Coming to Hulu in February 2024 is an epic tale unfolding in feudal Japan, marked by war, passion, and the pursuit of power.
FX’s Shōgun, adapted from James Clavell’s bestseller, unfolds in 17th-century Japan, amidst the turmoil of an epoch-defining civil war. Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) faces a perilous challenge as adversaries from the Council of Regents join forces against him. Their conflict takes an intriguing turn when a mysterious European ship becomes stranded in a nearby fishing village.
The ship’s English pilot, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), carries secrets that could sway the balance of power, potentially destabilizing the influence of Blackthorne’s foes – the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. Their destinies become inextricably intertwined with Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a cryptic Christian noblewoman who is the last of her disreputable lineage.
As Mariko serves her lord amidst this tense political backdrop, she must reconcile her newfound camaraderie with Blackthorne, her unwavering faith, and her duty to her late father.
This ten-episode limited series boasts a remarkable Japanese cast, a rarity in American productions, including Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige, a notorious and duplicitous ally of Toranaga; Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi, the young leader of the fishing village where Blackthorne’s ship is discovered; Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari, a formidable bureaucrat who stands as Toranaga’s chief rival; Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji, a widow seeking a new purpose amid her lord’s struggle; Tokuma Nishioka as Toda Hiromatsu, Toranaga’s trusted general and closest confidant; Shinnosuke Abe as Toda Hirokatsu (Buntaro), Mariko’s envious husband; Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado, Toranaga’s impetuous son eager to prove himself; and Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba No Kata (Lady Ochiba), the revered mother of the heir who is determined to eliminate Toranaga as a threat to her son’s ascendancy.
Shōgun for television is the creation of Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, with Marks serving as showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, and Kondo, with the series produced by FX Productions.
Source: FX Networks
