What to watch next if you liked Shogun
Shogun has made Emmys history by becoming the awards show's most decorated foreign language series, earning a total of 18 wins including Best Actor, Actress and Drama.
The FX series delighted audiences when it was released on Disney+, and has continued to be seen as a masterful example of prestige TV since its conclusion. It proved so popular that the decision was made to turn the limited series into a multi-season drama, with a second season already in the works.
But a show of this calibre will no doubt take time to return to our screens, especially since the writer's room are currently at the drawing board after adapting James Clavell's book in full already. So if you're keen to get stuck into something similar, or looking for more Japanese historical epics while you wait, look no further.
What to watch next if you liked Shogun
Shogun is not the first, and by no means the last, Japanese historical drama to be made, but it is one of the few to have been recognised by Hollywood in such a big way. There are several films and TV shows that are also worth viewers attention across a multitude of streaming platforms.
The Legend & Butterfly
For those looking for a story as close to Shogun as possible, with a similar focus on palace intrigue, rich writing, and exquisite costumes and sets viewers should next choose The Legend & Butterfly.
The Japanese film, which is available on Prime Video, recounts the story of warlord Oda Nobunaga (Takuya Kimura) and his relationship with his wife, Lady No (Haruka Ayase) against the backdrop of Oda's quest to reunify Japan. The almost three-hour epic is the perfect companion piece to Shogun, not least because it is set in almost the same time period that the FX drama reimagines.
Watch a trailer for The Legend & Butterfly:
Shogun is based on the rise to power of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was once a vassal of Oda Nobunaga and is one of Japan's three great unifiers alongside Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The film is full of thrilling action and a moving story of romance and strength that brings Lady No to the forefront much like Anna Sawai's Mariko Toda is in Shogun.
Watch The Legend and Butterfly on Prime Video.
The Rurouni Kenshin franchise
For a samurai period drama with a twist viewers should look to add the Rurouni Kenshin franchise to their next movie night, the series consists of five films and is based on the manga of the same name by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Set in the Meiji era —at the end of the Tokugawa family's reign— the story follows former samurai assassin Himura Kenshin (Takeru Satoh) after he vowed never to kill again.
Kenshin's vow will be tested though when various villains from his past begin to resurface in Japan's new age of peace, and it will be up to him and his new friends to protect civilians from being drawn into a bloody, all out war again. The Rurouni Kenshin franchise is the best manga-to-screen adaptation there is, and features incredible fight scenes and performances.
Watch the Rurouni Kenshin movies on Netflix.
Ran
Akira Kurosawa has long been the pinnacle of Japanese cinema, and he made a number of genre-defining samurai period dramas in his time. Ran, which is Kurosawa's take on King Lear, is probably the most like Shogun with its epic take of war waged between the children of a Japanese warlord who are all vying for his throne.
The film has some of the best battle sequences put to film, and is visually striking for its cinematography and stunning costume design — which led Emi Wada to Oscars glory back in 1985.
Watch Ran on ITVX and Prime Video via the StudioCanal Presents channel.
Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan
For those keen to learn more about the history behind Shogun, Netflix released an intriguing docu-series focused on the exact period that the FX show is inspired by. The documentary explores how Oda Nobunaga came to power, his ultimate demise, and the rules of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and rise of Tokugawa Ieyasu over six episodes.
Watch Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan on Netflix.
Pachinko
If you're keen to watch a foreign-language series that is as perfect an example of prestige TV as Shogun then you must watch Pachinko. Apple TV+'s sweeping epic tells the story of one family across four generations, taking the characters from Korea to Japan and through key events like the Japanese occupation of Korea and the Second World War.
The show features an impressive cast, led brilliantly by Minha Kim, and brings a beautifully moving story to viewers that will make them laugh and cry.
Watch Pachinko on Apple TV+.
The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House
For something a little different, and more light-hearted, viewers can turn to The Makanai. The Netflix drama follows a group of maiko, or apprentice geisha, as they work towards their dream of becoming accomplished performers in Kyoto.
It follows friends Sumire (Natsuki Deguchi) and Kiyo (Nana Mori) as they work towards their dreams, with Kiyo becoming drawn to cooking more than performing. The series is a heartwarming drama that centres of community, food, and friendship.
Watch The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House on Netflix.
This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shogun-what-watch-next-114246836.html
