Now that Shōgun has come to an end, you might be wondering where to go from here. After all, this is just a one season show despite fans clamoring for more. So, what are some things that give off the same vibes and are just as entertaining? Well, I thought I would create a list of films and books that I would recommend for those that are wanting more of the Sengoku Jidai aesthetic.
Shōgun by James Clavell
Starting with the basics, why not give the source material a go? This tome of a book is an international bestseller and will be a great summer read. It has been difficult to get a physical copy of the book, so beware. With the rerelease, you can either get the book in hardcover, or in paperback, which has been divided into two parts. It’s also a bit pricy for a physical copy of the book, with retail at $50USD, so a cheaper alternative might be an ebook.
Shōgun (1980 miniseries)
Of course, there’s always the original. This miniseries starring Richard Chamberland and Toshiro Mifune is a bit more condensed despite being five episodes long with each ranging between two to three hours long. It prominently focuses on John Blackthorne and his story more than the other samurai who also have their own tales in the nearly half a million-word novel. It was also filmed entirely in Japan, with Himeji Castle being one of the sights you’ll see while watching this adaptation. This might be harder to get your hands on, as no streaming service has it available to watch. Either see if your local library has a copy of the DVD or order a copy from Amazon. Blu-Ray seems to be the cheaper alternative but be wary of fluctuating prices.
Sekigahara (2017)
One of my biggest disappointments regarding Shōgun (in any adaptation) is that it never depicts that Battle of Sekigahara. It glosses over the battle by saying who won and lost, never giving us any action. This is where Sekigahara comes in. Released in 2017, this is also based on a historical fiction novel by the same name. Many will recognize Shima Sakon, for he’s portrayed by Takehiro Hira, who was Lord Ishido in the Shōgun reboot. This focuses on Ishida Mitsunari and his efforts against Tokugawa Ieyasu regarding the Toyotomi, which resulted in the now famous battle. Blu-Ray DVDs are still available for this film on Amazon, and yes, it does have English subtitles.
Silence (both the novel and film)
This is a book I’ve talked about on here before and someone even wrote that Silence would be a great sequel to Shōgun. Focusing on the aftermath of the problems with Christianity in Japan, Silence takes us to the 1630s in Japan as a couple of priests head to the country in secret to learn about the fate of one of their own. Both the book and film are fantastic companions to Shōgun and come highly recommended by yours truly. The book is available in all formats while the film can either be purchased or rented or bought with an Apple TV subscription.
Musashi and its adaptations
Yet another that takes place after the events of Shōgun, and this one comes in at least three different adaptations.
Starting off the list is the original content: Musashi. First published in Japan in 1935 and in English in 1981, this is the story of Miyamoto Musashi, arguably the most recognizable samurai figure from Japanese history. It’s yet another long read on this list, maxing out at about 900 pages, but there are other alternatives if books aren’t your thing.
The Samurai Trilogy is a film adaptation that has been broken into three different films, starring Toshiro Mifune as the famous swordsman. The films in order are:
- Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)
- Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955)
- Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)
The entire trilogy is available to stream on Max; however, I know some of us like to have physical copies. The whole collection has been made available through the Criterion Collection for a reasonable price.
Though it has been on hiatus since 2015, I will add Vagabond as another adaptation to check out if you are a fan of manga. Currently only 37 volumes (or 12 if you get the multiple in one) here in the USA, this beautifully illustrated novelization of the 1935 classic is a favorite among those that enjoy manga. Unfortunately, it’s approaching a decade since any updates have been made, and so the series remains unfinished. If you’d rather have a completed story, I suggest one of the two mediums above.
Harakiri (1962)
This is another film that takes place after the fallout that came from Sekigahara and is considered by many to be the greatest samurai film of all time. Harakiri focuses on a rōnin who wishes to commit seppuku within the house of the Ii clan after his lord’s clan collapsed. It’s a tragic story that will keep you gripped to the end. You can either purchase the Criterion Collection DVD on Amazon, or stream it on the Criterion Channel, Apple TV, and Amazon.
Ran (1985)
Kurosawa had to make it on this list somehow. If you want something with more familial drama and akin to the discord we see in Shōgun, look no further than Akira Kurosawa’s final samurai epic, Ran. Based off William Shakespeare’s King Lear, this is the story of Ichimonji Hidetora and his grievous mistake that leads to the fall of his clan. This is one of my top five favorite films of all time, so I might be a bit biased, but I think it perfectly captures the hell of this era more than any other film. There aren’t as many options for streaming this film (Amazon and AMC), however, Criterion once again is able to bring this film to the masses.
The Battle of Sekigahara: The Greatest, Bloodiest, Most Decisive Samurai Battle Ever by Chris Glenn (2021)
If you want more regarding the history of Shōgun, these next few books in this article are just for you. The Sengoku Jidai is an era of Japanese history that’s beginning to get more attention here in the West, which means we’re seeing an increase in current sources. This will be the most current on the list regarding the topic of Sekigahara. Published in 2021, this book is an in-depth look at the events leading up to, during, and after the largest samurai battle in history. This is a go to source for me and is one that has been featured on yet another list I published last year regarding my favorite books on Sengoku history.
Sekigahara 1600: The final struggle for power by Anthony J. Byrant (1995)
This Osprey Publishing is a crash course on the Battle of Sekigahara, full of detailed maps and diagrams for those who are visual learners. It’s a thin book, so the price might be hard to justify, but it’s well worth the read if you so desire. It’s also another source that has made frequent appearances on this site.
Samurai William by Giles Milton (2002)
What to know about the man who was the inspiration for John Blackthorne? Look no further that Samurai William, one of the few biographies on William Adams, the first English samurai. It reads like a historical narrative, so it’s less daunting to those who stay away from such works due to dry writing. This is also a relatively cheap book and available on all reading formats.
Two Japanese Christian Heroes by Johannes Laures (1959)
It’s 65 years old, but it’s one of the most accessible sources on Hosokawa Gracia out there. Only $4.61USD for a Kindle version of the book (at the time of writing this article), this focuses on the two most famous Christian converts in Japanese history: Bl. Takayama Ukon (Iustus) and Hosokawa Gracia, who served as the inspiration for Mariko. Rare is it that we can get such insight into a woman’s life, especially in an era that’s usually focused on the men. We learn about her father’s death and her exile, her return, and her following conversion to Christianity, ending with her death. We also learn more about her unusual marriage to Hosokawa Tadaoki, or Buntaro in Shōgun. Since it’s so inexpensive, I would highly recommend anyone who is interested to check it out.
Sengoku Jidai: Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu: Three Unifiers of Japan by Danny Chaplin (2018)
Ending strong is a book I recommend to everyone who wants to know the history of the Sengoku Jidai. This topped my list of the top ten books on Sengoku history and that remains true a year after composing that list. This book explains how Japan got to the age of Warring States and how figures like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu rose to power. It also focuses on the changes that came to Japan during this time, with Christianity, guns, and yes, even William Adams gets a mention. This a book for those that want to dive headfirst into the history that inspired Shōgun in the first place.
Here’s the truth of the matter: no matter how many historians complain about the historical inaccuracies of this tome of a novel, Shōgun got a generation of people hooked on Japanese history and it continues to inspire. The numbers that pour in daily since the show aired on the website and the difficulty to acquire a hard copy of the book prove that to be the case. Hopefully, this will be something that won’t be just a fad, or only cool because it’s “trending”. Perhaps we get a new generation of Japanese history fans from the show’s reboot, and if that’s the case, the Sengoku Archives will be here to welcome these newcomers.
