Searching “Shogun cast”? Get the complete 2024 SHŌGUN cast and characters list, major supporting roles, new characters by episode, and Season 2 cast updates.
If you searched “Shogun cast,” you’re likely trying to do one of three things fast:
- identify who plays a character, 2) understand how characters connect, or 3) check who appears (and when) by episode.
This page is a cast database for the 2024 FX/Hulu series SHŌGUN. You’ll find:
- a clean main cast list (actors + characters),
- a major supporting directory grouped by faction,
- an episode guide focused on new characters introduced,
- and quick answers to common related searches like cast ages, true story, 1980 vs 2024, and Season 2 cast.
- Main Cast (Series Leads)
- Major Supporting Characters (Grouped Directory)
- Cast by Episode: New Characters Introduced (Season 1)
- Episode 1: “Anjin”
- Episode 2: “Servants of Two Masters”
- Episode 3: “Tomorrow Is Tomorrow”
- Episode 4: “The Eightfold Fence”
- Episode 5: “Broken to the Fist”
- Episode 6: “Ladies of the Willow World”
- Episode 7: “A Stick of Time”
- Episode 8: “The Abyss of Life”
- Episode 9: “Crimson Sky”
- Episode 10: “A Dream of a Dream”
- Is SHŌGUN Based on a True Story?
- 1980 vs 2024: Cast Confusion (Quick Fix)
- Season 2 Cast: What’s Confirmed
Main Cast (Series Leads)
| Actor | Character | Quick role in the story |
|---|---|---|
| Hiroyuki Sanada | Yoshii Toranaga | Strategic lord balancing survival, power, and timing |
| Cosmo Jarvis | John Blackthorne (“Anjin”) | English pilot pulled into Japan’s political storm |
| Anna Sawai | Toda Mariko | Interpreter and noblewoman at the center of loyalty and faith |
| Tadanobu Asano | Kashigi Yabushige | Wily opportunist whose choices reshape alliances |
| Takehiro Hira | Ishido Kazunari | Powerful Osaka leader determined to stop Toranaga |
| Fumi Nikaido | Ochiba-no-kata | The Taikō’s consort; a decisive force in Osaka politics |
| Tommy Bastow | Father Martin Alvito | Jesuit mediator with competing loyalties |
Most searched characters:
After this, we will dig deeper into each one.
- Toranaga
- Blackthorne
- Mariko
- Yabushige
- Ishido
- Ochiba
- Fuji
Want the official character descriptions (not fan summaries)?
FX maintains a dedicated character directory for SHŌGUN
Major Supporting Characters (Grouped Directory)
Toranaga’s inner circle
- Toda Hiromatsu — elder statesman and steady backbone of Toranaga’s camp
- Usami Fuji — assigned companion to Blackthorne; emotional anchor and sharp observer
- Toda “Buntaro” Hirokatsu — Mariko’s husband; duty-driven warrior with a hard edge
- Yoshii Nagakado — Toranaga’s son; passionate, impatient, and politically combustible
- Kiri-no-kata — Toranaga’s household figure; a stabilizing presence in tense moments
- Muraji — trusted operative whose work often happens “off stage”
Izu / Yabushige’s sphere
- Kashigi Omi — ambitious nephew navigating power and information
- Kiku — courtesan whose intelligence makes her more than a romantic subplot
- Gin — Willow World power-broker; a key node in the information network
Osaka / court power players
- Daiyoin — influential figure within Osaka’s inner world
- (Additional court figures appear by episode; see the episode cast pages below.)
Portuguese / Church network
- Vasco Rodrigues — maritime figure with his own code and rivalry
- (The Church-side cast matters because language, trade, and leverage run through them.)
Cast by Episode: New Characters Introduced (Season 1)
Below is a no-spoiler guide focused on new characters you’ll notice for the first time in each episode.
For full rollups, use the dedicated pages.
Episode 1: “Anjin”
A wide cast is established across Izu, Osaka, and Toranaga’s world—setting up the political chessboard.
Full Episode 1 cast → /shogun-episode-1-cast/
Episode 1 explained from a Japanese perspective!
https://shogun-fan.com/shogun-episode1/
Episode 2: “Servants of Two Masters”
The language-and-power triangle becomes clearer as the Portuguese/Jesuit side steps forward.
Full Episode 2 cast → /shogun-episode-2-cast/
Episode 3: “Tomorrow Is Tomorrow”
Toranaga’s household and inner orbit become more defined, tightening loyalty and escape dynamics.
Full Episode 3 cast → /shogun-episode-3-cast/
Episode 4: “The Eightfold Fence”
Key personal relationships deepen—especially around Blackthorne’s integration and Toranaga’s strategy.
Full Episode 4 cast → /shogun-episode-4-cast/
Episode 5: “Broken to the Fist”
A major figure returns to the center of the story, escalating emotional and political pressure.
Full Episode 5 cast → /shogun-episode-5-cast/
Episode 6: “Ladies of the Willow World”
The Willow World expands; you see how information flows beyond official politics.
Full Episode 6 cast → /shogun-episode-6-cast/
Episode 7: “A Stick of Time”
A new arrival forces a turning point that changes the endgame’s shape.
Full Episode 7 cast → /shogun-episode-7-cast/
Episode 8: “The Abyss of Life”
Blackthorne’s world widens again, colliding survival with larger strategy.
Full Episode 8 cast → /shogun-episode-8-cast/
Episode 9: “Crimson Sky”
The story hits a peak where decisions matter more than introductions.
Full Episode 9 cast → /shogun-episode-9-cast/
Episode 10: “A Dream of a Dream”
The finale consolidates outcomes and positions the political future.
Full Episode 10 cast → /shogun-episode-10-cast/
Is SHŌGUN Based on a True Story?
It’s historical fiction, but many characters are loosely inspired by real historical figures.
If you want the “who’s who” mapping in one place, use: /shogun-true-story/
Common “inspiration” pairings viewers search for:
- Toranaga ↔ Tokugawa Ieyasu
- Blackthorne ↔ William Adams
- Mariko ↔ Hosokawa Gracia
- Ishido ↔ Ishida Mitsunari
- Ochiba ↔ Yodo-dono
1980 vs 2024: Cast Confusion (Quick Fix)
There’s a famous 1980 miniseries and the 2024 series. Many searches mix them up.
If you want a side-by-side cast comparison: /shogun-1980-vs-2024-cast/
Season 2 Cast: What’s Confirmed
Season 2 has official casting updates, including returning faces and newly announced roles.
We track only confirmed information here: /shogun-season-2-cast/
FAQ
Q1. Who plays Mariko in Shogun?
A. Anna Sawai plays Toda Mariko.
Q2. Who plays Fuji in Shogun?
A. Moeka Hoshi plays Usami Fuji.
Q3. Who plays Toranaga in Shogun?
A. Hiroyuki Sanada plays Yoshii Toranaga.
Q4. Which episode introduces Saeki?
A. Saeki is first introduced in Episode 7.
Q5. Is Shogun a true story?
A. It’s historical fiction, loosely inspired by real people and events.
Q6. Is this the 1980 Shogun cast or the 2024 cast?
A. This page is for the 2024 FX/Hulu series.
