This new FX show called Shōgun brings back event-based stories that were popular on TV many years ago. Back when there weren’t as many networks, huge miniseries productions drew millions of viewers every night to see famous stories come to life. There was no DVRs or streaming services back then, so if you missed it, you didn’t know when or if you would ever be able to watch it again. It really was must-see TV. One of the most popular of these mini-series events was 1980’s Shōgun starring Richard Chamberlain. Now, 44 years later, the popular book by James Clavell is being brought back to TV in a huge 10-episode adaptation that is sure to get your attention just by its size. Even though it’s not on TV schedules anymore, Shōgun is still the best TV ever. It’s an epic event with huge proportions, stunning production design, and captivating stories of people from all over the world caught up in a mix of politics, war, romance, and discovery. Although this movie is based on Clavell’s story, there is one big difference that stands out: the Japanese cast and crew were involved in every step of the production, which made it feel real and true to life. “SHOGUN” — “Anjin” — Episode 1 (Airs February 27) Pictured (C): Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga. CR: Katie Yu/FX.
“It covers the whole of his book in a very modern way,” Clavell said of this new version of her dad’s book. Shōgun has a lot of different parts. There is humor, a love story, history, and more. But what makes it really interesting are the questions it raises about how to live and die well. I think that story is always worth telling. ”.
Shōgun is set in feudal Japan in the 1600s and is about an English sailor named John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) who gets lost at sea and is taken in by a warlord named Lord Yoshi Toanaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), who is in a dangerous chess match with his opponents that could kill him. While in Toanaga care, his words are interpreted by the mysterious Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai). Blackthorne eventually embraces his new surroundings and becomes continuously more intertwined in their worlds, the political and romantic. The series is captivating, full of surprises and impossible to resist.
Awards Radar talked to some of the people who worked on the new FX limited series. These people included stars Anna Sawai (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters), Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai), and Cosmo Jarvis. The show was also co-created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, and it was produced by Eriko Miyagawa and Michaela Clavell, who is the daughter of the novel’s author. (You can watch all the interviews in their entirety below. ).
There were two parts that Sanada played: lead actor and producer. The producer role gave him a lot more control over how the story was told; “The original version basically introduced Japanese culture through the Blackthorne’s blue eyes, but this time put more Japanese lenses in the script.” More details and focus on the human drama with so many layers. ” Sanada continued, “I thought this is a great chance to introduce our culture to the world. So we tried to make it authentic as much as possible. ” “SHOGUN” — “Anjin” — Episode 1 (Airs February 27) Pictured: Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga. CR: Katie Yu/FX.
“It really goes further and deeper than the original,” Miyagawa said. “It introduces these Japanese characters and makes them complicated, but in the end relatable through their humanity.” That took a lot of work, including a lot of Japanese lenses, Japanese people taking part and commenting on it, and finally working with Japanese actors. It took a lot of work to get there, but I think that’s what we wanted and hopefully got there. ”.
Sanada and Miyagawa certainly succeeded. The grand scale of the beautifully cinematic visuals can make it easy to get lost. The attention to detail in every costume and setting makes the visuals even more impressive. But, what makes Shōgun so addictively engaging are tangled and intricate character relationships. It’s a lot like reading a page-turner book because at the end of every episode (or maybe more accurately, every scene), viewers want to know more about where these complicated and changing relationships are going. People who watch the show see fierce battles, storms with crashing waves that keep you on the edge of your seat, romantic encounters, brutal surprise attacks, and even a Sake drinking contest. Even though the story can feel very big at times, Shōgun is really just a character piece with lots of small, clear paint strokes all over the place.
Clear-cut characters can be seen in both the beginnings of an unrequited love story and the tense interactions between the five feudal lords. The second one would fit right in on Succession, where we see high-stakes “boardroom” deals where one bad word can have big effects. If you’re coming to watch the show for any reason, it seems like there is something for everyone. Episode 2 of “SHOGUN,” “Servants of Two Masters,” airs on February 27. Cosmo Jarvis plays John Blackthorne, and Anna Sawai plays Toda Mariko. CR: Katie Yu/FX.
