While initial reactions to The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack seemed positive overall, many South Korean players have pointed out some problematic imagery featured in the pack that is insensitive towards the history between Japan and South Korea.
The frame from the reveal trailer that you can see down below shows a Sim interacting with a, what appears to be, a shrine. Although it hasn’t been fully clarified what you can actually do with this shrine, it does appear like the Sim is worshipping the shrine in some way.
TS4 EP10 REVEAL INGAME EN US 304TS4 EP10 REVEAL INGAME EN US 310
There’s one more frame in the trailer that could be showing the “Rising Sun” Flag:
These particular frames have caused the South Korean player community to share their thoughts and clarify why these additions to the pack are wrong.
As explained by them, the shrine worship and the rising sun flag are representations of Japanese colonialism and some of the terrible things that happened to people as a result of the Japanese during this time.
Here are some of the comments people left in the YouTube comments section:
Sims 4 Snowy Escape Reception
This is the result of Orientalism. I know that Ea likes Japanese culture. But this is too much. Korea had been forced by Japan. They forced Koreans to greet their religious buildings. Koreans had to be tortured or killed if they didn’t do what Japan wanted. Surprisingly, the religious building appears in the game.
Spread it out, please.Sims 4 snowy sports in Korea is now controversial. This is because it has a function called shrine worship.A shrine visit was when Korea was Japanese colonial era, when Japan set up shrines everywhere to inculcate the emperor’s ideology and forced Koreans to pay tribute.The Korean position, the most painful part of Korean history, and yet Japan is justifying visits to the shrine, which justifies war and colonial rule. Many Koreans are angry that EA added this to the game.I’m Korean and these sentences are translated, so please understand that the sentences can be awkward.Many Koreans are also disappointed with sims4 and EA and say they will not buy this pack again.I am very disappointed and angry as a Korean about EA, which contains shrine worship in the game.Buying this game is your choice, but buying a game pack that justifies one country’s colonial rule and justifies Korea’s painful history that is still unresolved is your freedom. But I hope you know what this pack means and buy it.Thank you for reading.
Real ea, foreign users, and other people don’t even think about others… I just want you guys to have fun while playing ㅠ Of course, I think Japanese culture should be respected as Japanese culture. Is there a reason to view the symbol with wounds on Koreans as a culture? Is there a reason to accept it as a culture and put it in a game that Koreans also enjoy? Also, there will certainly be Korean users who buy this pack, and if you keep watching and playing that interaction, it will become dull.
– Translated via Google Translate
I’m really disappointed that with all the work EA claimed to be doing to be culturally conscious of what they were doing with this pack they ignored so much of their Asian audience beyond Japan. I was so excited for this pack before that. For those who don’t know why it’s so upsetting (specifically for the Korean people in comments, I lived there and studied the history extensively) the shrine worship and the rising sun flag are representations of Japanese colonialism and some of the terrible things that happened to people as a result of the Japanese during this time. I could make several comparisons to some negative imagery that we westerners might make but I really don’t know if this is the place for that. If you are interested or want to understand I would suggest looking up Japanese colonialism in other countries (again I specifically know about Korea personally, and am speaking in support of the Korean people I know and love and the country that has become my second home).
If the shrine and the jacket that were shown in The Sims 4 Snowy Escape’s Reveal Trailer are exactly what the South Korean players described them to be then EA is in some hot waters.
Hopefully The Sims Team will make a statement soon regarding these features in the game.
Reticulating splines as a webmaster for Sims Community over the last 11 years. You can find me here writing articles and doing reports on your favorite life sim games, among other things!
This is a game, not a subject to learn in school. Are you kidding me with this! This world is going to hell and is becoming communist. Every one is butthurt, get over it. It’s just a very cool game and a complete fantasy with made up worlds. Why don’t the offended go and create their own communistic games, where everybody’s the same, and everything is equal and peachy keen.
Butthurt well I am butthurt about Star Wars. How come in real life we don’t have spaceships yet that is because we are too idiotic arguing about what happened in the past. Most of those people are dead. And you’re talking about colonizers well then you’re going to have to look at white people and don’t do anything their culture dose: can’t speak English, French, German, etc, can’t eat any of their food, can’t wear their clothes, can’t listen to their music. Now same goes for Japanese so now what am I supposed to do with my Toyota drive it off the bridge? Is this what the world really wants? Punishing a culture for its past? This is disgusting.
I agree. While on one hand I understand the frustration over these two pictures, I also think that the young generation of South Korea have to stop this feud between Japan and Korea. Practically all European countries have forgiven Germany a looong time ago, and we visit old war bunkers to learn about horrific past, but do not become aggravated, because it’s in the past.
It’s time to forgive – and celebrate Japanese culture for what it is.
And as Kelly’s saying, while it’s inspired by Japanese culture, the game is a fantasy! Just change what the shrines mean in your game – you have the freedom and power to do that.
Stop getting offended just to be offended. You can avoid using the shrine interaction, you can choose a different swatch for the yukata, I’m sure there are plenty others.
I’m a Korean, and I personally have mixed feelings about this. I agree you that the relationship between Korea and Japan should be clarified one way or another, but do know that it is very complicated. The very vestige of Japanese imperialism is deeply woven into Korean history, economy, politics and of course the nation’s social feelings even until now. It’s not about just being “offended.”
And your Nazi analogy is quite inaccurate – yeah many European countries got over Germany, but you certainly don’t want EA to put Nazi flags on some frickin sims’ clothes lol. I can also kinda imagine why EA adopted shrine culture – it’s a part of Japanese culture – but as it is indicated in the original Korean comment, the concept is not very comfortable for the people living in the once-colonized country. Yes, I know that Japan has many gods and most of the shrines are for worshiping gods. But the concern is that some Japanese shrines have imperialists who had done horrible things to their colonies and many politicians in Japan (usually on far-right) still bow to that. It’s a political matter too. Imagine that there’s a monument worshiping dedicated to war criminals in your game that you can make your sim bow to.
Personally I don’t know about the shrine, but I certainly oppose to the clothes with rising sun imagery. (The situation’s quite funny when you realize that this is an American game lol) The game should be enjoyable to everyone, especially when Korean users are accounting for a significant proportion of sims lovers – after all it’s a new ‘snowy’ expansion pack, not ‘Japan’ expansion pack. Why include it if it’s controversial?
I agree that the rising sun imagery should be taken down and that they should keep the shrine interactions. But I will point out that the pack description does literally say the furniture is “Japanese-inspired” and all the words they use are Japanese such as “onsen”, “genkan”, and “tatami”. So I think it’s safe to say that this world is specifically Japanese-based. I would get rid of the rising sun imagery since that was the official flag of the military, but keep the shrine worshipping since that is still something that modern japanese people do.
Wow. You’re likening Korea’s subjugation by Japan, and erasure of their culture, and Koreans being FORCED to worship at Japanese shrines, to communism? Do you even know what Communism is? Do you realize communism and colonialism are two different things? Like, I’m sorry Karen (I mean, Kelly) if other people being hurt is like super inconvenient for you, but they’re not obligated to keep you comfortable just because you don’t have empathy. Sociopath.
Maybe you need to embrace some new subjects, in fact, because you sound like a moron right now. You could certainly benefit from some empathy, because you sound like a selfish asshole right about now. While I’m sure you’ve lived a fairly privileged life, I’m sure there are things of value to you that would upset you if they were misrepresented. Like your religion, or the history of your country (since you’re white and probably American, I can’t say culture. lol).
The Sims is a life simulation game, that means it should be enjoyable by ALL people, not just a select few. While I agree that this is a game and I don’t think fictional characters should be held to human social standards of conduct, I do believe that everyone has a right to their opinions and how a game makes them feel when they play it. Not everyone’s experience with TS4 is going to be the same. For you to diminish someone else’s experience by trying to eclipse it with your own is not only showing your white privilege, but you are telling people that you only care about your experience with the game and no one else’s. What kind of message are you trying to get across? You call people overly sensitive, but these things never happened to you. So who are you to tell another person how they should feel about an experience? As a white female this offends even me that you would act and say something so insensitive. You can’t got through life only looking through your own perspective, you should never close yourself or your mind off to seeing things from another’s perspective. I stand in solidarity with my Korean sisters and I will not be buying this pack of that is the case. As a company EA has a track record a mile long of doing shady and immoral things to turn a quick profit.
This is their equivalent to Nazi imagery. I don’t like SJWs either, but a less narrow worldview and a slight idea of other culture’s nuances would help you understand WHY they are so angry. This is a touchy subject and there are still tensions over Japan’s WWII war crimes.
Oh, yeah. Then I wanna see your reaction if EA has drawn a design of “NAZI FLAG”. PUT YOURSELF IN OTHER’S SHOES!!! It’s not about it’s just the game or not. Rising Sun Flag is the insult to other Asian countries, like Korea.
I’m majoring Japanese language in college and I love Japanese culture. But, Shrine Worship and Rising Sun Flag? That is absolutely the problem that we should consider.
When japan had succeeded taking control of Korea’s solid, they forced Koreans to participate in Shrine worship, if not, Japanese cops harshly punished them.
Rising Sun Flag represents the imperialism and invasion same as NAZI FLAG.
Just a game?? Then why EA had claimed to advocate LGBT and BLACK LIVES MATTER?? Even though it’s just a game as you said??
I agree with the freedom of expression and I think too much Political Correction should not interfere the development of game. BUT, IT’S THE ANOTHER PROBLEM, NOT A COMMUNISM AND NOT A PC ISSUES.
Ok so KOREAN FLAG = NAZI FLAG
In you theory, South Korean Flag should be banned at all because it represents massive rape and massacre done by South Korea in Vietnam War. The worst thing is that South Korea government has never apologized what they did, and is still continuing to insult the Vietnamese victims by revisionism. Shame on your hypocrisy.
Valeria
4 years ago
I play The Sims to avoid politics. I suspend my disbelief. The Sims live in their own Sim world, have their own Sim countries, have a deep Sim history, speak their own Sim language, and have their own Sim culture. They are praying to ME, their Sim God.
I would love to avoid politics in the Sims as well.
Unfortunately the game put components that remind me of the painful, horrendous part of my country’s history, and what seems like the majority of people, who mostly have no idea about the history and don’t give a crap are telling us to stop being butthurt and shut up.
I would love to avoid politics in the Sims. But I can’t.
Andri
4 years ago
If we’re talking about East Asia, what’s on our minds must be China or Japan. It is natural that EA uses Chinese or Japanese as the basis in the games they make. I think south Korean players want their country to be represented, not because of past trauma.
The level of stupidity in this comment section is ASTRONOMICAL.
Have you seen a map? Do you know anything about the history of that region? That the Koreas played a significant role in the history of that area? Who TF thinks “east Asia” and overlooks South Korea? And the issue was the fact that the shrine design is modeled on the shrines placed in Korea during Japanese occupation, during which Koreans were subjugated and forced to worship the emperor. How do you get “ohhh, Korea just wants to be includeeeeed” from that??
I’m sorry, but the pack is not based in East Asia. It’s based in JAPAN. They can overlook Korea all they want, because Korea isn’t part of Japan at all 🙂
Tim
4 years ago
Simmers: This skin tone is a tad too light or too dark for my tastes. This is ruining the game! We need a fix for this IMMEDITEATLY!
Also simmers: Representing legit Japanese war crimes is totally okay. The Koreans are just butthurt and can get over it. Just don’t buy the pack if you’re mad!
Simmers: We shouldn’t have any type of religion in the game! Seasons added holidays, but they shouldn’t include any slight reference to any religion! Not even an option for players who’d like to see it that others can avoid.
Also Simmers: Shrine worship makes perefect sense for this type of pack! Of course we should have that!
“Representing legit Japanese war crimes is totally okay”
I’m sorry, but it’s part of a religion that has NOTHING to do with Korea. All religions have engaged in forced conversion and whatnot, so let’s not single out the Japanese when we have Selvadorada with not so subtle Catholicism/Conquistador theme thrown in there.
Where in the Sims do we have the option to pray in front of a cross? Where in the Sims do we have the option to read the bible and praise yahweh?
Japanese shrines were built in Korea during Japanese occupation (so they WERE part of Japanese-occupied Korea), and Koreans were forced to bow and submit or else have their noses/ears cut off, or worse, be murdered.
Educate YOURSELF first.
Adam
4 years ago
We really are becoming way too sensitive. Kids in cages and we are worried about this… kind of pathetic tbh.
I feel broken-hearted for some comments. I am a Korean and I respect all cultures, of course Japan’s too. But this topic treats things that cannot be respected. Why? this is related to the typical way to destroy one country’s culture and spirit. For example, a person walked on the board covered with sharp-edged nails and tacks, because he/she didn’t worship at a shrine for keeping one’s faith. Almost all Koreans and missionaries in Korea suffered a sense of loss, or torture until they die or get a disease because of this shrine worship.
Even if Nazi salute is still used in Germany without any consciousness, we shouldn’t respect it. Because it is a part of cruel imperialism. (Although Nazi salute originated from Rome, it is banned since World War Ⅱ.) Shrine worship needs to be set in the same context. So it can’t be a respectable culture at least from a third party’s point of view.
The history of long ago, so to be forgettable or forgivable? How the heck can we forget or forgive the cruel history without ‘an apology’ to ask for forgiveness? Korea has been waiting for the apology from japan. But Japanese don’t apologize and even they seem to wait until there is no one who remember their faults. As a result they don’t recognize the wrong in what they are doing. (I apologize if you think my words are too aggressive, but these are true as you can see) Ignoring doesn’t mean they did nothing. Not to forget about the history, we respond to this issue sensitively.
Anyway the point is that this new content related with obviously inhumane, unsolved problems cannot be enjoyable cultural part. So I hope EA collect this opinion and take action.
Thank you for reading this so long text, and sorry for sharing the Korean’s headache.
Have a nice day with some your consciousness-raising.
June 22, 1965: Minister of Foreign Affairs Shiina Etsusaburo said to the people of South Korea: “In our two countries’ long history there have been unfortunate times, it is truly regrettable and we are deeply remorseful” (Signing of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and South Korea).
