Bringing a Modern Sensibility to a Historical Drama
The 2024 television series 'Shogun,' a historical drama set in feudal Japan, was a worldwide hit. The show and its actors won a record 18 Emmy Awards, as well as four Golden Globes. Critics and viewers praised it not only for its writing, acting and production, but also for its devotion to accurately portraying Japan and Japanese culture in the early 1600s.
The historical drama, which has been renewed for a second season, is based on a novel of the same name by James Clavell, published in 1975 and adapted into a mini-series in 1980. The story focuses on the relationship between Lord Yoshii Toranaga, a warlord struggling to fend off his political rivals, and John Blackthorne, a marooned English navigator who becomes an adviser to Toranaga. The 2024 series gives a more prominent and complex role to Toda Mariko, Blackthorne's interpreter.
The characters' historical counterparts are Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toranaga), the 'shogun,' or military ruler who helped to unite Japan; William Adams (Blackthorne), the first Englishman ever to reach Japan; and Hosokawa Gracia (Mariko), a Japanese noblewoman and converted Catholic.
The novel and two series show varying degrees of faithfulness to the events they're based on. The newest 'Shogun,' however, is built around its Japanese characters and culture in ways that the 1980 series was not, foregrounding those characters' points of view and their presence as drivers of the plot. And the accuracy the show embraces in details as small as gestures and fabric colors makes it a striking recreation of some parts of historical Japanese culture.
It does include changes — some modernized language, for example, or stylistic omissions — to make it understandable to modern viewers around the world. But its commitment to authenticity makes 'Shogun' a compelling lens through which to examine television's role in interpreting and portraying history, as well as how actors inherit and embody history and culture in their performances.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
10 minutes ago
- Forbes
‘Ninja Gaiden 4' Preview: Sliced, Diced And Ready For Action
Ninjas are dominating 2025, aren't they? We sliced and diced our way through Assassin's Creed Shadows back in March and before August is done, the Shinobi series is set to return with Art of Vengeance. However, later this year the granddaddy of all ninja games is being revived; I'm talking, of course, about Ninja Gaiden 4. It'll be 12 years since the last in Koei Tecmo's action series was released (naturally excluding July's 2D Ninja Gaiden Ragebound as that was made by The Game Kitchen and Dotemu) when it lands on October 21 2025. Longtime developer Team Ninja is also back with Ninja Gaiden 4 and its joined by Platinum Games this time around. It's a partnership that's working. I know that because I've already spent a couple of hours playing the game. Spoiler - it's exactly what you'd want from a contemporary entry in this franchise. My preview began on a cargo train that is hurtling through a tunnel. Series protagonist, Ryu Hayabusa, was only mentioned in passing during my playthrough. Instead, I took up the role of newcomer, Yakumo, a member of the Raven Clan who has been dispatched to infiltrate a secure unit and assassinate a prisoner. Things go awry and he's left unsure of who to trust. The initial chunk of the demo was spent re-learning the game's fundamentals. There's the typical mixture of light and heavy attacks which lead to ultra-violent combos and executions. Then there's Yakumo's supernatural ability to take on a more defensive stance which is slower than the standard action but it comes with the chance of dishing out higher levels of damage. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder All of this was played in Performance mode (which I chose above Quality) and there were no technical issues. The action is relentlessly fast and slick. There's a constant emphasis on forward momentum; you're thrust into bloody bouts consistently as you make your way through each zone. There are opportunities to slow down, however. After you meet a certain character, you're intermittently given the chance to enter a training arena where you can hone your skills. The combat feels deeper and more layered in Ninja Gaiden 4 and so I welcomed these moments to fiddle with the moves and abilities I wanted to use the most, thus defining my own sadistic fighting style. I also spent some time with Trials, an arcade-like mode that lets you replay parts of the story, taking on enemies and bosses to earn points (that'll help you climb a leaderboard) and in-game currency. Back to the story - eventually, that train bursts out of the tunnel and Yakumo is soaked in the light of a bright moon. This is where the preview really wowed me. Looming on the horizon above him is the remnants of a dystopian Tokyo that looks grimy and undeniably pretty in equal measure. Once given the chance to explore it, the visuals beam. Neon lights reflect off of the rain-drenched streets. Blood splatters across the screen as Yakumo flips around between enemies. From the first couple of hours, it's clear that Ninja Gaiden 4 is going to be a visual spectacle with stylish action, as expected. It also lives up to the immensely challenging nature of its predecessors, although the difficulty can be toned down a notch. It'll appease FromSoftware aficionados who are a glutton for punishing games. Meanwhile, those who feel alienated by the toughness of modern action titles like Elden Ring and Dark Souls will find their place in this series.
