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Chinese-born director Yaoyuan Zhang crosses borders on a personal and professional level. He came to Japan in 2014 as an international Mext scholarship student and currently studies at the Tokyo University of Arts Graduate School of Film and New Media. “Life is Snow” is his graduation project and had its world premiere at the Osaka Asian Film Festival.

Life is Snow is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival

Ota, a Japanese war orphan left behind in China, returns to northern Japan to work at a bento factory. Due to a financial crisis, his employer fires him, which leads to an argument between Ota and his manager, Nakamura. Ota claims that Nakamura assaulted him and makes a report at the police station. With no other job prospects and an unhelpful lawyer at his side, Ota is in a desperate situation.

The case takes a lot of turns as Ota’s background is revealed more and more.

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Shogun star Hiroyuki Sanada has grabbed a good deal of attention with his groundbreaking performance, and last night, he received a Screen Actors Guild Award for his efforts.

As big business bros run streaming services into the ground or sell off treasured IPs for quick cash, FX actually cares about storytelling. Actually cares about television.

It is no surprise that Shogun, a spectacular historical drama set near the end of Japan’s Sengoku jidai, became one of 2024’s most critically acclaimed productions.

Actor Hiroyuki Sanada portrays daimyo Yoshii Toranaga on the hit series. But fans are also curious about his personal life.

Hiroyuki Sanada attends the red carpet event for FX’s “Shogun” at the Academy theater in Los Angeles, February 13, 2024. (Photo Credit: Michael Tran/Afp via Getty Images) Who is Hiroyuki Sanada?

Hiroyuki Sanada is an actor and a martial artist.

He boasts a lengthy film...

Shogun is picking up some major wins at the SAG Awards. These mark the latest of many accolades acquired by the hit FX series following its debut last year.

The SAG Awards were held on Feb. 23 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Multiple major awards were picked up by Shogun at the event. This includes series star Anna Sawai winning for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her role as Toda Mariko. She overcame fellow nominees Kathy Bates (Matlock), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), Allison Janney (The Diplomat), and Keri Russell (The Diplomat).

RelatedOriginal Shogun Series Director Says FX Reboot Is 'Not Entertaining for an American Audience'

Jerry London, director of NBC's 1980 Shogun miniseries, shares his thoughts about the FX reboot.

Hiryouki Sanada also won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series with his role as Lord Yoshii Toranaga. Tadanobu Asano...

Shogun star Anna Sawai has yet again addressed her potential return for the eagerly-anticipated second season of the award-winning FX series. Fresh off a Golden Globes award win for her portrayal of Mariko, the actor is a lot more positive about reprising the role if the opportunity comes.

At the Golden Globes press conference, Sawai discussed the possible return, revealing she would love to revisit her character. However, given Mariko died in Shogun Season 1, her caveat would be the character be brought back in a meaningful way. "If they asked me, I would absolutely do it," Sawai said. "There's no way I'm gonna say no. But, I don't know if it serves the story, and I want it to be really good and not to bring the character back just to have [her] back."

Related Goosebumps: The Vanishing Producer Hints At Season 1 Cast's Possible Return

The gang from Goosebumps Season...

Emmy Award-winning Shogun star Hiroyuki Sanada has refused to rule out the return of several fan-favorite characters for the hit Disney and FX show's second season. Anna Sawai's Princess Toda Mariko and Tadanobu Asano's Lord Kashigi Yabushige both met their end in the multi-award-winning first season, but Sanada believes there could still be involved moving forward.

The Japanese icon sat down for an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the recent Camerimage Film Festival, where Sanada scooped up the inaugural award for best television series performance. The discussion gravitated toward Sawai and Asano's beloved Shogun characters and the possibility they could return for Season 2. "Yeah, it's a shame, right? No Mariko, no Yabushige, no Hiromatsu. Those lovely characters are gone," he began. Sanada continued, "The actor Tokuma Nishioka, who played Hiromatsu, said in an interview recently that he and Yabushige would be coming back as zombies (Laughs.)." Ultimately,...

Emmy-winning actor Hiroyuki Sanada is fresh off the massive success of his immensely series, Shogun, which was given the green light for two more seasons after becoming a smash hit for FX and Hulu. Though the official release date for the second season is still unknown, the actor recently offered his thoughts about what he hopes audiences get to see in the highly anticipated follow-up.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sanada was asked whether he would like to see more of Tokugawa Ieyasu's (real-life counterpart to Sanada's Lord Toranaga) later years delved into for the second season. Sanada explained that Ieyasu's life has been covered extensively in other movies and shows, so he hoped that the writers would tackle more original ideas for the second season. "Well, the show is called Shogun, but weve yet to actually see him become the Shogun, right? So thats something I...

