Shōgun

by James Clavell

Shogun 2024

From February 2024, a 10-part remake of the novel Shogun by the British-American author James Clavell (1921-1994) was shown on Disney+ and Hulu. Since the series was marketed with extensive advertising, attention was again drawn to the novel published in 1975 and to the 1980 TV series.
The historical model for the novel is the experiences of the English navigator William Adams, who reached the coast of Japan in 1600 in the service of a Dutch trading expedition and died as a samurai in 1620. For the novel, Clavell used the records of the Portuguese adventurer Fernão Mendes Pinto (1509-1583) and those of the Jesuit missionary Francisco de Xavier (1506-1552), from which he took a number of events. Therefore, the narrative as a whole is fictional and Clavell has consequently changed the names of the main characters.

TV Series 1980

In 1600, navigator John Blackthorne's ship is stranded in a storm on the Japanese coast. Blackthorne and the rest of the crew manage to save themselves and are initially imprisoned. Blackthorne soon manages to win the favor of Lord Toranaga. He is drawn into the intrigues of the feudal lords for power in the country. He falls in love with his married translator Mariko. His dream of conquering the Portuguese "Black Ship" fail. After a battle against his rival Ishido, Toranaga is appointed Shogun by the Emperor.
Toranaga's historical model is Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), who founded the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1600 with the Battle of Sekigahara after a long period of civil war. The shogunate lasted until the middle of the 19th century.

Data

Title: Shōgun
Published: 1980
Length: 8 hours 46 minutes

Staff
Director: Jerry London
Script: Eric Bergovici, James Clavell
Music: Maurice Jarre
Camera: Andrew Laszlo

Cast
Richard Chamberlain: John Blackthorne, Anjin-san
Toshirō Mifune: Yoshi Toranaga, Lord of Kanto
Yōko Shimada: Lady Toda Buntaro "Mariko"
Frankie Sakai: Kashigi Yabu, Daimyo of Izu
Alan Badel: Eminence Bishop Dell'Aqua
Damien Thomas: Father Alvito
John Rhys-Davies: Vasco Rodrigues, Navigator
Vladek Sheybal: Captain Ferreira, Captain of the Black Ship
Michael Hordern: Franciscan Father Domingo
George Innes: Johann Vinck, sailor
Leon Lissek: Father Sebastio
Yūki Meguro: Kashigi Omi, Samurai of Anjiro
Hideo Takamatsu: Sir Toda Buntaro, husband of Mariko
Hiromi Senno: Usagi Fujiko, to Blackthorne assigned companion
Nobuo Kaneko: Ishido Kazunari, Lord of Osaka


Novel and film

As the novel is very complex, many narrative threads were shortened or changed. The film focuses on the character of Blackthorne.
Also on the novel the Jesuit priests are the Navigator's enemies. However, they are not portrayed as quite as evil as in the film.
Dubbing of the Japanese dialogues was largely avoided. This is intended to help the viewer empathize with the situation of a foreigner in Japan.
Only three of the Japanese actors spoke English throughout the entire production, including Yōko Shimada in the role of Mariko.

Language

The events in the film date from April to October 1600. Shortly after his arrival, Blackthorne and Mariko have polite and profound conversations about the cultural peculiarities of the country, probably in Portuguese according to the logic of the film.
In the film, Blackthorne receives a Portuguese-Japanese dictionary from Father Alvito. In 1603, after the events of the film, the Jesuits in Japan published a Portuguese-Japanese dictionary. For this purpose they had a printing press brought to Japan from Europe. The Jesuits had also developed their own systematic transliteration for Japanese.

Comment

The film is a good introduction to the culture and politics of Japan around 1600. The differences to Europe are shown clearly. For example, the sailors from Europe are portrayed as uncultured, in contrast to the noble manners of the Japanese, but which can also be very cruel. The derogatory remarks made by the Europeans about the Japanese as monkeys etc. are typical of the colonial behavior of the Europeans. In the conversations between Blackthorne and Mariko, the differences in the way of thinking and living are discussed in detail.
The motivation for the dangerous and arduous expedition to Japan is the desire to become rich. For the same reason, Blackthorne is fixated on conquering the "Black Ship". Another motivation for his actions is his deep dislike of the Catholic Jesuits, whom he sees as his enemies. They refer to him as a pirate to the Japanese. In his defense, Blackthorne claims that he is carrying letters of marque, the official permission of his government to attack and capture "enemy" ships.
Another interesting detail is the division of the world into a Spanish and a Portuguese half, which was confirmed by the Pope (Treaties of Alcáçovas in 1479 and of Tordesillas in 1494). Blackthorne is the first to tell the Japanese about this. The Spanish Franciscan Father Domingo, whom Blackthorne meets in prison, also suffers from this division.
The restored complete version of the film adaptation has been available since 2004 in a box set of four plus one DVDs. It is recommended to use subtitles, especially to better understand the names of the characters.