August 26, 1982: Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiichi Miyazawa said to the people of the Republic of Korea: “1. The Japanese Government and the Japanese people are deeply aware of the fact that acts by our country in the past caused tremendous suffering and damage to the peoples of Asian countries, including the Republic of Korea (ROK) and China, and have followed the path of a pacifist state with remorse and determination that such acts must never be repeated. Japan has recognized, in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, of 1965, that the ‘past relations are regrettable, and Japan feels deep remorse,’ and in the Japan-China Joint Communique, that Japan is ‘keenly conscious of the responsibility for the serious damage that Japan caused in the past to the Chinese people through war and deeply reproaches itself.’ These statements confirm Japan’s remorse and determination which I stated above and this recognition has not changed at all to this day. 2. This spirit in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, and the Japan-China Joint Communique, naturally should also be respected in Japan’s school education and textbook authorization.
1989: Prime Minister Takeshita Noboru, in a speech in the Japanese Diet, said: “As we have made clear previously at repeated opportunities, the Japanese government and the Japanese people are deeply conscious of the fact that the actions of our country in the past caused suffering and loss to many people in neighboring countries. Starting from our regret and resolve not to repeat such things a second time, we have followed a course as a “Peace Nation” since then. This awareness and regret should be emphasized especially in the relationship between our countries and the Korean Peninsula, our nearest neighbors both geographically and historically. At this opportunity as we face a new situation in the Korean Peninsula, again, to all peoples of the globe, concerning the relationship of the past, we want to express our deep regret and sorrow” (Speech in the Japanese Diet).
April 18, 1990: Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Nakayama said to the people of South Korea: “Japan is deeply sorry for the tragedy in which these (Korean) people were moved to Sakhalin not of their own free will but by the design of the Japanese government and had to remain there after the conclusion of the war” (188th National Diet Session Lower House Committee of Foreign Affairs).[12]
May 25, 1990: Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, in a meeting with President Roh Tae Woo, said: “I would like to take the opportunity here to humbly reflect upon how the people of the Korean Peninsula went through unbearable pain and sorrow as a result of our country’s actions during a certain period in the past and to express that we are sorry” (Summit meeting with President Roh Tae Woo in Japan).[14]
January 17, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, at a policy speech on a visit to South Korea, said:. “What we should not forget about relationship between our nation and your nation is a fact that there was a certain period in the thousands of years of our company when we were the victimizer and you were the victim. I would like to once again express a heartfelt remorse and apology for the unbearable suffering and sorrow that you experienced during this period because of our nation’s act.” Recently the issue of the so-called ‘wartime comfort women’ is being brought up. I think that incidents like this are seriously heartbreaking, and I am truly sorry”.[16]
July 6, 1992. Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato said: “The Government again would like to express its sincere apology and remorse to all those who have suffered indescribable hardship as so-called ‘wartime comfort women,’ irrespective of their nationality or place of birth. With profound remorse and determination that such a mistake must never be repeated, Japan will maintain its stance as a pacifist nation and will endeavor to build up new future-oriented relations with the Republic of Korea and with other countries and regions in Asia. As I listen to many people, I feel truly grieved for this issue. By listening to the opinions of people from various directions, I would like to consider sincerely in what way we can express our feelings to those who suffered such hardship”
June 23, 1996: Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said in a press conference: “Hashimoto mentioned the aspects of Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula such as the forced Japanization of Korean people’s name and commented “It is beyond imagination how this injured the hearts of Korean people”. Hashimoto also touched on the issue of Korean comfort women and said “Nothing injured the honor and dignity of women more than this and I would like to extend words of deep remorse and the heartfelt apology”
October 8, 1996: Emperor Akihito said in a speech at a dinner with the South Korean president, Kim Dae Jung: “There was a period when our nation brought to bear great sufferings upon the people of the Korean Peninsula.” “The deep sorrow that I feel over this will never be forgotten”.
October 8, 1998: Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi said in a declaration: “Looking back on the relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea during this century, Prime Minister Obuchi regarded in a spirit of humility the fact of history that Japan caused, during a certain period in the past, tremendous damage and suffering to the people of the Republic of Korea through its colonial rule, and expressed his deep remorse and heartfelt apology for this fact. President Kim accepted with sincerity this statement of Prime Minister Obuchi’s recognition of history and expressed his appreciation for it. He also expressed his view that the present calls upon both countries to overcome their unfortunate history and to build a future-oriented relationship based on reconciliation as well as good-neighborly and friendly cooperation” (Japan-South Korea Joint Declaration A New Japan-South Korea Partnership towards the Twenty-first Century).[31]
September 17, 2002: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: “The Japanese side regards, in a spirit of humility, the facts of history that Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of Korea through its colonial rule in the past, and expressed deep remorse and heartfelt apology” (Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration).[39]
August 10, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed “deep regret over the suffering inflicted” during the Empire of Japan’s colonial rule over Korea. Japan’s Kyodo News also reported that Cabinet members endorsed the statement. In addition, Kan said that Japan will hand over precious cultural artifacts that South Korea has been demanding. Among them were records of an ancient Korean royal dynasty.[46]
December 7, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized for Korea’s suffering under colonization as part of a statement marking the 100th anniversary of the annexation in 1910. “I express a renewed feeling of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology for the tremendous damage and suffering caused by colonial rule,” Kan said. Kan said Japan colonized Korea “against the will of the Korean people” who suffered great damage to their national pride and loss of culture and sovereignty as a result and added that he wants to take an honest look at his country’s past with the courage and humility to address its history.[48]
December 28, 2015: Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se made an announcement at a joint press conference, which consisted of their respective statements on behalf of Japan and South Korea. Kishida stated, “The issue of comfort women, with an involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that time, was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women, and the Government of Japan is painfully aware of responsibilities from this perspective. As Prime Minister of Japan, Prime Minister Abe expresses anew his most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.” The statement went on to explain that “the Government of Japan will now take measures to heal psychological wounds of all former comfort women through its budget” and that it had been decided that the South Korean government would “establish a foundation for the purpose of providing support for the former comfort women”. In return, Yun stated that his government “acknowledges the fact that the Government of Japan is concerned about the statue built in front of the Embassy of Japan in Seoul from the viewpoint of preventing any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity, and will strive to solve this issue in an appropriate manner”. Both stated that this agreement will “finally and irreversibly” resolve the contentious issue and that “on the premise that the Government of Japan will steadily implement the measures it announced”, both countries “will refrain from accusing or criticizing each other regarding this issue in the international community, including at the United Nations”.[54]
lol where is the apology? If someone kills your family and they say “I want to express that there were many wrong doing between us and we have suffered too much. I acknowledge the fact that you were force to be on this position and it was unfortunately event. Not stop criticizing me and blaming me!”, is this apology to you?
Germany apologized for exterminating millions during WWII, so now I can go put a swastika shirt in my sims game and it’s totally fine!
Mimi
4 years ago
So sad too
Why some Korean bring up politics stuff in video game or everything and keep telling lies…
Japanese government apologized more than 3 times and paid reparations every time. (and for other)
I just want to many people have fun who playing this game cause SIMS always fun.
how strange. the koreans are all up in this thread and in the youtube trailer saying that the japanese haven’t apolgised. i guess the koreans are lying then.
i don’t get what has them so salty about this pack. tbh, i think it’s because they are mad the ep isn’t based in their country and is instead based in their mortal enemy japan. even if there had been no shrine, they would have found something to complain or bash the ep about.
sim player
4 years ago
If the shrine worship was in a non japan map and especially in a korea based world. I could see your point, but this is specifically a japan based world where shrine worship exists. I get the rising sun thing, but the shrine thing feels like a reach.
It’s funny that you “get the rising sun thing, but the shrine thing feels like a reach.”
I’m the total opposite. I understand the issue about the shrine, but the rising sun seems like someone is reaching. This looks more like the logo of a bank here in the States, than any of the images that I’ve seen of the actual “rising sun” flag.
You’re from the States and of course the rising sun flag has no meaning to you.
I grew up seeing the swastika symbol that indicates there’s a buddhist temple nearby.
And for the sake of the example let’s say a Korean company developed a game like the Sims that’s played by players around the world.
Does the fact that I, whose country and ancestors were not directly affected by Nazi Germany, am not personally offended mean that the hypothetical Korean simulation game should include buddhist temples with swastika signage everywhere, and buddhist swastika jewelry?
No.
kpoop
4 years ago
If they are correct in their assertions, Christianity is also deeply rooted in war. The Koreans are crazy.
Christianity and “Christians” have committed atrocities in the name of religion. Hence symbols like the cross and items like the bible are not part of this game at all.
Same rule of avoiding potentially sensitive aspects of culture and religion should be applied to ALL packs.
Also, in case you can’t read, Koreans are not angry about the religion of Shinto. This issue is not about religion in and of itself at all.
Alana
4 years ago
lmao this can’t be serious lack of cars and open world are far more worrying than this.
That is exactly the type of uneducated redneck ignorant thinking that just perpetuates racism, ignorance and indifference to anything that didn’t directly affect white people.
You would not be saying the same thing if it was a German pack with an option to buy swastika flags to decorate with, and do the Nazi salute.
You’re blanketing all white people with Nazis .. that’s uneducated and ignorant.
I hope EA does address this issue, seems like they’ve dropped the ball again.
They have addressed the issue.
They got rid of the bowing motion and the Rising Sun swatches.
The shrines themselves are staying, don’t worry all of you non-Japanese people suddenly obsessed with observing Japanese religious customs
Seriously people
4 years ago
Hey guess what!! ITS A GAME! if your offended by it then don’t play it. Call of duty is a game about killing other people, Farcry is about cultures killing and kidnapping people… Shall I go on. Sims is a game about playing how you want to play it’s accuracy on today’s cultures shouldn’t have a say in what they choose to put in the game when there are other games that are way “worse” but in the end they are all just GAMES
if you market your game to people who do care about social issues you should listen to them about social issues
Mimi
4 years ago
I thought that too…
Their getting mad because ep isn’t based in their country…
But there is some reasons they keep saying like that.
Got anti Japanese education and believing everything or believing convenient fabrication history for them.
And for money…and another…
Although, people trying to get along are increase recently than before.
Anyway, I hope players like that pack and enjoy it because I’m glad based on Japan!
And what makes you think your “education” (if at all) is not biased, and that it’s not fabricated” in some way shape or form?
I’m Korean, and I’m perfectly fine with the pack being Japanese. There are other parts of Japanese culture that are cool and not offensive.
That’s not the issue.
Nicola
4 years ago
I think everyone needs too calm down for now, give EA a chance too comment, maybe it’s not what it looks like, I’m sure EA wouldn’t of done this on purpose
Wisnu Zainesta
4 years ago
Bunch of douche bag thinking about game very seriously? Its a game dumbass! Do you have to take this serious?
jaks
4 years ago
one can only imagine Jovan Jovic’s face when he sees this mess of comments lol
김대중
4 years ago
To be honest, we are jealous of the popularity of Japanese culture.
Korea is getting more and more popular everyday because of Kpop, Kdramas, and KBBQ food. So don’t be too jealous. Lots of Southeast Asian countries are jealous of Korea lol.
You probably didn’t realize, but this person’s using the name of a Korean ex-president who won the Nobel Peace Prize (Kim dae-jung), and is hated & mocked by extreme right. This person’s not being genuine, they’re just trolling and trying to stir shit up.
What in the world?
4 years ago
Honestly? Getting offended over imagery? That shows how bad and easily offended the Sims community and EAxis has become. No wonder Sims 4 is the worst iteration in the franchise. I play the game to escape real life, not have some silly controversial plum shoved down my throat. Sometimes I wonder why EA chose to pander to the SJW crowd in the first place. If you can’t respond to different opinions in a mature way, that says a lot about you as a person.
Besides, if EAxis is so worried about representation, why haven’t they included every single culture and tradition? Would that be too much for them? I thought they have intended for the Sims 4 to be all equal, happy joy joy, and a safe space simulator… unless I’m missing something. Why don’t they call it quits on the Sims franchise altogether, since TS4 is already lackluster without all the pandering?
Dude… This is their equivalent to Nazi imagery. I hate SJWs and Tumblr snowflakes, but this is a whole different level than just getting upset over lack of skintones (that you an easily just download CC for).
This isn’t just social justice bullshit. It’s decades of tension between two countries over colonialism and war crimes (real neat stuff, you know like human experimentation, mass murders, and sexual slavery). Expanding your worldview would probably help you understand cultural nuances outside the western world. You wouldn’t sound so ignorant.
Different person here, and yes, I understand your sarcasm and I agree completely. EA CANNOT possibly represent each and every country and culture, which is exactly why they should steer clear of topics and cultural aspects that can cause controversies like this.
Sims 4 has avoided putting symbols and aspects of cultures and religions that can be controversial so far (eg. no Christian cross, no “Chirstmas” (just winterfest), etc.) so why must they now include shinto and imagery that has even the slightest resemblance to the Rising Sun? Why couldn’t they replace those with other non-controversial aspects of Japanese culture?
If they had done a tad more research, they would’ve realized the potential for controversies and would’ve (and should’ve) left them out.
(+ The argument “Shinto is a huge part of Japanese culture and shrines are everywhere, of course it has to be included” doesn’t stand because religion has shaped the cultures of so many different countries but they’ve been left out)
simmer
4 years ago
Koreans have no complaints about Sims making expansion packs with Japanese culture. The only thing that matters is the shrine worship interaction. It is related to the pain of Japan’s colonial rule of Korea. Many Koreans who refused to worship the shrine were killed by the Japanese military. That is less than a hundred years old. So We want EA to delete the interaction with the shrine worship.
People were slaughtered for not worshipping these shirines. And Japan dosen’t apologize or even acknowledge these past including genocidal rape. And EA just represented symbol of Japanese war crime in sims4. This is why korean people including other country that suffered from Japanese war crime are so mad.
Might be, but better for EA to just stay away.
Just like how the swastika is just a buddhist symbol but it should have no place in the game.
DeShhn
4 years ago
There are sooo many ppl trying to confuse this issue. It is neither about jealousy nor hysteria. The point is- THERE ARE PROBLEMS in this pack! And yeah, they are problematic I think coz I’ve googled and read some articles about S.Korea and Japan, and got to know there had been the far more complicated history then I thought.
It is too hard to judge after seeing only this comment section, dudes 😮
Yes,
People who are uneducated about the issues should do their own research, or AT LEAST a 2 minute google search before they put their uneducated opinions forward.
It’s not their fault that they’re uneducated about east Asian history that goes back decades and centuries and more. They don’t learn it as part of basic schooling, that’s not their fault.
