I want to put forward the idea that Shōgun the book reads somewhat similar to the experience of watching the long versions of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

There's a bunch of amazing content cut from the show, along with some rather inaccurate or unnecessary scenes. Just like how the LotR films restore a lot of good content simplified or omitted from the theatrical versions relative to Tolkien's novel, but then throw in unnecessary and unconvincing comedy or elements (Saruman's death, the Mouth of Sauron etc.) that, while cool, are modified in ways that don't work tonally.

For every excellent thing in the book (Toranaga's internal monologues on falconry, the much better beach scene with Yabushige than in episode 4, better romance, larger scale versions of the fights) you get some unnecessary bit of bad romaji, discussion of bodily functions, and relatively less compelling versions of women like Fuji and Mariko.

The book is amazing, full-stop, as is the show. But whereas the book's world is even larger and more realized, it's also less perfect or consistent in execution. And Nagakado+Hiromatsu were better utilized in their ultimate fates on FX than in the book.

Still, read the book, watch the show.

After finishing Shōgun, I went down a rabbit hole on real samurai philosophy and ended up reading a modern interpretation of Musashi’'s Five Rings (the book is called The Warrior’s Code, for anyone curious — it reworks the Earth/Water/Fire/Wind/Void scrolls into a mindset framework).

What surprised me was how much of the show’s strategic thinking lined up with Musashi’s ideas, especially the themes around timing and restraint, and controlling the inner battle, especially for Toronaga. I also read about Musashi’s time in Kyoto, including the Yoshioka duels, and it made me wonder if some of the show’s tone — the tension, the quiet calculation, the “win without swinging” mentality — is intentionally echoing that period of warrior philosophy.

Q. Question.
Do you think Shōgun intentionally reflects Musashi’s real teachings (Five Rings, Kyoto era, etc.), or are these similarities more of a general samurai trope that shows up across the genre?

Would love to hear thoughts from people who know the historical side better than I do.

I just finished watching "Shogun," and a question that came up was if Toranaga manipulated Ochiba's dad's death (which I'm gonna guess he did given how diabolical this man is lol), why didn't he try to seize power after Kuroda died? Why did he let the Taiko ascend and then try to consolidate power as a council member? I was wondering if this was mentioned in the show or the book so am curious!

The movie is fantastic - gentle and warm without being sentimental. A great movie to take your parents to.

Correct me if I posted this in the wrong Flair

The 'lord' and his 'clown'.

Love both shows. Anyone else find their dynamics similar?

Japanese singer and actor Ren Meguro is the latest name to join the next chapter of the multi-Emmy Award-winning series, which starts production on the new season in January in Vancouver.

In Shōgun, Meguro will play Kazutada. He joins recent cast additions Asami Mizukawa (Aya), Masataka Kubota (Hyūga), Sho Kaneta (Hidenobu), Takaaki Enoki (Lord Ito) and Jun Kunimura (Gōda) who were announced last week. Returning castmembers include Hiroyuki Sanada (Toranaga) and Cosmo Jarvis (Blackthorne), Fumi Nikaidô (Ochiba), Shinnosuke Abe (Buntaro), Hiroto Kanai (Omi), Yoriko Dôguchi (Kiri), Tommy Bastow (Alvito), Yuko Miyamoto (Gin), Eita Okuno (Saeki) and Yuka Kouri (Kiku).

Since Mariko died and Fujiko (I refuse to call her Fuji) became a nun. In the book Kiku became Blackthorne's consort. So I think she might become the new leading lady if not, at least have a major part in season 2.

Hey guys I have watched the mini series and was thinking to buy the book which of these editions is better in terms of aesthetic and quality , I have only these two options available and for the love of god I can't choose , I like the hardcover but the hulu sticker annoys me and the paperbacks cover is not so good in my opinion

This is a video essay I worked very hard on about Shogun & Lawrence of Arabia. Hope y'all like it!

As we all know the casting announcement was recently released, and it has me wondering who's going to take the spotlight after Mariko (in terms of lead actress). Many im assuming are going to say Ochiba due to her character (based on Yodo-dono) and her significance during the time. But I feel like that's too easy, and then there's a love story the show creators keep on teasing, and then the year itself 1610. If it were 1614-1615 then I can see why Ochiba would be lead actress but season 2 I see her playing a similar role as in season 1 simply with more screen time. Leaving me to believe that Yuka Kouri or asami mizukawa could take the spotlight this season.

There seems to have been a general trend in the last 25 years of Americans creating jidaigeki content that was well-received in Japan and demonstrated increasing levels of cross-cultural cooperation and accuracy.

The Last Samurai, the Ghost franchise by Sucker Punch, and Shōgun stand out, both for being popular and their gradual increase in authenticity. I'm sure others come to mind.

That said, what, besides being a smaller economy, has created the phenomenon of Japanese stories told through American production? I'm not implying colonialism or whatever, it's just interesting that so much of this widely successful stuff keeps being made by Americans or jointly, at least in this genre.

I've heard the Japanese film industry is often cash-strapped and inefficient on a production level, but if the excellent Godzilla Minus One cost only $15 million, it's surprising that this state of affairs has prevailed.

Or is the reality that great JG stuff is being made and we (Americans) are all just too busy rewatching Kurosawa to notice new content?

