An English navigator becomes both a player and pawn in the complex political games in feudal Japan.
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S1.E4
Anjin-san's assimilation of Japanese ways is evident in his exemplary conduct. Toranaga decides to return the Erasmus to Anjin-san. Mariko tells Father Alvito of a plot to murder a Christian lord on ...
S1.E1
Set in early 17th-century Japan, shipwrecked English navigator John Blackthorne finds intrigue and culture shock in a feudal society that puts a premium on honor. A rival Lord sentences Blackthorne ...
S1.E2
After Lord Toronaga rescues Blackthorn from prison, he enlists him as his aide and names him, 'Anjin-san'. Mariko is directed to tutor Anjin-san in the language and customs of Japan.
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Title: Shogun (1980)
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Pilot-Major John Blackthorne (Richard Chamberlain), an English ship pilot, whose vessel wrecked upon the Japanese coast in the early seventeenth century is forced to deal with the two most powerful men in Japan in these days. He is thrown in the midst of a war between Lord Yoshi Toranaga (Toshirô Mifune) and Ishido (Nobuo Kaneko), who struggle for the title of "Shogun", which will give ultimate power to the one who possesses it. Written by Harald Mayr <marvin@bike.augusta.de>
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A nation of violence, Samurai warriors ... and forbidden love. See more »Certificate:
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Did You Know?
Goofs
Blackthorne says to Toranaga that Portugal and Spain had shared the world between them through the "Treaty of Zaragoza". In fact that division was made by the "Treaty of Tordesilhas" (1494), signed by King João II of Portugal and King Fernando and Queen Isabel of Spain. The "Treaty of Zaragoza" was signed by King John III of Portugal and Emperor Carlos V in 1529 and its only aim was to clarify the question about the control over the Maluki Islands. See more »Quotes
Vasco Rodrigues: Listen to me, you whore-gutted, pock-marked, motherless scum... I need a favor.See more »
Alternate Versions
Released on video in an extremely truncated, two-hour form as Shogun. Among the changes:- A more gruesome version of an early scene where a man is beheaded.
- A brief moment of full frontal nudity on the part of one of the young Japanese women.
Connections
Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Bob Hope/Steve Landesberg/Gore Vidal (1980) See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Release Date:
15 September 1980 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
James Clavell's Shogun See more »Company Credits
Production Co:
Asahi National Broadcasting Company, Jardine Matheson Co. Ltd., National Broadcasting Company (NBC) See more »
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One of the most famous mini-series in television history, "James Clavell's Shogun" tells the epic tale of an English pilot who is washed up on the shores of Japan in the 17th century and becomes involved in the local political struggles. "Shogun" proves to be both an engrossing story, and a fascinating piece of television history.
Based on the life of the English navigator William Adams, "Shogun" is a complex story that explores both the political struggles of Feudal Japan, as well as analyzes the cultural differences of East vs. West. The story revolves around Pilot Major John Blackthorne, played by Richard Chamberlain. Coerced by Catholic Portuguese missionaries, with whom the English were at war, the Japanese authorities, or daimyos, throw the shipwrecked Blackthorne and his ailing crew into prison, and torture them as pirates. We soon learn that Lord Toranaga, the most powerful daimyo in Japan, is in the midst of a power struggle that could possibly lead him to be Shogun--the most powerful military ruler in Japan. In a final interview before his execution, Toranaga sees Blackthorne as valuable, and he spares the Englishman's life. Toranaga decides to employ him in training his troops in the Western methods of battle to help them prepare for the upcoming war against his rival, Ishido. Along the way, the audience is given a fascinating introduction to Feudal Japan through Blackthorne's eyes.
Shot entirely in Japan, director Jerry London took great care in using authentic costumes and believable sets. The casting is commendable, with Richard Chamberlain embodying the perfect Blackthorne (his performance garnered an Emmy nomination in 1980). Lord Toranaga is played masterfully by Toshiro Mifune, who also appeared in Akira Kurasawa classics such as Yojimbo and The Hidden Fortress.
Without a doubt, "James Clavell's Shogun" is worth a watch.