Shōgun

2024 • TMDB 8.4 • 1 season • 10 episodes • Drama, War & Politics • FX

Overview

Japan, 1600: the nation stands on the edge of a century-defining civil war. Lord Yoshii Toranaga, the most powerful daimyo in the land, is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him — and then a battered European ship washes ashore in a nearby fishing village, carrying the English navigator John Blackthorne, a man whose knowledge of the wider world could change the fate of Japan. Based on James Clavell’s classic novel, Shōgun is a sweeping historical epic about loyalty, honour and survival, told largely in Japanese with a staggering attention to period detail. Toranaga plays a long, dangerous game of chess against the scheming Ishido, while Blackthorne is torn between his own ambitions and a growing bond with the translator Toda Mariko, a noblewoman of fierce intelligence and divided loyalties. Every alliance is fragile, every gesture carries meaning, and a single wrong word can mean death. With extraordinary performances, breathtaking production design and writing that trusts its audience, Shōgun is prestige television at its most ambitious — a story where the most devastating battles are fought with patience, poetry and politics.

Creator and Main Cast

Created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks.

• Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga (10 episodes)
• Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne (10 episodes)
• Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko (10 episodes)
• Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige (10 episodes)
• Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari (10 episodes)
• Tommy Bastow as Father Martin Alvito (10 episodes)
• Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba No Kata / Ruri (10 episodes)

Seasons Snapshot

Season 1 ran for 10 episodes, premiering on February 27, 2024. It concluded with “A Dream of a Dream” (1×10) on April 23, 2024.

Why Watch Shōgun?

• An Emmy-sweeping historical epic, faithfully adapted from James Clavell’s beloved novel.
• Hiroyuki Sanada delivers a masterful performance as the cunning, patient Toranaga.
• Anna Sawai is unforgettable as Mariko, the heart of the series.
• Gorgeous, meticulously researched feudal Japan — costumes, castles and customs alike.
• A gripping game of political chess where dialogue cuts deeper than any sword.
• Told largely in Japanese, with English and Portuguese woven through the story.

Trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube (FX Networks)

Where to Watch

As checked on JustWatch US on October 30, 2026, Shōgun streams in the United States on Hulu (1 season).