Deceased characters Mariko, Yabushige and Hiromatsu could still return for Shogun season 2, says star/producer Hiroyuki Sanada. FXs sweeping historical drama, based on James Clavells bestseller, wowed the critics when it hit in early 2024. Much of the shows success was owed to its cast of characters, including a few fan favorites who met shocking demises over the course of the story, and seemingly will not be back for the already-confirmed Shogun season 2.

Co-creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks now must come up with new characters to carry the Shogun story forward, but that doesnt mean audiences have seen the last of Mariko, Yabushige and Hiromatsu, at least according to producer/star Sanada. The Toranaga actor raised hopes recently for some unexpected resurrections, though not of the supernatural variety (via THR):

Yeah, its a shame, right? No Mariko, no Yabushige, no Hiromatsu. Those lovely characters are gone. The actor Tokuma Nishioka,...

Venerable Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada‘s victory tour for Shogun has continued all the way to Toruń, Poland. The Emmy-winning star of Disney and FX’s smash-hit samurai series received the Camerimage Film Festival’s inaugural award for best television series performance earlier this week.

The Polish specialty festival, an industry favorite, has long been known for its focus on the art of cinematography, but in recent years, it has expanded its remit to honor other aspects of moving-image creation. Other industry heavyweights in attendance at the fest this year have included multi-Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón, legendary director of photography Ed Lachman (the event’s lifetime achievement honoree) and actress Cate Blanchett, who is serving as the head of the competition jury.

The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Sanada at Camerimage for a brief chat at Toruń’s upscale Hotel Bulwar on the banks of the Vistula River.

How has...

Ramping up the glitz and glamour from last year’s launch shindig, The Hollywood Reporter Japan turned on the style once more for its Trailblazer Award Gala Party, held Wednesday night at The Peninsula Hotel in Tokyo’s Ginza district.

Held during the Tokyo International Film Festival, this year’s THR Japan gala event was an even hotter ticket than in 2023, with a veritable who’s who of Japan’s film industry, as well as sprinkling of sports legends and local celebs, who all graced the red carpet to join the celebrations to honor Shogun star Tadanobu Asano, the first Japanese recipient of THR’s Trailblazer Award.

The Trailblazer Award is given to artists whose work and careers illuminate stories and characters who have been traditionally marginalized in Hollywood. Since his debut on Japanese television as a 16-year-old, Asano’s career has taken him from Hirokazu Koreeda’s Maborosi to...

Is “Shōgun” about to pull a “Succession” at the 2025 Golden Globes?

Currently at Gold Derby, the FX historical epic leads three top categories in our Golden Globe predictions: Best Drama Series, Best Drama Actor for Hiroyuki Sanada, and Best Drama Actress for Anna Sawai. If it also manages to pull off a fourth victory in a supporting race, it would match “Succession’s” total of four from last year.

For its final season, HBO’s family drama won the series prize at the Golden Globes and it also took home trophies for lead actors Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook, plus supporting player Matthew Macfadyen.

If “Shōgun” rides off with only the three top categories for series, lead actor, and lead actress, it would still be in good company indeed, as only a handful of dramas have done so. Besides “Succession” in 2023, “The Crown” most recently accomplished this feat in 2020. Before that,...

This article contains mention of suicide.

FX's Shgun is an adaptation of James Clavell's book, and it has changed many of the novel's aspects. The show is one of the most popular and successful series of 2024; Shgun won the most awards at the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards and had the most nominations. Shgun won some of the most prestigious categories, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor & Actress in a Drama Series, and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. FX had initially adapted Shgun as a limited series, but it became so successful that now Shgun seasons 2 and 3 are officially in development.

Although there is no canon book material for Shgun season 2, the writers are determined to continue Lord Yoshii Toranaga's story. However, the first season is based on James Clavell's book, and the writers' room had to make many critical decisions when crafting a narrative for television. Although...

“Shōgun” has gone from critical darling to Emmys juggernaut, but plenty may not have taken the dive into this period Japanese world just yet. The long-in-the-works show takes place in 1600 Japan and ostensibly follows a marooned Englishman who finds himself caught in a growing civil war amongst Japanese power players, but the rich story unfolds in surprising ways. Hiroyuki Sanada leads the cast as Lord Yoshii Toranaga and also serves as producer, shepherding the project to ensure historical and cultural accuracy throughout. The result is one of the most thrilling, emotional and engrossing shows of the year.

Here’s everything you need to know about where to watch “Shogun.”

Where is “Shōgun” streaming?

“Shōgun” is an FX original series but it aired on both FX and Hulu, and all 10 episodes of the first season are currently streaming on Hulu. You’ll also find it on Disney+ through the Hulu integrated app.