But PLEASE for the love of whatever they believe in, these people need to spewing ignorance.
yupyup
4 years ago
yup, this is a game. just game.
I want to recommend that next pack ‘spring in germany’
please add new Nazi’s Hakenkreuz flag
I like Germany more than Japan
Because it was Japanese who killed my family NOT NAZZI
So please let me use that nazzi’s flag too
there is no “Willy Brandt” in japan
Japan has never apologized,
Japan gave money to Park Jung-hee(=Masao Takaki Dedicates Loyalty to the King of Japan)
Only $300 million, The money was not received by the victim.
please Japan asks Park Jeong-hee’s daughter to return the money
there are comments above that quote how Japan has apologised. Please stop lying.
And comparing what the Nazis did to this, let me tell you as a Jew, that is completely out of line, please stop with that too.
and as many have said, that’s a fan, not a flag. Are all of you missing your glasses?
Please stop saying Koreans shouldn’t voice pain and anger caused by imperial Japan’s atrocities, that is completely out of YOUR line.
Sure Japan made some pacifying gestures (inadequate mostly), but you also don’t know the complicated political, economical and cultural implications behind those gestures, let alone the long ass history between Korea and Japan.
And by your logic, I hope you’d be ok with EA putting in swastikas on clothing in a hypothetical “Asian” pack because it’s a buddhist symbol. I hope you’ll have YOUR glasses on then.
I’m unsure if you’re the same commenter from above, I’ll guess so. You stated above that they hadn’t apologised, and continue to say that they have made “pacifying gestures” and that they are “inadequate mostly” (judged by whom? by you?). If you scroll up a bit, there is a very long and good post with dates of all the times the Japanese or the Japanese government has apologised; usually in the presence of South Korean government officials – who never interrupted the Japanese to say that such “pacifying gestures” (as you deem them) were “inadequate”.
I have read history as a hobby, as I am interested in it, since I was a young kid, since I was eight years-old. I think you saying that “you also don’t know the long ass history between Korea and Japan” is crude and inaccurate. I would suggest you to stop assuming things about other people without asking them first, it’s quite impolite.
I indeed know of he significance of the Swastika for Indian esotericism and culture. I for one can separate the terrible use it was given by the Nazis and Nazism, to the positive and honest use that it has been given by Hindus and Buddhism, especially since its use dated much earlier than the Nazis. To brand India, Buddhism, or Hindus in general – as Nazi sympathizers would be so ridiculous and inaccurate, that your comparison is making me feel almost insulted.
there's a difference
4 years ago
People are comparing the shrines to the muslim garments in the game so i’d like to point out: while yes they are religious garments, they are also cultural garments. Wearing a head scarf doesn’t necessarily make one a muslim; there are places in the world where tourists are required to wear them, and there are a lot of young people who wear them as a part of their culture, even if they’re not that religious themselves. The same could be said about the christmas and hanukkah items in the game: while of religious origin they aren’t exclusive to religious people, but a cultural item. I celebrate christmas yet i was raised atheist, and i’m sure that applies to many people. What the sims doesn’t have is prayer matts, the torah, a bible, a church… and i think a shrine should be added to that list. There needs to be made a seperation for cultural items that have religious origin and purely religious items/places. Yes, a visit to a shrine is a big part of japanese customs, but so is praying or going to church in every other culture, and there is just some things that need to be left out of games that want to be inclusive to everyone.
Bei
4 years ago
Why are white americans fuming about Koreans being upset? It doesn’t fucking affect you so why do you care about EA having to change a clothing texture and an animation? Why does it tilt y’all so much, that you have to write essays in the comments, explaining how “SJWs are ruining the games for you” and “people are overly sensitive”.
Thank you. Very good point.
And “iT’s JuSt A gAmE” in some of their words, so why are all these non-Asian people fuming here and everywhere else over a clothing texture and an animation that has nothing to do with them to begin with.
Ughhhhhh.
Ale
4 years ago
I’m reading some of these comments and wow you guys are ignorant assholes. I even read a comment calling this communism… right, because South Koreans are sooooo pro communism and this is absolutely what communism is about lmao
Tf is wrong with y’all
abc
4 years ago
Okay, I read all of the comments after mine and also there is one who think Japan is not apologing either. I’d like to talk about why I or we feel like that ‘although they apologized..’ So why this issue is still painful to Korean. Of course the judgement or searching more informations depends on you.
*Caution*
This text is dealing with political topics. And I feel sorry to talk about it in here. But there are many things that most of you might not know, so if you want to know, please read.
One user’s comment about quotes of the japan’s apologies are just from the Wikipedia and it didn’t include the explanation about the political, social background, and what is implicit in.. When it comes to Korean and Japanese grammar, it is totally okay to make sentences without subject and object, and each verb and adjective has really subtle meanings, so Japan made some of their ‘apologies’ so vague. Also many of the ‘apologies’ were made because they had to corrct the bad situation happened by their previous minister who didn’t reflect on their faults in history, (and this is being repeated) or because they wanted to make important contracts with Korea.
If someone stronger punches or slaps you in the face at work or school then says “I am sorry” half- giggling, is that an apology? Is he/she really reflecting on that? There are a lot of statements or actions that later retracted or contradicted or protecting their faults, as much as the number of apologies. (Why is these kind of data hardly translated in English?..) And the head of goverment often worshipped to Yasukuni Shrine even after just he had ‘apologized’, which means he paid tribute to the WAR CRIMINALS instead of VICTIMS..
I admit there are some thoughtful statements, but if they were genuine apologies, they should continue until nowadays. But the Japanese gov. of present day, keep distorting or concealing or stopping apologizing about what they did to victims like territory, enforced sex slaves, forced draft and etc. For instance, above three historical facts are distorted or deleted in the Japanese history education.
Finally, I would like to add this quote:
“Apologies should not end truth seeking nor stifle truth telling by victims. Instead, an apology should encourage a collective reckoning by society of conflict-related crimes or human rights violations carried out in the name of the state. An apology should open up space for accountability rather than close it.”
-from a ICTJ report about Japan’s apologies.
AK
4 years ago
I’m from South Korea, but those who get easily mad about Japanese Culture called “Dae-kkae-moon” and it’s dealt as a mental diseases. Dae-kkae-moons insult Japanese and their culture but loves and post about nintendo switch games, photos of Japanese snack and sushi, and boasting their Japan themed possessions. They are absolutely double-faced. And one more thing, although my ancestor helped independence army of Korea before, but I learned about ‘cultural relativism’ and chose ‘coexistense’ with Japan. We are living 21st century and need to be mature citizens. Do not take it serious to Dae-kkae-moons, they are just attention seekers and just want to be regarded as a nationalist.
Gg
4 years ago
Hello. I heard your opinion. However, this is Korea’s heartbreaking history. Apology never ends, it is a documented history. It’s painful for everyone, but many people can’t wash away the pain, but should we see it again in the game?
It is wrong to show ignorance and ignore Korean history. Ignorance is not a weapon. Like saying that you look as good as you know~
Think about it. Do you want to witness a painful history in the game? I don’t know your answer, but we don’t want to meet, so we made a request to EA. Korean users are also users who can enjoy games easily and have that right.
If the memory is that painful why are we supposed to believe you’d even buy a expansion set in Japan?
I was looking forward to the Shintoism aspect of this pack. Selfish racist assholes who blame all Shintoists and Japanese for the actions of soldiers with outdated moral sensibilities following orders and if I’m remembering correctly doing so under the influence of more drugs than you can find at a pharmaceutical warehouse. Is irrational and unfair. I seriously doubt you even suffer from trans generational trauma given forcing Shintoism on Korea was not even the most immoral thing Japan did in that war. Not to mention why is there no respect for the American value of “freedom of religion” given EA is an American corporation?
Or maybe just maybe, it should be illegal to pretend that things in everyday Japanese culture are somehow explicitly singling out Koreans. Do you remove Christianity from everything because of Imperialism? No you don’t, why? Because there’s nothing inherently evil in the religion itself just some of the people who practice it. Shintoism is the same way.
This is so hypocritical of the Sims team they used Christian imagery in Sims medieval, the hijab is an item in Sims 4, they reference Zen in Spa Day and ancestor worship in Island Living. Why the fuck Korean’s think they’ve got any exclusive rights to erase another cultures religion just because that religion was at one point run by dickbags is beyond me, if that were the case Islam and Christianity and basically every religion under the sun would never see the light of day. The Sims 4 is American they should stand by their belief in religious freedom and just censor the local Korean version and make the choice to worship one that is only done autonomously by sims from that world and everyone player controlled has to chose to do it. Problem solved.
Jenna
4 years ago
If EA put any NAZI signs and Hitler salutein in this game. I totally agree with this disgusting Japanese things. I do not understand why other people(non Korean) speak to us “This is just game why so serious? Japan they have apologised ?!”
A nation that forgets its past has no future.
역사를 잊은 민족에게 미래는 없다.
한국사람들은 들으십시오. 무식한 외국인들 말에 상처받지 마시고 역사를 잊지 마십시다.
V
4 years ago
Wow I can’t believe I’m reading some of these comments in 2020. Some of you are ignorant af and should be ashamed of yourselves.
If you are not a part of the culture that has been affected by the colonialism, you don’t get a say in whether they are “too sensitive or not” or whether they should accept the apology or not.
Also, yes this is a game, however EA made a stance that they are also socially and culturally aware and are trying to be inclusive. So it’s also very understandable that if this game is offensive to many people, they should learn from it. For all of you that’s just saying this is a game get over it, you wouldn’t be saying that if something that was gut wrenchingly offensive (like the Nazi symbol) was included in a pack called “European Vacation”.
No one from Korea is saying they are offended because it’s not based on their culture or that it’s about Japan. They’re simply pointing out EA’s ignorance, orientalism, and lack of education on history. They should have never included something controversial and offensive.
If you are a non-Korean person commenting here about how sensitive Koreans are, that’s a clear sign of white privilege and you should be ashamed of yourselves.
Alpha Man
4 years ago
If you think that rising sun symbol and flag is okay to use, than you shouldn’t say anything to people who use nazi swastika or Confederate flag.
If you think japanese occupation of korea is just past, than you should think that slavery in america and holocost of nazi is just a past.
Shrine visit?? what the heck???? EA are you crazy?
Do you even know what that means to most of Asians except Japanese?
Visiting shrine and bowing to the ancestors are the Japanese culture that is very controversial in East Asian countries that have been suffered by Japan in World War 2.
Because Japanese makes the Shrine for commemorating war criminals and thank them for being their ancestors. Therefore, it is such a big political issue when Japanese political figures visit the shrine and bow them.
Including that kind of Japanese religious act in the game pack is humiliating war victims
We still have grandparents who were born and raised under Japanese rule. There’s remnants of Japanese colonialism that’s still causing conflict and divide in Korean political scene and other areas. There’s still victims of Japanese sex slavery alive today that still haven’t even been properly apologized to. And the younger generation cares because history shouldn’t be forgotten.
Maybe don’t be so outspoken about a topic you don’t have knowledge of
well i’m of jewish ancestry. thanks to the germans, my whole family is strewn out around the world and displaced from our original place.
now i’ll say im offended by the get together world that is obviously german.
be a good person and uninstall the ep NOW. no waits. i’ll campaign for ea to remove the world from the ep in future sold copies, and add a patch that deletes the world forever.
bye, have a nice day, hope you make a difference today! don’t be an evil disgusting soul and keep the get together ep installed~! i’ll be watching you~!!
Where did they ask you or try to force you to not buy this pack as you seem to be implying with this comment?
So out of left field lol
Spence
4 years ago
This is straight up Korean people being racist and prejudiced towards Japanese people. Koreans always fight with and hate the Japanese, I had a foreign exchange student teaching American students how to say slurs and how to say they hated Japanese people in Korean. This is ridiculous and to be honest it’s insensitive and rude to look at Japanese culture this way. We could say American culture is offensive because of the nuclear bomb sent to Japan in WWII. We could say the German culture in one of the early TS4 eps is offensive because of WWII. Come on ppl knock it off this article is straight up racism.
MyssBehaven
4 years ago
Not to mention this is Simtopia so its a made up world “inspired” by different cultures so youre complaining about a made up religion in a game…grow up.
Leigh
4 years ago
Srsly just dont buy it if you dont like it.. Not everyone can be happy or satisfied especially when it is about something cultural
Simmer
4 years ago
Everybody, every country did some bad things in the past.. the question is, what do these countries now? Is a Chinese theme pack really better when they have prisons for minorities who are moslems? Would South Korea be better that has no respect towards women and propaganda of plastic surgery as ‘normal’ behaviour, even for non celebs? Would India be better which is one country with the highest rape rate although it is a so-called democracy?
Why is the Christmas tree an optional download while we are FORCED to have moslem clothing in out game that even stick to our seems as outfits while aging up without even wanting that – and while Christian, Europan countries are still attacked all the time by moslems – even today?
So who cares about Christians? Who cares about Europeans?
If the Korean feel offended by that they might understand how it feels for Christians, Europeans to get the moslemic stuff as forced basic game assets, without the chance to NOT have it in the game while this pack is easy to avoid – just don’t buy it….
Oh and that’s the reason why a game like the Sims should stay away from such cultural and religious things unless it is an optional download how it was with The Sims 3 and theire cultural store bundles that included optional cultural stuff from all over the world…
This. Every country has a disgraceful history. Even Korean forces did lots of war crimes in Vietnam during the Vietnam War and I’ve never seen a single Korean who feels sorry for them.
I agree that staying away from cultural and religious things is the best way, but the pack is going to be released soon anyway
Just don’t buy the pack if you don’t like it period.
Additionally, I think the reason why Christianity has ripped away from the game is that it is the so-called dominant culture..
as a korean I feel so embarrassed. I’ve already pre-ordered it but kinda worried if EA never releases this pack in korea because of this. please just ignore these whinings
This person’s Korean. I think I saw them bragging in a Korean forum about commenting here. I disagree with them but this showcases that even among Koreans there’s divide and disagreement regarding this issue
lol then think as you want, I don’t really care. but in case I need to make it clear that my parents are 100% korean, not japanese 😉 and next time, please don’t serch information on Naver or Youtube.
o
4 years ago
During Japanese rule in Korea, the Japanese forced Koreans to worship at (Japanese) shrines, and if they did not accept, they were killed. This is a very sensitive and painful subject in Korea today, just like the Holocaust.
