Kojima Productions clarifies Zerocalcare misunderstanding
No one is safe from the excesses of the Internet
In recent days, you may have heard about the case that erupted regarding a photo that Hideo Kojima took alongside Zerocalcare, during the recent Lucca Comics & Games. The Italian cartoonist, Michele Rech by his real name, is a big fan of the Japanese game designer and wanted to immortalize the meeting with a souvenir photo, as any fan would.
The comic of discord
On the occasion, Zerocalcare's publisher gifted Kojima the Japanese version of Kobane Calling, a comic drawn by Zerocalcare: Kojima was portrayed alongside Zerocalcare with the book in hand, prominently displayed. If we lived in a "normal" world, perhaps the story would end here, but in an era where the Internet exaggerates everything, we must add that Kobane Calling tells stories of Kurdish people's resistance. And so, all hell broke loose.
The controversy and the clarification
Hideo Kojima was showered with criticism, if not outright threats, accused of supporting the Kurdish cause, viewed with hostility especially in countries like Turkey, which consider it akin to a terrorist movement. The uproar that arose prompted Kojima Productions to clarify the situation with a message via Twitter/X, to try and calm things down.
It is specified that there is no prior personal or professional relationship between Kojima and Zerocalcare. It is added that neither Kojima nor his company had the slightest knowledge of Zerocalcare's works or positions. It is also reiterated that Kojima did not intend to express or give support to any ideological position. It would be nice to live in a world where there is no need to explain that when Kojima takes a photo with a fan, he is not taking an ideological stance, right?
Notice from KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS
— KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS (Eng) (@KojiPro2015_EN) November 12, 2025
We would like to clarify the facts regarding the photo featuring Hideo Kojima and Italian cartoonist Zerocalcare as follows:
There is no personal or professional relationship between the two individuals.
The photo was taken briefly at the Lucca…
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