Shōgun (1980 miniseries)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 9:55:15 AM Wikipedia source
Shōgun is a 1980 American historical drama miniseries based on James Clavell's 1975 novel of the same name. The series was produced by Paramount Television and first broadcast in the United States on NBC over five nights between September 15 and 19, 1980. It was written by Eric Bercovici and directed by Jerry London, and stars Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune, and Yoko Shimada, with a large supporting cast. Clavell served as executive producer. The miniseries is loosely based on the adventures of English navigator William Adams, who journeyed to Japan in 1600 and rose to high rank in the service of the shōgun. It follows fictional John Blackthorne's (Chamberlain) experiences and political intrigues in feudal Japan in the early 17th century. Shōgun received generally positive reviews from critics and won several accolades, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series, the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama, and a 1981 Peabody Award. A new adaptation of Clavell's novel was produced by FX and released on FX on Hulu in 2024.
Infobox
Genre
Historical drama
Based on
Shōgunby James Clavell
Written by
Eric Bercovici
Directed by
Jerry London
Starring
mw- Richard Chamberlain Toshiro Mifune Yoko Shimada Damien Thomas John Rhys-Davies Frankie Sakai Alan Badel Michael Hordern
Music by
Maurice Jarre
Country of origin
United States
Original languages
EnglishJapanese
No. of episodes
5 (list of episodes)
Executive producer
James Clavell
Producer
Eric Bercovici
Cinematography
Andrew Laszlo
Camera setup
Multi-camera
Running time
180 minutes (premiere/finale)120 minutes (episodes 2–4)159 minutes (theatrical version, Japan)125 minutes (theatrical version, Europe)
Production company
Paramount Television
Budget
$22 million($69 million in 2020)
Network
NBC
Release
September 15 (1980-09-15) –September 19, 1980 (1980-09-19)
Tables
· Cast
Starring
Starring
Performer
Starring
Richard Chamberlain
Richard Chamberlain
Performer
Richard Chamberlain
Role
Pilot-Major John Blackthorne ("Anjin-san", based on William Adams)
Toshiro Mifune
Toshiro Mifune
Performer
Toshiro Mifune
Role
Yoshi Toranaga, Lord of the Kanto Region
Yoko Shimada
Yoko Shimada
Performer
Yoko Shimada
Role
Lady Toda Buntaro ("Mariko")
Frankie Sakai
Frankie Sakai
Performer
Frankie Sakai
Role
Lord Kashigi Yabu, Daimyo of Izu
Also starring
Also starring
Performer
Also starring
Alan Badel
Alan Badel
Performer
Alan Badel
Role
Father Dell'Aqua
Michael Hordern
Michael Hordern
Performer
Michael Hordern
Role
Friar Domingo
Damien Thomas
Damien Thomas
Performer
Damien Thomas
Role
Father Martin Alvito
John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies
Performer
John Rhys-Davies
Role
Vasco Rodrigues
Vladek Sheybal
Vladek Sheybal
Performer
Vladek Sheybal
Role
Captain Ferreira
George Innes
George Innes
Performer
George Innes
Role
Johann Vinck
Leon Lissek
Leon Lissek
Performer
Leon Lissek
Role
Father Sebastio
Yūki Meguro
Yūki Meguro
Performer
Yūki Meguro
Role
Kashigi Omi, Head Samurai of Anjiro
Hideo Takamatsu
Hideo Takamatsu
Performer
Hideo Takamatsu
Role
Lord Toda Buntaro, Mariko's husband
Hiromi Senno
Hiromi Senno
Performer
Hiromi Senno
Role
Usagi Fujiko
Nobuo Kaneko
Nobuo Kaneko
Performer
Nobuo Kaneko
Role
Ishido Kazunari, Ruler of Osaka Castle
Featuring
Featuring
Performer
Featuring
Edward Peel
Edward Peel
Performer
Edward Peel
Role
Jan Pieterzoon
Eric Richard
Eric Richard
Performer
Eric Richard
Role
Maetsukker
Steve Ubels
Steve Ubels
Performer
Steve Ubels
Role
Roper
Stewart MacKenzie
Stewart MacKenzie
Performer
Stewart MacKenzie
Role
Croocq
John Carney
John Carney
Performer
John Carney
Role
Ginsel
Ian Jentle
Ian Jentle
Performer
Ian Jentle
Role
Salamon
Neil McCarthy
Neil McCarthy
Performer
Neil McCarthy
Role
Spillbergen
Morgan Sheppard
Morgan Sheppard
Performer
Morgan Sheppard
Role
Specz
Seiji Miyaguchi
Seiji Miyaguchi
Performer
Seiji Miyaguchi
Role
Muraji
Toru Abe
Toru Abe
Performer
Toru Abe
Role
Toda Hiromatsu
Mika Kitagawa
Mika Kitagawa
Performer
Mika Kitagawa
Role
Kiku
Shin Takuma
Shin Takuma
Performer
Shin Takuma
Role
Yoshi Naga
Hiroshi Hasegawa
