Destinies converge in Japan after a barbarian ship washes ashore in a poor fishing village. Meanwhile, in Osaka, Lord Toranaga finds himself outplayed by his enemies.Destinies converge in Japan after a barbarian ship washes ashore in a poor fishing village. Meanwhile, in Osaka, Lord Toranaga finds himself outplayed by his enemies.Destinies converge in Japan after a barbarian ship washes ashore in a poor fishing village. Meanwhile, in Osaka, Lord Toranaga finds himself outplayed by his enemies.
Storyline
Did you know
- Trivia.The Japanese title of Shogun derived from the Japanese "Sei-i Taishogun" meaning "Great General (Commander-in-Chief) of the Expeditionary Force against Barbarians"(the Barbarians in this case were the Ainu, a caucasoid people located on the Northern Island of Hokkaido). The title applied to those who were appointed by the Emperor to serve as a military dictators in feudal Japan, ruling from 1185 to 1868. The Shogun was the most powerful figure in Japan between the late 12th century and mid-19th century. The three major shogunates were Kamakura, Ashikaga, and Tokugawa. Shoguns differ from emperors and Taikos in that they are largely militaristic and are essentially the commander-in-chief of Japan's army and navy. Shoguns are appointed by the Emperor and must have an established hereditary line that makes them worthy of the esteemed rank. Tokugawa had a direct lineage to the Minamoto clan (Lord Toranaga belonged to the Minowara clan) which helped him establish the Tokugawa shogunate. Although the Emperor was a nominal leader (figurehead, or a ruler in name only), it was the Shogun who was the de facto ruler of Japan. Ieyasu Tokugawa (the historical basis for the fictional Lord Yoshi Toranaga) established the last hereditary shogunate that lasted until the Meiji Restoration, where the Emperor ruled in name and practice, in 1868. After the Second World War, Japan was turned into a Constitutional Monarchy, as a condition of surrender to the United States, where the Emperor once again took on a more ceremonial role, and the government is modeled along the lines of the United Kingdom. For a contemporary context, General Douglas MacArthur, could be considered a modern-day Shogun when he was appointed Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP), and given emergency powers over Japan, after the Second World War, when the new government was in the process of being formed.
- GoofsBlackthorne grabs a tankard to hit Rodrigues and Rodrigues pulls a pistol, stopping Blackthorne. But as Rodrigues pulls his pistol, it makes a clicking sound as if he were cocking the piece. With a flintlock pistol he would be pulling the cock back from half cock to full cock in order to arm it. Yet after these moves the camera goes to Rodrigues and his pistol is at half cock, NOT full cock. Further, no one would draw a flintlock pistol and cock it with the same hand as if they were in a Western participating in a shootout. To do so one would risk cutting their thumb on the flint in the cock. Instead, typically one would pull their pistol with their principle hand (in the case of Rodrigues, his right hand) while drawing back the cock with their other hand.
- Quotes
Vasco Rodrigues: There's a saying out here that every man has three hearts. One in his mouth, for the world to know... another in his chest, just for his friends... and a secret heart buried deep where no one can find it. That is a heart a man must keep hidden if he wants to survive.You'll understand soon, Inglés. And who knows, maybe-maybe fate brought you here for a reason. Maybe you'll live long enough to find out what it is.
- Crazy creditsThe opening credit sequence is a modified version of a zen garden. This style of garden is often referred to as karesansui, which means "not using water."The two main elements of a Zen or karesansui (pronounced "kah-ray-sahn-soo-ee") garden are rocks to represent mountains (or islands) and sand to represent water. The sand used in Zen gardens is not beach sand; it is actually crushed or decomposed granite, small pebbles, or fine gravel. The particles of crushed granite are angular rather than round, so they can be more easily raked into patterns. Moreover, ripples in the sand or gravel represent flowing water or ripples in the ocean.
Richard Chamberlain's Blackthorne was an elegant gentleman but this new guy is a rough and tumble, profit-motivated sailor without a lot of social graces. Much more believable that a guy like that would survive a round-the-world voyage.
His harsh religious attitudes demonizing Catholics might be shocking for modern audiences but it's perfectly in line with his times. And he has noble qualities as well: loyal to friends, brave, quick to recognize and respect bravery in others.
But the real focus is on the Japanese characters. Blackthorne is just the wild card being thrown into their roiling political situation.
Other big changes: special effects, of course. The "storm" sequence in the 80s version is pretty hilarious. Here, it's hair-raising.
And Nestor Carbonell steals the show as the Spaniard Rodriegues.
Thank you, FX, for making a serious historical drama of the type we get far too infrequently.
- nerrdrage
- Apr 9, 2024
Details
- Runtime1 hour 10 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.00 : 1