Primarily based on the bestselling novel written by James Clavell, the 10-episode restricted FX sequence Shōgun is an epic story set in Japan in 1600, as a European ship piloted by the mysterious John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) is marooned in a fishing village at a time when Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) is preventing his enemies on the high-ranking governing physique often known as the Council of Regents. Connecting the 2 males is translator Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a faithful Christian who’s attempting to beat societal obstacles, a disgraced household lineage and an abusive marriage to search out her personal goal. The extra time Blackthorne and Mariko spend collectively, an sudden connection kinds, however selecting emotions over obligation will be harmful when a lot is at stake.

Throughout this interview with Collider, Sawai talked in regards to the in depth preparation she went by with every little thing she needed to study to inform this story authentically, how the prolonged shoot helped her turn out to be comfy with the brand new abilities, why one particular severe second turned hilarious, what helped her connect with the character, discovering Mariko’s readability and goal, why Mariko is ready to be herself with Blackthorne, not seeing her character as a hero, and what the most important menace is for Mariko.

Shogun (2024)

When a mysterious European ship is discovered marooned in a close-by fishing village, Lord Yoshii Toranaga discovers secrets and techniques that would tip the scales of energy and devastate his enemies.

Launch Date

2024-02-00

Predominant Style

Drama

Seasons

1

Correctly Carrying a Kimono in ‘Shōgun’ Required Very Particular Particulars

Collider: The place did you even start with this character, attempting to know the tradition of Japan within the 1600s?

ANNA SAWAI: As soon as I knew that I used to be gonna play her, I needed to study every little thing. We don’t put on kimonos now. Individuals will ask me, “Is it like that in Japan immediately?” And I’m like, “No, it’s fairly completely different,” however it’s the roots. So, I needed to study sporting a kimono. It’s so tight. You’ve gotten seven layers of clothes on, so it restricts you from strolling. Whenever you sit down and rise up, all of that’s completely different. I’m positive that in the event you don’t converse Japanese, it’s exhausting to know, however we’re talking in interval speech that’s nearly Shakespearean, so I needed to learn to do this. After which, the English accent was additionally completely different from how I converse. Getting used to all that, and translating, and using a horse, I needed to study every little thing.

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Was there a second while you felt actually safe in all of it and that you just knew who she was, or was it an ongoing course of?

SAWAI: It was ongoing. At one level, as a result of we had been capturing for 10 months, I didn’t actually have to consider a lot. However at first, I had my Japanese instructor with me, and he or she’d be like, “Okay, while you sit down, it is best to sit down like this. Whenever you look again, it’s a must to put the kimono like this.” It was all calculated at first, however sooner or later, it feels pure. You don’t should ask questions anymore. Whenever you’re strolling into the room, you’re not allowed to step on the strains that they’ve, however you’ll be able to’t look down. It was very meticulously performed.

Anna Sawai Remembers an Unintentionally Humorous ‘Shōgun’ Second

As a result of it should be exhausting to maintain up that degree of perfection, had been there ever occasions that issues went fallacious, and also you needed to cease and simply have amusing about it?

SAWAI: It’s actually exhausting. I’m eager about a scene the place we had been all sitting down, and since we didn’t have chairs, it’s a must to fold your legs. It was a severe scene between Blackthorne and Yabushige, and on the finish, Blackthorne stands up and leaves the room, and [Cosmo Jarvis’] foot apparently fell asleep. So, he stopped for a bit as a result of he couldn’t stroll, and I needed to stare at him with a severe face. That was hilarious to see, and it made me assume, “What had been folks doing, again within the day?” He made it work, however that might occur.

One of many issues that was so attention-grabbing to me was the idea of wanting permission to take your individual life. What was it prefer to even grasp that mentality?

