Exploring the Hanno-ji Incident in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

This article contains spoilers for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Assassin’s Creed is famous for its blend of history and fiction, showcasing historical figures like Benjamin Franklin and Napoleon. The series often ingeniously integrates real-world events into its storylines. For example, in Assassin’s Creed 3, players become part of the Boston Tea Party, while Odyssey features the Battle of Thermopylae, and Unity lets players escape from prison during the Storming of the Bastille. Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers similar historical experiences, seamlessly weaving them into its narrative.

Set in 1581, Assassin’s Creed Shadows unfolds during the closing years of the Sengoku period, a time marked by relentless struggle and civil war among Japan’s daimyos and clans. The game kicks off with Oda Nobunaga’s campaign to unify Japan, which is abruptly halted by the historical event known as the Hanno-ji Incident, a moment players get to experience firsthand.

The Real-World History of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Hanno-ji Incident

In 1582, after defeating the Takeda clan, Oda Nobunaga stood as the most formidable daimyo in Japan. He aimed to conquer the entire country, dispatching his generals to secure key central provinces, already weakened by internal strife and wars with rival clans. Confident that his goal was within reach, Nobunaga returned to Kyoto. Upon learning that the Mori clan had more troops than expected, he dispatched Akechi Mitsuhide to reinforce their troops in the Chugoku region, intending to follow after a stop at the Hanno-ji Buddhist temple for rest.

The Death of Oda Nobunaga

With most of his forces engaged elsewhere, Nobunaga left himself vulnerable in Kyoto. Seizing this opportunity, Akechi Mitsuhide swiftly attacked. Leading an army of 13,000, Mitsuhide launched an assault on Hanno-ji temple, overwhelming Nobunaga’s scant defenses. Within just two hours, Mitsuhide’s forces destroyed the temple’s defenses and set it ablaze, leaving Nobunaga dead within, having committed seppuku.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Take on the Hanno-ji Incident

In the early stages of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players control Naoe, who is summoned to meet Akechi Mitsuhide. There, Mitsuhide alleges that Nobunaga leads the Shinbakufu group responsible for Naoe’s father’s death, convincing her to help overthrow Nobunaga. Naoe skillfully infiltrates Hanno-ji amidst Mitsuhide’s onslaught, confronting Nobunaga. He reveals that Mitsuhide manipulated her, confessing that it was actually Mitsuhide who killed her father. Conflicted, Naoe departs as the temple burns. Nobunaga then commits seppuku, with his retainer, Yasuke, aiding reluctantly, ending the daimyo’s life.