Shōgun, the historical drama miniseries based on the novel of the same name byJames Clavell, has taken the internet by storm since its release last month. The show had been highly anticipated before its debut, and with generally positive reviews by critics and its99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the show’s premiere surpassed that ofThe KardashiansSeason 1 andThe BearSeason 2, becomingthe number one FX premiereon its streaming platforms.
With a captivating storyline and arresting shots,Shōgunis a rare gem that draws the viewer in and doesn’t let go. The show masterfully brings the audience into a new world with its intricate sets, beautiful costumes, and stunning performances, evoking the Japan of a bygone era. However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth, asthe series was actually not filmed in Japan. So which locations didShōgunrely on to recreate the era in which the show takes place?
Shogun (2024)
When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, Lord Yoshii Toranaga discovers secrets that could tip the scales of power and devastate his enemies.
What Is ‘Shōgun’ About?
Shōgunfocuses on the story of three main characters: Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a wise and powerful daimyō navigatingpolitical conflictsand facing dangerous enemies; Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai), a mysterious highborn woman with hidden skills and a dark past; and John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), an English sailor who becomes shipwrecked in Japan and whose presence may alter all of their fates.
The story is set during the early 17th century, specifically during the Tokugawa shogunate, and begins with Blackthorne’s shipwreck on the coast of a Japanese village.Initially a captive, he quickly becomes embroiled in the complex politics and power struggles of the time. While the drive for power and the resulting political machinations emerge as dominant themes, driving the characters to manipulate and scheme in their quest for control and influence, the show also explores love and relationships against the backdrop of feudal Japan, highlighting the human connections that transcend cultural barriers and societal norms.
‘Shōgun’ Was Supposed to Be Filmed In Japan
From the beginning, it was clear that forJustin MarksandRachel Kondo, the co-creators ofShōgun, authenticity was one of the most important factors going into this project. Rather than solely focusing on the perspective of Blackthorne’s character, as the highly popular 1980 miniseries adaptation did, this adaptation aims to take a different approach and give voice to the other characters, creating a more complex and nuanced plot. With a largely Japanese cast and crew, it would only be natural to assume that filming would also take place in Japan. However, audiences might be surprised to learn that only some scenes at significant locations were shot there.
Although the series was originally intended to be filmed in Japan and the UK,Shōgun’s production experienced delays that called for a change of plans. In 2019,FX CEO John Landgraf told Deadlinethat the parties behind the series “didn’t think it was in good enough shape” at the time, which resulted in a postponement of production so that the team could employ cultural consultants and make changes to the script to reflect the vision they were aiming for.
Yet, this was not the only roadblock the production would face.When the COVID-19 pandemic hit,Shōgun, like many other projects, was halted, and filming became impossible.Nevertheless, during that time, Marks and Kondo were hard at work refining the scripts and ensuring that the story would accurately portray the social structures of the time while also appealing to a modern audience.
‘Shōgun’ Isn’t Likely to Get a Second Season
Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo are satisfied with ending the series where the book concludes.
FX Almost Lost the Rights to ‘Shōgun’
FX’s rights to theShōgunnovel, initially signed in 2013, were getting dangerously close to expiring, and with the writers still working on the script,this could have spelled the end forShōgunbefore it even began.However, Hiroyuki Sanada, who was initially brought on solely as an actor for the project, but later also assumed the role of a producer,found a creative way to fulfill a detail of the rights contract.
Accompanied by some of the cast and crew, Sanada flew to London to doa single day of shooting. The brief sequence depicted Lord Yoshii Toranaga riding a horse in front of a fire, butit was sufficient for the studio to retain the rights and continue working on the project, thus making London a minor filming location alongside Japan. Despite the challenges and setbacks, the dedication and ingenuity of the team behindShōgunprevailed, and they eventually secured the locations where most of the show would be filmed.
‘Shōgun’ Brought Feudal Japan to British Columbia
After scouting several filming locations across the world,Shōgunfinally found its home inthe picturesque landscapesof British Columbia, specifically Ucluelet and Port Moody.“It had several starts and stops at several places, and the timing was right for us, and they brought it here,” said producerErin Smithin an interview withCTV News. The series' visually stunning opening scene was shot at Wya Point Beach, and many of the Japanese cast and crew, who had crossed the world to work on this show, were shocked at the resemblance the location had to Japan.
With the pandemic in full swing and security measures tightly in place, there was also the added complication of filming on an island that was difficult to access, forcing the production team to scale back the cast numbers while maintaining the integrity of the show. Despite those setbacks,Shōgunmanaged to bring the book andthe real-life storythat inspired it to life with its outstanding sets, mostly built at Port Moody, where the village and the Osaka harbor were recreated.
During aninterview with Collider’s Christina Radish, Hiroyuki Sanada spoke about the huge scale of the show, detailing the sets that were recreated in Vancouver for filming:
“The scale was huge. They created the whole village and a whole castle stone wall that was the real height. They created the Osaka Harbor. The buildings were real. It was amazing. I’m so happy, as an actor, to have gotten to play in front of those real huge-scale sets.”
New episodes ofShōgunpremiere every Tuesday on FX and stream on Hulu.
