shogun the novel

[Heraclius]

Has anyone out there in forum-land ever read Shogun by James Clavell? Its a very good and interesting book, loosely based on a true story, about an English navigator and his Dutch crew that are ship-wrecked on Japan in the year 1600. Japan at this time is wracked by the tail end of the turmoil that made Shogun the computer game such a fantastic game. The Englishman is used in the current power struggle between two powerful warlords. The author uses fake names but most characters are real. I was just wondering if anyone knows if Clavell depicted Japan accurately because it was actually this book that made me buy the computer game.

[Sir Black Raven]

According to film maker master Akira Kurosawa the film wasn't even near the reality. I didn't read the book but i bought the film and saw it again.Nevertheless Toshiro Mifune plays the role of the Daimyo Lord Toranaga aka Tokugawa Ieyasu...well is a god book and reasonable film. U must watch Samurai Banners, Tails of the Taira Clan, Kagemusha, Ran etc.

[The Scourge]

There's a book out now called Samurai Williams,the man who opened Japan.
Will Adams was the real person that the hero of Shogun noval,blackthorn was based on.
It's been a great read so far,and I've got to get round to finishing it if only i could remember where I left the bastard
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

[Heraclius]

I have seen the Kurosawa movies but not the others. Both the movies and the book about Will Adams sound quite interesting. I will have to take a look at them. What was the name of the real man who opposed Tokugawa Ieyasu? I know the character was Ishidu in the book but his real name is on the tip of my tongue and I can't quite remember it.

[Hakonarson]

Oh my God - it just occured to me that you guys may not have ever seen the TV seies "Shogun"..........gak....I'm getting old http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

[econ21]

That mini-series was great, especially the character of Lord Toranaga. I really liked the ending especially. Throughout the series you see through the eyes of the Englishman and regard the Japanese as strange - fierce, cruel and seemingly primitive, almost elemental forces of nature. Then at the end of the series, you get a voiceover from the previously inscrutable Lord Toranaga where he reveals he has been using the Englishman as a tool and is surreptitiously keeping him trapped on the island. The whole idea of Western superiority that had been encouraged by the first person perspective of the film is overturned. It's one of those classic endings, like that of the Usual suspects or the Planet of the Apes.

[Sir Black Raven]

well Samurai Banners is based on the story of the Clan Takeda and Toshiro Mifune plays the role of Yamamoto Kansuke, one of the great retainers of Takeda Clan.Also in this movie u can watch the duel between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen. The famous Kawnakajima battles are also mencioned here and u see the last one. About the caracter u are asking the name is Ishida Mitsunari. There's a web site about japanese that if u r interested take a look

Japanese (http://www.samurai-archives.com)

[Muneyoshi]

Im not too sure on how realistic it is, though it is a very good book in my opinion. Ran is also a very good watch if you ever have the chance to see it.

[Heraclius]

wow. thanks for resurecting the thread and providing some great info. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

[Tachikaze]

Much of what the book/film showed referred to actual features of medieval Japan, but were exaggerated.

Perhaps this is most obvious in how many cliches Clavell put into one visitor's experience. There was a ninja attack (we've had many discussions here about how accurately ninja are portrayed in media), seppuku, an earthquake at a very opportune moment, a beheading, a tea ceremony, an amazing demonstration of kyudo (archery), etc.

While all of these things existed to some degree at that time, they weren't all very common. They also help reinforce the hollywood image of shogunate Japan.

One trivial note on accuracy, white castles were not common until a few years after the story took place. The white material was a fire retardant applied to later keeps. The castle most seen in the film, Himeji, was built after the time of the story. The castles should all have dark walls.