Why a Historian Is Looking Forward to the New Shōgun Series.

The article focuses on the cultural and historical impact of James Clavell's 1975 novel *Shōgun*, which fictionalizes the arrival of English pilot William Adams in Japan in 1600 and intertwines two narratives: the European protagonist John Blackthorne's integration into Japanese society and the political rise of the Japanese leader Toranaga, modeled on Tokugawa Ieyasu. While some historians criticized the novel for inaccuracies and stereotypes, others praised it for popularizing knowledge about Japan. The 1980 television miniseries adaptation simplified the story by centering on Blackthorne and omitting much of Toranaga's political narrative, rendering Japan as an alien environment with untranslated Japanese dialogue. The upcoming 2024 FX series appears to restore the novel's dual focus, emphasizing Toranaga's role and including subtitled Japanese dialogue, suggesting a closer alignment with Clavell's original vision.