Shōgun’s cast brings James Clavell’s bestselling novel of the same name to life. While Shōgun was originally intended to be a 10-part limited series based on the celebrated novel of the same name by James Clavell, the overwhelming success and popularity of the series inspired FX, Hulu, and creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo to expand the story in further seasons. Shōgun earned a near-perfect 99% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and is poised to have a big night at the Emmys, which will take place on September 15, 2024. Shōgun was previously adapted into a limited series back in 1980 and earned 3 Emmys, including Outstanding Limited Series.

Like the 2024 critically acclaimed series, story’s counterpart to Tokugawa Ieyasu, while others are more subtle.

Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga

Loosely based on Tokugawa Ieyasu

Actor: Hiroyuki Sanada, 63, is a Japanese actor whose impressive career has spanned more than 50 years and includes critically acclaimed work on cinema, TV, and theater. Sanada’s Hollywood breakout role was in The Last Samurai working alongside Tom Cruise, after which he would go on to appear in multiple successful movies, including major blockbusters like X-Men’s The Wolverine, Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame, and Mortal Kombat. Sanada is currently set to reprise his role as Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 2 and was recently in Bullet Train and John Wick: Chapter 4.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: The Twilight Samurai, The Last Samurai, The Wolverine, Life, Avengers: Endgame, Mortal Kombat, Bullet Train, John Wick: Chapter 4.

Character: Inspired by Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the Great Unifiers of Japan, Lord Yoshii Toranaga is the most powerful and influential member of the Council of Regents that is ruling on behalf of the Taikō’s son, who is still a child. While Toranaga is a brilliant strategist who knows every action he takes will have major consequences, he finds himself isolated by the rest of the high-rank bushos amidst a period of insecurities, inner power struggles, and war.

Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne

Loosely based on William Adams

Actor: Cosmo Jarvis, 34, is a British actor born in the United States whose cinema debut happened with 2012’s The Naughty Room, which he also wrote, directed, and edited. His next major role was as Sebastian in 2016’s Lady Macbeth. A few years later, he would star in Calm with Horses before having a lead role in 2022’s Persuasion from Netflix. Jarvis has also been in shows such as Peak Blinders and Raised By Wolves, and he recently starred in The Evening Hour​​​​​.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: John Blackthorne is Shōgun’s version of William Adams, the English navigator whose ship washed ashore in Japan at a time when the Portuguese were the only Europeans in the region. Working on behalf of the English, the Dutch, and the Protestants in general, Adams was a key part of how Japan’s relationship with the West changed in the early 17th century. In Shōgun, John Blackthorne becomes captive of Lord Toranaga after witnessing what the Portuguese Empire was hiding from the rest of Europe.

Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko

Loosely based on Hosokawa Gracia

Actor: Anna Sawai, 31, is an actor and singer born in New Zealand and raised in Tokyo. Her breakout role was in 2021’s F9, the ninth entry in the Fast and the Furious saga, where she played Han’s protegee Elle. Sawai was recently in Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the first live-action TV show in Legendary’s Monsterverse. A year before that, she appeared in another successful Apple TV+ series, Pachinko.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Toda Mariko is the daughter-in-law of one of Toranaga’s closest allies and serves as the translator for John Blackthorne once the pilot arrives. She was converted to Catholicism at a young age and learned how to speak Portuguese from the Jesuits. Mariko is highly intelligent and darkly strong and is based on the real-life historical figure Hosokawa Gracia.

Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige

Loosely based on Honda Masanobu

Actor: Tadanobu Asano, 50, is a Japanese actor and musician who has been in the industry since he was 16. He ed the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2011 as Thor’s Hogu, a role he would reprise in two other installments of the Thor franchise. Four years before that, he starred in the Oscar-nominated Mongol, in which he played Genghis Khan. Asano has collaborated with great directors over the years, including Martin Scorsese in 2016’s Silence.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Kashigi Yabushige serves Lord Toranaga. However, the Lord of Izu within the Kanto region has his own agenda and aspirations. Described as an adaptable character whose allegiances cannot be predicted, Yabushige is one of the first Japanese Lords to come in with John Blackthorne. He is loosely based on Honda Masanobu.

Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi

Loosely based on Honda Masazum

Actor: Hiroto Kanai, 31, is a Japanese actor who graduated from Tokyo’s UPS Academy and started his acting career at the age of 20. Trained in sword fighting and an enthusiast of martial arts, Kanai has been in projects such as Kirakira Megane and Randen.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: One of the youngest characters in the show, Kashigi Omi is the nephew of Kashigi Yabushige. The Lord of Ajiro is very intelligent, serving as a key player in his uncle’s schemes. Omi and his men are the ones who first investigate John Blackthorne’s ship.

Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari

Loosely based on Ishida Mitsunari

Actor: Takehiro Hira, 49, is a Japanese actor with an established career in film, television, and theater both in Japan and the United States. He was nominated for a BAFTA for his role in 2019’s Giri/Haji. Two years later, he played one of the villains in Snake Eyes and is currently set to appear in the limited series The Swarm.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: A former peasant, Ishido Kazunari eventually became one of the most powerful busho and now has a seat in the Council of Regents. He is the guardian of the Osaka castle, a great honor given to him by the Taiko. Ishido is based on Ishida Mitsunari, who was not one of the regents in real life but still held great power and opposed Tokugawa Ieyasu following the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji

Actor: Moeka Hoshi, 28, is a Japanese actor and dancer whose acting career began in 2017 with Million Yen Women. She has a bachelor’s degree in German literature and has been in many Japanese movies and TV shows in the last few years. Hoshi’s most recent roles include 100 Mankai ieba yokatta and Ikitete gomen nasai.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Usami Fuji is the granddaughter of one of Toranaga’s closest allies and friend, Hiromatsu, and is made to be Blackthorne's consort by Lord Toranaga. A massive tragedy changes her life forever. However, Usami uses her strength and intelligence to continue moving forward.

Shōgun ing Cast & Character Guide

Shinnosuke Abe as Toda Buntaro: Toda Buntaro is the son of Toda Hiromatsu, making him a highly influential samurai. He is married to Lady Mariko, and they have a son. Buntaro is jealous and possessive of his wife and is not happy about her growing influence within Toranaga’s inner circle. He is a skillful and respected warrior. Buntaro is played by Shinnosuke Abe, a Japanese actor known for movies such as Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (2021) and Kingdom (2019).

Tokuma Nishioka as Toda Hiromatsu: Toranaga’s closest friend, Toda Hiromatsu serves as a trustworthy advisor to his lord. Hiromatsu acts as the general of Toranaga’s forces, having input on when and whether to make military moves. His son is married to Mariko, who is becoming as important to Toranaga as Hiromatsu himself following the arrival of a Portuguese-speaker foreigner whose knowledge can change the outcome of the current power struggle. Tokuma Nishiok’s career spanned over five decades and includes several movies, TV series, and plays.

Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba No Kata: Ochiba No Kata was the only consort of the previous Taikō to have his child. She is now mother of Yaechiyo, the Taiko’s heir. Described as a ruthless and calculating character, Lady Ochiba knows how important her son is for the future of the region and will do anything that it takes to keep him safe. She is currently living under Toranaga’s supervision. Fumi Nikaido is a Japanese actor, photographer, and environmentalist known for River’s Edge (2018) and Yell (2020).

Yasunari Takeshima as Muraji: Muraji is a Christian fisherman known for his hard work. He is loyal to Lord Toranaga and wants the best for his village. As a result of his conversion to Catholicism, he can speak Portuguese. Yasunari Takeshima is a Japanese actor known for Martin Scorsese’s Silence (2016) and Yōjirō Takita’s The Last Recipe: Memory of Giraffe’s Tongue (2017).

Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado: A kindhearted young man who wants to prove his value, Yoshii Nagakado is the son of Toranaga. He ires his father and wants to be worthy of his legacy. Nagakado is played by Yuki Kura, known for Spaghetti Code Love, Followers, and Ochoyan.

Tommy Bastow as Father Martin Alvito: Father Martin Alvito is a Portuguese Jesuit who has been in Japan since he was a boy. He has since participated in the process of conversion to Catholicism of many locals, including Mariko. Loyal to his country and church, Father Martin also acts as a translator. Despite Blackthorne’s fears of his words not being properly translated, Father Martin assures he is trustworthy. Tommy Bastow is an English actor known for Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, and The Crossing.

Yuka Kouri as Kiku: Kiku is the most renewed courtesan in Izu, carefully selecting her companions and using her role amongst the powerful to learn and gather information. She has a close relationship with Omi and is more ambitious than the other characters imagine. Yuka Kouri is known for Tokyo Vice and Invasion, two recent shows from Max and Apple TV+, respectively.

Yoriko Dōguchi as Kiri No Kata: Kiri No Kata is the consort wife to Lord Toranaga and the mother of his son. She has a charismatic sense of humor but will always stay vigilant when it comes to protecting her family and their legacy. Kiri No Kata is played by prolific Japanese actress Yoriko Dōguchi, whose career spans over 39 years and includes critically acclaimed movies from directors like Juzo Itami and Martin Scorsese. Dōguchi is also a musician.

Ako as Daiyoin / Lady Iyo: Lady Iyo was the dignified consort of the late Taikō. After his death, she became a Buddhist nun. While she is loyal to lord Toranaga, Iyo, who is now referred to as Daiyoin, hides dark secrets. She is played by Ako, who had an extensive career and theater and television before also doing movies, including Hollywood projects. Ako has also been in American TV shows such as 30 Rock and Mercy.

Néstor Carbonell as Vasco Rodrigues: Vasco Rodrigues is a Portuguese merchant whom John Blackthorne encounters upon his arrival in Japan. He initially helps the English navigator communicate with the Japanese. Vasco Rodrigues is played by Néstor Carbonell, an American actor known for Lost, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises.

Paulino Nunes as Father Dell'Aqua: Father Dell’Aqua is the highest authority among the Jesuits in Japan. He is played by Paulino Nunes, a Portuguese actor known for Brooklyn, Designated Survivor, and The Boys.

Joaquim de Almeida as Father Domingo: Father Domingo is a Portuguese Priest made into a prisoner after speaking against the Jesuits’ interests in Japan. Shōgun’s Domingo is played by Portuguese actor Joaquim de Almeida, most known for the role of Hernan Reyes in Fast Five and Fast X as well as Cardinal Duretti in Netflix's Warrior Nun.

Shōgun season 2 is expected to begin production in 2025.