| Shōgun | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Release poster | |
| Genre | Historical drama |
| Created by | |
| Based on | Shōgun byJames Clavell |
| Showrunner | Justin Marks |
| Starring | |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original languages |
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| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Production locations | British Columbia, Canada |
| Cinematography |
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| Running time | 53–70 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
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| Release | February 27, 2024 (2024-02-27) – present |
Shōgun is an Americanhistorical drama television series created byRachel Kondo andJustin Marks. It is based onthe 1975 novel byJames Clavell, which was previously adapted into a1980 miniseries. Itsensemble cast includesHiroyuki Sanada,Cosmo Jarvis,Anna Sawai,Tadanobu Asano,Takehiro Hira,Tommy Bastow, andFumi Nikaido. The production features a mostly Japanese cast and the majority of the dialogue is in the Japanese language.[1]
Initially conceived as a miniseries, the first season premiered its first two episodes on February 27, 2024, onFX andFX on Hulu, with the rest being released weekly until April 23, 2024. It received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for the directing, writing, visuals, production values, performances of its cast, and faithfulness to the source material. Following its success, a second and third season began early development.[2]
In 2024,Shōgun became the first Japanese-language series to win aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, with its first season winning 18 categories at the76th Primetime Emmy Awards and76th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, setting a new record as the most awarded single season of television in Emmy history.[3][4] It additionally received fourGolden Globe Awards, includingBest Television Series – Drama and acting wins for Sanada, Sawai, and Asano. The series also won aPeabody Award[5] at the 85th Annual Ceremony.
Shōgun follows "the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds,John Blackthorne, a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him, and Lord Toranaga, a shrewd, powerfuldaimyo, at odds with his own dangerous political rivals. The storyline also includes Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance."[6][7]
Clavell'sShōgun is historical fiction. The character of Blackthorne is loosely based on the historical English navigatorWilliam Adams,[8][9] who rose to become a samurai underTokugawa Ieyasu, a powerful feudal lord (daimyō) who later became the military ruler of Japan (shōgun) and the founder of theTokugawa shogunate. Ieyasu is the basis for the character of Yoshii Toranaga.[10][11]
Shōgun is abilingual television series being originally both in Japanese and English (which includesdiegetically spoken Dutch and Portuguese).
In the following lists, the names in parentheses represent the historical figure on which the character is based.Japanese names are written family name first, then given name.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Anjin" Transliteration: "Dai-ichi wa: Anjin" (Japanese:第一話「安針」) | Jonathan van Tulleken | Rachel Kondo &Justin Marks | February 27, 2024 (2024-02-27) | 0.764[12] | |
In 1600, theTaikō has recently died, leaving the rule split amongfive equalregents, who protect the Taikō's child heir atOsaka Castle. The Dutch trading shipErasmus and its starving crew arrive atAjiro on the Izu Peninsula, in the southern domains ofEdo; the survivors, including Englishpilot John Blackthorne, are taken prisoner by localsamurai. The entrenched Portuguese traders and the Catholic Church'sJesuit order are the political and religious rivals of the Protestant Blackthorne. The local Jesuit priest attempts to have Blackthorne executed, claiming him to be a pirate, but the fief's ruler, Kashigi Yabushige, dismisses the request and plans to use theErasmus and its weapons to his benefit. At Osaka Castle, four regents, led by Lord Ishido Kazunari, initiate the process to impeach and thereby condemn to death the fifth regent, Yoshii Toranaga. Following a spy's report, Toranaga's general, Toda Hiromatsu, confiscates theErasmus and its cargo before bringing Blackthorne to Osaka. En route, Blackthorne takes command of the ship during a storm when the Spanish navigator Rodrigues is washed overboard, and Rodrigues is saved by Blackthorne and Yabushige. Blackthorne is then taken to Osaka Castle, where he meets Toranaga and Lady Toda Mariko. | ||||||
| 2 | "Servants of Two Masters" Transliteration: "Dai-ni wa: Futari no Shukun ni Tsukaete" (Japanese:第二話「二人の主君に仕えて」) | Jonathan van Tulleken | Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks | February 27, 2024 (2024-02-27) | 0.764[12] | |
