Set in Japan in 1600, Shogun tells the story of Englishman John Blackthorne, pilot for a Dutch trading mission, and the Japanese daimyo or overlord, Toranaga.
John Blackthorne starts out with typical 16th/17th century attitudes, and is unable to understand or relate to the Japanese culture and way of life. As the book progresses, his attitudes gradually change. Although he never completely loses his desire to go home, he adapts to the situation and manages to adopt some Japanese ways of thought and behaviour.
Running through the story is Blackthorne’s affair with Toda Mariko, wife of a daimyo who serves Lord Toranaga. Toranaga, himself, is a major character. One of the five members of the Council of Regents, he is constantly trying to outwit and out-maneuvre another of the Council, Lord Ishido. Despite his best efforts, Japan ends up in another civil war over who shall be Shogun, the highest power in Japan.
Shogun is an epic novel. All the characters are well-drawn, even minor characters like the survivors from Blackthorne’s ship. The differences in manners and culture between the Japanese and Europeans are neatly shown. Being a 21st-century woman, I can understand the Japanese attitude to baths, and to fresh air in the room of a sick man. Having read a lot of history over the years, I could also understand Blackthorne’s initial aversion to both! Although I disliked some characters, as I’m sure Clavell intended, no one in this story is wholly good or wholly bad. It’s rare for a story to be so true to life in that respect, and it’s done well here.
Shogun has its flaws. There are anachronisms, such as frequent references to grog (rum with water and lemon juice) which didn’t exist until 150 years after this story is set. There are other inaccuracies, such as Father Alvito looking forward to the cathedral bells ringing the changes. Change ringing arose in England in the 16th century and Father Alvito would not have known about it.
Shogun is the first book in James Clavell’s Asian saga. The others are Tai-pan, Gai-Jin, King Rat, Noble House and Whirlwind. Although the first novel of the Asian saga chronologically, Shogun was Clavell’s third novel, preceded by King Rat and Tai-Pan. It was adapted as a TV mini-series in 1980, starring Richard Chamberlain as John Blackthorne and Toshiro Mifune as Toranaga. The book has one big advantage over the adaptation – the adaptation didn’t provide subtitles for the scenes where only Japanese was spoken.
