Fans of the hit PS4 exclusive Ghost of Tsushima have rallied to help restore a damaged piece of the real-life Tsushima Island.
In September, Tsushima Island was hit with a massive typhoon that would destroy one of its most iconic landmarks, a Heisei-era Torii Gate, known as the Watatsumi Shrine.
Torii Shrine Gates are sacred landmarks throughout Japan, marking the entrances to Shinto shrines and locations. They also serve symbolic purposes of marking the transition to sacred ground from the real, 'mundane' world. Thousands of Torii Gates are located in Japan today, becoming an iconic part of Japanese culture and architecture.
According to a recent Famitsu article (translated by Twinfinite), a crowdfunding campaign was launched by Yuichi Hirayama, one of Shrine's priests. The Campfire campaign, posted on November 28th, was asking for at least 5 million Yen, or roughly $48,000, to restore Watatsumi Shrine after it was toppled in the typhoon.
The campaign has shattered that goal, raising over 20 million Yen (over $193,000) with about two weeks left in the campaign.
"We have received a great deal of support from the players of the Ghost of Tsushima game set in Tsushima, and I feel that it is God’s guidance," stated Hirayama, directly crediting fans of Ghost of Tsushima for donating heavily to the campaign.
Ghost of Tsushima was developed by Sucker Punch which was heavily based on Japanese history, chambara films, and mythology. The setting itself is a recreation of Tsushima Island during the 1st Mongol Invasion, and included multiple landmarks including the Watatsumi Shrine.
Hirayama hopes that not only will the Watatsumi Shrine be restored after the campaign, but also that Tsushima Island will see renewed interest through tourism due to the game, something already planned with developer Sucker Punch already partnering with the Tsushima Tourism Board. Plans to open up Tsushima Island will come soon, after the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions are lifted.