Okay, but this world is heavily based on being a Japanese world, the name of the world is even Japanese. If it was a S. Korean world with shrines then you’d have a point, but… this just isn’t it lol.
Did we see churches in Selva Dorada? If they wanted to represent South American culture properly perhaps they should have included, but they didn’t. For a good reason. I’m a catholic Colombian and think it was the right call. There are so many other things about Japanese culture they could have done instead of this. I actually think it is pretty wrong to take complex things like that, including religion, and trivialize them like this is doing.
Kinda yeah, we do see colonizer religion in Selvadorada. There’s a catholic missonary style building (the bar), and you can pray at what is clearly meant to represent a statue of a local catholic saint in front of the building itself (Madre Cosecha). Either way, I just think it’s insanely disrespectful to dissalow religious elements from peoples cultures even if those religions did bad things. Judaic and islamic peoples have done bad things in the past too, does that mean we should remove their representation in the game?
Yup.
PSA for people:
조센징 = Jo-sen-jing = “Joseon-person”
(Joseon = old name for the old Korea)
=> Derogatory, demeaning way (a racial slur) of calling Korean person in Japanese
(FYI: Correct, non-derogatory Japanese term for Koreans would be “kankoku-jin”)
(Therefore the person with username 조센징 and saying what they’re saying is trolling and is a shit-stirrer – Don’t give them attention)
I don’t blame people for not noticing because most of them can’t read Korean, which is understandable, but the fact that they DON’T know about this derogatory term shows exactly WHY they shouldn’t be “debating” about Asian culture and telling Koreans to shut up.
They don’t know all the hundreds of years of complicated history that has led up to today, so they have no right to tell Koreans to stop whining and to shut up.
aa
4 years ago
Koreans just hate everything of japan so deleting shrine content is just meaningless.
They ‘never’ be satisfied unless the game release is canceled. Maybe most of them never played SIMS.
you’re actually correct, half of them are not even simmers. they just hates everything if it’s about japan. not ALL koreans hates japanese. I’m really sad this is happening.
This things are not offensive at all. Why? Because so called colonial flag is actually just a fan and there are multiple ones in that swatch. And also shrines have other uses then just this specific one so
Tim
4 years ago
Simmers: This skin tone is a tad too light or too dark for my tastes. This is ruining the game! We need a fix for this IMMEDITEATLY!
Also simmers: Representing legit Japanese war crimes is totally okay. The Koreans are just butthurt and can get over it. Just don’t buy the pack if you’re mad!
Simmers: We shouldn’t have any type of religion in the game! Seasons added holidays, but they shouldn’t include any slight reference to any religion! Not even an option for players who’d like to see it that others can avoid.
Also Simmers: Shrine worship makes perefect sense for this type of pack! Of course we should have that!
“Representing legit Japanese war crimes is totally okay”
I’m sorry, but it’s part of a religion that has NOTHING to do with Korea. All religions have engaged in forced conversion and whatnot, so let’s not single out the Japanese when we have Selvadorada with not so subtle Catholicism/Conquistador theme thrown in there.
Where in the Sims do we have the option to pray in front of a cross? Where in the Sims do we have the option to read the bible and praise yahweh?
Japanese shrines were built in Korea during Japanese occupation (so they WERE part of Japanese-occupied Korea), and Koreans were forced to bow and submit or else have their noses/ears cut off, or worse, be murdered.
Educate YOURSELF first.
Adam
4 years ago
We really are becoming way too sensitive. Kids in cages and we are worried about this… kind of pathetic tbh.
If we’re talking about East Asia, what’s on our minds must be China or Japan. It is natural that EA uses Chinese or Japanese as the basis in the games they make. I think south Korean players want their country to be represented, not because of past trauma.
The level of stupidity in this comment section is ASTRONOMICAL.
Have you seen a map? Do you know anything about the history of that region? That the Koreas played a significant role in the history of that area? Who TF thinks “east Asia” and overlooks South Korea? And the issue was the fact that the shrine design is modeled on the shrines placed in Korea during Japanese occupation, during which Koreans were subjugated and forced to worship the emperor. How do you get “ohhh, Korea just wants to be includeeeeed” from that??
I’m sorry, but the pack is not based in East Asia. It’s based in JAPAN. They can overlook Korea all they want, because Korea isn’t part of Japan at all 🙂
sim player
4 years ago
If the shrine worship was in a non japan map and especially in a korea based world. I could see your point, but this is specifically a japan based world where shrine worship exists. I get the rising sun thing, but the shrine thing feels like a reach.
It’s funny that you “get the rising sun thing, but the shrine thing feels like a reach.”
I’m the total opposite. I understand the issue about the shrine, but the rising sun seems like someone is reaching. This looks more like the logo of a bank here in the States, than any of the images that I’ve seen of the actual “rising sun” flag.
You’re from the States and of course the rising sun flag has no meaning to you.
I grew up seeing the swastika symbol that indicates there’s a buddhist temple nearby.
And for the sake of the example let’s say a Korean company developed a game like the Sims that’s played by players around the world.
Does the fact that I, whose country and ancestors were not directly affected by Nazi Germany, am not personally offended mean that the hypothetical Korean simulation game should include buddhist temples with swastika signage everywhere, and buddhist swastika jewelry?
No.
This. Plus it could just be made non-autonomous (I hadn’t played yet so I don’t know if it even is autonomous or not), and then everyone can just choose to do it or not, it would then be no problem and wouldn’t be erasure of Japanese culture, because it’s a totally normal and respectful non-hateful thing to do at shrines in Japan, both by Japanese and non-Japanese alike.
so sad
4 years ago
I feel broken-hearted for some comments. I am a Korean and I respect all cultures, of course Japan’s too. But this topic treats things that cannot be respected. Why? this is related to the typical way to destroy one country’s culture and spirit. For example, a person walked on the board covered with sharp-edged nails and tacks, because he/she didn’t worship at a shrine for keeping one’s faith. Almost all Koreans and missionaries in Korea suffered a sense of loss, or torture until they die or get a disease because of this shrine worship.
Even if Nazi salute is still used in Germany without any consciousness, we shouldn’t respect it. Because it is a part of cruel imperialism. (Although Nazi salute originated from Rome, it is banned since World War Ⅱ.) Shrine worship needs to be set in the same context. So it can’t be a respectable culture at least from a third party’s point of view.
The history of long ago, so to be forgettable or forgivable? How the heck can we forget or forgive the cruel history without ‘an apology’ to ask for forgiveness? Korea has been waiting for the apology from japan. But Japanese don’t apologize and even they seem to wait until there is no one who remember their faults. As a result they don’t recognize the wrong in what they are doing. (I apologize if you think my words are too aggressive, but these are true as you can see) Ignoring doesn’t mean they did nothing. Not to forget about the history, we respond to this issue sensitively.
Anyway the point is that this new content related with obviously inhumane, unsolved problems cannot be enjoyable cultural part. So I hope EA collect this opinion and take action.
Thank you for reading this so long text, and sorry for sharing the Korean’s headache.
Have a nice day with some your consciousness-raising.
June 22, 1965: Minister of Foreign Affairs Shiina Etsusaburo said to the people of South Korea: “In our two countries’ long history there have been unfortunate times, it is truly regrettable and we are deeply remorseful” (Signing of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and South Korea).
August 26, 1982: Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiichi Miyazawa said to the people of the Republic of Korea: “1. The Japanese Government and the Japanese people are deeply aware of the fact that acts by our country in the past caused tremendous suffering and damage to the peoples of Asian countries, including the Republic of Korea (ROK) and China, and have followed the path of a pacifist state with remorse and determination that such acts must never be repeated. Japan has recognized, in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, of 1965, that the ‘past relations are regrettable, and Japan feels deep remorse,’ and in the Japan-China Joint Communique, that Japan is ‘keenly conscious of the responsibility for the serious damage that Japan caused in the past to the Chinese people through war and deeply reproaches itself.’ These statements confirm Japan’s remorse and determination which I stated above and this recognition has not changed at all to this day. 2. This spirit in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, and the Japan-China Joint Communique, naturally should also be respected in Japan’s school education and textbook authorization.
1989: Prime Minister Takeshita Noboru, in a speech in the Japanese Diet, said: “As we have made clear previously at repeated opportunities, the Japanese government and the Japanese people are deeply conscious of the fact that the actions of our country in the past caused suffering and loss to many people in neighboring countries. Starting from our regret and resolve not to repeat such things a second time, we have followed a course as a “Peace Nation” since then. This awareness and regret should be emphasized especially in the relationship between our countries and the Korean Peninsula, our nearest neighbors both geographically and historically. At this opportunity as we face a new situation in the Korean Peninsula, again, to all peoples of the globe, concerning the relationship of the past, we want to express our deep regret and sorrow” (Speech in the Japanese Diet).
April 18, 1990: Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Nakayama said to the people of South Korea: “Japan is deeply sorry for the tragedy in which these (Korean) people were moved to Sakhalin not of their own free will but by the design of the Japanese government and had to remain there after the conclusion of the war” (188th National Diet Session Lower House Committee of Foreign Affairs).[12]
May 25, 1990: Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, in a meeting with President Roh Tae Woo, said: “I would like to take the opportunity here to humbly reflect upon how the people of the Korean Peninsula went through unbearable pain and sorrow as a result of our country’s actions during a certain period in the past and to express that we are sorry” (Summit meeting with President Roh Tae Woo in Japan).[14]
January 17, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, at a policy speech on a visit to South Korea, said:. “What we should not forget about relationship between our nation and your nation is a fact that there was a certain period in the thousands of years of our company when we were the victimizer and you were the victim. I would like to once again express a heartfelt remorse and apology for the unbearable suffering and sorrow that you experienced during this period because of our nation’s act.” Recently the issue of the so-called ‘wartime comfort women’ is being brought up. I think that incidents like this are seriously heartbreaking, and I am truly sorry”.[16]
July 6, 1992. Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato said: “The Government again would like to express its sincere apology and remorse to all those who have suffered indescribable hardship as so-called ‘wartime comfort women,’ irrespective of their nationality or place of birth. With profound remorse and determination that such a mistake must never be repeated, Japan will maintain its stance as a pacifist nation and will endeavor to build up new future-oriented relations with the Republic of Korea and with other countries and regions in Asia. As I listen to many people, I feel truly grieved for this issue. By listening to the opinions of people from various directions, I would like to consider sincerely in what way we can express our feelings to those who suffered such hardship”
June 23, 1996: Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said in a press conference: “Hashimoto mentioned the aspects of Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula such as the forced Japanization of Korean people’s name and commented “It is beyond imagination how this injured the hearts of Korean people”. Hashimoto also touched on the issue of Korean comfort women and said “Nothing injured the honor and dignity of women more than this and I would like to extend words of deep remorse and the heartfelt apology”
October 8, 1996: Emperor Akihito said in a speech at a dinner with the South Korean president, Kim Dae Jung: “There was a period when our nation brought to bear great sufferings upon the people of the Korean Peninsula.” “The deep sorrow that I feel over this will never be forgotten”.
October 8, 1998: Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi said in a declaration: “Looking back on the relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea during this century, Prime Minister Obuchi regarded in a spirit of humility the fact of history that Japan caused, during a certain period in the past, tremendous damage and suffering to the people of the Republic of Korea through its colonial rule, and expressed his deep remorse and heartfelt apology for this fact. President Kim accepted with sincerity this statement of Prime Minister Obuchi’s recognition of history and expressed his appreciation for it. He also expressed his view that the present calls upon both countries to overcome their unfortunate history and to build a future-oriented relationship based on reconciliation as well as good-neighborly and friendly cooperation” (Japan-South Korea Joint Declaration A New Japan-South Korea Partnership towards the Twenty-first Century).[31]
September 17, 2002: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: “The Japanese side regards, in a spirit of humility, the facts of history that Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of Korea through its colonial rule in the past, and expressed deep remorse and heartfelt apology” (Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration).[39]
August 10, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed “deep regret over the suffering inflicted” during the Empire of Japan’s colonial rule over Korea. Japan’s Kyodo News also reported that Cabinet members endorsed the statement. In addition, Kan said that Japan will hand over precious cultural artifacts that South Korea has been demanding. Among them were records of an ancient Korean royal dynasty.[46]
December 7, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized for Korea’s suffering under colonization as part of a statement marking the 100th anniversary of the annexation in 1910. “I express a renewed feeling of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology for the tremendous damage and suffering caused by colonial rule,” Kan said. Kan said Japan colonized Korea “against the will of the Korean people” who suffered great damage to their national pride and loss of culture and sovereignty as a result and added that he wants to take an honest look at his country’s past with the courage and humility to address its history.[48]
December 28, 2015: Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se made an announcement at a joint press conference, which consisted of their respective statements on behalf of Japan and South Korea. Kishida stated, “The issue of comfort women, with an involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that time, was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women, and the Government of Japan is painfully aware of responsibilities from this perspective. As Prime Minister of Japan, Prime Minister Abe expresses anew his most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.” The statement went on to explain that “the Government of Japan will now take measures to heal psychological wounds of all former comfort women through its budget” and that it had been decided that the South Korean government would “establish a foundation for the purpose of providing support for the former comfort women”. In return, Yun stated that his government “acknowledges the fact that the Government of Japan is concerned about the statue built in front of the Embassy of Japan in Seoul from the viewpoint of preventing any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity, and will strive to solve this issue in an appropriate manner”. Both stated that this agreement will “finally and irreversibly” resolve the contentious issue and that “on the premise that the Government of Japan will steadily implement the measures it announced”, both countries “will refrain from accusing or criticizing each other regarding this issue in the international community, including at the United Nations”.[54]
lol where is the apology? If someone kills your family and they say “I want to express that there were many wrong doing between us and we have suffered too much. I acknowledge the fact that you were force to be on this position and it was unfortunately event. Not stop criticizing me and blaming me!”, is this apology to you?
Valeria
4 years ago
I play The Sims to avoid politics. I suspend my disbelief. The Sims live in their own Sim world, have their own Sim countries, have a deep Sim history, speak their own Sim language, and have their own Sim culture. They are praying to ME, their Sim God.
I would love to avoid politics in the Sims as well.
