Why Disney+ period drama Shogun is so widely acclaimed

Many people may be uncomfortable with the stereotypical image of Japan from a foreign perspective when it comes to Hollywood productions set in Japan. However, the drama series 'Shogun', available on Disney+ since February this year, seems to have been extremely well received.

'Shogun' is set in Japan after the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It is a fiction based on Japanese history in which Toranaga, a fictional character modeled on Tokugawa Ieyasu, struggles for power with his rivals for control of the country. The series follows him and English navigator Anjin (based on William Adams) and the mysterious Christian Balliko (based on Hosokawa Galasha).

The main character Toranaga is played by veteran actor Hiroyuki Sanada, known for his work in 'The Last Samurai'. He also doubles as producer and was deeply involved in the production. GQ JAPAN magazine reported Sanada's enthusiasm, saying, "I thought it was a good chance to make a drama in which culture is portrayed correctly".

In fact, Sanada's attention to detail in the production of  Shogun was extraordinary. According to the business news website Toyo Keizai Online, Sanada "brought in all kinds of experts from Japan, including wig, costume and prop professionals, and teachers to instruct the actors on their movements" for the film.

According to the same website, Sanada added: "Even after filming had finished, I spent a year and a half checking the shape and color of the roofs, the movement of the extras, the feel of the streets, and other details with my eyes on a plate". It is no wonder that Shogun has become a Hollywood period drama that Japanese viewers feel comfortable with.

Meanwhile, the heroine, Mariko, modeled on Hosokawa Galasha, is played by New Zealand-born actress Anna Sawai. In an interview with Vogue Japan magazine, she described the heroine's character as "a woman who gradually shows understanding and fulfills her role in a situation that would be confusing even to herself. She has deep emotional scars and expresses her suffering according to the situation".

She says that she struggled to express the image of a Japanese woman who did not fit the stereotype, and says: "During filming, I was constantly confronted with the emotions and essence of the role, and it was painful. To be honest, I can't say I enjoyed it. But when I finally finished and saw the finished product, I felt proud to be Japanese".

'Shogun' is also a period drama, which requires special skills not found in modern dramas, such as kimono dressing and naginata sword fighting. According to Vogue Japan magazine, Sawai practiced these skills in Japan and also trained with the naginata in Vancouver, where the film was shot.

The young British actor Cosmo Jarvis played John Blackthorne (Anjin), modeled on William Adams, who came to Japan as a navigator on a trading ship and became a vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

In fact, Jarvis's father was a sailor on a trading vessel, like William Adams, which was a good acting reference for Jarvis. According to The Guardian, he was given advice on navigational skills, such as changing the footage to show him measuring the depth of the water, as the weather conditions were not suitable at the time of filming for a scene using a sextant.

The supporting cast surrounding the leads also includes a star-studded line-up. Veteran actor Asano Tadanobu plays Kashiki Yabushige (modeled on Honda Masanobu), who is Toranaga's confidant (spoiler!) who then meets an ignominious end after scheming and plotting.

Meanwhile, talented actress Fumi Nikaido played the role of Ochiba no Kata, who is modeled on Yodono-dono. Nikaido also played the role of Yodo-dono in the NHK historical drama Gunshi Kanbei (2014), and gave a powerful performance.

Shogun was produced with extraordinary enthusiasm, not only by the production team but also by the actors. For this reason, the series has received very high praise on film review websites such as Rotten Tomatoes.

Furthermore, according to the entertainment website ORICON NEWS, Hiroshi Fujioka also said,  "'Shogun'  marks the beginning of a new period drama. The time has come! I feel it". Fujioka not only played a samurai in the Hollywood film SF Sword Kill (1984) but is also a martial artist himself.

Not everyone seems to be convinced by the quality of the series. For example, the business news website President Online pointed out that scenes contradict historical facts, such as the scenes where swords are drawn unnecessarily and the mistreatment of the shipwrecked sailors. These details may spread misunderstandings about the Japanese culture of the time.

In any case, there is no doubt that 'Shogun' is an authentic production that is different from previous Hollywood samurai films. If you are interested, why not see for yourself?

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