In 1598, theTaikō, on his deathbed, privately informs Toranaga of his intention to form a council of regents to succeed him, but warns that it will likely result in civil war. In 1600, Blackthorne's confiscated journals are given to the Jesuits by Rodrigues. Blackthorne meets with Toranaga, with Mariko and the Jesuit priest Martin Alvito as interpreters, but is interrupted by Ishido. Toranaga feigns disinterest and has Blackthorne imprisoned, hoping to use his presence to sow division between Ishido and the Christian regents. In prison, Blackthorne meets a friar who informs him that the PortugueseBlack Ship has been taking profits from the silk trade back to Europe using a secret military base inMacao. The Christian regents inform Ishido that they will only vote on Toranaga's impeachment if Blackthorne is executed, and Yabushige convinces Ishido that Blackthorne could be useful. Yabushige and his samurai stage a bandit attack and rescue Blackthorne from execution. At Blackthorne's second meeting, with Mariko interpreting, he explains that Portugal and Spain havedivided the world among themselves and intend to replace all non-Catholic governments. That night, ashinobi attempts to assassinate Blackthorne but is killed by Toranaga, who had secretly switched their rooms. | ||||||
| 3 | "Tomorrow Is Tomorrow" Transliteration: "Dai-san wa: Ashita wa Ashita" (Japanese:第三話「明日は明日」) | Charlotte Brändström | Shannon Goss | March 5, 2024 (2024-03-05) | 0.492[13] | |
Toranaga instructs Yabushige to move Blackthorne to Ajiro along with Toranaga's wife Kiri. Ferreira, captain-general of the Black Ship, disregards the Jesuits' concerns and plans to sail without Toranaga's permission. At Osaka Castle, Ishido inspects Yabushige's caravan under the guise of paying respects. Blackthorne and Mariko witness Toranaga secretly changing places with Kiri in herlitter. Mariko explains that they will be killed if this is discovered, and Blackthorne creates a distraction, enabling them to leave the castle. Kiyama's men later attack the caravan and discover Toranaga. Toranaga's party escapes to a galley as Mariko's husband Toda "Buntaro" Hirokatsu stays behind to stall pursuit. The harbor is blocked by Kiyama's men and Toranaga boards the Black Ship, striking a deal with the Portuguese in exchange for safe passage. Ferreira requires Blackthorne to be left behind, but he daringly follows in the galley and rejoins once both ships have broken the blockade. At sea, Toranaga makes Blackthorne ahatamoto and asks him to teach Western tactics to a new regiment. In Osaka, Hiromatsu informs the regents that Toranaga has resigned, leaving them without a quorum to vote on impeachment. | ||||||
| 4 | "The Eightfold Fence" Transliteration: "Dai-yon wa: Yaegaki" (Japanese:第四話「八重垣」) | Frederick E. O. Toye | Nigel Williams &Emily Yoshida | March 12, 2024 (2024-03-12) | 0.517[15] | |
Toranaga inspects Yabushige's army in Ajiro and departs for Edo. Mariko informs Blackthorne that his crew are in Edo and that they and theErasmus now belong to Toranaga. Blackthorne is given a home, a good salary, and Usami Fuji, Hiromatsu's granddaughter, as his consort in exchange for training Yabushige's army for six months. Yabushige's nephew, Kashigi Omi, suggests to Yabushige that, in Toranaga's absence, Yabushige can offer the confiscated weapons from theErasmus to Ishido. Ishido's retainer, Nebara Jozen, arrives and tells Yabushige to return to Osaka and pledge his loyalty to the remaining regents. Knowing that this will likely end in his death, Yabushige invites Jozen to stay the night and witness a demonstration of the cannons the next day. At dinner, Blackthorne gives Fuji one of his guns as a token of gratitude and she gives him her late father's swords. Mariko sneaks into Blackthorne's room at night and sleeps with him, later pretending that she and Fuji had hired a courtesan. The next day, during the demonstration, Nagakado takes matters into his own hands and kills Jozen and his retinue withchain shots from the cannons, much to Yabushige's chagrin. The episode is dedicated to the memory of technical advisor and cannon expert Larry Beckett.[14] | ||||||
| 5 | "Broken to the Fist" Transliteration: "Dai-go wa: Chichi no Ikari" (Japanese:第五話「父の怒り」) | Frederick E. O. Toye | Matt Lambert | March 19, 2024 (2024-03-19) | 0.554[16] | |
Toranaga returns to Ajiro with his army. Learning that Nagakado killed Jozen, he takes away his command of the cannon regiment, giving it to Omi. Buntaro returns from Osaka and moves in with Blackthorne and Mariko. During dinner, Blackthorne and Buntaro engage in asake drinking binge. A drunken Buntaro forces Mariko to tell Blackthorne about her father, Akechi Jinsai, who murdered the predecessor of theTaikō. He was forced to execute his family before committingseppuku and Mariko married Buntaro as atonement for his betrayal. Later that night, Mariko is assaulted by Buntaro. Blackthorne confronts him outside, but Buntaro lays down his sword and apologizes for disturbing his home. Blackthorne later asks Toranaga for permission to permanently leave Japan, but after an earthquake buries Toranaga in a landslide, Blackthorne saves him. The following day, Muraji manages to convince Yabushige and Omi that the gardener Uejiro, who had been executed for disobeying an order from Blackthorne, was the spy they were searching for. In Osaka, the remaining regents attempt to decide who will take Toranaga's place on the council, but Ochiba soon arrives and reunites with her son Yaechiyo before telling Ishido that the council will now listen to her. | ||||||
