Summary

  • Ghost of Yotei shifts to 1603, Hokkaido, with new protagonist Atsu, not technically in Japan.
  • Hokkaido was culturally and politically distinct until annexed by Japan in 1869.
  • Ainu cultural influences, matchlock guns, and loose samurai structure may impact Ghost of Yotei.

With the recent announcement of Ghost of Yotei, the successor to Sucker Punch's 2020 hit Ghost 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 Yotei is 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 Yotei is 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 continue Jin Sakai's story, Ghost of Yotei shows 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 set Ghost of Yotei apart from its predecessor. Even more so, the fact that Ghost of Yotei isn't technically set in Japan should help inject a different cultural perspective into the game than some players may be expecting.

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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 several recent 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 of Ghost 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

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With Hokkaido being removed from the rest of Japan during this time period, it's likely the broader story and characters of Ghost of Yotei will 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 when Ghost of Yotei is set, it will be interesting to see how Sucker Punch compares the proper samurai lifestyle of greater Japan with the more loosely structured region where Ghost of Yotei takes 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 of Ghost of Yotei's NPCs. Elements of other cultures making their way into the region are also apparent in Ghost of Yotei, including the introduction of matchlock guns that were brought over by the Portuguese in 1549. The unique blend of this time period and the Hokkaido setting gives Ghost of Yotei all 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.

ghost of yotei

Action
Adventure
Open-World
Systems
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5
Released
2025
Developer(s)
Sucker Punch
Publisher(s)
Sony Interactive Entertainment