In the 1980s, various TV series established themselves as blockbusters. Right at the beginning of the decade, a mini-series managed to get an audience of millions to gather in front of the screen and start dreaming about Japan. Richard Chamberlain and Toshirō Mifune were the heroes of the film adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel SHŌGUN.
BEST EDUTAINMENT
The series impressed with a good mix of excitement, romance, mysticism, history, and culture. Wonderful edutainment, which was thrilling, informative, and inspiring at the same time. Inspires us to engage with the content independently, far beyond what is offered to us. To expand our horizons.
Hence, in our Berlin story, we show you a small excerpt of what the Samurai Museum in Berlin has to offer. If you want to scurry through here quickly, you’re in the wrong place. It would help if you had plenty of time to immerse yourself in the world of samurai, shōguns, daimyōs, and Japanese culture.
FX and Disney also took their time with the Shogun remake. But now, on February 27th, the 10-part series will appear on Disney+.
THE SHŌGUN STORY & CHARACTERS
YOSHII TORANAGA AKA HIROYUKI SANADA
SHŌGUN, takes place in Japan in 1600 at the beginning of a centuries-long civil war. Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, who fights for his life after his enemies gang up on him.
Hiroyuki Sanada is one of the biggest Japanese film stars. He also starred in The Last Samurai alongside Tom Cruise. You also know him from the series Westworld and David Leitch’s action-comedy Bullet Train or John Wick: Chapter 4.
JOHN BLACKTHORNE AKA COSMO JARVIS
When a mysterious European ship is stranded in a nearby fishing village, its English ship pilot, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), has secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and curb the vast influence of Blackthorne’s enemies – the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants – to destroy.
TODA MARIKO AKA ANNA SAWAI
Toranaga and Blackthorne’s fate is inextricably linked to the interpreter Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last representative of a disgraced family. As she serves her lord amid this tense political landscape, Mariko must balance her newfound friendship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her, and her duty to her late father.
SHOGUN: ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS AND FACTS
The series features an acclaimed Japanese cast unlike anything ever seen in an American production. Among them is Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige. He is a notorious traitor and close ally of Toranagas. We also see Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi. He is a young leader of the fishing village where Blackthorne’s ship is found.
Also starring is Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari. This is a powerful bureaucrat who is Toranaga’s main rival. Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji, a widow who must find a new purpose to admit her lord’s struggle. Tokuma Nishioka, as Toda Hiromatsu, Toranaga’s trusted general and closest friend.
SHŌGUN was produced by FX Productions. It will be available on Disney+ on February 27.
Photos: Kurt Iswarienko/FX 2023. All Rights Reserved.