| 6 | "Ladies of the Willow World" Transliteration: "Dai-roku wa: Utakata no Onnatachi" (Japanese:第六話「うたかたの女たち」) | Hiromi Kamata | Maegan Houang | March 26, 2024 (2024-03-26) | 0.523[17] | |
In 1578, Mariko is living at the home of warlord Kuroda Nobuhisa. She becomes friends with his daughter, the future Ochiba, and witnesses Nobuhisa executing her father's allies. In 1600, Toranaga bestows Blackthorne with an admiralty and a fief, and Blackthorne's request to leave Japan is denied. Toranaga reveals to Mariko that Jinsai wanted her to continue his work of protecting Japan. At Osaka Castle, the remaining three regents and their families have been taken hostage by Ochiba and Ishido, under the pretense that there is a plot to kill Yaechiyo. Hiromatsu escapes but must leave the others behind. Ochiba believes Toranaga plotted her father's death, and she and Ishido offer Ito, an influential warlord, a seat on the council. Sugiyama refuses to confirm Ito and tries to flee Osaka with his family but Ishido and his men kill them. Hiromatsu reaches Ajiro and informs Toranaga of the situation in Osaka. Toranaga's war council wants to use his secret Crimson Sky plan to defeat Ishido. Toranaga refuses, understanding that this will most likely make him the newshōgun. When news of Sugiyama's death reaches Ajiro, Toranaga realizes that his impeachment is inevitable and invokes Crimson Sky to protect Yaechiyo and limit future bloodshed. | ||||||
| 7 | "A Stick of Time" Transliteration: "Dai-nana wa: Senkō Ippon no Toki" (Japanese:第七話「線香一本の時」) | Takeshi Fukunaga | Matt Lambert | April 2, 2024 (2024-04-02) | 0.540[18] | |
In 1554, a young Toranaga achieves his first victory in a battle against the warlord Mizoguchi, who commitsseppuku. In 1600, Toranaga meets his estranged half-brother, Saeki Nobutatsu, to discuss terms of merging their two armies to invade Osaka as part of Crimson Sky. Saeki reveals he has been offered the fifth regency in place of Sugiyama, and Toranaga must either surrender to the council in Osaka or face imminent war. Saeki also informs Yabushige that his general has been executed, ending his chance of successfully playing both sides. Toranaga refuses Buntaro's request to kill Blackthorne, and Mariko's request to be allowed to die. Toranaga informs Saeki of his intention to surrender and declares there will be no Crimson Sky, despite protests from Nagakado and Yabushige. Kiku and Nagakado conspire to kill Saeki at Ajiro's teahouse. Saeki attempts to flee the ambush but trips into the teahouse's pond. However, as Nagakado attempts to kill Saeki, the former slips and fatally hits his head on a rock. | ||||||
| 8 | "The Abyss of Life" Transliteration: "Dai-hachi wa: Naraku no Soko" (Japanese:第八話「奈落の底」) | Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour | Shannon Goss | April 9, 2024 (2024-04-09) | 0.436[19] | |
Toranaga and his army travel to Edo to prepare for Nagakado's funeral and 49 days of mourning. Ishido proposes marriage to Ochiba to strengthen their alliance. Alvito suggests to Toranaga that he should ally with Ochiba and overthrow Ishido, but Toranaga tells the priest to inform Ishido that he will formally surrender. Buntaro and Mariko have atea ceremony, where he proposes that they commit suicide to protest Toranaga's surrender, but Mariko refuses. Blackthorne visits his former shipmates, and Salamon confronts him about his piloting decisions that brought them to Japan. Blackthorne then offers his services to Yabushige, who initially refuses. Daiyoin, the wife of the lateTaikō, suffers a stroke and begs Ochiba to end her hostilities and release the hostages before dying. Toranaga's vassals sign their names to a formal letter of surrender, but Hiromatsu commitsseppuku in defiance. Toranaga reveals to Mariko that Hiromatsu committed suicide to make his enemies believe his defeat was real. Yabushige is thus convinced and accepts Blackthorne's services. Toranaga asks Mariko to travel on his behalf to Osaka. The next morning, at the resting place of his son, Toranaga thanks Nagakado and Hiromatsu and vows not to waste the time they bought him. | ||||||
| 9 | "Crimson Sky" Transliteration: "Dai-kyū wa: Kōten" (Japanese:第九話「紅天」) | Frederick E. O. Toye | Rachel Kondo & Caillin Puente | April 16, 2024 (2024-04-16) | 0.538[20] | |
Blackthorne, Mariko, and Yabushige arrive in Osaka to surrender to Ishido on Toranaga's behalf. Yabushige requests that Ishido spare his life in exchange for his servitude but is denied. Mariko demands to leave the city with Toranaga's family at his request, but during her attempt to leave, the guards overpower her, so she announces that she will take her own life at sunset. Ochiba meets with Mariko in secret and recounts their childhood together in an attempt to make her surrender peacefully, but she refuses. Mariko soon prepares to commitseppuku, with Blackthorne agreeing to be her second, but Ishido stops her and grants her permission to leave. Later that night, Blackthorne and Mariko profess their love for each other. Ishido agrees to spare Yabushige who allows an army ofshinobi to infiltrate the castle, but Blackthorne prevents them from kidnapping Mariko. Amid the chaos, Blackthorne, Mariko, Yabushige, and Toranaga's consorts lock themselves in astorehouse. After theshinobi set up explosives to blow open the door, Mariko willingly stands in front of it to defy Ishido and, to Blackthorne's horror, is killed by the explosion. | ||||||