SAWAI: You simply should know that’s what was taking place again within the day. Nothing like that might occur now. But additionally, the explanation why she desires to take her personal life is as a result of her dad was disgraced, and he and her entire household needed to die. After that, you don’t wanna be there alone. In fact, you’d wanna die with them. And to not have that permission since you are actually married to somebody who’s telling you to reside is insane. After we first meet Mariko, she’s a bit of bit aimless. After which, when she’s advised that she must turn out to be an interpreter, after which slowly she begins to know that that is what her father needed for her and this was his plan, the hearth begins to burn, and he or she then has readability and goal, simply believing in that. And it wasn’t exhausting to imagine as a result of Mariko is predicated on Hosokawa Gracia, who lived in 1600 and took her personal life, and loads of hostages had been freed due to her.

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I really like the moments when Mariko actually thinks about how she desires to translate sure issues. There may be fairly a little bit of humor in how she chooses to relay conversations.

SAWAI: That was partially fictionalized as a result of it’s based mostly on the novel, and the novel is impressed by sure figures. Once I learn her entire story and understood what she was going to do on the finish, every little thing simply turned clear to me, like her goal. As soon as you recognize what you wish to do, you’re simply going straight for that. She does get misplaced in between, however as an actor, I knew the place she was going. The journey and dwelling with the character for 10 entire months, I couldn’t actually separate myself from her, at one level, which made me really feel a bit of bit darker than common. It was simply so well-written that it wasn’t exhausting for me to channel. Justin [Marks] was at all times there, and Rachel [Kondo] confirmed up on a regular basis. Hiro [Sanada] can also be an actor on Shōgun, however even on days that he wasn’t on digital camera, he would present up. I’d have conversations with them, on a regular basis. Particularly for Mariko, Rachel had been dwelling with the character for a lot longer, so simply listening to her model of Mariko and her tales, who impressed her, and why she needed to do that venture, all felt so private. Whenever you speak to them, it’s not only a showrunner speaking to an actor. It’s individual to individual, and you’re feeling so intimate in that dialog. It most likely was exhausting throughout that point, however when you had these conversations, it was identical to, “Okay, I get it. I do know who she is.”

‘Shōgun’s Mariko and Blackthorne Type an Sudden However Pure Bond

What did you get pleasure from in regards to the dynamic between Mariko and Blackthorne? It’s such a overseas entity for her.

SAWAI: It’s a overseas entity. With what he has to say, I feel she’s very skeptical of who he’s, at first. On the identical time, as a result ofshe doesn’t actually care about him, and he doesn’t know the principles of Japan, she doesn’t should be anybody however herself. Whereas with Japanese males, she needed to act a sure method. I feel not likely caring about what he thought allowed her to be herself. He’s accepting of that, and that’s how they begin to join. It’s very attention-grabbing to see how that blossoms as a result of she’s married, however then he dies, after which he comes again. It’s all very sophisticated. However I feel the connection that they’ve could be very pure. It simply occurs out of the blue. Neither of them needed it, at first, nevertheless it occurs.

Do you see Mariko as a hero?

SAWAI: I don’t see her as a hero as a result of I don’t assume she thinks that she’s a hero, despite the fact that what she does impacts the folks drastically. I imagine that she thinks that is her goal, and that everybody has their very own goal and their very own agenda, however all of them have their future in their very own arms. So, I don’t assume she’s a hero.

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Who do you see as her largest villain, or the most important menace to her existence?

SAWAI: Oh, my God, that’s such a very good query. I really feel like I’ll have a distinct reply in the event you ask me tomorrow or the subsequent day. I feel the most important villain is the demise of her father. That modifications every little thing. So, it’s not a who, however a what? However in the event you ask me tomorrow, I would say Ishido. The demise of her father impacts her in nice methods and it shapes her. It’s the explanation why she turns into who she is and the explanation why she does what she does in the long run. That’s her villain and that’s her goal, on the identical time.

Shōgun airs on FX and is on the market to stream on Hulu. Try the trailer:

Watch on Hulu