Hiroshi Hasegawa
Performer
Hiroshi Hasegawa
Role
Galley Captain
Akira Sera
Akira Sera
Performer
Akira Sera
Role
Old Gardener
Hyoei Enoki
Hyoei Enoki
Performer
Hyoei Enoki
Role
Jirobei
Miiko Taka
Miiko Taka
Performer
Miiko Taka
Role
Kiri
Midori Takei
Midori Takei
Performer
Midori Takei
Role
Sono
Ai Matsubara
Ai Matsubara
Performer
Ai Matsubara
Role
Rako
Yumiko Morishita
Yumiko Morishita
Performer
Yumiko Morishita
Role
Asa
Rinichi Yamamoto
Rinichi Yamamoto
Performer
Rinichi Yamamoto
Role
Yoshinaka
Yuko Kada
Yuko Kada
Performer
Yuko Kada
Role
Sazuko
Masumi Okada
Masumi Okada
Performer
Masumi Okada
Role
Brother Michael
Yosuke Natsuki
Yosuke Natsuki
Performer
Yosuke Natsuki
Role
Zataki
Takeshi Obayashi
Takeshi Obayashi
Performer
Takeshi Obayashi
Role
Urano
Yoshie Kitsuda
Yoshie Kitsuda
Performer
Yoshie Kitsuda
Role
Gyoko
Masashi Ebara
Masashi Ebara
Performer
Masashi Ebara
Role
Suga
Setsuko Sekine
Setsuko Sekine
Performer
Setsuko Sekine
Role
Genjiko
Atsuko Sano
Atsuko Sano
Performer
Atsuko Sano
Role
Lady Ochiba
Orson Welles
Orson Welles
Performer
Orson Welles
Role
Narrator
| Performer | Role |
| Starring | |
| Richard Chamberlain | Pilot-Major John Blackthorne ("Anjin-san", based on William Adams) |
| Toshiro Mifune | Yoshi Toranaga, Lord of the Kanto Region |
| Yoko Shimada | Lady Toda Buntaro ("Mariko") |
| Frankie Sakai | Lord Kashigi Yabu, Daimyo of Izu |
| Also starring | |
| Alan Badel | Father Dell'Aqua |
| Michael Hordern | Friar Domingo |
| Damien Thomas | Father Martin Alvito |
| John Rhys-Davies | Vasco Rodrigues |
| Vladek Sheybal | Captain Ferreira |
| George Innes | Johann Vinck |
| Leon Lissek | Father Sebastio |
| Yūki Meguro | Kashigi Omi, Head Samurai of Anjiro |
| Hideo Takamatsu | Lord Toda Buntaro, Mariko's husband |
| Hiromi Senno | Usagi Fujiko |
| Nobuo Kaneko | Ishido Kazunari, Ruler of Osaka Castle |
| Featuring | |
| Edward Peel | Jan Pieterzoon |
| Eric Richard | Maetsukker |
| Steve Ubels | Roper |
| Stewart MacKenzie | Croocq |
| John Carney | Ginsel |
| Ian Jentle | Salamon |
| Neil McCarthy | Spillbergen |
| Morgan Sheppard | Specz |
| Seiji Miyaguchi | Muraji |
| Toru Abe | Toda Hiromatsu |
| Mika Kitagawa | Kiku |
| Shin Takuma | Yoshi Naga |
| Hiroshi Hasegawa | Galley Captain |
| Akira Sera | Old Gardener |
| Hyoei Enoki | Jirobei |
| Miiko Taka | Kiri |
| Midori Takei | Sono |
| Ai Matsubara | Rako |
| Yumiko Morishita | Asa |
| Rinichi Yamamoto | Yoshinaka |
| Yuko Kada | Sazuko |
| Masumi Okada | Brother Michael |
| Yosuke Natsuki | Zataki |
| Takeshi Obayashi | Urano |
| Yoshie Kitsuda | Gyoko |
| Masashi Ebara | Suga |
| Setsuko Sekine | Genjiko |
| Atsuko Sano | Lady Ochiba |
| Orson Welles | Narrator |
· Episodes
01
01
Episode
01
Original US air date
15 September 1980
Times
8 pm – 11 pm Eastern
Notes
(3 hr opener)
Householdrating
29.5
Householdviewers(millions)
23.0
02
02
Episode
02
Original US air date
16 September 1980
Times
8 pm – 10 pm Eastern
Householdrating
31.7
Householdviewers(millions)
24.7
03
03
Episode
03
Original US air date
17 September 1980
Times
9 pm – 11 pm Eastern
Householdrating
36.9
Householdviewers(millions)
28.7
04
04
Episode
04
Original US air date
18 September 1980
Times
9 pm – 11 pm Eastern
Householdrating
35.6
Householdviewers(millions)
27.7
05
05
Episode
05
Original US air date
19 September 1980
Times
8 pm – 11 pm Eastern
Notes
(3 hr finale)
Householdrating
31.5
Householdviewers(millions)
24.5
| Episode | Original US air date | Times | Notes | Householdrating | Householdviewers(millions) |
| 01 | 15 September 1980 | 8 pm – 11 pm Eastern | (3 hr opener) | 29.5 | 23.0 |
| 02 | 16 September 1980 | 8 pm – 10 pm Eastern | 31.7 | 24.7 | |
| 03 | 17 September 1980 | 9 pm – 11 pm Eastern | 36.9 | 28.7 | |
| 04 | 18 September 1980 | 9 pm – 11 pm Eastern | 35.6 | 27.7 | |
| 05 | 19 September 1980 | 8 pm – 11 pm Eastern | (3 hr finale) | 31.5 | 24.5 |
· Reception › Viewership
1
1
Episode
1
Original US air date
September 15, 1980
Timeslot (ET)
8 pm – 11 pm
Householdrating
29.5
Householdviewers(millions)
23.0
2
2
Episode
2
Original US air date
September 16, 1980
Timeslot (ET)
8 pm – 10 pm
Householdrating
31.7
Householdviewers(millions)
24.7
3
3
Episode
3
Original US air date
September 17, 1980