| 10 | "A Dream of a Dream" Transliteration: "Dai-jū wa: Yume no Naka no Yume" (Japanese:第十話「夢の中の夢」) | Frederick E. O. Toye | Maegan Houang & Emily Yoshida | April 23, 2024 (2024-04-23) | 0.625[21] | |
In the aftermath of the assault on Osaka Castle, Mariko is buried and the Council unanimously votes to declare war on Toranaga. Blackthorne leaves Osaka with Yabushige and Toranaga's consorts, having learned from Alvito that Mariko persuaded the Church to spare his life. Upon arriving in Ajiro, they discover that theErasmus has been destroyed and Toranaga's men ruthlessly hunt for suspected traitors. Yabushige is arrested and confesses to having aided Ishido; Toranaga orders Yabushige to commitseppuku the following day. Blackthorne reunites with Fuji who informs him that she has been relieved of her duties and plans to become a nun. The next day, Blackthorne implores Toranaga to spare Ajiro and threatens to commitseppuku, but Toranaga stops him and orders the construction of a fleet of ships. Toranaga later confesses to Yabushige that he ordered the destruction of theErasmus to keep Blackthorne from leaving Japan and that Mariko's death helped convince Ochiba to withdraw her support from Ishido ahead of the futureBattle of Sekigahara. After Toranaga refuses to divulge the entirety of his plan, Yabushige carries out his sentence and commitsseppuku. With the help of Buntaro and the villagers, Blackthorne begins efforts to salvage theErasmus as Toranaga observes from afar. | ||||||
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During theTelevision Critics Association's annual summer press tour in August 2018,FX announced it would make a new adaptation of the 1975 novelShōgun byJames Clavell and had given the production a straight-to-series order. Executive producers were expected to includeAndrew Macdonald, Allon Reich,Michael De Luca, Michaela Clavell,Tim Van Patten,Eugene Kelly, andRonan Bennett. Rachel Bennette is set as a supervising producer, Tom Winchester as a producer, Georgina Pope as a co-producer, and Eriko Miyagawa as an associate producer. Van Patten also directed the series and Bennett also wrote. FX Productions serves as the production company for the series.Hiroyuki Sanada serves as a producer and lead actor.[6][22]
In an interview withUSA Today, Sanada described his role as a producer, saying "After twenty years in Hollywood, I'm a producer. It means I can say anything, anytime. [...] I had a team for the first time, ever. I carried the pressure of being a producer on my shoulder. But more than that, I had happiness." He also stressed keeping the show authentic to Japanese history. "If something is incorrect, people cannot focus on the drama. They don't want to see that kind of show. We needed to be authentic."[23] Sanada had questioned the viability of a primarily Japanese-language series, feeling it was a "gamble". Marks joked that he did not understand why the network had greenlit "a very expensive sub-titled Japaneseperiod piece whose central climax revolves around a poetry competition."[24]
Initially conceived as a miniseries, its success led FX to announce in May 2024 that a second and third season were officially announced to be in development, with the writer's room assembling in mid-2024.[2][25] In November 2025, the new and recurring cast were announced for the second season. Sanada,Cosmo Jarvis,Tommy Bastow,Fumi Nikaidô,Hiroto Kanai,Yuka Kouri, Shinnosuke Abe,Yoriko Dōguchi, Yuko Miyamoto, and Eita Okuno were confirmed to reprise their roles from the first season whileAsami Mizukawa,Masataka Kubota, Sho Kaneta,Takaaki Enoki,Jun Kunimura, andRen Meguro were announced to have joined the cast.[26][27]
Principal photography for the series was scheduled to commence in March 2019 in Japan and the United Kingdom[28] but was delayed because the network felt that the production was not "in good enough shape".[29] Sanada did a single day of filming in 2019 in order for FX to retain the rights to the property as the series was being retooled.[30]
In January 2020, it was revealed that after original writerRonan Bennett became unavailable they started over with new writer and executive producerJustin Marks and supervising producerRachel Kondo. The writing team included co-executive producer Shannon Goss, consulting producer Matt Lambert, script editorMaegan Houang, and staff writerEmily Yoshida.[31]
Principal photography for the first season began inVancouver, British Columbia on September 22, 2021, and lasted until June 30, 2022, taking two months longer than expected.[32][33] Filming took place in locations around southernBritish Columbia, including the cities of Vancouver,Port Moody,[34] andCoquitlam, andUcluelet onVancouver Island. Speaking toYahoo Canada, Sanada praised Canada, "especially Vancouver," for being "a perfect place to make a samurai drama because they had a big, great, beautiful studio, and then 30 minutes drive from the studio they have everything, forest, river, beach, parks, mountains."[35] Jarvis added, "our Canadian crew exhibited a technical proficiency that I've never witnessed in my life." Altogether, around 340 crew worked on the show.
