story is set at the end of the Pacific War in Tokyo, and the Imperial Japanese Army aims for victory in the Grail War. The new weapon, "81st Holy Grail Bomb," was designed using the Holy Grail for Japan to defend itself in the war. Third-Reich Germany is involved in the battle and creates a military team composed of Heroic Spirits. Seven Servants enter the historical conflict to determine the outcome of the war.
The campaign also features the Servant Oda Nobunaga, seen in the above advertisement.
Many online commenters are upset about the new event because they believe its 1945 setting may glorify Japan's role in World War II while failing to acknowledge the negative aspects of Japan's actions in the war and the full historical context. In addition, some people feel the announcement on June 6 is insensitive to Korea. Memorial Day in South Korea, which is also held on June 6, honors Korean people who died during military service in the Korean War and other conflicts. Japan's actions during its occupation of Korea, which ended with the close of World War II, continue to be a source of tension between the nations.
Net users are responding to the controversy with social media posts in Japanese, Korean, and English. The controversy has led to the creation of the hashtag "#FGODirectorsShouldApologize." Below are some English Twitter posts that use the hashtag.
[RT부탁드려요] Junsik Bang님의 도움으로 더 매끄러운 번역 도움을 받게 되었습니다. 괜찮으시다면 이 쪽도 RT 부탁드립니다. pic.twitter.com/RLcYVMS1bB
— 기력병자 권렌셸 (@PuroonM0410) June 6, 2018
#FGODirectorsShouldApologize
— 이레벱 (@chikichikileb) June 6, 2018
There's still victims in WW2 who didn't get any proper damage compensage and any apologize. WW2 is never a contents for fun. Directors' of FGO should be shameful that the nation of firing country use it as a contents that change the past by thinking
1945 was the year when Japan lost everything. And this event would be telling the story about how they rose up once more and become one of the most iconic countries in the world. But you guys just ignored this and spam #FGODirectorsShouldApologize without knowing the backstory?
— 炎 (@hiryu_blaze) June 6, 2018
im a big fan of fate. i'm aware historical fiction can be a touchy subject. while there are other concepts this series hasnt handled well, an event celebrating japanese imperialism set in 1945 is a whole new level & esp insulting to korean players #FGODirectorsShouldApologize
— belial rt bot (@skinnybaras) June 6, 2018
If you make a story for sale another country,(Especially when your country did Asian Holocaust.) you should think very Carefully #FGODirectorsShouldApologize
— 충남똥석사 (@dorenouille) June 6, 2018
cause NOW victims are alive, and they know what was happening that time. WW2 is not cool. War is not cool.
#FGODirectorsShouldApologize
— 뢈ラム (@Rama_sien) June 6, 2018
It's an inescapable fact that Japan is a war criminal from World War Ⅱ. You can't and also must not dismiss the truth. Still there are many surviving victims. You are not even aware what you're doing. You have to apologize for the situation.
As seen above, many commenters are seeking an apology from the game's staff. However, some commenters are also responding by emphasizing that the game is a work of fiction and that Japan itself had heavy losses during World War II.