'Authenticity, respect' How Disney's Shōgun breaks the mould in its depiction of Japan

Japanese audiences could have been forgiven for bracing themselves when Disney announced the launch of Shogun, a 10-part adaptation of James Clavell's classic 1975 novel.

- Justin McCurry

With few exceptions, Hollywood depictions of Japan and the Japanese have relied on one-dimensional characters whose purpose is to confirm cultural stereotypes, set against the backdrop of an inscrutable archipelago whose people have much to learn from the western hero.

But Shōgun, whose first two episodes aired this week, appears to have broken the mould, with FX's high-budget series winning plaudits in Japan not only for its lavish production values and illustrious Japanese cast, but also its respect for the smallest details of the country's culture and politics.

In echoes of previous Japanthemed productions - such as Lost in Translation and Mr Baseball -Shögun draws heavily on the east meets west narrative, this time via the arrival of shipwrecked Englishman John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), whose character is based on the real-life adventurer William "Anjin" Adams.

But where a 1980 mini-series starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifune was told largely through Blackthorne's eyes, this new series elevates the Japanese daimyo's (feudal lord's) role via a critically applauded performance from the acclaimed actor and martial artist Hiroyuki Sanada.

The inclusion of Sanada, who plays Lord Yoshii Toranaga (based on Tokugawa Ieyasu), has piqued interest among viewers in Japan.

"Once I started watching it, I couldn't stop," one wrote on X. "I was overwhelmed for the first time in a while."