Shogun (miniseries)

:This page is about the TV miniseries. For other meanings of Shogun, see Shogun (disambiguation).

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Shogun is an Japanese- United States miniseries based on the namesake novel by James Clavell. The first episode was broadcast on September 15, 1980 on NBC in the United States.

Related Topics:
Japan - United States - Miniseries - Novel - James Clavell - September 15 - 1980 - NBC

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The story is based on the adventures of British navigator William Adams.

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The miniseries starred Richard Chamberlain as John Blackthorne (Anjin-San), Toshiro Mifune as Lord Toranaga, Yoko Shimada as Lady Toda Buntaro - Mariko, John Rhys-Davies as Rodrigues and Michael Hordern as Friar Domingo.

Related Topics:
Richard Chamberlain - Toshiro Mifune - Toranaga - Yoko Shimada - John Rhys-Davies - Michael Hordern

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The mini-series was one of the highest-rated programs in NBC history, and sparked a wave of historical-based miniseries over the next few years. A shorter version of the mini-series, edited down to only two hours, was released to home video and some theatres as a feature film; this version of the film includes nudity, sexuality and violence that was not included in the broadcast version.

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Shogun broke several taboos for American broadcast TV. It was the first network show allowed to use the word "piss" in dialogue, and to actually show the act of urination. A man shown being beheaded early in the first chapter was another first for network TV (although the film version of the sequence was more bloody). The miniseries was also noted for its frank discussion of sexuality and of matters such as Japanese ritual suicide (seppuku).

Related Topics:
Suicide - Seppuku

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