Nikkan Gendai reported that Japanese extras were paid 50,000 yen per day, which is much higher than a Japanese production where they are paid between zero yen to 5,000 yen a day.[36] AJapanese white pine tree used on set was donated and planted after filming to the City Hall of Port Moody.[37][38]
Principal photography for the second season is set to begin in January 2026 in Vancouver.[39][26]
Certain post-production visual effects were produced in Ireland.[40]
The score was composed by Academy Award winnerAtticus Ross,Leopold Ross, and Nick Chuba.Taro Ishida contributed by arranging and recording traditional Japanese music, including Gagaku, to integrate these authentic elements into the soundtrack. The team aimed to create a unique soundscape that blends ancient and modern elements, using advanced sonic manipulation to enhance the psychological depth of the story.[41][42]
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC)[43] | 14 |
To promote the series, an immersive exhibition of the series occurred at FX Lawn duringSan Diego Comic Con in July 2023. These included samurai performances and a virtualkoi pond.[44] On September 5, 2023, the series was teased in a showcase of upcoming FX television shows.[45] On November 2, 2023, the show's first trailer debuted on YouTube, which revealed that the series would be released in February 2024 on FX on Hulu.[7] A 30-second trailer for the series aired during the second-quarter ofSuper Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024. Bill Bradley ofAdweek wrote "The series has been in the works for years and is already the most expensive in FX history, so what's another $7 million-ish for an ad?"[46]
Shōgun premiered with its first two episodes on February 27, 2024, onFX andFX on Hulu. The remainder of the 10-episode series was released weekly. Internationally, the series was available onDisney+ andStar+ in Latin America andDisney+ in other territories.[47] An English dub of the series was available on Hulu.[48] A companion podcast hosted byShōgunstaff writer Emily Yoshida was also released for each episode.[49]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 85/100[50] |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 99%[51] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Chicago Sun-Times[52] |   |
| The Daily Telegraph[53] |  |
| Empire[54] | |
| Entertainment Weekly[55] | A– |
| Evening Standard[56] | |
| The Financial Times[57] | |
| The Guardian[58] | |
| Indiewire[59] | A– |
| San Francisco Chronicle[60] | |
| The Times[61] | |
| RogerEbert.com[62] | |
| USA Today[63] | |
Shōgun received critical acclaim in the United States and Japan.[64][65][additional citation(s) needed] On review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, 99% of 137 critics gave the series a positive review, with an average rating of 8.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Visually sumptuous and enriched with cultural verisimilitude,Shōgun is an epic adaptation that outdoes the original."[51] OnMetacritic, the series holds aweighted average score of 85 out of 100 based on 41 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[50]
Rebecca Nicholson ofThe Guardian praised the show, calling it "mesmerising" and especially praised the battle sequences and its respect for the source material.[66] Writing forThe New York Times, Mike Hale compared the show to the 1980 adaptation, writing "You can correct for wooden acting, dated production values and Eurocentrism, but you can't really correct for the basic nature of the material." He especially praised the show for highlighting more of the Japanese characters than in the 1980 adaptation, which focused more on Blackthorne. His only complaints wereCosmo Jarvis's more neutral portrayal of Blackthorne and the Western-written source material.[67]Forbes described the show as an "instant hit" and praised Jarvis' portrayal of Blackthorne, stating "I'm immediately drawn to his character because he's not just some good guy, some white savior or what have you. He's smart but he's also calculating and ruthless."[68]
Empire headlined their review by Jake Cunningham with "Shōgun makes for gripping television. Look past the knotty bureaucracy and you'll find striking performances and stunning visuals", highlighting the intricate performances of its lead trio. He describes Jarvis as "compelling" and "magnetic",Hiroyuki Sanada as a "subdued lord [who] ripples with menace, micro-expressions of warfaring arithmetic revealing his tactical mind" andAnna Sawai as "a character torn in duty and spirituality, cloaked in a performance of stoicism."[69]The Hollywood Reporter also praised the supporting cast, notably Moeka Hoshi,Tadanobu Asano,Fumi Nikaido, Shinnosuke Abe and Tokuma Nishioka for their strong character work.[70]IGN described some of the supporting cast as "stand-out", praisingNéstor Carbonell as Rodrigues and Tadanobu Asano as Yabushige next to Jarvis' Blackthorne, "a force to be reckoned with."[71] Emmanuel Ronquillo ofCollider also highlighted the "understated but expressive performance" of Moeka Hoshi in the show.[72]
Series creatorsRachel Kondo andJustin Marks's adaptation of the novel also received positive responses, with Daniel Fienberg fromThe Hollywood Reporter stating that "thisShōgun finds much more traction as an ambitious game of political chess."[70]IGN writes "Creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo have crafted a version of feudal Japan filled with visual splendor, brutality, and intrigue" while remaining "highly faithful to James Clavell's bestselling novel".[71] ForVariety, Alison Herman attributes the show's success to "creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo [having] tapped into the true secret sauce of epic television: a balance between sweeping grandeur and intimate psychology."[73]
