‘Shogun’ review: A sumptuous culture clash drama

In 1600, English fortune seeker John Blackthorne and his fleet blow into “the Japans”. Among the first lessons Blackthorne learns is that the land in which he has arrived is Japan, in the singular. There are many more tutorials in store for the sailor as well as the Japanese who, when they first meet the Europeans, wonder out loud, “What are they?”

Blackthorne finds himself amidst a brewing civil war, led by the feudal lord Toranaga against other members of a council set up to govern Japan until the heir apparent comes of age. Toranaga uses Blackthorne’s potential as a strategist for his own ambition to become the shogun, or the realm’s military leader. The linguistic chasm between the aristocrat and the foreigner is bridged by Mariko, who acts as a translator as well as a key player in the game for supremacy.

The Disney+ Hotstar series Shogun is driven by differences – in language, culture, religion and worldview. The show is mainly in Japanese, with English as a secondary language. Shogun demands careful viewing, not just to its sumptuous sets but also to the cultural specificities encountered by Blackthorne, whether in comportment or the simple act of drinking sake.

The 10-episode limited series, created by Rachel...

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