Toranaga visits a shrine in the forest to seek… atonement? solace? divination?

During rehearsal for this scene, Hiroyuki Sanada described the Japanese tradition of trying to land pebbles on the lower beam of a torii gate to make a wish, something he used to do as a boy. This simple childhood recollection became an unscripted but key element of the filmed sequence.

The fishing boats of Ajiro were more than movie scenery, they were real, traditional Japanese hand-built wooden vessels: beautiful, robust and seaworthy. I created these screen prints in the spring of 2023, but kept them under wraps until the premier of Shōgun.

View of Howe Sound from the shores of “Ajiro”

Screen prints from the series “Locate”

Momijigari is the Japanese tradition of autumn leaf viewing. The literal translation is “red leaf hunting”, after the flaming red leaves of Japanese maples. As the prep crew was putting the final touches on Ajiro, the leaves turned and we had our own private “leaf hunting” experience.

Photo credit: Jay Kent

One of my favourite sets from FX’s limited series, Shōgun.

The houses and gardens of Ajiro were more than sets, They were real, living things that stood in sunshine, wind, rain and snow. I remember after Ajiro was complete and before the camera crew arrived, I sat in the engawa of Omi’s house, safe and dry, watching the rain come down. It was a rare moment of peace during a hectic filming schedule.