 

The characters in the novel

Many characters from the novel are not mentioned in the film adaptation.
Akechi Jinsai (father of Mariko, murderer of Goroda) = Akechi Mitsuhide (1526-1582)
Alvito, Pater Martin (called Tsukku, Jesuit and interpreter for Toranaga) = João Rodrigues, S. J. (1561?-1633)
Beppu Genzaemon (prince of Odawara, who was defeated by Nakamura and Toronaga) = Hôjô Ujimasa (1538-1590)
Blackthorne, John (English navigator of the Erasmus) = William Adams (1564-1620)
Braganza, brother (Franciscan friar whose story is told by Brother Dominigo) = St. Pedro Bautista, O.F.M. (1542-1597)
[Toda] Buntaro (husband of Mariko, son of Hiromatsu) = Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563-1646)
Caradoc, Alban (English shipbuilder and teacher of Blackthornes) = Nicholas Diggins
Cha-no-Tsubone (Naga's mother) = Saigô no Tsubone (1562-1589)
[Yoshi] Chikitada (Toranaga's grandfather) = Matsudaira Kiyoyasu (1511-1535)
dell`Aqua, Father Carlo (Jesuit and General Visitor for Asia) = Alessandro Valignano, S. J. (1539-1606)
Genjiko (wife of Sudara and sister of Ochiba) = Sûgen-In (15773-1626)
Go-Nijô (Emperor of Japan) = Go-Yôzei-Tennô (1571-1617, r. 1586-1611)
Goroda = Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582)
Harima Tadao (Christian daimyô of von Hizen) = Arima Tadanobu (1567-1612)
[Toda] Hiromatsu (vasall of Toranaga, father of Buntaro) = Hosokawa Yûsai (1534-1610)
Ikawa Tadazuki (held young Toranaga hostage) = Imagawa Yoshimoto
Ishido Kazunari (one of the five regents, opponent of Toranaga) = Ishida Mitsunari (1560-1600)
Kiritsubo-no-Toshiko (called Kiri, concubine of Toranaga) = Acha no Tsubone (1555-1637)
Kiyama, Prince (Christian daimyô, one of the five regents) = Konishi Yukinaga (1556?-1600)
[Toda] Mariko (wife of Buntaro, lover of Blackthorne) = Hosokawa Gracia (1563-1600)
Michael, Brother = Chijiwa Seizamon (1570-?), baptized with the name Miguel
Minowara, Family = Minamoto
Naga (a son of Toranaga) = Tokugawa Tadayoshi (1580-1608)
Nakamura (called Taiko, father of Yaemon) = Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598)
Noboru (a son of Toranaga) = Tokugawa Hideyasu (1574-1607)
Nobunaga (eldest son of Toranaga) = Tokugawa Nobuyasu (1558-1578)
Ochiba (mother of Yaemon) = Yodogimi (1567-1615)
Saruji (son of Mariko and Buntaro) = Hosokawa Tadayoshi (1586-1641)
Sazuko (Toranaga's concubine) = O-Kane (1600-1650)
Sen-no-Nakada (famous tea master) = Sen no Rikkyô (1522-1591)
Sudara (son and successor of Toranaga) = Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632)
Sugiyama, Prince (one of the five regents) = Maeda Toshiie (1538?-1599)
Tachibana (first wife of Toranga) = Tsukiyamadono (?-1579)
Tadateru (a son of Toranaga) = Tokugawa Tadateru (1592-1683)
Takashima, Family = Taira
Yaemon (son of Taiko) = Toyotomi Hideyori (1593-1615)
Yodoko (widow of Taiko) = Kôdaiin (1541-1624)
Source: Dr. Eva-Maria Meyer, Seminar für Japanologie der Universität Tübingen, 2006

 

Shōgun 2024 Trailer


The current film adaptation is shot in a completely different style.
It does, however, pride itself on being more historically accurate.