The Shōgun cast features Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis and Anna Sawai. This info article contains minor spoilers and cast/character summaries for Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks’ FX series on Hulu. Check out more streaming guides in Vague Visages’ Know the Cast category, and then browse complete soundtrack song listings in the Soundtracks of Cinema section.

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Shōgun takes place during the 16th century. As a daimyo named Hiroyuki Sanada worries about his safety, he develops relationships with military alliances. The narrative follows the main protagonist as he establishes the first shogunate empire. Here’s every actor and character in Shōgun, an adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 novel.

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘The Bear’

Shōgun Cast: Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga

Character Profile: A powerful daimyo. He battle bureaucrats while imprisoned in an Osaka castle. Yoshii establishes the first shōgun.

Sanada’s Resume: Seibei Iguchi in The Twilight Samurai (2002), Kaneda in Sunshine (2007), Shingen in The Wolverine (2013), Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion in Mortal Kombat (2021), The Elder in Bullet Train (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘A Murder at the End of the World’

Shōgun Cast: Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne

Character Profile: The pilot of a Dutch merchant vessel called the Erasmus. He gets imprisoned in Osaka after navigating Magellan’s Pass. John transforms into a samurai.

Jarvis’ Resume: Sebastian in Lady Macbeth (2016), Arm in Calm with Horses (2019), Barney in Peaky Blinders (2019), Campion Sturges in Raised by Wolves (2020), Frederick Wentworth in Persuasion (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Justified’

Shōgun Cast: Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko

Character Profile: A member of an aristocratic Japanese family. She interprets Portuguese for John. Toda is a devout Christian.

Sawai’s Resume: eenage Kiriko in Ninja Assassin (2009), Eiko in Giri/Haji (2019), Elle in F9: The Fast Saga (2021), Naomi in Pachinko (2022–), Cate Randa in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023-)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Justified: City Primeval’

Shōgun Cast: Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige

Character Profile: A daimyo. He gets betrayed by a comrade. Kashigi ultimately joints the Tokugawa shogunate.

Asano’s Resume: Hogun in the MCU (2011-), Captain Yugi Nagata in Battleship (2012), Interpreter in Silence (2016), Tamon Yamaguchi in Midway (2019), Renji in Kate (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Mayans M.C.’

Shōgun Cast: Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari

Character Profile: Toranaga’s rival. He is known for his confidence and personal character. Ishido participates in the Sekigahara Campaign.

Hira’s Resume: Kenzo Mori in Giri/Haji (2019), Kazu in Lost Girls and Love Hotels (2020), Hiroshi Randa in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023-), Kazunori Yamauchi in Gran Turismo (2023), Riku Sato in The Swarm (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘The Old Man’

Shōgun Cast: Tommy Bastow as Father Martin Alvito

Character Profile: A priest for the Society of Jesus. He inquires about John’s motivations. Father Alvito thinks about Toda’s “dark thoughts” while working as an interpreter for the Council of Regents.

Bastow’s Resume: Dave the Laugh in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008), Otto Walker in Harley and the Davidsons (2016), Private Bates in Man in an Orange Shirt (2017), Marshall in The Crossing (2018), Kieran in The Window (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘The Patient’

Shōgun Cast: Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba No Kata

Character Profile: A concubine. She is the wife a powerful samurai. Ochiba finds trouble upon turning against her husband.

Nikaido’s Resume: Keiko in Himizu (2011), Mitsuko Muto in Why Don’t You Play in Hell? (2013), Noriko in The Brain Man (2013), Hana in My Man (2014), Kaoru Yuzuki in Vivant (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Reservation Dogs’

The Shōgun cast also includes:

• Yûki Kedôin as Takemaru
• Eushin Lee as Yabushige’s Kosho
• Hiromoto Ida as Lord Kiyama
• Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi
• Jodai Suzuki as Toranaga’s Brown Kosho #2
• Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado
• Akiko Kobayashi as Setsu
• Yasunari Takeshima as Muraji
• Sen Mars as Nakamura Yaechiyo
• Emi Kamito as Blackthorne’s Maid Chiyo
• Kengo Hashimoto as Ishido’s Gray Kosho
• Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji
• Toshi Toda as Lord Sugiyama
• Yuka Kouri as Kiku

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor.