When Shōgun begins, FX damn near requires that its audience understand hundreds of years of Japanese history. The series takes place in the early 1600s, nearly 300 years before the island nation had electricity. Japan is living under a feudal system, ruled by powerful lords (called daimyō) and their loyal samurai. That's why the series is earning comparisons to Game of Thrones, even if we won't see any dragons or warlocks. But for those a bit confused by Shōgun's plot so far, harking back to Thrones isn't an insane mindset to tap into. Shōgun follows a similar power struggle about lords vying to be king—just change king to shōgun.
Also, the most important stage-setting scene in Shōgun doesn't occur until the very beginning of episode 2, when the Taikō dies. The first episode spends most of its time introducing John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), the main character of James Clavell's 1975 Shōgun novel—which Disney+ is adapting in its new limited series. His real-life counterpart isn't as important to the time period as the character in Clavell's novel implies. Still, episode 4 sees the conflict erupt into war. To better understand the power players of Shōgun, let's break them down one by one.
Yoshii Toranaga
As most power struggles begin, Shōgun's story starts with a dying king: the Taikō. His final wish is for Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), Japan's President of Foreign Relations, to take his place until his young heir comes of age. Wisely, Toranaga advises against it (even though it's exactly what he wants). There are four other competing lords, and they would only unite to defeat Toranaga immediately after he came into power. Having foreseen this, the Taikō commends Toranaga for his wit and states that he already wrote up a document to establish a ruling Council of Regents between the five lords when he passes.
In the short time after the Taikō's death, Toranaga continues his plan behind the scenes. Through a series of bold, political moves, he begins attaining power through non-confrontational means. Namely, he doubles the size of his region of Kantō by accepting six marriage proposals from neighbouring fiefdoms. This is something that may have led to certain death in Game of Thrones—and it's also grounds for impeachment within the Council. Toranaga also starts to hoard the Taikō's widows at his residence in Edo, under the pretence that they are related to his various family members who are in labor. So, Toranaga is ordered to come to Osaka and face interrogation—which could very well end in his death. Escaping back into his territory, Toranaga and his allies now prepare for war.
John Blackthorne
Loosely based on William Adams, the first Englishman to sail to Japan, John Blackthorne arrives at the perfect time for Lord Toranaga. Though he's an insane barbarian to the Japanese (he certainly acts like it!), the Protestant Englishman informs the Lord about his war with the Christian nations. Spain and Portugal already have a strong foothold in Japan by this point—but back in Europe, they're engaged in a religious battle with England. Secretly, England sends Blackthorne to disrupt this relationship and reestablish ties with Japan based on military aid and trade.
This chance encounter is beneficial to Toranaga. He can use the Protestant's knowledge to threaten the Christian Council members and sow discord within their alliance against him. Meanwhile, Blackthorne can use his newfound relationship with Toranaga to weaken the Christian chokehold on Japan. Even worlds apart, they share the same enemies.
Toda Mariko
Though Mariko (Anna Sawai) has a mysterious past, she currently serves under Lord Toranaga as Blackthorne's translator. She's also the widow of Buntaro, a skilled samurai who helped them escape Osaka at the peril of losing his own life. Her father-in-law, Toda "Iron Fist" Hiromatsu, is also one of Toranaga's trusted advisors. But as Mariko grows closer to Blackthorne, their relationship evolves in dangerous ways. Can she separate her feelings for the Englishman from her duty to Toranaga?
Ishido
Ishido (Takehiro Hira) is Toranaga's main adversary on his path to the shogunate—and the most cunning member of the Council. When Toranaga arrives in Osaka for his interrogation, Ishido is leading the alliance against him. He's also the only active member scheming behind the scenes to prevent Toranaga's rise. Though he was unsuccessful at turning Toranaga's commander Kashigi Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano) into a spy, he's clearly an intelligent strategist and formidable foe.
Kashigi Yabushige
Yabushige is the lord of Izu and one of Toranaga's greatest vassals. Though he often tries to play both sides by currying favour from Ishido, episode 4's shocking ending solidifies Yabushige's fate as a member of Toranaga's army. Below Yabushige is his nephew, Kashigi Omi (Hiroto Kanai), a samurai of the fishing village Ajiro. Yabushige also has an elder samurai with a very cool eye patch in his party named Igarashi.
Yoshii Nagakado
Nagakado (Yuki Kura) is Toranaga's most-favoured son. He makes a bold move at the end of episode 4 that drastically changes the tide of the conflict. Eager to fight, he often turns toward violence before he thinks the situation through. His fateful decision is also made without his father's orders. So, we'll see what happens when Toranaga returns to the fishing village in episode 5.
Kiyama
Kiyama (Hiromoto Ida) is the leading Christian member of the Council. He's usually wearing all red. Kiyama is also Toranaga's main antagonist throughout episode 3. He was the one who sent the assassin after Blackthorne, as well as the lord who leads the assault against Toranaga's party in the woods. He has his forces set up a line of flaming arrows, before falling back to attack Toranaga in the harbour. In both cases, Kiyama fails to stop Toranaga from leaving Osaka.
Ohno
For now, Kiyama seems to hold sway over the other Christian Council member, Ohno Harunobu (Takeshi Kurokawa). Ohno was formerly a fierce warrior, but he now suffers from leprosy. Naturally, his search for a cure has placed him under the wing of the Christian sect. He sits on the Council behind a veil of sheets, afraid to show his ghastly face. Even so, he still voices his opinion in episode 2 and backs Kiyama's plea to have Blackthorne executed.
Sugiyama
Sugiyama (Toshi Toda) is the most mysterious member of the Council throughout Shōgun's first three episodes. All we know so far is that he's a descendent of the richest samurai family in Japan. In both the Council's episode 1 interrogation and the episode 2 discussion regarding Toranaga's impeachment, Sugiyama hasn't uttered a single opinion. I don't know what's in store for Shōgun beyond episode 4, but I could see this silent samurai being pretty good with a sword... if you catch my drift.
Josh Rosenberg is an Assistant Editor at Esquire, keeping a steady diet of one movie a day. His past work can be found at Spin, CBR, and on his personal blog at Roseandblog.com.