Unfortunately the game put components that remind me of the painful, horrendous part of my country’s history, and what seems like the majority of people, who mostly have no idea about the history and don’t give a crap are telling us to stop being butthurt and shut up.
I would love to avoid politics in the Sims. But I can’t.
Lol simgod I love it!!! People get very worked up so easily now a days
Mimi
4 years ago
So sad too
Why some Korean bring up politics stuff in video game or everything and keep telling lies…
Japanese government apologized more than 3 times and paid reparations every time. (and for other)
I just want to many people have fun who playing this game cause SIMS always fun.
how strange. the koreans are all up in this thread and in the youtube trailer saying that the japanese haven’t apolgised. i guess the koreans are lying then.
i don’t get what has them so salty about this pack. tbh, i think it’s because they are mad the ep isn’t based in their country and is instead based in their mortal enemy japan. even if there had been no shrine, they would have found something to complain or bash the ep about.
Might be, but better for EA to just stay away.
Just like how the swastika is just a buddhist symbol but it should have no place in the game.
Ale
4 years ago
I’m reading some of these comments and wow you guys are ignorant assholes. I even read a comment calling this communism… right, because South Koreans are sooooo pro communism and this is absolutely what communism is about lmao
Tf is wrong with y’all
This is a game, not a subject to learn in school. Are you kidding me with this! This world is going to hell and is becoming communist. Every one is butthurt, get over it. It’s just a very cool game and a complete fantasy with made up worlds. Why don’t the offended go and create their own communistic games, where everybody’s the same, and everything is equal and peachy keen.
Butthurt well I am butthurt about Star Wars. How come in real life we don’t have spaceships yet that is because we are too idiotic arguing about what happened in the past. Most of those people are dead. And you’re talking about colonizers well then you’re going to have to look at white people and don’t do anything their culture dose: can’t speak English, French, German, etc, can’t eat any of their food, can’t wear their clothes, can’t listen to their music. Now same goes for Japanese so now what am I supposed to do with my Toyota drive it off the bridge? Is this what the world really wants? Punishing a culture for its past? This is disgusting.
I agree. While on one hand I understand the frustration over these two pictures, I also think that the young generation of South Korea have to stop this feud between Japan and Korea. Practically all European countries have forgiven Germany a looong time ago, and we visit old war bunkers to learn about horrific past, but do not become aggravated, because it’s in the past.
It’s time to forgive – and celebrate Japanese culture for what it is.
And as Kelly’s saying, while it’s inspired by Japanese culture, the game is a fantasy! Just change what the shrines mean in your game – you have the freedom and power to do that.
Stop getting offended just to be offended. You can avoid using the shrine interaction, you can choose a different swatch for the yukata, I’m sure there are plenty others.
You are ignorant af
I’m a Korean, and I personally have mixed feelings about this. I agree you that the relationship between Korea and Japan should be clarified one way or another, but do know that it is very complicated. The very vestige of Japanese imperialism is deeply woven into Korean history, economy, politics and of course the nation’s social feelings even until now. It’s not about just being “offended.”
And your Nazi analogy is quite inaccurate – yeah many European countries got over Germany, but you certainly don’t want EA to put Nazi flags on some frickin sims’ clothes lol. I can also kinda imagine why EA adopted shrine culture – it’s a part of Japanese culture – but as it is indicated in the original Korean comment, the concept is not very comfortable for the people living in the once-colonized country. Yes, I know that Japan has many gods and most of the shrines are for worshiping gods. But the concern is that some Japanese shrines have imperialists who had done horrible things to their colonies and many politicians in Japan (usually on far-right) still bow to that. It’s a political matter too. Imagine that there’s a monument worshiping dedicated to war criminals in your game that you can make your sim bow to.
Personally I don’t know about the shrine, but I certainly oppose to the clothes with rising sun imagery. (The situation’s quite funny when you realize that this is an American game lol) The game should be enjoyable to everyone, especially when Korean users are accounting for a significant proportion of sims lovers – after all it’s a new ‘snowy’ expansion pack, not ‘Japan’ expansion pack. Why include it if it’s controversial?
I agree that the rising sun imagery should be taken down and that they should keep the shrine interactions. But I will point out that the pack description does literally say the furniture is “Japanese-inspired” and all the words they use are Japanese such as “onsen”, “genkan”, and “tatami”. So I think it’s safe to say that this world is specifically Japanese-based. I would get rid of the rising sun imagery since that was the official flag of the military, but keep the shrine worshipping since that is still something that modern japanese people do.
Wow. You’re likening Korea’s subjugation by Japan, and erasure of their culture, and Koreans being FORCED to worship at Japanese shrines, to communism? Do you even know what Communism is? Do you realize communism and colonialism are two different things? Like, I’m sorry Karen (I mean, Kelly) if other people being hurt is like super inconvenient for you, but they’re not obligated to keep you comfortable just because you don’t have empathy. Sociopath.
Maybe you need to embrace some new subjects, in fact, because you sound like a moron right now. You could certainly benefit from some empathy, because you sound like a selfish asshole right about now. While I’m sure you’ve lived a fairly privileged life, I’m sure there are things of value to you that would upset you if they were misrepresented. Like your religion, or the history of your country (since you’re white and probably American, I can’t say culture. lol).
The Sims is a life simulation game, that means it should be enjoyable by ALL people, not just a select few. While I agree that this is a game and I don’t think fictional characters should be held to human social standards of conduct, I do believe that everyone has a right to their opinions and how a game makes them feel when they play it. Not everyone’s experience with TS4 is going to be the same. For you to diminish someone else’s experience by trying to eclipse it with your own is not only showing your white privilege, but you are telling people that you only care about your experience with the game and no one else’s. What kind of message are you trying to get across? You call people overly sensitive, but these things never happened to you. So who are you to tell another person how they should feel about an experience? As a white female this offends even me that you would act and say something so insensitive. You can’t got through life only looking through your own perspective, you should never close yourself or your mind off to seeing things from another’s perspective. I stand in solidarity with my Korean sisters and I will not be buying this pack of that is the case. As a company EA has a track record a mile long of doing shady and immoral things to turn a quick profit.
This is their equivalent to Nazi imagery. I don’t like SJWs either, but a less narrow worldview and a slight idea of other culture’s nuances would help you understand WHY they are so angry. This is a touchy subject and there are still tensions over Japan’s WWII war crimes.
Oh, yeah. Then I wanna see your reaction if EA has drawn a design of “NAZI FLAG”. PUT YOURSELF IN OTHER’S SHOES!!! It’s not about it’s just the game or not. Rising Sun Flag is the insult to other Asian countries, like Korea.
I’m majoring Japanese language in college and I love Japanese culture. But, Shrine Worship and Rising Sun Flag? That is absolutely the problem that we should consider.
When japan had succeeded taking control of Korea’s solid, they forced Koreans to participate in Shrine worship, if not, Japanese cops harshly punished them.
Rising Sun Flag represents the imperialism and invasion same as NAZI FLAG.
Just a game?? Then why EA had claimed to advocate LGBT and BLACK LIVES MATTER?? Even though it’s just a game as you said??
I agree with the freedom of expression and I think too much Political Correction should not interfere the development of game. BUT, IT’S THE ANOTHER PROBLEM, NOT A COMMUNISM AND NOT A PC ISSUES.
RISING SUN FLAG = NAZI FLAG
Ok so KOREAN FLAG = NAZI FLAG
In you theory, South Korean Flag should be banned at all because it represents massive rape and massacre done by South Korea in Vietnam War. The worst thing is that South Korea government has never apologized what they did, and is still continuing to insult the Vietnamese victims by revisionism. Shame on your hypocrisy.
I play The Sims to avoid politics. I suspend my disbelief. The Sims live in their own Sim world, have their own Sim countries, have a deep Sim history, speak their own Sim language, and have their own Sim culture. They are praying to ME, their Sim God.
Lol simgod I love it!!! People get very worked up so easily now a days
I would love to avoid politics in the Sims as well.
Unfortunately the game put components that remind me of the painful, horrendous part of my country’s history, and what seems like the majority of people, who mostly have no idea about the history and don’t give a crap are telling us to stop being butthurt and shut up.
I would love to avoid politics in the Sims. But I can’t.
If we’re talking about East Asia, what’s on our minds must be China or Japan. It is natural that EA uses Chinese or Japanese as the basis in the games they make. I think south Korean players want their country to be represented, not because of past trauma.
The level of stupidity in this comment section is ASTRONOMICAL.
Have you seen a map? Do you know anything about the history of that region? That the Koreas played a significant role in the history of that area? Who TF thinks “east Asia” and overlooks South Korea? And the issue was the fact that the shrine design is modeled on the shrines placed in Korea during Japanese occupation, during which Koreans were subjugated and forced to worship the emperor. How do you get “ohhh, Korea just wants to be includeeeeed” from that??
I’m sorry, but the pack is not based in East Asia. It’s based in JAPAN. They can overlook Korea all they want, because Korea isn’t part of Japan at all 🙂
Simmers: This skin tone is a tad too light or too dark for my tastes. This is ruining the game! We need a fix for this IMMEDITEATLY!
Also simmers: Representing legit Japanese war crimes is totally okay. The Koreans are just butthurt and can get over it. Just don’t buy the pack if you’re mad!
Simmers: We shouldn’t have any type of religion in the game! Seasons added holidays, but they shouldn’t include any slight reference to any religion! Not even an option for players who’d like to see it that others can avoid.
Also Simmers: Shrine worship makes perefect sense for this type of pack! Of course we should have that!
LMAO, the bias is so real.
“Representing legit Japanese war crimes is totally okay”
I’m sorry, but it’s part of a religion that has NOTHING to do with Korea. All religions have engaged in forced conversion and whatnot, so let’s not single out the Japanese when we have Selvadorada with not so subtle Catholicism/Conquistador theme thrown in there.
Please educate yourself first.
Where in the Sims do we have the option to pray in front of a cross? Where in the Sims do we have the option to read the bible and praise yahweh?
Japanese shrines were built in Korea during Japanese occupation (so they WERE part of Japanese-occupied Korea), and Koreans were forced to bow and submit or else have their noses/ears cut off, or worse, be murdered.
Educate YOURSELF first.
We really are becoming way too sensitive. Kids in cages and we are worried about this… kind of pathetic tbh.
This is like The Sims 25 featuring a pack with a border patrol career and “holding tanks” for kids without parents. If that helps you grasp it.
your hyperbole is so stupid it’s almost funny.
I feel broken-hearted for some comments. I am a Korean and I respect all cultures, of course Japan’s too. But this topic treats things that cannot be respected. Why? this is related to the typical way to destroy one country’s culture and spirit. For example, a person walked on the board covered with sharp-edged nails and tacks, because he/she didn’t worship at a shrine for keeping one’s faith. Almost all Koreans and missionaries in Korea suffered a sense of loss, or torture until they die or get a disease because of this shrine worship.
Even if Nazi salute is still used in Germany without any consciousness, we shouldn’t respect it. Because it is a part of cruel imperialism. (Although Nazi salute originated from Rome, it is banned since World War Ⅱ.) Shrine worship needs to be set in the same context. So it can’t be a respectable culture at least from a third party’s point of view.
The history of long ago, so to be forgettable or forgivable? How the heck can we forget or forgive the cruel history without ‘an apology’ to ask for forgiveness? Korea has been waiting for the apology from japan. But Japanese don’t apologize and even they seem to wait until there is no one who remember their faults. As a result they don’t recognize the wrong in what they are doing. (I apologize if you think my words are too aggressive, but these are true as you can see) Ignoring doesn’t mean they did nothing. Not to forget about the history, we respond to this issue sensitively.
Anyway the point is that this new content related with obviously inhumane, unsolved problems cannot be enjoyable cultural part. So I hope EA collect this opinion and take action.
Thank you for reading this so long text, and sorry for sharing the Korean’s headache.
Have a nice day with some your consciousness-raising.
June 22, 1965: Minister of Foreign Affairs Shiina Etsusaburo said to the people of South Korea: “In our two countries’ long history there have been unfortunate times, it is truly regrettable and we are deeply remorseful” (Signing of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and South Korea).
August 26, 1982: Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiichi Miyazawa said to the people of the Republic of Korea: “1. The Japanese Government and the Japanese people are deeply aware of the fact that acts by our country in the past caused tremendous suffering and damage to the peoples of Asian countries, including the Republic of Korea (ROK) and China, and have followed the path of a pacifist state with remorse and determination that such acts must never be repeated. Japan has recognized, in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, of 1965, that the ‘past relations are regrettable, and Japan feels deep remorse,’ and in the Japan-China Joint Communique, that Japan is ‘keenly conscious of the responsibility for the serious damage that Japan caused in the past to the Chinese people through war and deeply reproaches itself.’ These statements confirm Japan’s remorse and determination which I stated above and this recognition has not changed at all to this day. 2. This spirit in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, and the Japan-China Joint Communique, naturally should also be respected in Japan’s school education and textbook authorization.
1989: Prime Minister Takeshita Noboru, in a speech in the Japanese Diet, said: “As we have made clear previously at repeated opportunities, the Japanese government and the Japanese people are deeply conscious of the fact that the actions of our country in the past caused suffering and loss to many people in neighboring countries. Starting from our regret and resolve not to repeat such things a second time, we have followed a course as a “Peace Nation” since then. This awareness and regret should be emphasized especially in the relationship between our countries and the Korean Peninsula, our nearest neighbors both geographically and historically. At this opportunity as we face a new situation in the Korean Peninsula, again, to all peoples of the globe, concerning the relationship of the past, we want to express our deep regret and sorrow” (Speech in the Japanese Diet).