Digital Trends
39 minutes ago
- Digital Trends
Gotta wear 'em all! Uniqlo launches new Pokémon TCG-themed clothing line
Uniqlo is no stranger to video game-themed clothing lineups, and its latest launch is no except. The latest products all hail from the Pokémon Trading Card Game and depict your favorite cards, attacks, and more. The designs are available as both tee shirts and sweatshirts (perfect for that upcoming fall weather), but fair warning: lineups like this tend to rotate quickly, so if you see something you have your eye on, don't wait too long to snatch it up. Fan-favorite designs like Pikachu, Omanyte, Gengar, and Snorlax are all available. Adult prices start at roughly $20 and go up to $40 for sweatshirts. Sizes range from extra small up to XXL, although some designs only extend to a large. The full range of shirts is available to browse on Uniqlo's website. Recommended Videos There's also a lineup for kids, too, if you want to make sure your whole family matches the look. All of the clothing items are unisex. The Pikachu design (shown above) is a particular favorite; not only does it have a miniaturized Pokédex entry for your favorite electric mouse, but it also has multiple different card designs shown within the silhouette. Uniqlo has featured Pokémon designs before, but this is the first time we've seen Pokémon TCG Pocket designs included in the mix. The popular mobile trading card game has dominated the charts since its launch late last year and features some of the most unique card art we've ever seen. Seriously, Pokémon: I would pay money for prints. Previously, Uniqlo has launched Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Final Fantasy, and Animal Crossing clothing lines. Most of those aren't available any longer, but you can still get your hands on its Studio Ghibli lineup if you're a Totoro fan. The Pokémon designs are available now, but it isn't clear how long they'll remain on sale.
CNET
3 hours ago
- CNET
Drag x Drive Proves the Switch 2's Mouse Mode Controls Are Fantastic
Nintendo's next summer title -- and one of the few new games for the Switch 2 soon after its June launch -- is the multiplayer wheelchair basketball game, Drag x Drive. It uses the console's new Joy-Con mouse controls to simulate moving the wheels of your chair (or vehicle, as it's referred to in-game) while playing short three-on-three matches. While it does take some getting used to, it shows off how well this new input mode works and harkens back to an era of motion-controlled gaming made popular on Nintendo's Wii. Playing Drag x Drive is unique, reflecting the Switch 2 new tech. You detach each Joy-Con 2 controller from the system, place the sensors face down on a surface (which can range from a table to even your legs), and slide the controllers forward and backward to move the wheels respectively. I actually found it more comfortable on my wrists to use the controllers positioned a little wider on my thighs instead of straight up and down on a table. Learning to play has a steep curve, and I found my shoulders getting tired quickly as the game kept reminding me that longer strokes would move my character faster on the court. For anyone who experienced Tennis Elbow back when WiiSports came out, Drag x Drive's bodily wear-and-tear will be familiar. Screenshot by Sean Booker/CNET The mouse's controls are good -- better than I expected, in fact. They feel snappy, and I was able to pull off some higher-level maneuvers when I got used to it. And as you move, you can feel a subtle vibration in each hand to help you dial in how much force you're inputting. Moving the controllers at different speeds will adjust the turning radius. Braking (by pressing the R or L buttons) can be done independently of each wheel to further your control. There are even tricks you can pull off by using breaking and lifting the controllers in specific combinations, which the game points out will help you perform more advanced blocks and interceptions. Controls are the big novelty of Drag x Drive and take time to get used to, though the court and game modes offer their own unique challenges. Read more: I Played Donkey Kong Bananza. It's the Switch 2's Killer Ape Screenshot by Sean Booker/CNET Moderately deep mechanics for a $20 game The primary mode is a 3-minute three-on-three game that's reminiscent of Rocket League (without the jetpacks). There's an indicator always pointing toward the oversized ball. Rolling into it will pick it up. If you're going fast enough (represented by a flashing light on your back) and crashing into someone head-on will knock it loose. And if you raise one of the joy-cons off the surface, you will lift the ball, flicking your wrist will make a shot. Since the court is kind of a skateboard-style bowl, you can even roll up into the air from the sides and shoot or dunk from above. These trick shots will award players with more granular points, for example, an aerial shot might award you 2.3 instead of the standard two you'd see in typical basketball. But you can still land a three-pointer from outside the boundary, but you'll have to be lined up real well while the other five players aren't slamming into you. Defense also works just like you'd expect, with positioning playing the most important role. Pressing the R and L buttons together will pass the ball to a teammate. If an opponent is in the way, they can intercept. This is key since I witnessed many teams pass a ball way down the court to an isolated player while we tried to race after them to stop the shot. Like every sport, you'll want to spread out and cover someone instead of clumping all together around the ball, like most new players often do. Screenshot by Sean Booker/CNET While Drag x Drive curiously doesn't refer to anything as a wheelchair (or even highlight the awesome and inclusive sport of wheelchair basketball), it's really wonderful to see this representation. The characters can also be swapped out for one of three unit types: defense, forward or guard, all with different speed and power stats. From there, you can customise your character's outfit and gear, with more to unlock as you play. Outside of the online play, there are also nine different bot difficulties you can take on, so the game is playable in single player. There are also several minigames stationed around the hub area. These include a timed race and a rebound mode where you need to chase after a bouncing ball in the hub before time runs out. They're pretty short and not all that interesting, but they will reward you with medals to unlock gear. There are also some obstacles positioned around to play with. One example is a giant jump rope that you can bunny hop over. There isn't a typical career or story campaign to work through -- the main draw is the one core multiplayer mode. Considering the low $20 entry price, I wouldn't expect anything super in-depth, making this more of a unique application of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons' mouse mode than a long-lasting play experience. Drag x Drive is a shallow experience, but the skill ceiling has a lot of potential. Its low entry price makes it an easy recommendation, even if you're just interested in trying out the new mouse controls that the Switch 2 offers. If Nintendo chooses to support the game with more content in the future, I would love to see limited-time events and more game modes get added, building on the bones of one of the most unique sports games to come out in years. Drag x Drive comes out on Switch 2 on Thursday.
