FX’s Shōgun with Cast and Producers

Seating for this special event is complimentary and exclusively for Japan Society members. RSVPs are now closed and all seats filled. 

Japan Society and FX are honored to present a very special members-only screening of the upcoming FX Original Series Shōgun – featuring cast and producers in person – ahead of its television premiere on February 27.

Cast and Producers In Attendance
Justin Marks, Co-Creator, Executive Producer, Showrunner, Writer
Rachel Kondo, Co-Creator, Executive Producer, Writer
Michaela Clavell, Executive Producer 
Hiroyuki Sanada, Producer / Star, “Toranaga”
Anna Sawai, Star, “Lady Mariko”
Eriko Miyagawa, Producer
Frederick H. Katayama, Moderator

FX’s Shōgun, an original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as “Lord Yoshii Toranaga” who is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, “John Blackthorne” (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. Toranaga’s and Blackthorne’s fates become inextricably tied to their translator, “Toda Mariko” (Anna Sawai), a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her and her duty to her late father.

The 10-episode limited series features an acclaimed Japanese cast, unprecedented for an American production, including Tadanobu Asano as “Kashigi Yabushige,” a notorious backstabber and close ally of Toranaga; Hiroto Kanai as “Kashigi Omi,” the young leader of the fishing village where Blackthorne’s ship was found; Takehiro Hira as “Ishido Kazunari,” a powerful bureaucrat who is Toranaga’s chief rival; Moeka Hoshi as “Usami Fuji,” a widow who must find new purpose amidst her lord’s fight; Tokuma Nishioka as “Toda Hiromatsu,” Toranaga’s trusted general and closest friend; Shinnosuke Abe as “Buntaro” (“Toda Hirokatsu”), Mariko’s jealous husband; Yuki Kura as “Yoshii Nagakado,” the brash son of Toranaga with a strong desire to prove himself; Yuka Kouri as “Kiku,” a courtesan renowned for her artistry throughout Japan; and Fumi Nikaido as “Ochiba no Kata,” the revered mother of the heir who will stop at nothing to put an end to Toranaga and his threat to her son’s power.

Shōgun is created for television by Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks, with Marks serving as showrunner and executive producer alongside Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca and Kondo. The series is produced by FX Productions.

Join us at Japan Society to celebrate this extraordinary new series with an afternoon of exclusive events…

4 PM to 5:30 PM
Reception. Enjoy a reception featuring curated Japanese foods and drinks, including sake cocktails inspired by FX’s Shōgun. Craft cocktails by Chris Johnson and Warren Hode. Beverages generously donated by All the Bitter, Better Rhodes, Brooklyn Kura, the Sake Ninja, Sapporo-Stone Brewing, and Wander and Found.

5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
FX’s Shōgun Episode 1 and 2 Screening. Be among the first to see the first two episodes of FX’s Shōgun, with this cinematic series presented on the same screen as historic retrospectives and major new motion pictures.

8 PM to 8:30 PM
Cast and Producer Conversation. Hear from the main cast and producers behind FX’s Shōgun about the significance of the series and the care and research that went into its production. Appearing in-person will be Justin Marks (Co-Creator, Executive Producer, Showrunner, Writer), Rachel Kondo (Co-Creator, Executive Producer, Writer), Michaela Clavell (Executive Producer), Hiroyuki Sanada (Producer / Star, “Toranaga”), Anna Sawai (Star, “Lady Mariko”) and Eriko Miyagawa (Producer). Moderated by Frederick H. Katayama.

Frederick Hiroshi Katayama is a community leader, communicator and former journalist. He is the Executive Vice President of the U.S.-Japan Council and, outside of this work, Katayama serves as a senior advisor at Japan Society and a member of the board of the Manjiro-Whitfield Center for International Exchange. In his earlier career as a journalist, he won numerous awards for his coverage in print, television and digital media. As an anchor and producer at Reuters, he hosted various shows ranging from world news to technology, business and personal investing. At CNN, he reported for The Moneyline Newshour and anchored programs including Business Asia. He began his career in television in Tokyo reporting for NHK’s Japan Business Today. Prior, he wrote at Fortune Magazine in New York and covered Japan’s economic rise as its Tokyo correspondent.

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Image © 2024 FX Networks

This special event is created in partnership with FX.

Beverages generously donated by All the Bitter, Better Rhodes, Brooklyn Kura, the Sake Ninja, Sapporo-Stone Brewing, and Wander and Found.

Japan Society programs are made possible by leadership support from Booth Ferris Foundation, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Film programs are generously supported by ORIX Corporation USA, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Anime NYC, and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by The Globus Family, Geoff and Fumi Matters, David Toberisky, and Friends of Film. Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film. Housing assistance is provided by The Prince Kitano New York, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film.