April 18, 1990: Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Nakayama said to the people of South Korea: “Japan is deeply sorry for the tragedy in which these (Korean) people were moved to Sakhalin not of their own free will but by the design of the Japanese government and had to remain there after the conclusion of the war” (188th National Diet Session Lower House Committee of Foreign Affairs).[12]
May 25, 1990: Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, in a meeting with President Roh Tae Woo, said: “I would like to take the opportunity here to humbly reflect upon how the people of the Korean Peninsula went through unbearable pain and sorrow as a result of our country’s actions during a certain period in the past and to express that we are sorry” (Summit meeting with President Roh Tae Woo in Japan).[14]
January 17, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, at a policy speech on a visit to South Korea, said:. “What we should not forget about relationship between our nation and your nation is a fact that there was a certain period in the thousands of years of our company when we were the victimizer and you were the victim. I would like to once again express a heartfelt remorse and apology for the unbearable suffering and sorrow that you experienced during this period because of our nation’s act.” Recently the issue of the so-called ‘wartime comfort women’ is being brought up. I think that incidents like this are seriously heartbreaking, and I am truly sorry”.[16]
July 6, 1992. Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato said: “The Government again would like to express its sincere apology and remorse to all those who have suffered indescribable hardship as so-called ‘wartime comfort women,’ irrespective of their nationality or place of birth. With profound remorse and determination that such a mistake must never be repeated, Japan will maintain its stance as a pacifist nation and will endeavor to build up new future-oriented relations with the Republic of Korea and with other countries and regions in Asia. As I listen to many people, I feel truly grieved for this issue. By listening to the opinions of people from various directions, I would like to consider sincerely in what way we can express our feelings to those who suffered such hardship”
June 23, 1996: Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said in a press conference: “Hashimoto mentioned the aspects of Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula such as the forced Japanization of Korean people’s name and commented “It is beyond imagination how this injured the hearts of Korean people”. Hashimoto also touched on the issue of Korean comfort women and said “Nothing injured the honor and dignity of women more than this and I would like to extend words of deep remorse and the heartfelt apology”
October 8, 1996: Emperor Akihito said in a speech at a dinner with the South Korean president, Kim Dae Jung: “There was a period when our nation brought to bear great sufferings upon the people of the Korean Peninsula.” “The deep sorrow that I feel over this will never be forgotten”.
October 8, 1998: Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi said in a declaration: “Looking back on the relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea during this century, Prime Minister Obuchi regarded in a spirit of humility the fact of history that Japan caused, during a certain period in the past, tremendous damage and suffering to the people of the Republic of Korea through its colonial rule, and expressed his deep remorse and heartfelt apology for this fact. President Kim accepted with sincerity this statement of Prime Minister Obuchi’s recognition of history and expressed his appreciation for it. He also expressed his view that the present calls upon both countries to overcome their unfortunate history and to build a future-oriented relationship based on reconciliation as well as good-neighborly and friendly cooperation” (Japan-South Korea Joint Declaration A New Japan-South Korea Partnership towards the Twenty-first Century).[31]
September 17, 2002: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: “The Japanese side regards, in a spirit of humility, the facts of history that Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of Korea through its colonial rule in the past, and expressed deep remorse and heartfelt apology” (Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration).[39]
August 10, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed “deep regret over the suffering inflicted” during the Empire of Japan’s colonial rule over Korea. Japan’s Kyodo News also reported that Cabinet members endorsed the statement. In addition, Kan said that Japan will hand over precious cultural artifacts that South Korea has been demanding. Among them were records of an ancient Korean royal dynasty.[46]
December 7, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized for Korea’s suffering under colonization as part of a statement marking the 100th anniversary of the annexation in 1910. “I express a renewed feeling of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology for the tremendous damage and suffering caused by colonial rule,” Kan said. Kan said Japan colonized Korea “against the will of the Korean people” who suffered great damage to their national pride and loss of culture and sovereignty as a result and added that he wants to take an honest look at his country’s past with the courage and humility to address its history.[48]
December 28, 2015: Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se made an announcement at a joint press conference, which consisted of their respective statements on behalf of Japan and South Korea. Kishida stated, “The issue of comfort women, with an involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that time, was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women, and the Government of Japan is painfully aware of responsibilities from this perspective. As Prime Minister of Japan, Prime Minister Abe expresses anew his most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.” The statement went on to explain that “the Government of Japan will now take measures to heal psychological wounds of all former comfort women through its budget” and that it had been decided that the South Korean government would “establish a foundation for the purpose of providing support for the former comfort women”. In return, Yun stated that his government “acknowledges the fact that the Government of Japan is concerned about the statue built in front of the Embassy of Japan in Seoul from the viewpoint of preventing any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity, and will strive to solve this issue in an appropriate manner”. Both stated that this agreement will “finally and irreversibly” resolve the contentious issue and that “on the premise that the Government of Japan will steadily implement the measures it announced”, both countries “will refrain from accusing or criticizing each other regarding this issue in the international community, including at the United Nations”.[54]
oh, so they have apologised!
interesting read, thank you for posting.
well, there it goes I guess.
lol where is the apology? If someone kills your family and they say “I want to express that there were many wrong doing between us and we have suffered too much. I acknowledge the fact that you were force to be on this position and it was unfortunately event. Not stop criticizing me and blaming me!”, is this apology to you?
Germany apologized for exterminating millions during WWII, so now I can go put a swastika shirt in my sims game and it’s totally fine!
So sad too
Why some Korean bring up politics stuff in video game or everything and keep telling lies…
Japanese government apologized more than 3 times and paid reparations every time. (and for other)
I just want to many people have fun who playing this game cause SIMS always fun.
how strange. the koreans are all up in this thread and in the youtube trailer saying that the japanese haven’t apolgised. i guess the koreans are lying then.
i don’t get what has them so salty about this pack. tbh, i think it’s because they are mad the ep isn’t based in their country and is instead based in their mortal enemy japan. even if there had been no shrine, they would have found something to complain or bash the ep about.
If the shrine worship was in a non japan map and especially in a korea based world. I could see your point, but this is specifically a japan based world where shrine worship exists. I get the rising sun thing, but the shrine thing feels like a reach.
It’s funny that you “get the rising sun thing, but the shrine thing feels like a reach.”
I’m the total opposite. I understand the issue about the shrine, but the rising sun seems like someone is reaching. This looks more like the logo of a bank here in the States, than any of the images that I’ve seen of the actual “rising sun” flag.
You’re from the States and of course the rising sun flag has no meaning to you.
I grew up seeing the swastika symbol that indicates there’s a buddhist temple nearby.
And for the sake of the example let’s say a Korean company developed a game like the Sims that’s played by players around the world.
Does the fact that I, whose country and ancestors were not directly affected by Nazi Germany, am not personally offended mean that the hypothetical Korean simulation game should include buddhist temples with swastika signage everywhere, and buddhist swastika jewelry?
No.
If they are correct in their assertions, Christianity is also deeply rooted in war. The Koreans are crazy.
Christianity and “Christians” have committed atrocities in the name of religion. Hence symbols like the cross and items like the bible are not part of this game at all.
Same rule of avoiding potentially sensitive aspects of culture and religion should be applied to ALL packs.
Also, in case you can’t read, Koreans are not angry about the religion of Shinto. This issue is not about religion in and of itself at all.
lmao this can’t be serious lack of cars and open world are far more worrying than this.
That is exactly the type of uneducated redneck ignorant thinking that just perpetuates racism, ignorance and indifference to anything that didn’t directly affect white people.
You would not be saying the same thing if it was a German pack with an option to buy swastika flags to decorate with, and do the Nazi salute.
You’re blanketing all white people with Nazis .. that’s uneducated and ignorant.
I hope EA does address this issue, seems like they’ve dropped the ball again.
They have addressed the issue.
They got rid of the bowing motion and the Rising Sun swatches.
The shrines themselves are staying, don’t worry all of you non-Japanese people suddenly obsessed with observing Japanese religious customs
Hey guess what!! ITS A GAME! if your offended by it then don’t play it. Call of duty is a game about killing other people, Farcry is about cultures killing and kidnapping people… Shall I go on. Sims is a game about playing how you want to play it’s accuracy on today’s cultures shouldn’t have a say in what they choose to put in the game when there are other games that are way “worse” but in the end they are all just GAMES
if you market your game to people who do care about social issues you should listen to them about social issues
I thought that too…
Their getting mad because ep isn’t based in their country…
But there is some reasons they keep saying like that.
Got anti Japanese education and believing everything or believing convenient fabrication history for them.
And for money…and another…
Although, people trying to get along are increase recently than before.
Anyway, I hope players like that pack and enjoy it because I’m glad based on Japan!
And apologize for my poor English lol
This is reply to jaks
And what makes you think your “education” (if at all) is not biased, and that it’s not fabricated” in some way shape or form?
I’m Korean, and I’m perfectly fine with the pack being Japanese. There are other parts of Japanese culture that are cool and not offensive.
That’s not the issue.
I think everyone needs too calm down for now, give EA a chance too comment, maybe it’s not what it looks like, I’m sure EA wouldn’t of done this on purpose
Bunch of douche bag thinking about game very seriously? Its a game dumbass! Do you have to take this serious?
one can only imagine Jovan Jovic’s face when he sees this mess of comments lol
To be honest, we are jealous of the popularity of Japanese culture.
Korea is getting more and more popular everyday because of Kpop, Kdramas, and KBBQ food. So don’t be too jealous. Lots of Southeast Asian countries are jealous of Korea lol.
You probably didn’t realize, but this person’s using the name of a Korean ex-president who won the Nobel Peace Prize (Kim dae-jung), and is hated & mocked by extreme right. This person’s not being genuine, they’re just trolling and trying to stir shit up.
Honestly? Getting offended over imagery? That shows how bad and easily offended the Sims community and EAxis has become. No wonder Sims 4 is the worst iteration in the franchise. I play the game to escape real life, not have some silly controversial plum shoved down my throat. Sometimes I wonder why EA chose to pander to the SJW crowd in the first place. If you can’t respond to different opinions in a mature way, that says a lot about you as a person.
Besides, if EAxis is so worried about representation, why haven’t they included every single culture and tradition? Would that be too much for them? I thought they have intended for the Sims 4 to be all equal, happy joy joy, and a safe space simulator… unless I’m missing something. Why don’t they call it quits on the Sims franchise altogether, since TS4 is already lackluster without all the pandering?
Dude… This is their equivalent to Nazi imagery. I hate SJWs and Tumblr snowflakes, but this is a whole different level than just getting upset over lack of skintones (that you an easily just download CC for).
This isn’t just social justice bullshit. It’s decades of tension between two countries over colonialism and war crimes (real neat stuff, you know like human experimentation, mass murders, and sexual slavery). Expanding your worldview would probably help you understand cultural nuances outside the western world. You wouldn’t sound so ignorant.
Indeed, can’t wait ’till we get 193 packs to represent each and every country, lol!
Different person here, and yes, I understand your sarcasm and I agree completely. EA CANNOT possibly represent each and every country and culture, which is exactly why they should steer clear of topics and cultural aspects that can cause controversies like this.
Sims 4 has avoided putting symbols and aspects of cultures and religions that can be controversial so far (eg. no Christian cross, no “Chirstmas” (just winterfest), etc.) so why must they now include shinto and imagery that has even the slightest resemblance to the Rising Sun? Why couldn’t they replace those with other non-controversial aspects of Japanese culture?
If they had done a tad more research, they would’ve realized the potential for controversies and would’ve (and should’ve) left them out.
(+ The argument “Shinto is a huge part of Japanese culture and shrines are everywhere, of course it has to be included” doesn’t stand because religion has shaped the cultures of so many different countries but they’ve been left out)
Koreans have no complaints about Sims making expansion packs with Japanese culture. The only thing that matters is the shrine worship interaction. It is related to the pain of Japan’s colonial rule of Korea. Many Koreans who refused to worship the shrine were killed by the Japanese military. That is less than a hundred years old. So We want EA to delete the interaction with the shrine worship.
People were slaughtered for not worshipping these shirines. And Japan dosen’t apologize or even acknowledge these past including genocidal rape. And EA just represented symbol of Japanese war crime in sims4. This is why korean people including other country that suffered from Japanese war crime are so mad.
That’s not the Rising Sun, those are hand fans.
Might be, but better for EA to just stay away.
Just like how the swastika is just a buddhist symbol but it should have no place in the game.
There are sooo many ppl trying to confuse this issue. It is neither about jealousy nor hysteria. The point is- THERE ARE PROBLEMS in this pack! And yeah, they are problematic I think coz I’ve googled and read some articles about S.Korea and Japan, and got to know there had been the far more complicated history then I thought.
It is too hard to judge after seeing only this comment section, dudes 😮
Yes,
People who are uneducated about the issues should do their own research, or AT LEAST a 2 minute google search before they put their uneducated opinions forward.
It’s not their fault that they’re uneducated about east Asian history that goes back decades and centuries and more. They don’t learn it as part of basic schooling, that’s not their fault.
But PLEASE for the love of whatever they believe in, these people need to spewing ignorance.
yup, this is a game. just game.
I want to recommend that next pack ‘spring in germany’
please add new Nazi’s Hakenkreuz flag
I like Germany more than Japan
Because it was Japanese who killed my family NOT NAZZI
So please let me use that nazzi’s flag too
there is no “Willy Brandt” in japan
Japan has never apologized,
Japan gave money to Park Jung-hee(=Masao Takaki Dedicates Loyalty to the King of Japan)
Only $300 million, The money was not received by the victim.
please Japan asks Park Jeong-hee’s daughter to return the money
there are comments above that quote how Japan has apologised. Please stop lying.
And comparing what the Nazis did to this, let me tell you as a Jew, that is completely out of line, please stop with that too.
and as many have said, that’s a fan, not a flag. Are all of you missing your glasses?
Please stop saying Koreans shouldn’t voice pain and anger caused by imperial Japan’s atrocities, that is completely out of YOUR line.
Sure Japan made some pacifying gestures (inadequate mostly), but you also don’t know the complicated political, economical and cultural implications behind those gestures, let alone the long ass history between Korea and Japan.
And by your logic, I hope you’d be ok with EA putting in swastikas on clothing in a hypothetical “Asian” pack because it’s a buddhist symbol. I hope you’ll have YOUR glasses on then.
I’m unsure if you’re the same commenter from above, I’ll guess so. You stated above that they hadn’t apologised, and continue to say that they have made “pacifying gestures” and that they are “inadequate mostly” (judged by whom? by you?). If you scroll up a bit, there is a very long and good post with dates of all the times the Japanese or the Japanese government has apologised; usually in the presence of South Korean government officials – who never interrupted the Japanese to say that such “pacifying gestures” (as you deem them) were “inadequate”.
I have read history as a hobby, as I am interested in it, since I was a young kid, since I was eight years-old. I think you saying that “you also don’t know the long ass history between Korea and Japan” is crude and inaccurate. I would suggest you to stop assuming things about other people without asking them first, it’s quite impolite.