“Shōgun” star Hiroyuki Sanada has not one, but two chances at taking home a trophy at the 2024 Emmy awards. Sanada is nominated for Best Drama Actor for the role of Lord Toranaga, and is also nominated as a producer of the 25-time nominated series. Speaking to Gold Derby in an exclusive video interview (watch above), Sanada is unable to choose which nomination is more meaningful. “It’s a big thing as an actor, of course,” he says. “Also this is my first experience doing producing in my life. So both nominations are so amazing for me.”

For Sanada, playing an active role on the production side made his job as an actor easier. “Standing in front of the camera, I feel like I was ready,” he says. “As a producer, I’m involved with the script, the casting, staffing, everything. So when I start acting, I was so comfortable and confident.

Gold Derby can exclusively reveal that Hiroyuki Sanada is entering the “Shōgun” episode “The Abyss of Life” as his 2024 Emmy Award submission for Best Drama Actor. “The Abyss of Life” aired on April 9, 2024, and is the eighth episode of the FX drama’s first season.

In “The Abyss of Life”: Toranaga (Sanada) and his army travel to Edo to prepare for Nagakado’s (Yuki Kura) funeral and 49 days of mourning. Alvito (Tommy Bastow) suggests to Toranaga that he should ally with Ochiba (Fumi Nikaido) and overthrow Ishido (Takehiro Hira), but Toranaga tells the priest to inform Ishido that he will formally surrender. Buntaro (Shinnosuke Abe) and Mariko (Anna Sawai) have a tea ceremony, where he proposes that they commit suicide to protest Toranaga’s surrender, but Mariko refuses. Toranaga’s vassals sign their names to a formal letter of surrender, but Hiromatsu (Tokuma Nishioka) commits “seppuku” in defiance.

Shogun made a big splash this year by receiving 25 Emmy nominations for FX, and now viewers are receiving a small update on season two from John Landgraf, Chairman of FX Networks.

Sanada, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Fumi Nikaido, Tokuma Nishioka, Takehiro Hira, Ako, Shinnosuke Abe, Yasunari Takeshima, Hiroto Kanai, Toshi Toda, Hiro Kanagawa, Nestor Carbonell, Yuki Kura, Tommy Bastow, Moeka Hoshi, Yoriko Doguchi, and Yuka Kouri star in FX series set in the early 1600s in Japan.

Read More…...

The nominations for the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards that were revealed on Wednesday morning confirm that there is tremendous support from the TV Academy’s 22,000 members for the three shows that have long been presumed to be the frontrunners in their respective categories: FX’s drama series Shogun (which landed a field-leading 25 noms), FX’s comedy series The Bear (the runner-up with 23 noms, a new record for a comedy, or at least a show that could get away with being classified as one) and Netflix’s limited series Baby Reindeer (11 noms).

But — and this is a big but — the noms also suggest that pundits, including me, may have been overestimating the strength of that trio of shows and underestimating the strength of some of their competitors.

Among dramas, Netflix’s The Crown, for its sixth, final and worst-reviewed season (it’s at just 55 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), was the runner-up with a formidable 18 noms,...

As we enter the new post-Succession era, a fearsome potential ruler has emerged to seize power at the 2024 Emmys.

FX Productions’ lavish Japanese period series Shōgun — a show, incidentally, all about the complicated succession process after the death of an esteemed leader — dominated the drama category announcements Wednesday morning with 25 nominations.

Besides getting a nomination for best drama, Shōgun also earned a best dramatic actor nomination for Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga, while Anna Sawai took home a nomination for best dramatic actress for her role as Toda Mariko.

In the best supporting dramatic actor competition, there were nominations for Tadanobu Asano, who plays Kashigi Yabushige, and also Takehiro Hira for his role as Ishido Kazunari. There was also a best guest actor in a drama nomination for Nestor Carbonelle for playing the role of Rodrigues.

Shōgun also earned a slew of nominations in technical categories, including for production design,...

Although 2023 Emmy nominations voters were able to view the entire second season of “The Bear” while judging the merits of its first, the team behind the FX series did not employ a similar strategy in 2024. Nonetheless, the newly released third season will still influence TV academy members as they spend part of August deciding whether season two is worthy of any wins. The latest episodes have already impacted the mindsets of Gold Derby’s 2024 Emmy predictors, who have collectively boosted its odds in several categories over the past week.

As has been the case since this Emmys season began, “The Bear” currently holds over 80% of the Best Comedy Series win votes in our predictions center. Even now that our number of participating readers exceeds 3,000, none of this category’s other candidates have managed to crack 10%. “The Bear” is also expected to dominate five of the six comedy acting races,...

