Shōgun hit its stride proper out of the gate when its first two episodes had been launched in late February, changing into Disney’s No. 1 scripted collection premiere globally. With its finale scheduled for April 23, the 10-episode FX/Hulu collection primarily based on the bestselling 1975 James Clavell novel has confirmed that samurai battles, feudal-era courtroom intrigue, and the introduction of “pillowing” to the sexual lexicon are pure streaming gold. The present additionally presents a big-budget introduction to conventional values that also run deep in Japan—and, particularly, the veins of historical past that stay related there to at the present time.
On the heart of Shōgun is the connection between British sea pilot John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) and Lord Yoshii Toronaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a fictionalized model of the real-life Tokugawa Ieyasu, the primary shogun, or army dictator, credited with unifying the Japanese islands into one nation in 1600.
Although the present was primarily filmed in British Columbia, Canada, it nonetheless serves as an epic primer on historic Japan—if you already know the place to look. With the ultimate episode quick approaching, the restricted collection is now certain to encourage pilgrimages to Shōgun’s homeland by ardent followers pinning slim hopes on a season two (not going, in response to the creators). From the Tokyo Ninja Museum to the nation’s most well-known samurai battlefield, listed below are the seven most fun historic websites throughout Japan that Shōgun devotees have to see for themselves.
Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum: Gifu Prefecture
Simply as Individuals know Gettysburg, all Japanese know Sekigahara. Within the mountains of central Honshu in Gifu Prefecture, Sekigahara was the positioning of a ferocious battle in 1600 between varied alliances of feudal clans. The largest samurai battle in historical past noticed greater than 170,000 warriors organized into Jap and Western armies, preventing to the demise on this now-serene mountain valley. The primary shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toronaga), prevailed, ending Japan’s Sengoku or Warring States Interval, unifying the nation and establishing the Tokugawa Shogunate that dominated Japan for greater than 250 years.
Opened in 2020, the massive, state-of-the-art, experience-based museum and data heart standing there now presents recreations of the Battle of Sekigahara. A VR attraction “lets you expertise firsthand man-to-man fight of the Sengoku interval.” However that is additionally hallowed floor in a rural a part of Japan the place spirits can nonetheless appear close by.
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Although writer Clavell disillusioned many readers by solely referencing Sekigahara, followers of the FX/Hulu collection are anticipating the climactic battle right here to be depicted in gut-spilling style. Both means, Sekigahara occupies the martial coronary heart of Shōgun.
Getting There: The journey takes about two hours by Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station, then an extra 45 minutes by JR Tokaido Principal Line from Nagoya Station to Sekigahara Station. From Sekigahara Station, it’s a fast cab trip or 10-minute stroll to the battlefield and museum. Although potential to do as an extended day journey from Tokyo, as a substitute Gifu Metropolis, about half-hour away by prepare or taxi, is one of the best place to in a single day.
Osaka Fortress: Osaka Prefecture
Feudal Japan was a dangerous place to wield a sword. Warfare was widespread as lords plotted in opposition to different lords, then despatched trustworthy samurai to danger their lives when swordplay was required. Within the meantime, nobles not liable to death-wish tradition took refuge behind fortress partitions whose fortress structure of wooden and stone advanced right into a traditional design that includes a tall, central tower.
In Shōgun’s premiere episode, Lord Toronaga is summoned to Osaka Fortress for a tense assembly with the Council of Regents, which needs to question him. From there, the fortress is featured as a spot of intrigue and hazard, then the deliberate goal of Toranaga’s “Crimson Sky” assault. In actuality, the fortress was an influence heart within the historic negotiations and battles that finally unified the nation. Constructed by 100,000 employees between 1583 and 1586, it was famend each for its imposing tactical fortifications and lavish inside décor. Tokugawa (Toronaga) and his 200,000-man military ultimately laid siege to Osaka, capturing the fortress in 1615. After that, its relevance pale, although Osaka grew into Japan’s third-largest metropolis. A CGI rendering of Osaka Fortress seems within the opening credit and occasional establishing photographs all through the collection.
Reconstructed many instances—lightning strikes within the 1600s set the fortress on fireplace, whereas American planes bombed it throughout World Warfare II—Osaka Fortress is now one in all Japan’s prime vacationer sights. The fortress tower is surrounded by citadels, gates, turrets, stonewalls, moats, and 600 cherry bushes. Self-guided excursions take a pair hours, however your grandpa might simply linger all afternoon studying indicators.
Getting There: Osaka Fortress is surrounded by 5 totally different prepare stations, however one of the best entry is by way of both Morinomiya or Osakajokoen Station. The method from each follows a pathway towards the fortress by its in depth gardens.
Samurai Ninja Museum Tokyo
References to “Edo” (Lord Toranaga’s fiefdom) are scattered all through Shōgun, however little motion is depicted there. Although essential to Toranaga, Edo didn’t grow to be Japan’s central metropolis till after Tokugawa (Toranaga) established the Tokugawa Shogunate there in 1603, after the Battle of Sekigahara. Although Edo grew right into a metropolis of over 1,000,000 within the 1700s, Kyoto remained the formal capital of the nation. Solely when imperial rule was restored in 1868 did the Emperor transfer to Edo. The town was renamed Tokyo and have become the capital of Japan.
