Now 44 years ago, NBC delivered its strongest Nielsen numbers with an average of 26.3 million viewers for the miniseries Shogun, a landmark adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 novel. The story follows an English sailor who navigates the world of samurai in early 17th-century Japan. It became one of the standout titles from the late 1970s into the early 1980s. Richard Chamberlain starred in the lead, often hailed as the king of miniseries; alongside him, the legendary Toshiro Mifune portrayed a powerful Tokugawa Ieyasu figure, the shogun who forged Japan’s unification period.
Eleven years later, a new era of television brought a high-profile remake. The project, while labeled inevitable by some, faced its own challenges. Shogun is returning on Disney+ starting Tuesday the 27th, and it has earned some of the best reviews of the year in the English-speaking world. When speaking with the creative team, Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, the husband-and-wife duo behind the project, emphasized their distance from the global audience and their sense of disbelief that anyone would want to watch their work. They spoke with quiet pride about the journey they undertook in bringing this story back to life.
in a strange land
Although the plot and characters are richly drawn, here is a concise primer for newcomers or anyone needing a quick refresher. The narrative unfolds in Japan at the start of the 17th century, during the late Sengoku period, a time marked by continual clashes among powerful daimyo. British sailor John Blackthorne, a fictionalized version of William Adams, is swept ashore in a village near the domain of Lord Toranaga. Toranaga senses a threat to his own authority as the Council of Deputies contends with power and independence. The artist Toda Mariko, played by Anna Sawai, becomes a catalyst in the drama as Toranaga seeks to extend his influence, sometimes using Blackthorne’s unfamiliar weapons to advance his aims.
Everything is translation
What distinguishes Shogun (2024) from its 1980 predecessor? In other words, why remake something beloved? Rachel Kondo offers a compelling reason: subtitles and authentic Japanese dialogue allow viewers to experience the actions and conversations from multiple perspectives, not just the English-speaking viewpoint. This change is not merely cosmetic; it broadens the storytelling canvas. Marx adds that subtitling the Japanese dialogue and presenting events from varied angles lets the series say more than the original could, enriching the narrative beyond a single frame of reference.
In the new Shogun, language serves a dramatic purpose. At the outset of production, the team anticipated many rewritten scenes, but Justin Marks steered the project toward a central idea: the core story rests on translation — not only of language, but of culture, history, and even gendered perspectives. The result is a series that delves into translation as a unifying theme rather than a simple linguistic exercise.
Japanese originality
The production team aimed for historical fidelity and a carefully curated visual experience. Marks explains the draw: what new possibilities arise by bringing a Japanese team to work on the project in British Columbia and by incorporating specialized coaching to guide movements and gestures from the 1600s. Hiroyuki Sanada, a producer and actor on the project, helped assemble a trusted group of Japanese film professionals who could ensure authenticity and nuance in every frame.
That meticulous attention to detail, paired with a hunger for epic spectacle, creates a series that feels immersive and authentic. Time magazine praised it as excellent, while critics like Judy Berman called it a true masterpiece. The creators emphasize a broader aim: to offer something fresh and exhilarating in a contemporary format. They acknowledge that audiences today can quickly spot recycled ideas, and they rose to the challenge with a remake that eschews repetition in favor of new principles.
For fans left wondering about the path forward, the Clavell canon still holds great potential. The author’s Asian saga continues to inspire adaptations and new interpretations, weaving together East and West across periods of conflict and cooperation. The forthcoming installments promise a continuation of this legacy, potentially exploring additional chapters and stories that could expand the on-screen universe. The 1980 film, though iconic, remains a touchstone rather than the final word, inviting future creators to reimagine the landscape with fresh eyes and renewed energy.