Having trouble predicting who will win Best Drama Supporting Actress at the upcoming Emmy Awards? Let’s consult Gold Derby’s 2024 Emmy Experts! These savvy pundits from major media outlets have chimed in with their predictions, and the majority of them believe the trophy will go to Elizabeth Debicki (“The Crown”). The other potential nominees, per the Experts’ current racetrack odds, are Moeka Hoshi (“Shōgun”), Holland Taylor (“The Morning Show”), Adelaide Clemens (“Justified: City Primeval”), Lesley Manville (“The Crown”) and Christine Baranski (“The Gilded Age”).

As of this writing, a leading 14 out of our 17 Emmy Experts predict a victory for Debicki: Christopher Rosen (Gold Derby), Clayton Davis (Variety), Dave Nemetz (TV Line), Eric Deggans (NPR), Jazz Tangcay (Variety), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Keith Simanton (IMDb), Kelly Lawler (USA Today), Matt Roush (TV Guide Magazine), Peter Travers (ABC), Ray Richmond (Gold Derby), Susan King (Gold Derby), Thelma Adams (Gold Derby) and...

FX's historical drama series "Shōgun" has rightfully earned high marks, including for its recreation of 1600 Japan. Would you believe the show was actually shot on sets built in Vancouver? I certainly didn't, but it's true.

"Shōgun" has begot endless comparisons to "Game of Thrones." Like in Westeros, battles in the series are most often waged via conversation, not sword fights. Language is a dominant theme of "Shōgun," with the show often underlining the contrast between strict Japanese decorum, even among enemies, and the brutal physical violence those enemies inflict on each other. Even the ending of "Shōgun" is an anti-climax designed to surprise those expecting an epic battle.

When battles do erupt, though, they're as bloody as you'd expect Samurai clashes to be. Episode 4, "The Eightfold Fence," ends with a squad of soldiers being ambushed with a blast of cannonballs; the men and their horses collapse into piles of gore.

One year after “Everything Everywhere All at Once” became the third film to ever merit three acting Oscars, the recipients of those trophies all have their sights set on Emmy glory. As candidates in three separate 2024 races, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Ke Huy Quan are headed for an exciting reunion that could very well lead to one or more of them winning the TV academy’s favor in September.

Curtis, whose Oscar victory caught more predictors by surprise than those of her two cast mates, is now the strongest Emmy contender of the three according to our racetrack odds. Indeed, her guest stint as alcoholic mother Donna Berzatto on the FX comedy series “The Bear” is widely expected to bring her her first Emmy win, even in the face of formidable opponents from the same show (like Olivia Colman and Sarah Paulson) and returning champion Maya Rudolph (“Saturday Night Live...

In the week since our 2024 Emmy predictions center expanded to include the guest acting categories, a strong consensus has formed around four potential winners from three different series. The one show that is expected to achieve double victories in this area is FX’s “The Bear,” which won’t have much trouble doing so if our users are correct about it taking up seven of the possible 12 comedy guest nomination slots.

The widely predicted guest winners from “The Bear” are Jon Bernthal and Jamie Lee Curtis, the former of whom was just nominated last year for the show’s inaugural season. The likeliest drama guest victors are potential Emmy first-timer Nestor Carbonell (“Shōgun”) and 2021 champ Claire Foy (“The Crown”). Foy would be only the third actress to win twice in her category for one role, after Patricia Clarkson (“Six Feet Under”) and Margo Martindale (“The Americans”).

“The Crown” and “Shōgun...

Shogun faces challenges without key characters like Mariko, but still has potential to explore historical events in season 2. Anna Sawai's standout performance as Lady Mariko was a highlight of Shogun and she won't be returning in season 2. Mariko may appear in flashbacks or as a spiritual guide in future episodes, but her absence creates a major gap in Shogun's storyline.

Shgun season 2 already faces major challenges without its most significant character. The critically acclaimed Hulu/FX series recently announced that despite the lack of source material, Shgun seasons 2 and 3 are currently in development. This announcement, while exciting, raises all sorts of questions about what direction the story will head in after it was previously thought to have concluded with its exceptional final episode. Prior to Shgun's season 1 finale on April 23, 2024, there was a general assumption that the series would end since it was based on a novel of the same name by James Clavell.

Welcome to Emmy Experts Typing, a weekly column in which Gold Derby editors and Experts Joyce Eng and Christopher Rosen discuss the Emmy race — via Slack, of course. This week, we reassess drama, now with “Shōgun.”

Christopher Rosen: Hello, Joyce! It’s Friday and we went from having no clear frontrunner in the Best Drama Series category to what seems like a runway favorite. Last week, FX finally announced “Shōgun” will compete as a drama series as two additional seasons are being planned for… sometime in the future. Good for Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo and producer and star Hiroyuki Sanada. Not only will they get paid for spearheading the year’s one real breakout show not named “Baby Reindeer,” but they’re also more likely than ever to win Emmys for their work. Or maybe they were always going to win. Regardless! It didn’t take me long to...

Warning: Spoilers ahead of Shgun season 1.