Shōgun drew 9 million views acrossHulu,Disney+, andStar+ in its first six days of release.[74][75]Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on U.S. television screens, estimated that it was viewed for 422 million minutes during the week of March 25–31.[76] Viewership increased to 434 million minutes for the week of April 1–7.[77] It further rose to 608 million minutes for the week of April 22–28.[78][79] According to market research company Parrot Analytics, which looks at consumer engagement in consumer research, streaming, downloads, and on social media,Shōgun saw impressive demand in its second week, peaking at 48 times the average series.[80][81]Luminate, which gathers viewership data from smart TVs in the U.S., reported thatShōgun experienced a 111% increase in streaming minutes in the week following the 2024 Emmy nominations, making it the second-highest growth among all Outstanding Drama Series nominees.[82]
Analytics companySamba TV, which gathers viewership data from certainsmart TVs and content providers, announced thatShōgun was the most-streamed program across all platforms between February 26 and March 3.[83][84] It was also the most-streamed program across all platforms during its second week.[85]TheWrap noted thatShōgun was one of the few non-Netflix series to have a back-to-back number one ranking.[86] The streaming aggregator Reelgood, which tracks 20 million monthly viewing decisions across all U.S. streaming platforms for original and acquired content on SVOD and AVOD services, reportedShōgun was the most-streamed program through March 6.[87]JustWatch, a guide to streaming content with access to data from more than 20 million users around the world, estimated thatShōgun was the most-streamed series in Canada and in the United States from March 4–10.[88][89] JustWatch later revealed thatShōgun was the top-streamed show in Canada and in the United States during 2024.[90][91] According to the file-sharing news websiteTorrentFreak,Shōgun was the third most-watched pirated television series of 2024.[92][93]
Shōgun was received with acclaim by Japanese audiences onEiga.com.[94] Japanese comedian and history buffKunihiro Matsumura also praised the series for its authenticity.Ken Matsudaira, who playedTokugawa Yoshimune inThe Unfettered Shogun and playedTokugawa Ieyasu (the real-life model for Yoshii Toranaga) three times in his acting career, praised Sanada's skilled acting and his effort to bring more historical authenticity to the series as a producer.[95] In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Sanada expressed his thoughts on the show's Japanese reception: "I was a little worried about the Japanese reaction because they know what is authentic, and what is not. But surprisingly, all the reviews and the reactions from the audience were great. That was exactly what we wanted."[96]
Video game designerHideo Kojima, known for foundingKojima Productions, likened the series to "aGame of Thrones set in 17th-century Japan", and praised its scale, details, cast, costumes, sets, props, and VFX, as well as citing star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada's presence in the series.[97]
The first season of the show was a major influence on Japanese artistTakashi Murakami for his 2024Gagosian showJapanese Art History à la Takashi Murakami.[98]IGN named the series the best TV show of 2024.[99] Sawai's performance was additionally included inVariety's "100 Greatest TV Performances of the 21st Century", writing that "there were scenes in which Sawai communicated a chasm of yearning, rancor and guilt through a flicker in her eyes. So when her facade finally did crack wide open, we felt every bit of the emotion that was unleashed."[100]
Shōgun became the second non-English language series to be nominated forOutstanding Drama Series afterSquid Game in 2022, as well as the first to win.Anna Sawai andHiroyuki Sanada's performances won themPrimetime Emmy Awards forOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series andOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, respectively. With their wins, both became the first Japanese performers to win said categories. Additionally, Sawai also became the first Asian to win her category, while Sanada became the second Asian to do so in his category afterLee Jung-jae for his role inSquid Game in 2022.[101]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gotham TV Awards | June 4, 2024 | Breakthrough Limited Series | Shōgun | Nominated | [102][103] |
| Outstanding Performance in a Limited Series | Hiroyuki Sanada | Nominated | |||
| Anna Sawai | Nominated | ||||
| Television Critics Association Awards | July 12, 2024 | Program of the Year | Shōgun | Won | [104] |
| Outstanding Achievement in Drama | Won | ||||
| Outstanding New Program | Won | ||||
| Individual Achievement in Drama | Hiroyuki Sanada | Nominated | |||
| Anna Sawai | Won | ||||
| Set Decorators Society of America Awards | August 5, 2024 | Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a One Hour Period Series | Lisa Lancaster, Jonathan Lancaster, Helen Jarvis | Nominated | [105] |
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | September 8, 2024 | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Néstor Carbonell(for "Anjin") | Won | [106][107][108] |
| Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series | Laura Schiff, Carrie Audino, Kei Kawamura, Maureen Webb, and Colleen Bolton | Won | |||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour) | Christopher Ross(for "Anjin") | Nominated | |||
| Sam McCurdy(for "Crimson Sky") | Won | ||||
| Outstanding Period Costumes for a Series | Carlos Rosario, Carole Griffin, Kristen Bond, Kenichi Tanaka, and Paula Plachy(for "Ladies of the Willow World") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Period and/or Character Hairstyling | Sanna Kaarina Seppanen, Mariah Crawley, Madison Gillespie, Nakry Keo, and Janis Bekkering(for "A Stick of Time") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Main Title Design | Nadia Tzuo, Mike Zeng, Alex Silver, Lee Buckley, Ilya Tselyutin, and Evan Larimore | Won | |||
| Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) | Rebecca Lee, Krystal Devlin, Amber Trudeau, Andrea Alcala, Leslie Graham, Krista Hann, Mike Fields, and Emily Walsh(for "The Abyss of Life") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup | Toby Lindala, Bree-Anna Lehto, and Suzie Klimack(for "A Dream of a Dream") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) | Atticus Ross,Leopold Ross, and Nick Chuba(for "Servants of Two Masters") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music | Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross, and Nick Chuba | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Picture Editing for a Drama Series | Maria Gonzales and Aika Miyake(for "A Dream of a Dream") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More) | Helen Jarvis, Chris Beach, Lisa Lancaster, and Jonathan Lancaster(for "Anjin") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour) | Brian J Armstrong, Benjamin Cook, James Gallivan, John Creed, Ayako Yamauchi, Mark Hailstone, Ken Cain, Melissa Muik, Matt Salib, and Sanaa Kelley(for "Broken to the Fist") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour) | Steve Pederson,Greg P. Russell, Michael Williamson, Takashi Akaku, and Arno Stephanian(for "Broken to the Fist") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie | Michael Cliett, Melody Mead, Jed Glassford, Cameron Waldbauer, Philip Engström, Chelsea Mirus, Ed Bruce, Nicholas Murphy, and Kyle Rottman | Won | |||
| Outstanding Stunt Performance | Hiroo Minami, Nobuyuki Obikane, Martin Cochingco, and Johnson Phan(for "The Eightfold Fence") | Won | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | September 15, 2024 | Outstanding Drama Series | Justin Marks, Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell,Michael De Luca, Rachel Kondo, Shannon Goss, Jamie Vega Wheeler, Hiroyuki Sanada, Eriko Miyagawa, Erin Smith, and Matt Lambert | Won | |
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Hiroyuki Sanada(for "The Abyss of Life") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Anna Sawai(for "Crimson Sky") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Tadanobu Asano(for "Anjin") | Nominated | |||
| Takehiro Hira(for "Crimson Sky") | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Frederick E. O. Toye(for "Crimson Sky") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks(for "Anjin") | Nominated | |||
| Rachel Kondo and Caillin Puente(for "Crimson Sky") | Nominated | ||||
| Hawaii International Film Festival | October 12, 2024 | Halekulani Golden Maile Career Achievement Award | Rachel Kondo andJustin Marks | Won | [109] |
| Asia Society Game Changer Awards | November 12, 2024 | Game Changer Award | Shōgun | Won | [110] |
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | November 20, 2024 | Best Original Score – TV Show/Limited Series | Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross & Nick Chuba | Won | [111] |
| Astra TV Awards | December 8, 2024 | Best Streaming Drama Series | Shōgun | Won | [112][113] |
| Best Actor in a Streaming Drama Series | Cosmo Jarvis | Nominated | |||
| Hiroyuki Sanada | Won | ||||
| Best Actress in a Streaming Drama Series | Anna Sawai | Won | |||
| Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Yuko Miyamoto | Nominated | |||
| Best Directing in a Streaming Drama Series | Jonathan van Tulleken(for "Anjin") | Nominated | |||
| Best Writing in a Streaming Drama Series | Rachel Kondo andJustin Marks(for "Anjin") | Nominated | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | January 5, 2025 | Best Television Series – Drama | Shōgun | Won | [114] |
| Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama | Hiroyuki Sanada | Won | |||
| Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama | Anna Sawai | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Tadanobu Asano | Won | |||
| Critics' Choice Awards | January 12, 2025 | Best Drama Series | Shōgun | Won | [115] |
| Best Actor in a Drama Series | Hiroyuki Sanada | Won | |||
| Best Actress in a Drama Series | Anna Sawai | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Tadanobu Asano | Won | |||
| Takehiro Hira | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Moeka Hoshi | Won | |||
| American Cinema Editors Awards | January 18, 2025 | Best Edited Drama Series | Maria Gonzalez and Aika Miyake(for "A Dream of a Dream") | Won | [116] |
| Satellite Awards | January 26, 2025 | Best Drama Series | Shōgun | Nominated | [117] |
| Best Actor in a Drama or Genre Series | Hiroyuki Sanada | Won | |||