Timeslot (ET)
9 pm – 11 pm
Householdrating
36.9
Householdviewers(millions)
28.7
4
4
Episode
4
Original US air date
September 18, 1980
Timeslot (ET)
9 pm – 11 pm
Householdrating
35.6
Householdviewers(millions)
27.7
5
5
Episode
5
Original US air date
September 19, 1980
Timeslot (ET)
8 pm – 11 pm
Householdrating
31.5
Householdviewers(millions)
24.5
| Episode | Original US air date | Timeslot (ET) | Householdrating | Householdviewers(millions) |
| 1 | September 15, 1980 | 8 pm – 11 pm | 29.5 | 23.0 |
| 2 | September 16, 1980 | 8 pm – 10 pm | 31.7 | 24.7 |
| 3 | September 17, 1980 | 9 pm – 11 pm | 36.9 | 28.7 |
| 4 | September 18, 1980 | 9 pm – 11 pm | 35.6 | 27.7 |
| 5 | September 19, 1980 | 8 pm – 11 pm | 31.5 | 24.5 |
· Accolades
1980
1980
Year
1980
Award
Peabody Awards
Category
—
Nominee(s)
NBC and Paramount Television
Result
Won
1981
1981
Year
1981
Award
American Cinema Editors Awards
Category
Best Edited Episode from a Television Mini-Series
Nominee(s)
James T. Heckert, Bill Luciano, Donald R. Rode, Benjamin A. Weissman, and Jerry Young (for "Episode 1")
Result
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Year
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Best Television Series – Drama
Category
Won
Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Year
Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Award
Richard Chamberlain
Category
Won
Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Year
Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Award
Yoko Shimada
Category
Won
People's Choice Awards
People's Choice Awards
Year
People's Choice Awards
Award
Favorite TV Mini-Series
Category
Won
Primetime Emmy Awards
Primetime Emmy Awards
Year
Primetime Emmy Awards
Award
Outstanding Limited Series
Category
James Clavell and Eric Bercovici
Nominee(s)
Won
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
Year
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
Award
Richard Chamberlain
Category
Nominated
Toshiro Mifune
Toshiro Mifune
Year
Toshiro Mifune
Award
Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
Year
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
Award
Yoko Shimada
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
Year
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
Award
Yūki Meguro
Category
Nominated
John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies
Year
John Rhys-Davies
Award
Nominated
Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special
Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special
Year
Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special
Award
Jerry London (for "Episode 5")
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special
Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special
Year
Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special
Award
Eric Bercovici (for "Episode 5")
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series or a Special
Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series or a Special
Year
Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series or a Special
Award
Joseph R. Jennings, Yoshinobu Nishioka, Tom Pedigo, and Shoichi Yasuda (for "Episode 5")
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or a Special
Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or a Special
Year
Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or a Special
Award
Andrew Laszlo (for "Episode 4")
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design for a Series
Outstanding Costume Design for a Series
Year
Outstanding Costume Design for a Series
Award
Shin Nishida (for "Episode 5")
Category
Won
Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special
Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special
Year
Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special
Award
Donald R. Rode, Benjamin A. Weissman, Jerry Young, and Bill Luciano (for "Episode 5")
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing
Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing
Year
Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing
Award
Stanley Paul, William M. Andrews, Leonard Corso, Denis Dutton, Jack A. Finlay, Robert Gutknecht, Sean Hanley, Pierre Jalbert, Jack Keath, Alan L. Nineberg, Lee Osborne, and Tally Paulos (for "Episode 3")