Shgun's season 2 risks ruining the perfect ending for Toranaga and Blackthorne, leading to questions about future direction. Expanding Shgun further may backfire due to lack of source material and several key character deaths. Season 2 must maintain the brilliance of Toranaga to avoid risking the legacy and quality of the series.

A major risk of Shgun season 2 is potentially ruining Lord Yoshii Toranaga and John Blackthorne's perfect ending. The critically acclaimed Hulu/FX series recently announced that despite the lack of source material, Shgun seasons 2 and 3 are currently in development. This announcement, while exciting, raises all sorts of questions about what direction the story will head in after it was previously thought to have concluded with its exceptional final episode. Prior to Shgun's season 1 finale on April 23, 2024, there was a general assumption that the series would end since it was based on a novel of...

Shgun season 2 faces challenges with tighter production schedules and writing original content, risking a decline in quality. Fans may be disappointed that season 1 didn't show key events like the Battle of Sekigahara, which could kick off the next season. Shgun's success hinges on maintaining the high standards of season 1 and effectively utilizing the rich history of Tokugawa for engaging storytelling.

The exciting announcement of Shgun season 2 also draws some major concerns. After the successful then-miniseries aired its finale on April 23, 2024, there was a general assumption that the series would end since it was based on a completed work, a novel of the same name by James Clavell. The Hulu/FX series recently announced that despite the lack of source material, Shgun is getting renewed for a second and third season, raising all sorts of questions about where the story will go next after it was previously thought to have concluded in its exceptional finale episode.

Shogun is renewed for seasons 2 and 3, and can draw from more compelling historical events. Toranaga's rise to power sets up the establishment of his shogunate and the focus for future seasons. The Christianity ban and the Siege of Osaka should play key roles in upcoming storylines.

After being announced for at least two additional seasons, Shgun has a wide range of historical events to pull from. The Hulu/FX series recently revealed that despite the lack of source material, Shgun is getting renewed for a second and third season, raising all sorts of questions about where the story will go next. Shgun's first season earned a near-perfect 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, which likely played a major role in the decision to extend the series further. Shgun season 1 began development back in 2018, giving series creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo five solid years of preparation and refinement.

The historical fiction series has...

FX’s Shogun is getting more seasons. FX, Hulu, and the Estate of James Clavell are working to extend the critically acclaimed global hit drama, moving forward to develop the saga with two additional seasons of the drama series.

The show’s key creative partners, including co-creators, executive producers, and writers Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, executive producer Michaela Clavell, and series star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada, are on board for the development. Production timing has not been locked in, but a writers’ room is being assembled and will begin this summer.

Through its first nine weeks, Shogun has become FX’s most-watched show ever based on global hours streamed. All 10 episodes of Shogun, which concluded on April 23, are available to stream on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ in all other territories.

FX’s Shogun, an original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, is set in Japan...

“Shōgun” is officially in the drama race for the Primetime Emmys.

FX has confirmed that the once limited or anthology series heavyweight has been officially submitted and accepted in the drama categories, where it will compete against Netflix’s “The Crown,” Apple’s “The Morning Show” and Prime Video’s “Fallout.” In addition, the network has shared exclusively with Variety the complete list of 40 Emmy submissions, which includes six submissions for directing, four for writing, and two eligible guest actors. HBO’s “Game of Thrones” currently holds the record for most nominations in a single year with 32. Could FX break the monumental record?

Following the announcement that FX, Hulu, and the estate of James Clavell — who authored the novel — are working on developing more seasons of the critically acclaimed series, “Shōgun” is now officially eligible to compete in the drama races after being commissioned as limited. The move puts the...

Shōgun is a limited series no more: FX is gearing up for more installments of the historic drama.

The renewal was expected and foreshadowed by star-producer Hiroyuki Sanada closing a deal to continue as Lord Yoshii Toranaga. Also back are co-creators, executive producers and writers Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo as well as EP Michaela Clavell.

For now, FX and streaming partner Hulu are saying that they are working with the estate of Shōgun author James Clavell to to develop two additional seasons.

There is no mention of a green light, and a start date for production has not been set, but a writers’ room is being assembled and will begin this summer. There is also no information on source material, whether the new seasons will stay within the Shōgun universe or will also draw from the other books in Clavell’s Asian Saga.

The news of Shōgun‘s return...

More seasons of “Shōgun” are (maybe) on the way.

Variety has learned that FX, Hulu and the estate of James Clavell — who authored the novel on which “Shōgun” is based — are working to develop more seasons of the critically acclaimed series. A writers’ room will begin this summer to develop two more seasons of the show.

It must be noted that this is not a formal renewal, and no production has been scheduled for more episodes. Series co-creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo remain onboard the series, as does executive producer Michaela Clavell of the James Clavell estate, as well as series star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada.