One of the most enchanting parts of the series is Mariko’s unique relationship with the Blackthorne. Sawai spoke about it, “When Mariko first meets Blackthorne, she’s very skeptical. She’s Catholic, he’s a Protestant. He talks about the Portuguese in a way that she doesn’t believe, which makes her vulnerable because she doesn’t care what he thinks. She could just be herself. And even when he sees the true her, he’s very welcoming of that. That’s a bond she doesn’t seem to have with any of the other characters on the show. ” “It’s complicated,” added Jarvis. “There’s a multitude of other peripheral reasons why it’s incredibly complicated – circumstantial and political and all sorts. But at the heart of it, even though they have different spiritual beliefs, they are slowly coming to an understanding—a respectful understanding. ” The pride taken in what the limited series accomplished could be heard in every response. Rachel Kondo, who helped make the show, was especially proud of the people who worked with her to make it happen. I’m so proud of the crew and the process that was created while making this show. They were highly experienced professionals who still came in with the mindset of “Let’s find a different way to make this show for the first time.” Let’s find a way to be inclusive of our filmmaking. “Not only because it’s the right thing to do in this day and age, but also because being open to everyone makes our stories better.” It’s what makes our stories more surprising, less expected, more interesting,” explained Kondo. Eita Okuno as Saeki Nobutatsu, Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko, Hiromoto Ida as Kiyama Ukon Sadanaga. CR: Katie Yu/FX.
The characters’ realism and depth not only made the stories better, but they also helped the actors connect with each other more deeply. Sawai said, “Mariko made me really think about what I want to do with my life and what my purpose is.” “I think you don’t really ask yourself those kinds of questions until you meet these kinds of people or read these kinds of stories.” I learned a tremendous amount from her. ”.
The show left its mark on those who worked on it, just like many of the characters we meet along the way. Co-creator Justin Marks shared how it changed him. “This makes me remember how excited and naive I was when we first started this process.” You have no clue at the outset what you’re about to embark on,” said Marks. “I am a very different person now that I’ve been through it because of the people I’ve worked with who have shared their gifts, talents, time, and hearts with me and with us.” The final result is so far beyond what I could have ever imagined, truly. You can join the adventure today as the first two episodes of Shōgun are available to stream on Hulu. The show’s broadcast premiere is set for 10pm ET on FX. The remaining episodes of the 10-episode limited series will drop each Tuesday on both FX and Hulu. Here are my full interviews with the cast and crew of Shōgun. In the coming weeks, keep an eye on Awards Radar for more in-depth interviews.
Interviewing at Shogun can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. As a leading e-commerce platform Shogun aims to hire top talent to continue growing its business. To stand out from the competition and land the job you must thoroughly prepare for the interview.
In this article, we’ll overview the company, share frequently asked Shogun interview questions, and provide tips to help you craft winning answers. With the right preparation, you can show hiring managers why you’re the ideal candidate for the role
About Shogun
Founded in 2015, Shogun is a e-commerce Frontend page builder designed for digital brands. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company enables brands to quickly build landing pages and drive more revenue.
Shogun aims to empower both developers and marketers. The platform makes it easy to create optimized shopping experiences tailored to each brand. With drag and drop editing, brands can quickly iterate on designs and launch new campaigns.
The company has raised over $67 million in funding and works with over 10,000 brands globally. Some notable customers include RVCA, FIGS, and Timbuk2. Shogun was also named to Y Combinator’s Top 100 seed-stage companies list.
Common Shogun Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Let’s overview some frequently asked questions during Shogun interviews along with winning sample responses:
1. Why do you want to work for Shogun?
Shogun appeals to me for several reasons. First, I’m passionate about e-commerce and empowering brands to grow their businesses online. After researching Shogun, I was impressed by the company’s rapid growth and innovative platform. I also value Shogun’s engineering-driven culture and mission to make building online stores frictionless. I’d welcome the opportunity to contribute my skills in a fast-paced, high-growth environment focused on solving complex problems. Most importantly, I’m excited about the vision and future of e-commerce, so joining Shogun would enable me to work on cutting-edge solutions in a space I’m passionate about.
2. What are your strengths?
Some of my key strengths are:
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Communication skills – I’m an effective communicator able to distill complex concepts into simple, easy-to-understand language. This helps me collaborate cross-functionally.
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Problem-solving – I’m analytical and adept at breaking down problems to uncover root causes. I don’t give up easily when faced with challenges.
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Leadership – I have experience leading teams and projects. I motivate others to do their best work while providing support.
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Adaptability – I’m flexible and comfortable with ambiguity. I can quickly adjust to changing priorities and excel in fast-paced environments like Shogun’s.
