London's original five-episode show stars Richard Chamberlain as English navigator John Blackthorne, played by Cosmo Jarvis in the new version. We follow Blackthorne as he learns Japanese culture and falls in love with Mariko (Yoko Shimada).

Jerry London, who directed the 1980 NBC adaptation of Shōgun, has dismissed last year’s award-winning FX version as “not entertaining for an American audience.” At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.