It was previously reported that a second season of the historical drama was being eyed by FX following the success of Season 1. Sources said that FX was mulling entering the show into the drama series category for the Emmys rather than limited series,...

Shogun viewers might see more of the FX drama after all. A second season renewal of the limited series is in the works. Hiroyuki Sanada has been signed to return for season two if it gets the greenlight.

Sanada, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Fumi Nikaido, Tokuma Nishioka, Takehiro Hira, Ako, Shinnosuke Abe, Yasunari Takeshima, Hiroto Kanai, Toshi Toda, Hiro Kanagawa, Nestor Carbonell, Yuki Kura, Tommy Bastow, Moeka Hoshi, Yoriko Doguchi, and Yuka Kouri star in the series set in 1600 Japan. The story revolves around the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds: an English sailor who is shipwrecked in Japan and a shrewd and powerful daimyo.

Read More…...

James Clavell‘s 1975 historical novel of the same name is the basis for Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks‘ “Shōgun,” and it makes for exquisite television. Set at the end of the 16th century in Japan, the FX limited series follows several factions in the five Regents all vying for control and power. Intricate world-building and political machinations combine to make “Shōgun” the next “Game of Thrones.” What the two shows also have in common is a collection of superb performances from their extensive casts. Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, and Cosmo Jarvis lead the way in the show’s leading performances but several supporting players could also be up for an Emmy nomination, including Takehiro Hira.

Hira plays Ishido Kazunari, a former peasant who has now become a powerful bushō (a warlord). Kazunari takes charge of one of the five Regents and is the main rival of Sanada’s Lord Yoshii Toranaga.

Before you make your 2024 Emmy predictions for Best Drama Supporting Actor, take a tour of our photo gallery showcasing the men most likely to land in the lineup. Last year’s race was completely dominated by actors from “Succession” and “The White Lotus,” neither of which can produce nominees this time since the former ended last May and the latter won’t return until 2025.

Naturally, this category’s sole presently eligible former winner – Billy Crudup – has emerged as the frontrunner. Among his likeliest competitors are two of his own cast mates: 2020 nominee Mark Duplass and series newcomer Jon Hamm, who won the 2015 Best Drama Actor Emmy for “Mad Men” and is widely expected to take this year’s limited series lead prize for “Fargo.”

Other outside winners in the mix include James Cromwell (“Sugar”; formerly of “American Horror Story”), Nathan Lane (“The Gilded Age”; “Only Murders in the Building”), and...

This article contains spoilers from Shōgun season 1, episode 10, "A Dream of a Dream."

Shgun actor and producer Hiroyuki Sanada explains that Toranaga always keeps his promises, honoring his contract with Fuji despite the deceit and destruction. Recognizing Fuji's grief and impeccable service, Toranaga grants her freedom from Blackthorne, like Mariko before her. Despite his ruthless nature, Toranaga's decision to release Fuji shows his adherence to honor and loyalty in Shgun.

Shōgun star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada explains why his character Lord Yoshii Toranaga gives Usami Fuji (Moeka Hoshi) her freedom in the final episode. Fuji, the granddaughter of Toranaga's trusted advisor Toda Hiromatsu (Tokuma Nishioka), lost her husband and son in Shōgun's first episode. When Toranaga made John Blackthrone a hatamato, Toranaga commanded Fuji to become Blackthorne's consort. Fuji dutifully performed this role, even as she grieved her losses and without her and Blackthorne ever becoming romantic or physically intimate.

Warning! Major spoilers ahead for Shōgun episode 9.

Anna Sawai teases that the major character death in Shgun episode 9 will cause surprising reactions from some of the other characters. The finale will feature a "revelation," and more character connections will be revealed. Characters like Lord Toranaga and John Blackthorne are sure to have powerful reactions to Mariko's death.

Shōgun star Anna Sawai teases how Mariko's death in episode 9 will impact everyone else in the upcoming finale. Serving as a TV adaptation of James Clavell's 1975 novel of the same name, FX's Shōgun is created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, chronicling a battle for power among Japanese lords and ladies in the 17th century. The series has featured a number of notable character deaths thus far, but episode 9, "Crimson Sky," sees Lady Mariko sacrifice herself at Osaka Castle in service of Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada).

In a recent interview...

This article contains spoilers through Shogun episode 8.

Things aren’t looking great for Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and his allies in FX’s Shōgun. He’s lost his son, and is currently being ushered to Osaka, where he will almost definitely be sentenced to death by Lady Ochiba (Fumi Mikado), Lord Ishido (Takehiro Hira), and the other Regents. Discouraged by Toranaga’s resignation to his fate, Hiromatsu (Tokuma Nishioka) speaks out against his decision to surrender, with the support of other leaders in Torganaga’s army. But as usual, things aren’t always what they seem with Torganaga, and he may still have a few tricks left up his sleeve.