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Graphic Design and Title Sequences
Outstanding Graphic Design and Title Sequences
Year
Outstanding Graphic Design and Title Sequences
Award
Phill Norman (for "Episode 1")
Category
Won
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 1980 | Peabody Awards | — | NBC and Paramount Television | Won | |
| 1981 | American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Episode from a Television Mini-Series | James T. Heckert, Bill Luciano, Donald R. Rode, Benjamin A. Weissman, and Jerry Young (for "Episode 1") | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Television Series – Drama | Won | |||
| Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama | Richard Chamberlain | Won | |||
| Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama | Yoko Shimada | Won | |||
| People's Choice Awards | Favorite TV Mini-Series | Won | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Limited Series | James Clavell and Eric Bercovici | Won | ||
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | Richard Chamberlain | Nominated | |||
| Toshiro Mifune | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special | Yoko Shimada | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | Yūki Meguro | Nominated | |||
| John Rhys-Davies | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special | Jerry London (for "Episode 5") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special | Eric Bercovici (for "Episode 5") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series or a Special | Joseph R. Jennings, Yoshinobu Nishioka, Tom Pedigo, and Shoichi Yasuda (for "Episode 5") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or a Special | Andrew Laszlo (for "Episode 4") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Costume Design for a Series | Shin Nishida (for "Episode 5") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special | Donald R. Rode, Benjamin A. Weissman, Jerry Young, and Bill Luciano (for "Episode 5") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing | Stanley Paul, William M. Andrews, Leonard Corso, Denis Dutton, Jack A. Finlay, Robert Gutknecht, Sean Hanley, Pierre Jalbert, Jack Keath, Alan L. Nineberg, Lee Osborne, and Tally Paulos (for "Episode 3") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Graphic Design and Title Sequences | Phill Norman (for "Episode 1") | Won | |||
References
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/hollywood-flashback-one-three-tv-sets-tuned-shogun-1980-1298878/
- "FX Shogun | on Hulu and FX"https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/shogun
- The Southeast Missourianhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=Oc-rVwKPngoC&dat=19800926&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
- "Shogun – 30th Anniversary Edition"http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/48560/shogun-30th-anniversary-edition/
- Los Angeles Times
- Best of Britishhttps://www.magzter.com/stories/culture/Best-of-British/THE-GOLD-STANDARD
- Toledo Blade
- Shōgun. Dir. Jerry London. Paramount Home Video, 1994. OCLC 53026518 ISBN 978-0-7921-9332-6 (2003).https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/53026518
- Galbraith IV 2008, p. 324.
- Galbraith IV 2008, p. 325.
- James Clavell's Shōgun http://www.genreonline.net/Shogun_DVD.html Retrieved August 15, 2009http://www.genreonline.net/Shogun_DVD.html
- Cornell Daily Sunhttps://cdsun.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/cornell?a=d&d=CDS19800924.2.50&e=--------20--1-----all----
- New York Times
- The Dorama Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese TV Drama Since 1953https://books.google.com/books?id=LzeSd4SvU7cC
- "Shōgun"https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/shogun/
- "Nominees/Winners"https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000017/1981/1/?ref_=ev_eh
- "Shōgun"https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/shogun
- "1981 Nominees & Winners"https://web.archive.org/web/20160405024636/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1981
- "Shōgun"https://www.emmys.com/shows/shogun