Whereas no worthwhile series-specific websites are present in trendy Tokyo, the town is house to a enjoyable samurai museum. It options interactive exhibitions, together with hands-on samurai and ninja experiences. Guests can deal with weapons, strive on fits of armor, and study abilities like throwing shuriken (ninja star blades) and utilizing a blowgun. The gathering of artifacts and fashions is exceptional and displays clarify the enduring cultural legacy of samurai and ninjas.
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Getting There: Tokyo’s Samurai Ninja Museum is a two-minute stroll from Tawaramachi Station on the Tokyo metro Ginza Line; a two-minute stroll from Asakusa Station on the Tsukuba-Specific; or an eight-minute stroll from Asakusa Station on the Tokyo metro Ginza Line/Asakusa Line.
Ajiro Onsen Hiratsuru: Atami Metropolis, Shizuoka Prefecture
After narrowly escaping an assassination try in Osaka, Blackthorne is eliminated to the fishing village of Ajiro (Clavell known as it Anjiro), the southernmost a part of the trendy city of Atami, on the Izu Peninsula, about two hours south of Tokyo by prepare. Amongst different classes in his new house, Blackthorne learns the significance of bathing—the Japanese far outpaced lice-ridden Europeans when it got here to non-public hygiene.
Although modernized, scenic Atami stays a great spot for a soak at Ajiro Onsen Hiratsuru, the native sizzling springs (onsen) the place Tokugawa himself is recorded to have bathed along with his sons in 1604. At Ajiro Onsen Hiratsuru, the indoor and open-air baths include wonderful views of Sagami Bay.
Getting There: Journey time from Tokyo Station to Atami Station is about 50 minutes by the Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama prepare. Journey time from Tokyo Station to Atami Station is about 90 minutes by the JR Odoriko or Tremendous Odoriko restricted categorical trains.
Furuya Ryokan: Atami Metropolis, Shizuoka Prefecture
Ajiro Onsen Hiratsuru will be managed as a day journey from Tokyo, however an in a single day at a standard Japanese inn (ryokan) connects you with the sort of lavish way of life Blackthorne loved as a prisoner on the Izu Peninsula (minus the free of charge consorts). Amongst many within the space, Furuya Ryokan, established in 1806, will get the nod for its magnificent tatami visitor rooms, artistically introduced delicacies, on-site onsen baths, and English-friendly employees.
Getting There: From Atami Station (see above), the ryokan is 5 minutes by taxi and quarter-hour by foot.
Dejima: Nagasaki Metropolis
Tradition clashes that resulted from early Japanese interactions with Europeans throughout the Age of Discovery present the emotional gasoline in Shōgun. Japan’s first contact with the West got here in 1543, when three Portuguese retailers landed within the nation’s southern islands. (Shōgun strikes this location north to the Izu Peninsula.) The Portuguese introduced commerce but additionally Catholicism, which unfold so rapidly that native leaders adopted a coverage of seclusion, particularly confining missionary actions.
In Shōgun, Japanese attitudes towards the Portuguese interlopers are rightly portrayed as a mix of opportunism and suspicion—notably towards Father Martin Alvito (Tommy Bastow) and Blackthorne’s frenemy, the sailor Vasco Rodrigues (Nestor Carbonell).
At this time, engulfed by the town of Nagasaki in southern Japan, Dejima was a man-made island constructed in 1636 to segregate Portuguese residents from the Japanese inhabitants. After the Portuguese had been expelled, the Dutch had been restricted to Dejima throughout Japan’s two centuries of isolation as the one Westerners allowed within the nation.
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Now surrounded by city modernity, greater than 15 of Dejima’s historic buildings have been painstakingly reconstructed, together with furnished warehouses and residencies resembling these the place the Portuguese of Shōgun might need concocted their get-rich-save-souls schemes. After a facelift, the world was reopened in 2006 with strolling maps and English signage. Enable an hour or two to tour.
Getting There: Dejima is a 20-minute stroll from Nagasaki Station. Or you’ll be able to take streetcar No. 1 and get off on the Dejima cease.
Sendai-ya: Tokyo
Nothing separates cultures like meals—and a British sailor washing up in Japan in 1600 would doubtless have been at the very least a little bit freaked out by the native fare. In Shōgun, nonetheless, the English pilot Blackthorne performs admirably on the supper desk, impressing the natives by displaying openness to unique grub of which they’re exceedingly proud.
In a key scene, he bravely takes on natto—a sticky concoction made out of fermented soybeans that’s notoriously difficult for Western palates—then raises eyebrows by going again for seconds. Blackthorne compares the style to a very rank cheese. In one other scene, nonetheless, he betrays his barbaric tendencies by forcing a sake-chugging contest on a rival.
Whereas you may get natto (and sake) just about wherever in Japan, the specialists at Tokyo’s Sendai-ya serve a number of sorts of natto, together with, for these channeling Blackthorne braveness, natto ice cream. You understand you’re in for an expertise when the store’s homeowners vow, “Our mission is to contribute to Japanese meals tradition by secure, safe, and scrumptious natto.” Secure and safe, possibly. As for scrumptious, it is a great place to resolve if Blackthorne was faking all of it alongside.
Getting There: Sendai-ya is positioned in suburban Setagaya, a particular ward about eight miles southwest of the Tokyo metropolis. Setagaya is accessed from Tokyo by taxi (quickest) or common rail service on varied Tokyo Metro traces.