Starts Feb. 27th Based on James Clavell’s novel, FX’s Shōgun is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village.
More plot stuff: FX’s Shōgun, an original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as “Lord Yoshii Toranaga” who is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, “John Blackthorne” (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. Toranaga’s and Blackthorne’s fates become inextricably tied to their translator, “Toda Mariko” (Anna Sawai), a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her and her duty to her late father. The 10-episode limited series features an acclaimed Japanese cast, unprecedented for an American production, including Tadanobu Asano as “Kashigi Yabushige,” a notorious backstabber and close ally of Toranaga; Hiroto Kanai as “Kashigi Omi,” the young leader of the fishing village where Blackthorne’s ship was found; Takehiro Hira as “Ishido Kazunari,” a powerful bureaucrat who is Toranaga’s chief rival; Moeka Hoshi as “Usami Fuji,” a widow who must find new purpose amidst her lord’s fight; Tokuma Nishioka as “Toda Hiromatsu,” Toranaga’s trusted general and closest friend; Shinnosuke Abe as “Buntaro” (“Toda Hirokatsu”), Mariko’s jealous husband; Yuki Kura as “Yoshii Nagakado,” the brash son of Toranaga with a strong desire to prove himself; Yuka Kouri as “Kiku,” a courtesan renowned for her artistry throughout Japan; and Fumi Nikaido as “Ochiba no Kata,” the revered mother of the heir who will stop at nothing to put an end to Toranaga and his threat to her son’s power. Shōgun is created for television by Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks, with Marks serving as showrunner and executive producer alongside Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca and Kondo. The series is produced by FX Productions.
Anyone know if this will stream on Disney plus without a hulu sub? Couldn't find if that add-on was a prerequisite or if it'll just be on both platforms
I like that they're actually speaking Japanese and not English for the dummies that don't like to read.
The Rodrigues actor is great but they never showed him being saved, not sure how you just skip that part
When they speak english - theyre actually speaking portuguese 'in universe' or however you want to call it
Wait, what? Am I confused that the English guy speaks English, the Spaniard speaks English to him and the Portuguese speak Portuguese except for the guy who also speaks English and Japanese? or are yall watching dubbed?
Definitely not dubbed, yuck. The English guy (Blackthorn) certainly speaks english. But Im guessing he's actually speaking Dutch in the first scene on the ship. The Spaniard (Rodrigues) I think briefly speaks English to Blackthorn However - Portuguese is the lingua franca for the westerners in Japan. Blackthorn speaks it, Rodrigues speaks it. It's what all the Catholics and the Japanese use to speak to each other ect. Probably 95% of the time the actors are speaking English - is a stand in for Portuguese. That's my understanding at least
Blackthorn definitely does not speak Portuguese. He was worried his Portuguese translator would twist his words. He was speaking Dutch at the beginning tho. im nearly positive that every language being spoken is directly that language
He 100% speaks Portuguese. The translator was there to translate Portuguese to Japanese. He was worried the translator would lie about what he said edit - to add, Toranaga seemed a little dubious of the Catholic translator as well. Which is why he had Mariku sit in. She speaks Portuguese too and was able to tell Toranaga if it was an accurate translation or not
Blackthorn says he is fluent in Portuguese in the first episode. Truman is correct. The English we hear is actually Portuguese being spoken in the show.
Episode 1 was good (i.e. held my attention when I wasn't in the mood to pay attention). Looking forward to watching episode 2 tonight.
No, think of it this way. All non-Japanese parts are presented to us in English, with the majority being substituted for Portuguese. I am not saying contextually on the boat he may not have been speaking English or Dutch, but in Japan it is Portuguese for the most part. They try to be pretty clear about it and almost talk about it more than it would be spoken about in regular conversation in order to make the point to us about why we as viewers are hearing English...but it is not.
Loved the first episode. Hiroyuki Sanada is like a Japanese Anthony Hopkins. Kills it in every wise old man role