I read the book 20yrs ago and it is THE best book I’ve ever read. Absolutely stunning story and characters. My dad almost chose to give me the name of the main character (Toranaga) which for an English person would have been a bit silly.
But anyway - I was so excited by the book I read the last page. It basically summed up what I thought would be the climax of the story in a single paragraph.
“Oh shit” - I thought. “Then WTF is the book about?!”.
Oooooooohh let me tell you: It’s a classic case of “the journey is better than the destination” - i.e. fucking incredible!
Produced and starring Hiroyuki Sanada (Last samurai, Wolverine, Twilight Samurai, etc).
This turned me into a weeaboo that at 21 jumped off my bed swishing an imaginary katana like a nutter.
WATCH IT! Out 27th of February!
It’s loosely based on John Blackthorne the English sailor of a ship that wrecked in Japan. AKA: Anjin-san (Mr Pilot)
Reviews so far look epic: https://screenrant.com/shogun-show-reviews-reactions-fx/
I’m SO fucking stoked someone else has heard of it!! I’ve not seen the original TV show (just read the book) but I heard it was a great adaptation and it’s defo on the list. With it being so long since I read it though it’ll be quite fresh cos tbh I can barely remember the story! 😃
I absolutely adore Hiroyuki Sanada since seeing him in Twilight Samurai years back.
Anjin-san must be the first British weeaboo and therefore the patron-saint of all British weeaboos!
It’s funny but so much of what the West knows about Japan is from this book! Ideas like the 3 hearts and that kami inhabit all things. Baths beign a big part of Japanese culture. Similar to how Lord of the Rings established so much fantasy - Shogun established so much Japanese culture in the West.
It’s one of my favorite books as well. You should definitely watch the original mini series.