Here’s everything you need to know before episode 9 of Shōgun, including where to watch and a full recap of episode 8.

When and Where Will Shogun Episode 9 Be Available to Watch?

Shōgun episode 9 “Crimson Sky” will be available to watch in the U.

This article contains spoilers for Shogun episode 8.

Nobody on Shōgun can accept that Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) has given up. The crises facing the great daimyo are overwhelming: his enemies are gathering in Osaka, his army has been decimated by an earthquake, and his own half-brother has betrayed him. But this is Lord Toranaga we’re talking about here! Surely the soft-spoken falconer has a plan to come out on top.

Well it turns out that Toranaga does indeed have a plan to come out on top. It just can’t proceed until everyone has well and truly accepted that he’s been defeated. And to pull off that grand trickery, something truly tragic has to happen…and happen it does in Shōgun‘s heartbreaking eighth episode “The Abyss of Life.”

No, we’re not referring to the accidental death of Toranaga’s son Nagakado (Yuki Kura), though that is quite tragic.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Shōgun episode 8.

Director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour reveals that the idea for the final lines in Shgun episode 8 were Hiroyuki Sanada's idea. The moment at Nagakado's grave adds clarity to Toranaga's plan and helps establish that he's "lost everything." Toranaga is now more committed to Crimson Sky than ever before.

Shōgun episode 8 director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour breaks down the final scenes of the shocking episode. Based on a novel of the same name by James Clavell, Shōgun follows the struggle for power in feudal Japan after the death of the Taikō. The latest episode picks up after the death of Lord Toranaga's (Hiroyuki Sanada) son, and features another surprise demise, with Hiromatsu (Tokuma Nishioka) committing seppuku after a disagreement with his lord. The episode ends with Toranaga thanking both his son and Hiromatsu for giving him more time to enact his plan.

During a recent appearance on FX's Shōgun: The Official Podcast,...

This article contains spoilers for Shogun episode 4.

As depicted in FX’s Shōgun, Japan’s Sengoku period in the 15th and 16th centuries was a pretty rough time. Perhaps no Shōgun character represents that better than poor Usami Fuji (Moeka Hoshi).

As the noble-born granddaughter of Toda Hiromatsu (Tokuma Nishioka), the closest ally of the powerful Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), Fuji’s life was marked by comfort and dignity. Unfortunately that all comes crashing down in the series’ first episode when Lord Toranaga becomes embroiled in a power struggle with Osaka’s Council of Regents. After Fuji’s husband Tadayoshi speaks out of turn at a Council of Regents meeting in defense of his lord, he immediately realizes that he jeopardized Toranaga’s safety in doing so and asks for permission to commit seppuku – a ritualistic suicide to reclaim his family’s honor. Lord Toranaga grants Tadayoshi the right...

Shogun is currently airing on Hulu, but some viewers are wondering if a second season is in the works. The show's co-creators, Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, spoke about the possibility of another round of episodes in a recent interview with THR.

Starring Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Fumi Nikaido, Tokuma Nishioka, Takehiro Hira, Ako, Shinnosuke Abe, Yasunari Takeshima, Hiroto Kanai, Toshi Toda, Hiro Kanagawa, Nestor Carbonell, Yuki Kura, Tommy Bastow, Moeka Hoshi, Yoriko Doguchi, and Yuka Kouri, Shogun is set in 1600 feudal Japan and is based on the novel by James Clavell.

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Shōgun is a historical drama miniseries created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks. The FX series is based on a novel of the same name by James Clavell, it is set in Japan in the year 1600 and it follows the story of two ambitious men Lord Yoshii Toranaga, powerful daimyō, who is being targeted by his political rivals, and John Blackthorne, an English sailor with a mysterious past who might be able of help to him.

Shōgun has already become FX’s biggest Hulu premiere with 9 million views. The historical drama has something for everyone including beautiful cinematography, violence, and a brilliantly written political narrative.

Shōgun – Episode Guide (When Will the New Episodes Air) Credit – FX

Shōgun consists of ten episodes in total. The historical political drama series premiered on Hulu with its two episodes on February 27, with the rest coming out weekly on Tuesday. Check out the full episode...

The premiere of FX’s Shōgun delivered a sizable streaming audience worldwide to go along with solid on-air numbers in the United States.

Over its first six days of release, the limited series’ first episode — based on James Clavell’s best-selling 1975 novel — gathered 9 million streaming views globally on Hulu, Disney+ and Star+ (with “view” defined as the now-standard formula of total viewing time divided by running time). According to Disney, that’s the best worldwide debut to date for a Disney General Entertainment scripted series (i.e., one that doesn’t fall under the Marvel, Star Wars, Disney Branded TV, Pixar or National Geographic banners).

