The Shōgun Cast Plays Secretive Characters Inspired By History

Toranaga is a powerful man in Japan and a member of the Council of Regents, an influential group of the five strongest lords in the region. The character is based off of Tokugawa Ieyasu, an actual feudal lord. Sanada is well-known actor, starring in John Wick: Chapter 4, Bullet Train, Westworld, and more.

Inspired by the English navigator William Adams, the first Englishman to visit Japan, Cosmo Jarvis plays John Blackthorne, who becomes part of Toranaga’s plans to take down his rival. Jarvis is also known for starring in 2022’s Persuasion.

Mariko is a high-born Christian woman who acts as aid and interpreter to Toranaga. Anna Sawai plays the character, and has recently starred in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Pachinko, and F9: The Fast Saga.

Yabushige is Lord of Izu. Initially, he pledges loyalty to Toranaga, but secretly, he’s always looking for new alliances and opportunities for his personal success. The arrival of Blackthorne intrigues him.

Asano is best known to Western audiences for his recurring role as Hogun in Thor and Thor: Ragnarok, although the actor has had a successful career in Japan as well.

The main antagonist of the novel, Kazunari views Toranaga as a threat and wants him removed from the Council of Regents, in which they both are members. Hira has recently starred in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Gran Turismo.

Bastow plays a Portugese Jesuit priest. He serves as a translator for the Council of Regents, and a mediator between the Portuguese and Japanese leaders in the region. Bastow is an English actor, who first began his career in 2008.