I indeed know of he significance of the Swastika for Indian esotericism and culture. I for one can separate the terrible use it was given by the Nazis and Nazism, to the positive and honest use that it has been given by Hindus and Buddhism, especially since its use dated much earlier than the Nazis. To brand India, Buddhism, or Hindus in general – as Nazi sympathizers would be so ridiculous and inaccurate, that your comparison is making me feel almost insulted.
People are comparing the shrines to the muslim garments in the game so i’d like to point out: while yes they are religious garments, they are also cultural garments. Wearing a head scarf doesn’t necessarily make one a muslim; there are places in the world where tourists are required to wear them, and there are a lot of young people who wear them as a part of their culture, even if they’re not that religious themselves. The same could be said about the christmas and hanukkah items in the game: while of religious origin they aren’t exclusive to religious people, but a cultural item. I celebrate christmas yet i was raised atheist, and i’m sure that applies to many people. What the sims doesn’t have is prayer matts, the torah, a bible, a church… and i think a shrine should be added to that list. There needs to be made a seperation for cultural items that have religious origin and purely religious items/places. Yes, a visit to a shrine is a big part of japanese customs, but so is praying or going to church in every other culture, and there is just some things that need to be left out of games that want to be inclusive to everyone.
Why are white americans fuming about Koreans being upset? It doesn’t fucking affect you so why do you care about EA having to change a clothing texture and an animation? Why does it tilt y’all so much, that you have to write essays in the comments, explaining how “SJWs are ruining the games for you” and “people are overly sensitive”.
Thank you. Very good point.
And “iT’s JuSt A gAmE” in some of their words, so why are all these non-Asian people fuming here and everywhere else over a clothing texture and an animation that has nothing to do with them to begin with.
Ughhhhhh.
I’m reading some of these comments and wow you guys are ignorant assholes. I even read a comment calling this communism… right, because South Koreans are sooooo pro communism and this is absolutely what communism is about lmao
Tf is wrong with y’all
Okay, I read all of the comments after mine and also there is one who think Japan is not apologing either. I’d like to talk about why I or we feel like that ‘although they apologized..’ So why this issue is still painful to Korean. Of course the judgement or searching more informations depends on you.
*Caution*
This text is dealing with political topics. And I feel sorry to talk about it in here. But there are many things that most of you might not know, so if you want to know, please read.
One user’s comment about quotes of the japan’s apologies are just from the Wikipedia and it didn’t include the explanation about the political, social background, and what is implicit in.. When it comes to Korean and Japanese grammar, it is totally okay to make sentences without subject and object, and each verb and adjective has really subtle meanings, so Japan made some of their ‘apologies’ so vague. Also many of the ‘apologies’ were made because they had to corrct the bad situation happened by their previous minister who didn’t reflect on their faults in history, (and this is being repeated) or because they wanted to make important contracts with Korea.
If someone stronger punches or slaps you in the face at work or school then says “I am sorry” half- giggling, is that an apology? Is he/she really reflecting on that? There are a lot of statements or actions that later retracted or contradicted or protecting their faults, as much as the number of apologies. (Why is these kind of data hardly translated in English?..) And the head of goverment often worshipped to Yasukuni Shrine even after just he had ‘apologized’, which means he paid tribute to the WAR CRIMINALS instead of VICTIMS..
I admit there are some thoughtful statements, but if they were genuine apologies, they should continue until nowadays. But the Japanese gov. of present day, keep distorting or concealing or stopping apologizing about what they did to victims like territory, enforced sex slaves, forced draft and etc. For instance, above three historical facts are distorted or deleted in the Japanese history education.
Finally, I would like to add this quote:
“Apologies should not end truth seeking nor stifle truth telling by victims. Instead, an apology should encourage a collective reckoning by society of conflict-related crimes or human rights violations carried out in the name of the state. An apology should open up space for accountability rather than close it.”
-from a ICTJ report about Japan’s apologies.
I’m from South Korea, but those who get easily mad about Japanese Culture called “Dae-kkae-moon” and it’s dealt as a mental diseases. Dae-kkae-moons insult Japanese and their culture but loves and post about nintendo switch games, photos of Japanese snack and sushi, and boasting their Japan themed possessions. They are absolutely double-faced. And one more thing, although my ancestor helped independence army of Korea before, but I learned about ‘cultural relativism’ and chose ‘coexistense’ with Japan. We are living 21st century and need to be mature citizens. Do not take it serious to Dae-kkae-moons, they are just attention seekers and just want to be regarded as a nationalist.
Hello. I heard your opinion. However, this is Korea’s heartbreaking history. Apology never ends, it is a documented history. It’s painful for everyone, but many people can’t wash away the pain, but should we see it again in the game?
It is wrong to show ignorance and ignore Korean history. Ignorance is not a weapon. Like saying that you look as good as you know~
Think about it. Do you want to witness a painful history in the game? I don’t know your answer, but we don’t want to meet, so we made a request to EA. Korean users are also users who can enjoy games easily and have that right.
If the memory is that painful why are we supposed to believe you’d even buy a expansion set in Japan?
I was looking forward to the Shintoism aspect of this pack. Selfish racist assholes who blame all Shintoists and Japanese for the actions of soldiers with outdated moral sensibilities following orders and if I’m remembering correctly doing so under the influence of more drugs than you can find at a pharmaceutical warehouse. Is irrational and unfair. I seriously doubt you even suffer from trans generational trauma given forcing Shintoism on Korea was not even the most immoral thing Japan did in that war. Not to mention why is there no respect for the American value of “freedom of religion” given EA is an American corporation?
Damn, it should be ilegal to be this ignorant, stupid and selfish.
Or maybe just maybe, it should be illegal to pretend that things in everyday Japanese culture are somehow explicitly singling out Koreans. Do you remove Christianity from everything because of Imperialism? No you don’t, why? Because there’s nothing inherently evil in the religion itself just some of the people who practice it. Shintoism is the same way.
Then why are there no churches in Windenburg?
This is so hypocritical of the Sims team they used Christian imagery in Sims medieval, the hijab is an item in Sims 4, they reference Zen in Spa Day and ancestor worship in Island Living. Why the fuck Korean’s think they’ve got any exclusive rights to erase another cultures religion just because that religion was at one point run by dickbags is beyond me, if that were the case Islam and Christianity and basically every religion under the sun would never see the light of day. The Sims 4 is American they should stand by their belief in religious freedom and just censor the local Korean version and make the choice to worship one that is only done autonomously by sims from that world and everyone player controlled has to chose to do it. Problem solved.
If EA put any NAZI signs and Hitler salutein in this game. I totally agree with this disgusting Japanese things. I do not understand why other people(non Korean) speak to us “This is just game why so serious? Japan they have apologised ?!”
A nation that forgets its past has no future.
역사를 잊은 민족에게 미래는 없다.
한국사람들은 들으십시오. 무식한 외국인들 말에 상처받지 마시고 역사를 잊지 마십시다.
Wow I can’t believe I’m reading some of these comments in 2020. Some of you are ignorant af and should be ashamed of yourselves.
If you are not a part of the culture that has been affected by the colonialism, you don’t get a say in whether they are “too sensitive or not” or whether they should accept the apology or not.
Also, yes this is a game, however EA made a stance that they are also socially and culturally aware and are trying to be inclusive. So it’s also very understandable that if this game is offensive to many people, they should learn from it. For all of you that’s just saying this is a game get over it, you wouldn’t be saying that if something that was gut wrenchingly offensive (like the Nazi symbol) was included in a pack called “European Vacation”.
No one from Korea is saying they are offended because it’s not based on their culture or that it’s about Japan. They’re simply pointing out EA’s ignorance, orientalism, and lack of education on history. They should have never included something controversial and offensive.
If you are a non-Korean person commenting here about how sensitive Koreans are, that’s a clear sign of white privilege and you should be ashamed of yourselves.
If you think that rising sun symbol and flag is okay to use, than you shouldn’t say anything to people who use nazi swastika or Confederate flag.
If you think japanese occupation of korea is just past, than you should think that slavery in america and holocost of nazi is just a past.
some miss writing, holocost -> holocaust
Shrine visit?? what the heck???? EA are you crazy?
Do you even know what that means to most of Asians except Japanese?
Visiting shrine and bowing to the ancestors are the Japanese culture that is very controversial in East Asian countries that have been suffered by Japan in World War 2.
Because Japanese makes the Shrine for commemorating war criminals and thank them for being their ancestors. Therefore, it is such a big political issue when Japanese political figures visit the shrine and bow them.
Including that kind of Japanese religious act in the game pack is humiliating war victims
Korea was under Japan until 1945. Do you think 75 years old old care about a Sims game? Oh my god, the delusion is real bro.
We still have grandparents who were born and raised under Japanese rule. There’s remnants of Japanese colonialism that’s still causing conflict and divide in Korean political scene and other areas. There’s still victims of Japanese sex slavery alive today that still haven’t even been properly apologized to. And the younger generation cares because history shouldn’t be forgotten.
Maybe don’t be so outspoken about a topic you don’t have knowledge of
it’s a videogame. V-I-D-E-O-G-A-M-E.
if you’re so tired, ask your mum to tuck you into bed and say goodnight to you!
well i’m of jewish ancestry. thanks to the germans, my whole family is strewn out around the world and displaced from our original place.
now i’ll say im offended by the get together world that is obviously german.
be a good person and uninstall the ep NOW. no waits. i’ll campaign for ea to remove the world from the ep in future sold copies, and add a patch that deletes the world forever.
bye, have a nice day, hope you make a difference today! don’t be an evil disgusting soul and keep the get together ep installed~! i’ll be watching you~!!
Where did they ask you or try to force you to not buy this pack as you seem to be implying with this comment?
So out of left field lol
This is straight up Korean people being racist and prejudiced towards Japanese people. Koreans always fight with and hate the Japanese, I had a foreign exchange student teaching American students how to say slurs and how to say they hated Japanese people in Korean. This is ridiculous and to be honest it’s insensitive and rude to look at Japanese culture this way. We could say American culture is offensive because of the nuclear bomb sent to Japan in WWII. We could say the German culture in one of the early TS4 eps is offensive because of WWII. Come on ppl knock it off this article is straight up racism.
Not to mention this is Simtopia so its a made up world “inspired” by different cultures so youre complaining about a made up religion in a game…grow up.
Srsly just dont buy it if you dont like it.. Not everyone can be happy or satisfied especially when it is about something cultural
Everybody, every country did some bad things in the past.. the question is, what do these countries now? Is a Chinese theme pack really better when they have prisons for minorities who are moslems? Would South Korea be better that has no respect towards women and propaganda of plastic surgery as ‘normal’ behaviour, even for non celebs? Would India be better which is one country with the highest rape rate although it is a so-called democracy?
Why is the Christmas tree an optional download while we are FORCED to have moslem clothing in out game that even stick to our seems as outfits while aging up without even wanting that – and while Christian, Europan countries are still attacked all the time by moslems – even today?
So who cares about Christians? Who cares about Europeans?
If the Korean feel offended by that they might understand how it feels for Christians, Europeans to get the moslemic stuff as forced basic game assets, without the chance to NOT have it in the game while this pack is easy to avoid – just don’t buy it….
Oh and that’s the reason why a game like the Sims should stay away from such cultural and religious things unless it is an optional download how it was with The Sims 3 and theire cultural store bundles that included optional cultural stuff from all over the world…
This. Every country has a disgraceful history. Even Korean forces did lots of war crimes in Vietnam during the Vietnam War and I’ve never seen a single Korean who feels sorry for them.
I agree that staying away from cultural and religious things is the best way, but the pack is going to be released soon anyway
Just don’t buy the pack if you don’t like it period.
Additionally, I think the reason why Christianity has ripped away from the game is that it is the so-called dominant culture..
Thank you for speaking out!
as a korean I feel so embarrassed. I’ve already pre-ordered it but kinda worried if EA never releases this pack in korea because of this. please just ignore these whinings
I am glad you are able to voice your opinion. Ignore what mean people are saying.
don’t pretend to be korean. you’re clearly NOT korean if you weren’t offended by the shrine worship interaction.
This person’s Korean. I think I saw them bragging in a Korean forum about commenting here. I disagree with them but this showcases that even among Koreans there’s divide and disagreement regarding this issue
everyone i disagree with is just pretending to be korean
lol then think as you want, I don’t really care. but in case I need to make it clear that my parents are 100% korean, not japanese 😉 and next time, please don’t serch information on Naver or Youtube.
During Japanese rule in Korea, the Japanese forced Koreans to worship at (Japanese) shrines, and if they did not accept, they were killed. This is a very sensitive and painful subject in Korea today, just like the Holocaust.
Okay, but this world is heavily based on being a Japanese world, the name of the world is even Japanese. If it was a S. Korean world with shrines then you’d have a point, but… this just isn’t it lol.
Did we see churches in Selva Dorada? If they wanted to represent South American culture properly perhaps they should have included, but they didn’t. For a good reason. I’m a catholic Colombian and think it was the right call. There are so many other things about Japanese culture they could have done instead of this. I actually think it is pretty wrong to take complex things like that, including religion, and trivialize them like this is doing.
Kinda yeah, we do see colonizer religion in Selvadorada. There’s a catholic missonary style building (the bar), and you can pray at what is clearly meant to represent a statue of a local catholic saint in front of the building itself (Madre Cosecha). Either way, I just think it’s insanely disrespectful to dissalow religious elements from peoples cultures even if those religions did bad things. Judaic and islamic peoples have done bad things in the past too, does that mean we should remove their representation in the game?
Agreed. As for the flag:
http://murawaki.org/misc/flag.html
I’m korean and i cant understand what the hell this is wrong…..
the fact that this username is a racial slur and almost no one realizes it while debating about Asian culture is
Yup.
PSA for people:
조센징 = Jo-sen-jing = “Joseon-person”
(Joseon = old name for the old Korea)
=> Derogatory, demeaning way (a racial slur) of calling Korean person in Japanese
(FYI: Correct, non-derogatory Japanese term for Koreans would be “kankoku-jin”)
(Therefore the person with username 조센징 and saying what they’re saying is trolling and is a shit-stirrer – Don’t give them attention)
I don’t blame people for not noticing because most of them can’t read Korean, which is understandable, but the fact that they DON’T know about this derogatory term shows exactly WHY they shouldn’t be “debating” about Asian culture and telling Koreans to shut up.