Domestically, the premiere episode of Shōgun also scored the best streaming debut for an FX show on Hulu (with an assist from Disney+), edging out the season two opener of The Bear. Outside the United States, Shōgun topped season one of The Kardashians as the...

The debut of the FX limited series “Shōgun” has proven to be a hit with audiences.

The premiere episodes of the 10-episode series has pulled in 9 million views globally across Hulu, Disney+ and Star+ in its first six days of availability, with a view defined as total stream time divided by runtime.

That is high enough to make it the number one scripted series premiere globally for Disney General Entertainment, beating “The Kardashians” Season 1, and the number one premiere of an FX series on Hulu in the U.S. ahead of “The Bear” Season 2. It should be noted, however, that the “Shōgun” viewership also includes Hulu on Disney+

“Shōgun,” based on the James Clavell novel of the same name, has long been a passion project for FX chief John Landgraf, who originally greenlit the show back in 2018. The show has received strong reviews from critics as well, with Variety‘s...

FX’s Shōgun came out of the gate strong with its streaming debut.

According to Disney, the premiere episode of the limited series amassed 9M views globally across Hulu, Disney+ and Star+ in its first six days on these services. Internationally, this makes Shōgun the No. 1 general entertainment series for the company, surpassing The Kardashians Season 1.

Domestically, Disney says that Shōgun inched ahead of The Bear Season 2 to become the No. 1 FX premiere on its streaming platforms, certainly aided by the fact that FX releases are now also available on Disney+ for Bundle subscribers. The Bear Season 2 didn’t have that luxury.

Disney defines “views” as total stream time divided by runtime, similar to Netflix. The company rarely releases definitive streaming data, which makes Shōgun‘s performance difficult to compare to anything else.

The last time Disney released streaming data, it was for Percy Jackson and the Olympians. That premiere...

FX and Hulu’s debuted new footage from the Shogun limited series during a :30 Super Bowl TV spot and then brought the final – and lengthy – new trailer online. The 10-episode series, based on James Clavell’s bestselling novel, will premiere on February 27, 2024 on Hulu with the release of the first two episodes.

New episodes of the 10-episode season will stream on Tuesdays.

Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne and Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko in ‘Shogun’ (Photo Cr: Katie Yu / FX)

FX offered this detailed description of the plot, cast, and characters:

Shogun 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...

Updated with Super Bowl spot: FX has unveiled a new extended trailer for Shōgun, its original series adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, ahead of a 30-second spot the network will air Sunday during Super Bowl Lviii (watch it below). The 10-episode series premieres Tuesday, February 27 on Hulu in the U.S., on Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in all other territories. The premiere will include the first two episodes, followed by a new episode each week. You can watch the new extended trailer above and previously released teaser trailer at the bottom of the post.

Related: Peak TV Is Over: Number Of Original Series Falls For First Time In A Decade, Per FX

Previously, November 2: FX has finally released its first trailer for Shōgun, its original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel that was created for television by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks.

The limited...

Two months into the new year, Hulu is in full gear! The streamer will usher in several major premieres this February in addition to a wide variety of library shows and movies. Kick off the month with the premiere of the latest installment of Ryan Murphy and FX’s “Feud,” entitled “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans” and starring Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Tom Hollander, and more.

Recent Emmy winner Quinta Brunson’s “Abbott Elementary” will also welcome students back in the doors as Season 3 makes its highly anticipated premiere mid-month on both ABC and on Hulu the next day, part of several season premieres for ABC this month, including “Not Dead Yet,” “The Conners,” and more.

From the recent Sundance debut film “Suncoast” to the epic historical miniseries “Shōgun,” find out everything coming to Hulu in February, including The Streamable’s top five must-see shows and movies!

Shōgun is coming soon to Hulu. FX has announced a February premiere date for the limited series with the release of new posters and a trailer.

Starring Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Fumi Nikaido, Tokuma Nishioka, Takehiro Hira, Ako, Shinnosuke Abe, Yasunari Takeshima, Hiroto Kanai, Toshi Toda, Hiro Kanagawa, Nestor Carbonell, Yuki Kura, Tommy Bastow, Moeka Hoshi, Yoriko Doguchi, and Yuka Kouri, the series is based on a novel by James Clavell, which tells the story of a sailor shipwrecked in Japan in 1600.

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FX's eagerly anticipated miniseries Shogun will premiere on February 27, 2024.

As reported by Variety, the ten-episode limited series adaptation will debut its first two episodes on the premiere date on Hulu in the United States, Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in all other territories. Subsequent episodes will drop each week on the streamers, while the FX linear channel will air new episodes once weekly. James Clavell authored the 1975 novel of the same name, the Shogun series adapts. Set in Japan in 1600, the story follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga, who must fight for his life after his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him.

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