3. What is your greatest weakness?
Being a perfectionist is a weakness of mine. While I aim to produce high-quality work, I sometimes spend too much time on minor details instead of focusing on the bigger picture. However, I’ve been actively working to improve in this area. For example, I now set stricter deadlines for myself to ship projects sooner and reevaluate details through the lens of the end goal. Establishing these types of processes and boundaries has helped me become less perfectionist while still delivering excellent work.
4. Why do you want to leave your current job?
I’ve learned a lot in my current role, but I’m ready for a new challenge. Shogun is doing innovative work at the intersection of e-commerce and technology. Having researched the company and this opportunity, I believe I can thrive in Shogun’s engineering-led culture. I’m especially eager to collaborate with world-class engineers to solve complex problems for brands. While proud of my accomplishments in my current job, joining Shogun will enable me to have a larger impact by applying my skills to cutting-edge challenges at scale.
5. What do you know about Shogun?
Through my research, I learned how Shogun empowers brands to build optimized shopping experiences with tools to easily create landing pages and drive revenue. The platform makes e-commerce marketing more agile by enabling iterative design and faster launch of campaigns. I’m impressed with Shogun’s rapid growth, stellar list of customers, and recent recognition on Y Combinator’s Top 100 list. The company culture also appeals to me given the emphasis on collaboration, transparency, and solving hard engineering problems. Overall, Shogun is clearly a leader in the e-commerce space with tremendous momentum. I’d be excited to join such a talented team.
6. What makes you a good fit for Shogun?
As a software engineer, I have the development skills needed to build high-quality solutions at Shogun. I also have experience working cross-functionally with product managers and designers, which enables me to collaborate effectively. Most importantly, I’m aligned with Shogun’s mission and excited by the company’s future growth opportunities. My communication abilities, creative problem-solving, and desire to continuously improve will enable me to make strong contributions. I’m especially eager to work in Shogun’s engineering-driven culture along with other talented developers.
7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
My goal is to become a lead engineer overseeing mission-critical systems. I hope to take on additional responsibilities by leading projects end-to-end and mentoring junior engineers. I also aim to deepen my technical expertise in e-commerce platforms. Most importantly, I want to grow along with Shogun and have a meaningful impact on the company’s future success. I’m committed to continuously improving as an engineer and leader. Joining Shogun would put me on this path over the next 5 years and enable me to develop the advanced skills needed to thrive in this role.
8. Do you have any questions for us?
Yes, I have a few questions:
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How do engineering teams collaborate day-to-day? I’d welcome learning more about workflow, tools, and communication norms.
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What are the biggest challenges facing your engineering teams right now? I’m curious to learn more about current priorities and roadblocks.
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What success metrics do you use to evaluate individual and team performance? Understanding goals and expectations is important to me.
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What opportunities are there for mentorship and professional development? Growing my skills is a top priority for me.
Tips for Acing Your Shogun Interview
With preparation, you can outshine the competition and prove you’re the top choice for the job. Here are some tips for interview success:
Research the company thoroughly – Learn Shogun’s mission, products, culture, and recent news. This shows your interest and helps you provide informed responses.
Practice answering common questions – Prepare clear, concise responses to likely interview questions. Practice out loud to polish your answers.
Review your resume – Refresh yourself on your skills, achievements, and qualifications. This helps you provide specific examples of your abilities.
Prepare smart questions to ask – Draft thoughtful questions that show your understanding of Shogun and desire to excel in the role.
Dress professionally – Appearance matters, so dress in formal business attire to make a strong first impression.
Arrive early – Leave extra time to deal with any transportation issues or delays. Arriving 10-15 minutes early shows punctuality.
Show enthusiasm – Demonstrate excitement about the opportunity through positive body language and energy. This enthusiasm can be contagious.
Watch your nonverbal communication – Make steady eye contact, actively listen, and avoid nervous movements like fidgeting. This builds rapport with interviewers.
Send thank you notes – Follow up with brief, polite thank you emails expressing your appreciation and interest in the role.
Preparing winning responses and practicing interview skills will help you impress hiring managers. With the right understanding of Shogun’s culture and values, you can position yourself as the ideal candidate. Use these tips to maximize your chances of landing your dream job at this exciting, high-growth company.
Shogun Producer Michaela Clavell Talks Challenges of Adapting Book for FX (Interview)
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