They don’t know all the hundreds of years of complicated history that has led up to today, so they have no right to tell Koreans to stop whining and to shut up.
Koreans just hate everything of japan so deleting shrine content is just meaningless.
They ‘never’ be satisfied unless the game release is canceled. Maybe most of them never played SIMS.
This is kinda generalizing…
we’re gonna end up with an EP with zero content because EA had to delete it to appease the south koreans. jesus helps us.
lol I needed that laugh after reading these comments
We are going to get zero contents cuz of koreans .
you’re actually correct, half of them are not even simmers. they just hates everything if it’s about japan. not ALL koreans hates japanese. I’m really sad this is happening.
This things are not offensive at all. Why? Because so called colonial flag is actually just a fan and there are multiple ones in that swatch. And also shrines have other uses then just this specific one so
Simmers: This skin tone is a tad too light or too dark for my tastes. This is ruining the game! We need a fix for this IMMEDITEATLY!
Also simmers: Representing legit Japanese war crimes is totally okay. The Koreans are just butthurt and can get over it. Just don’t buy the pack if you’re mad!
Simmers: We shouldn’t have any type of religion in the game! Seasons added holidays, but they shouldn’t include any slight reference to any religion! Not even an option for players who’d like to see it that others can avoid.
Also Simmers: Shrine worship makes perefect sense for this type of pack! Of course we should have that!
LMAO, the bias is so real.
“Representing legit Japanese war crimes is totally okay”
I’m sorry, but it’s part of a religion that has NOTHING to do with Korea. All religions have engaged in forced conversion and whatnot, so let’s not single out the Japanese when we have Selvadorada with not so subtle Catholicism/Conquistador theme thrown in there.
Please educate yourself first.
Where in the Sims do we have the option to pray in front of a cross? Where in the Sims do we have the option to read the bible and praise yahweh?
Japanese shrines were built in Korea during Japanese occupation (so they WERE part of Japanese-occupied Korea), and Koreans were forced to bow and submit or else have their noses/ears cut off, or worse, be murdered.
Educate YOURSELF first.
We really are becoming way too sensitive. Kids in cages and we are worried about this… kind of pathetic tbh.
This is like The Sims 25 featuring a pack with a border patrol career and “holding tanks” for kids without parents. If that helps you grasp it.
your hyperbole is so stupid it’s almost funny.
If we’re talking about East Asia, what’s on our minds must be China or Japan. It is natural that EA uses Chinese or Japanese as the basis in the games they make. I think south Korean players want their country to be represented, not because of past trauma.
The level of stupidity in this comment section is ASTRONOMICAL.
Have you seen a map? Do you know anything about the history of that region? That the Koreas played a significant role in the history of that area? Who TF thinks “east Asia” and overlooks South Korea? And the issue was the fact that the shrine design is modeled on the shrines placed in Korea during Japanese occupation, during which Koreans were subjugated and forced to worship the emperor. How do you get “ohhh, Korea just wants to be includeeeeed” from that??
I’m sorry, but the pack is not based in East Asia. It’s based in JAPAN. They can overlook Korea all they want, because Korea isn’t part of Japan at all 🙂
If the shrine worship was in a non japan map and especially in a korea based world. I could see your point, but this is specifically a japan based world where shrine worship exists. I get the rising sun thing, but the shrine thing feels like a reach.
It’s funny that you “get the rising sun thing, but the shrine thing feels like a reach.”
I’m the total opposite. I understand the issue about the shrine, but the rising sun seems like someone is reaching. This looks more like the logo of a bank here in the States, than any of the images that I’ve seen of the actual “rising sun” flag.
You’re from the States and of course the rising sun flag has no meaning to you.
I grew up seeing the swastika symbol that indicates there’s a buddhist temple nearby.
And for the sake of the example let’s say a Korean company developed a game like the Sims that’s played by players around the world.
Does the fact that I, whose country and ancestors were not directly affected by Nazi Germany, am not personally offended mean that the hypothetical Korean simulation game should include buddhist temples with swastika signage everywhere, and buddhist swastika jewelry?
No.
This. Plus it could just be made non-autonomous (I hadn’t played yet so I don’t know if it even is autonomous or not), and then everyone can just choose to do it or not, it would then be no problem and wouldn’t be erasure of Japanese culture, because it’s a totally normal and respectful non-hateful thing to do at shrines in Japan, both by Japanese and non-Japanese alike.
I feel broken-hearted for some comments. I am a Korean and I respect all cultures, of course Japan’s too. But this topic treats things that cannot be respected. Why? this is related to the typical way to destroy one country’s culture and spirit. For example, a person walked on the board covered with sharp-edged nails and tacks, because he/she didn’t worship at a shrine for keeping one’s faith. Almost all Koreans and missionaries in Korea suffered a sense of loss, or torture until they die or get a disease because of this shrine worship.
Even if Nazi salute is still used in Germany without any consciousness, we shouldn’t respect it. Because it is a part of cruel imperialism. (Although Nazi salute originated from Rome, it is banned since World War Ⅱ.) Shrine worship needs to be set in the same context. So it can’t be a respectable culture at least from a third party’s point of view.
The history of long ago, so to be forgettable or forgivable? How the heck can we forget or forgive the cruel history without ‘an apology’ to ask for forgiveness? Korea has been waiting for the apology from japan. But Japanese don’t apologize and even they seem to wait until there is no one who remember their faults. As a result they don’t recognize the wrong in what they are doing. (I apologize if you think my words are too aggressive, but these are true as you can see) Ignoring doesn’t mean they did nothing. Not to forget about the history, we respond to this issue sensitively.
Anyway the point is that this new content related with obviously inhumane, unsolved problems cannot be enjoyable cultural part. So I hope EA collect this opinion and take action.
Thank you for reading this so long text, and sorry for sharing the Korean’s headache.
Have a nice day with some your consciousness-raising.
June 22, 1965: Minister of Foreign Affairs Shiina Etsusaburo said to the people of South Korea: “In our two countries’ long history there have been unfortunate times, it is truly regrettable and we are deeply remorseful” (Signing of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and South Korea).
August 26, 1982: Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiichi Miyazawa said to the people of the Republic of Korea: “1. The Japanese Government and the Japanese people are deeply aware of the fact that acts by our country in the past caused tremendous suffering and damage to the peoples of Asian countries, including the Republic of Korea (ROK) and China, and have followed the path of a pacifist state with remorse and determination that such acts must never be repeated. Japan has recognized, in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, of 1965, that the ‘past relations are regrettable, and Japan feels deep remorse,’ and in the Japan-China Joint Communique, that Japan is ‘keenly conscious of the responsibility for the serious damage that Japan caused in the past to the Chinese people through war and deeply reproaches itself.’ These statements confirm Japan’s remorse and determination which I stated above and this recognition has not changed at all to this day. 2. This spirit in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, and the Japan-China Joint Communique, naturally should also be respected in Japan’s school education and textbook authorization.
1989: Prime Minister Takeshita Noboru, in a speech in the Japanese Diet, said: “As we have made clear previously at repeated opportunities, the Japanese government and the Japanese people are deeply conscious of the fact that the actions of our country in the past caused suffering and loss to many people in neighboring countries. Starting from our regret and resolve not to repeat such things a second time, we have followed a course as a “Peace Nation” since then. This awareness and regret should be emphasized especially in the relationship between our countries and the Korean Peninsula, our nearest neighbors both geographically and historically. At this opportunity as we face a new situation in the Korean Peninsula, again, to all peoples of the globe, concerning the relationship of the past, we want to express our deep regret and sorrow” (Speech in the Japanese Diet).
April 18, 1990: Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Nakayama said to the people of South Korea: “Japan is deeply sorry for the tragedy in which these (Korean) people were moved to Sakhalin not of their own free will but by the design of the Japanese government and had to remain there after the conclusion of the war” (188th National Diet Session Lower House Committee of Foreign Affairs).[12]
May 25, 1990: Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, in a meeting with President Roh Tae Woo, said: “I would like to take the opportunity here to humbly reflect upon how the people of the Korean Peninsula went through unbearable pain and sorrow as a result of our country’s actions during a certain period in the past and to express that we are sorry” (Summit meeting with President Roh Tae Woo in Japan).[14]
January 17, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, at a policy speech on a visit to South Korea, said:. “What we should not forget about relationship between our nation and your nation is a fact that there was a certain period in the thousands of years of our company when we were the victimizer and you were the victim. I would like to once again express a heartfelt remorse and apology for the unbearable suffering and sorrow that you experienced during this period because of our nation’s act.” Recently the issue of the so-called ‘wartime comfort women’ is being brought up. I think that incidents like this are seriously heartbreaking, and I am truly sorry”.[16]
July 6, 1992. Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato said: “The Government again would like to express its sincere apology and remorse to all those who have suffered indescribable hardship as so-called ‘wartime comfort women,’ irrespective of their nationality or place of birth. With profound remorse and determination that such a mistake must never be repeated, Japan will maintain its stance as a pacifist nation and will endeavor to build up new future-oriented relations with the Republic of Korea and with other countries and regions in Asia. As I listen to many people, I feel truly grieved for this issue. By listening to the opinions of people from various directions, I would like to consider sincerely in what way we can express our feelings to those who suffered such hardship”
June 23, 1996: Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said in a press conference: “Hashimoto mentioned the aspects of Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula such as the forced Japanization of Korean people’s name and commented “It is beyond imagination how this injured the hearts of Korean people”. Hashimoto also touched on the issue of Korean comfort women and said “Nothing injured the honor and dignity of women more than this and I would like to extend words of deep remorse and the heartfelt apology”
October 8, 1996: Emperor Akihito said in a speech at a dinner with the South Korean president, Kim Dae Jung: “There was a period when our nation brought to bear great sufferings upon the people of the Korean Peninsula.” “The deep sorrow that I feel over this will never be forgotten”.
October 8, 1998: Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi said in a declaration: “Looking back on the relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea during this century, Prime Minister Obuchi regarded in a spirit of humility the fact of history that Japan caused, during a certain period in the past, tremendous damage and suffering to the people of the Republic of Korea through its colonial rule, and expressed his deep remorse and heartfelt apology for this fact. President Kim accepted with sincerity this statement of Prime Minister Obuchi’s recognition of history and expressed his appreciation for it. He also expressed his view that the present calls upon both countries to overcome their unfortunate history and to build a future-oriented relationship based on reconciliation as well as good-neighborly and friendly cooperation” (Japan-South Korea Joint Declaration A New Japan-South Korea Partnership towards the Twenty-first Century).[31]
September 17, 2002: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: “The Japanese side regards, in a spirit of humility, the facts of history that Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of Korea through its colonial rule in the past, and expressed deep remorse and heartfelt apology” (Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration).[39]
August 10, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed “deep regret over the suffering inflicted” during the Empire of Japan’s colonial rule over Korea. Japan’s Kyodo News also reported that Cabinet members endorsed the statement. In addition, Kan said that Japan will hand over precious cultural artifacts that South Korea has been demanding. Among them were records of an ancient Korean royal dynasty.[46]
December 7, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized for Korea’s suffering under colonization as part of a statement marking the 100th anniversary of the annexation in 1910. “I express a renewed feeling of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology for the tremendous damage and suffering caused by colonial rule,” Kan said. Kan said Japan colonized Korea “against the will of the Korean people” who suffered great damage to their national pride and loss of culture and sovereignty as a result and added that he wants to take an honest look at his country’s past with the courage and humility to address its history.[48]
December 28, 2015: Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se made an announcement at a joint press conference, which consisted of their respective statements on behalf of Japan and South Korea. Kishida stated, “The issue of comfort women, with an involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that time, was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women, and the Government of Japan is painfully aware of responsibilities from this perspective. As Prime Minister of Japan, Prime Minister Abe expresses anew his most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.” The statement went on to explain that “the Government of Japan will now take measures to heal psychological wounds of all former comfort women through its budget” and that it had been decided that the South Korean government would “establish a foundation for the purpose of providing support for the former comfort women”. In return, Yun stated that his government “acknowledges the fact that the Government of Japan is concerned about the statue built in front of the Embassy of Japan in Seoul from the viewpoint of preventing any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity, and will strive to solve this issue in an appropriate manner”. Both stated that this agreement will “finally and irreversibly” resolve the contentious issue and that “on the premise that the Government of Japan will steadily implement the measures it announced”, both countries “will refrain from accusing or criticizing each other regarding this issue in the international community, including at the United Nations”.[54]
Germany apologized for exterminating millions during WWII, so now I can go put a swastika shirt in my sims game and it’s totally fine!
oh, so they have apologised!
interesting read, thank you for posting.
well, there it goes I guess.
lol where is the apology? If someone kills your family and they say “I want to express that there were many wrong doing between us and we have suffered too much. I acknowledge the fact that you were force to be on this position and it was unfortunately event. Not stop criticizing me and blaming me!”, is this apology to you?
I play The Sims to avoid politics. I suspend my disbelief. The Sims live in their own Sim world, have their own Sim countries, have a deep Sim history, speak their own Sim language, and have their own Sim culture. They are praying to ME, their Sim God.
I would love to avoid politics in the Sims as well.
Unfortunately the game put components that remind me of the painful, horrendous part of my country’s history, and what seems like the majority of people, who mostly have no idea about the history and don’t give a crap are telling us to stop being butthurt and shut up.
I would love to avoid politics in the Sims. But I can’t.
Lol simgod I love it!!! People get very worked up so easily now a days
So sad too
Why some Korean bring up politics stuff in video game or everything and keep telling lies…
Japanese government apologized more than 3 times and paid reparations every time. (and for other)
I just want to many people have fun who playing this game cause SIMS always fun.
how strange. the koreans are all up in this thread and in the youtube trailer saying that the japanese haven’t apolgised. i guess the koreans are lying then.
i don’t get what has them so salty about this pack. tbh, i think it’s because they are mad the ep isn’t based in their country and is instead based in their mortal enemy japan. even if there had been no shrine, they would have found something to complain or bash the ep about.
That’s not the Rising Sun, those are hand fans.
Might be, but better for EA to just stay away.
Just like how the swastika is just a buddhist symbol but it should have no place in the game.
I’m reading some of these comments and wow you guys are ignorant assholes. I even read a comment calling this communism… right, because South Koreans are sooooo pro communism and this is absolutely what communism is about lmao
Tf is wrong with y’all