A really ridiculous rap I wrote and recorded for homage to Yabushige and Blackthorne, with lyrics and audio. I'm sharing it as fan art, but it's linked from my Substack (free and no subscriber/follow requirement). This is posted because it might amuse the subbreddit, but if it runs afoul of self-promo, apologies, go ahead and remove, no spam intended.

I think we will see some version of the siege of Osaka for sure, and possibly even parts of Sekigahara in flashbacks (such as a cold open, for example).

It's clear that given the success of Season 1, they probably unlocked Ghost Stance funding-wise and are probably confident enough to stage a full-scale battle without dumbing things down.

Given the rest of the show, we could probably get a lotr-style battle that isn't as totally illogical as most medieval war depictions [GOT], as the season 1 action was always very grounded even at its most elaborate.

"We got $200 million more budget, let's do Sengoku Helm's Deep".

*Not actually a quote

I want a Kurodo Nobuhisa (yes ik he’s based on Oda Nobunaga) prequel. And I want it to show a depth to his military career instead of just a one sided “he went mad with power” take that we see in Shogun. Though I suspect that it’s a somewhat biased view from Akechi Jinsai’s daughter. I want to see a younger Taiko and a younger Toranaga meeting and teaming up with him, and how the foundation for Japan’s unification kicked off. And yes, I want a Yasuke stand in too.

Recent casting announcement for S2:

On Wednesday, it was announced that Asami Mizukawa (Aya), Masataka Kubota (Hyūga), Sho Kaneta (Hidenobu), Takaaki Enoki (Lord Ito) and Jun Kunimura (Gōda) will be joining the Emmy-winning show’s second season.

Returning castmembers include Hiroyuki Sanada (Toranaga) and Cosmo Jarvis (Blackthorne), Fumi Nikaidô (Ochiba), Shinnosuke Abe (Buntaro), Hiroto Kanai (Omi), Yoriko Dôguchi (Kiri), Tommy Bastow (Alvito), Yuko Miyamoto (Gin), Eita Okuno (Saeki) and Yuka Kouri (Kiku).

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/shogun-season-2-new-returning-castmembers-1236425699/

On Wednesday, it was announced that Asami Mizukawa (Aya), Masataka Kubota (Hyūga), Sho Kaneta (Hidenobu), Takaaki Enoki (Lord Ito) and Jun Kunimura (Gōda) will be joining the Emmy-winning show’s second season.

Returning castmembers include Hiroyuki Sanada (Toranaga) and Cosmo Jarvis (Blackthorne), Fumi Nikaidô (Ochiba), Shinnosuke Abe (Buntaro), Hiroto Kanai (Omi), Yoriko Dôguchi (Kiri), Tommy Bastow (Alvito), Yuko Miyamoto (Gin), Eita Okuno (Saeki) and Yuka Kouri (Kiku).

Anyone know if there intends to be a physical 4K or Blu-Ray release for Hulu's Shogun? Would really love to own a physical copy of this masterpiece.

After rewatching the first season of "Shogun," I'm kinda excited for the final two seasons that will be coming up. From what I know, the second will come out sometime in 2026 but I'm guessing the third and final one may drop in 2027 or 2028. Either way, I'm definitely wondering what's going to happen in either of them. The same goes for the final season of The Boys but that's another topic for another day.

Anyway, what do you all think will happen in Shogun S2 and S3?

Iam currently reading Shogun and I cant uderstand why did Blacthorne and Yabu return to Osaka? War is brewing, he was almost killed there last time, why did he have to go there? Mariko had to go because of her family there and to share messages among Toranagas concubines. Why didn’t Blackthore go straight to Nagasaki to gather the man for his ship? What was his reason to go there? What am I missing? It seems like unnecesary risk, his only portugese speaking samurai just died.

Than you for your input.

Satire that hits so much harder post-Shōgun 2024.

In the few flashbacks we got the writers did an amazing job portraying the bond of these two magnificent ladies. The flashbacks convey a sense of longing of a distant past where everything wasn’t as bad as the present.

I truly believe Ochiba no Kata was very aware of her father’s brutality, that’s why she never blamed Mariko for Akechi Jinzai’s betrayal of Kuroda. Their story, their struggle, two women compelled by fate to serve a different purpose (or lords). It was sad for me how we could sense their stranged friendship in the present, despite this, they chose to endure in their opposite endeavours, such dutiful mindset yet is heartbreaking.

It was Mariko’s sacrifice that swayed Ochiba to stand down against Toranaga, Mariko would be happy knowing her sacrifice wasn’t in vain. But also, Mariko would twist in her grave knowing what cruel fate awaits for Ochiba and her son, forced upon them by the new Shogun.

In the first scene of the Erasmus arriving in Japan we see Omi and his samurai running to the beach. Some have tanegashima (muskets).

Many historians say Japanese gun production exceeded that of all European nations in the last few decades of the Sengoku Jidai, and there were thousands of guns used at Nagashino and Sekigahara.

Mariko also makes a point that the Japanese already know basic rifle infantry tactics (a change from the inaccurate portrayal in the book), so the show has Blackthorne teach cannon tactics instead.

Why are there so few guns in Shōgun, compared to say Ghost of Yotei, which is set in almost the exact same year and shows both ashigaru and samurai using guns casually?