Miniseries · NBC
Shōgun
A nation of violence, Samurai warriors ... and forbidden love.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Richard Chamberlain
Pilot-Major John Blackthorne / Anjin-san
5 eps
Toshirō Mifune
Lord Yoshi Toranaga
5 eps
Yoko Shimada
Lady Toda Buntaro - Mariko
5 eps
John Rhys-Davies
Vasco Rodrigues
5 eps
Damien Thomas
Father Alvito
5 eps
Frankie Sakai
Yabu
5 eps
Yūki Meguro
Omi
5 eps
Hiromi Senno
Fujiko
5 eps
Alan Badel
Father Dell'Aqua
5 eps
Miiko Taka
Kiri
5 eps
Vladek Sheybal
Captain Ferriera
5 eps
Nobuo Kaneko
Ishido
5 eps
Hideo Takamatsu
Lord Buntarō
5 eps
Michael Hordern
Friar Domingo
5 eps
George Innes
Johann Vinck
5 eps
Leon Lissek
Father Sebastio
5 eps
Takeshi Ōbayashi
Urano
5 eps
Hiroshi Hasegawa
Galley Captain
5 eps
Akira Sera
Old Gardener
5 eps
Atsuko Sano
Lady Ochiba
5 eps
Masumi Okada
Brother Michael
5 eps
Edward Peel
Pieterzoon
5 eps
Eric Richard
Maetsukker
5 eps
Neil McCarthy
Spillbergen
5 eps
Seiji Miyaguchi
Muraji
5 eps
Yōsuke Natsuki
Zataki
5 eps
William Morgan Sheppard
Specz
5 eps
Shin Takuma
Naga
5 eps
Ai Matsubara
Rako
5 eps
John J. Carney
Ginsel
5 eps
Tōru Abe
Hiromatsu
5 eps
Orson Welles
Narrator
5 eps
Ian Jentle
Salamon
5 eps
Stewart MacKenzie
Croocq
5 eps
Hyōe Enoki
Jirobei
5 eps
Steve Ubels
Roper
5 eps
Yuko Kada
Sazuko
5 eps
Yumiko Morishita
Asa
5 eps
Masashi Ebara
Suga
5 eps
Yoshie Kitsuda
Kyoko / Gyoko
5 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Shōgun actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Shōgun reads strongest on Bingeability, Character Depth and Serialized.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
An English navigator becomes both a player and pawn in complex political games in feudal Japan.
The run
Seasons
1 season · 5 episodes.
Season 0 · Complete
Specials
201116 episodes
Season 1 · Complete
Miniseries
19805 episodes
6.4IMDbJohn Blackthorne, an English ship pilot, whose vessel wrecked upon the Japanese coast in the early 17th 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 Toranaga and Ishido, who struggle for the title of Shogun which will give ultimate power to the one who possesses it.
Best episode · S01E01 Part 1
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E01
Part 1
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 to death.
- Directed by Jerry London
- Written by Eric Bercovici
S01E05
Part 5
Treachery, tragedy and turns of events occur. Toronaga becomes SHOGUN after the defeat of Lord Ishido. Mariko is killed in the final battle at Osaka Castle. Heartbroken, but resolute, Blackthorne begins construction of another ship.
- Directed by Jerry London
- Written by Eric Bercovici
S01E03
Part 3
Blackthorne and Mariko begin a romance; Toronaga continues to build his army for a battle with Ishido. Anjin-san proves his mettle during an earthquake and is honored by Toranaga for bravery. Mariko's husband Buntaro, arrives in Anjiro.
- Directed by Jerry London
- Written by Eric Bercovici
S01E04
Part 4
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 the Council of Regents.
- Directed by Jerry London
- Written by Eric Bercovici
S01E02
Part 2
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.
- Directed by Jerry London
- Written by Eric Bercovici
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
S00E16
Post Production
S00E15
Toho Studios
S00E14
The Art of Shogun
S00E13
The Cast
S00E12
Nagashima
S00E11
The Earthquake
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Eric BercoviciProducer
- James ClavellExecutive Producer
Writing
- Eric BercoviciWriter
Direction
- Jerry LondonDirector
Cinematography
- Andrew LaszloDirector of Photography
Music
- Maurice JarreOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Fandango At HomeBuy
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