| Best Actress in a Drama or Genre Series | Anna Sawai | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries & Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television | Tadanobu Asano | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries & Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television | Moeka Hoshi | Nominated | |||
| British Society of Cinematographers Awards | February 1, 2025 | Best Cinematography in a Television Drama (International/Streaming) | Christopher Ross(for "Anjin") | Nominated | [118] |
| Sam McCurdy(for "Crimson Sky") | Nominated | ||||
| Grammy Awards | February 2, 2025 | Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media | Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross & Nick Chuba | Nominated | [119] |
| Saturn Awards | February 2, 2025 | Best Adventure Television Series | Shōgun | Nominated | [120] |
| Costume Designers Guild Awards | February 6, 2025 | Excellence in Period Television | Caros Rosario(for "Ladies of the Willow World") | Won | [121] |
| Excellence in Costume Illustration | James Holland(1 of 2) | Won | |||
| James Holland(2 of 2) | Nominated | ||||
| Visual Effects Society Awards | February 11, 2025 | Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode | Michael Cliett, Melody Mead, Philip Engström, Ed Bruce, and Cameron Waldbauer(for "Anjin") | Won | [122] |
| Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial, Game Cinematic or Real-Time Project | Manuel Martinez, Phil Hannigan, Keith Malone, and Francesco Corvino(for Osaka) | Won | |||
| Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, Game Cinematic or Real-Time Project | Dominic Tiedeken, Heinrich Löwe, Charles Guerton, and Timmy Lundin(for "Broken to the Fist" – "Landslide") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Compositing and Lighting in an Episode | Benjamin Bernon, Douglas Roshamn, Victor Kirsch, and Charlie Raud(for "Broken to the Fist" – "Landslide") | Nominated | |||
| Artios Awards | February 12, 2025 | Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Television Pilot and First Season Drama | Laura Schiff, Carrie Audino, Chelsea Egozi, and Kei Kawamura | Won | [123] |
| Society of Composers & Lyricists | February 12, 2025 | Outstanding Original Score for a Television Production | Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross, and Nick Chuba | Won | [124] |
| Outstanding Original Title Sequence for a Television Production | Nominated | ||||
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 22, 2025 | Best New Scripted Series | Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, Michaela Clavell, Shannon Goss, Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich, and Jamie Vega Wheeler | Won | [125] |
| Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | Hiroyuki Sanada | Nominated | |||
| Anna Sawai | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | Tadanobu Asano | Nominated | |||
| Moeka Hoshi | Nominated | ||||
| Cinema Audio Society Awards | February 22, 2025 | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series – One Hour | Michael Williamson, Steve Pederson, Greg P. Russell, Takashi Akaku, and Arno Stephanian(for "Broken to the Fist") | Won | [126][127] |
| Golden Reel Awards | February 23, 2025 | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Broadcast Long Form Dialogue and ADR | Brian J. Armstrong, Damon Cohoon, John Creed, and Ayako Yamauchi(for "Ladies of the Willow World") | Won | [128] |
| Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Broadcast Long Form Effects and Foley | Brian J. Armstrong, Benjamin L. Cook, James Gallivan, Mark Hailstone, Ken Cain, Sanaa Kelley, and Matt Salib(for "Broken to the Fist") | Nominated | |||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | February 23, 2025 | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series | Tadanobu Asano | Nominated | [129] |
| Hiroyuki Sanada | Won | ||||
| Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Anna Sawai | Won | |||
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Shinnosuke Abe, Tadanobu Asano,Tommy Bastow,Takehiro Hira,Moeka Hoshi, Hiromoto Ida,Cosmo Jarvis,Hiroto Kanai,Yuki Kura, Takeshi Kurokawa,Fumi Nikaido,Tokuma Nishioka, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Anna Sawai | Won | |||
| Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series | Shōgun | Won | |||
| British Academy Television Craft Awards | April 27, 2025 | Best Photography and Lighting: Fiction | Christopher Ross | Won | [130] |
| Peabody Awards | May 1, 2025 | Entertainment | FX Productions | Won | [131] |
| British Academy Television Awards | May 11, 2025 | Best International Programme | Justin Marks, Rachel Kondo, Michaela Clavell, Jonathan van Tulleken, Eriko Miyagawa, and Hiroyuki Sanada | Won | [132] |
| Critics' Choice Super Awards | August 7, 2025 | Best Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie | Shōgun | Won | [133] |
| Best Actor in an Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie | Hiroyuki Sanada | Won | |||
| Best Actress in an Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie | Anna Sawai | Won | |||
| Best Villain in a Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie | Takehiro Hira | Nominated | |||
| Writers Guild of America Awards | February 15, 2025 | Television: Dramatic Series | Shannon Goss,Maegan Houang,Rachel Kondo, Matt Lambert,Justin Marks, Caillin Puente,Nigel Williams, andEmily Yoshida | Won | [134] |
| Television: New Series | Won | ||||
| Television: Episodic Drama | Rachel Kondo &Justin Marks Episode: "Anjin" | Won |
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