The Japanese Foreign Office has summoned representatives of Activision Blizzard to explain a video game depicting a Japanese invasion of North Korea, a scenario that officials in Tokyo say distorts historical realities and risks inflaming regional tensions. The game, titled "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War"
, includes a mission in which Japanese forces launch a military assault on North Korean territory. Japanese diplomats summoned the company’s leadership to a formal meeting on Tuesday, expressing concerns that the fictional narrative could be misconstrued as official Japanese policy. Activision has defended the game as a work of fiction, noting that it contains a disclaimer stating the story does not represent real-world events.
However, the Foreign Office maintains that the portrayal breaches the spirit of diplomatic norms and could undermine public understanding of Japan’s pacifist constitution. The episode underscores the sensitivity of historical representation in popular culture, particularly in a region where memories of colonialism and war remain raw. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested that Activision issue a public clarification and consider altering the game’s content.
Activision has not yet commented on the request.
