Dubai Telegraph - 'Groundbreaking' realism key to 'Shogun' success

EUR -
AED 3.826681
AFN 70.961758
ALL 98.138602
AMD 405.652886
ANG 1.877182
AOA 951.190259
ARS 1045.840133
AUD 1.602814
AWG 1.877897
AZN 1.775245
BAM 1.955573
BBD 2.102956
BDT 124.465544
BGN 1.955633
BHD 0.392554
BIF 3076.642669
BMD 1.041829
BND 1.403837
BOB 7.197164
BRL 6.043693
BSD 1.041579
BTN 87.914489
BWP 14.229347
BYN 3.408604
BYR 20419.848375
BZD 2.099456
CAD 1.456529
CDF 2991.091432
CHF 0.930994
CLF 0.037254
CLP 1018.83097
CNY 7.54601
CNH 7.562783
COP 4573.368835
CRC 530.538382
CUC 1.041829
CUP 27.608468
CVE 110.252195
CZK 25.343745
DJF 185.478458
DKK 7.457729
DOP 62.772709
DZD 139.891631
EGP 51.726992
ERN 15.627435
ETB 127.508391
FJD 2.371151
FKP 0.822333
GBP 0.831468
GEL 2.855018
GGP 0.822333
GHS 16.456089
GIP 0.822333
GMD 73.970229
GNF 8977.957272
GTQ 8.040066
GYD 217.904692
HKD 8.109446
HNL 26.320943
HRK 7.431636
HTG 136.72412
HUF 411.522823
IDR 16610.452733
ILS 3.863061
IMP 0.822333
INR 87.968134
IQD 1364.44153
IRR 43834.955489
ISK 145.523076
JEP 0.822333
JMD 165.930728
JOD 0.738765
JPY 161.242873
KES 134.884334
KGS 90.122166
KHR 4193.512952
KMF 492.268155
KPW 937.645704
KRW 1463.259646
KWD 0.320727
KYD 0.867999
KZT 520.059599
LAK 22878.342838
LBP 93271.167197
LKR 303.144792
LRD 187.998165
LSL 18.795317
LTL 3.076251
LVL 0.630192
LYD 5.086409
MAD 10.478083
MDL 18.997794
MGA 4861.435378
MKD 61.522855
MMK 3383.819949
MNT 3540.134882
MOP 8.35093
MRU 41.443187
MUR 48.810083
MVR 16.10707
MWK 1806.090235
MXN 21.281613
MYR 4.654932
MZN 66.583684
NAD 18.795317
NGN 1767.675143
NIO 38.325549
NOK 11.531328
NPR 140.663663
NZD 1.78585
OMR 0.401144
PAB 1.041579
PEN 3.949541
PGK 4.193513
PHP 61.404399
PKR 289.239507
PLN 4.337676
PYG 8131.055634
QAR 3.798559
RON 4.978071
RSD 117.038068
RUB 108.671879
RWF 1421.834864
SAR 3.911473
SBD 8.734231
SCR 14.266343
SDG 626.663972
SEK 11.501974
SGD 1.402931
SHP 0.822333
SLE 23.68116
SLL 21846.638123
SOS 595.230868
SRD 36.978718
STD 21563.75683
SVC 9.113941
SYP 2617.626467
SZL 18.788818
THB 35.922648
TJS 11.092512
TMT 3.646401
TND 3.309016
TOP 2.440072
TRY 36.018972
TTD 7.074178
TWD 33.946439
TZS 2770.578216
UAH 43.089995
UGX 3848.553017
USD 1.041829
UYU 44.294855
UZS 13362.448044
VES 48.506662
VND 26482.251319
VUV 123.688032
WST 2.90836
XAF 655.880824
XAG 0.033274
XAU 0.000384
XCD 2.815595
XDR 0.792308
XOF 655.880824
XPF 119.331742
YER 260.379151
ZAR 18.862746
ZMK 9377.71492
ZMW 28.772658
ZWL 335.468513
  • BCC

    3.4200

    143.78

    +2.38%

  • BCE

    0.0900

    26.77

    +0.34%

  • AZN

    1.3700

    65.63

    +2.09%

  • GSK

    0.2600

    33.96

    +0.77%

  • SCS

    0.2300

    13.27

    +1.73%

  • CMSC

    0.0320

    24.672

    +0.13%

  • RYCEF

    -0.0100

    6.79

    -0.15%

  • RIO

    -0.2200

    62.35

    -0.35%

  • NGG

    1.0296

    63.11

    +1.63%

  • RBGPF

    59.2400

    59.24

    +100%

  • RELX

    0.9900

    46.75

    +2.12%

  • VOD

    0.1323

    8.73

    +1.52%

  • BTI

    0.4000

    37.38

    +1.07%

  • JRI

    -0.0200

    13.21

    -0.15%

  • BP

    0.2000

    29.72

    +0.67%

  • CMSD

    0.0150

    24.46

    +0.06%

'Groundbreaking' realism key to 'Shogun' success
'Groundbreaking' realism key to 'Shogun' success / Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File

'Groundbreaking' realism key to 'Shogun' success

The samurai in "Shogun" don't swing their arms as they walk -- just one of many authentic historical details that have helped make the hit television drama this year's top Emmys contender.

Text size:

The period drama, praised for its meticulous approach to accuracy, made TV history with 25 Emmy nominations, and has already swept up 14 prizes in minor categories ahead of Sunday's gala.

Set in early 17th-century feudal Japan, "Shogun" makes a break from decades of cliched and often bungled depictions of the country in Western-made film and television.

An army of experts including several wig technicians from Japan worked behind-the-scenes to make the series realistic, poring over sets, costumes and the actors' movements.

Kyoto-based historian Frederik Cryns advised on everything from the types of kimonos to the position of tatami mats.

"My comments were compiled, and to my surprise, became a 2,100-page manual" that was followed almost to the letter, Cryns -- a professor at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies -- told AFP.

Cryns said he had often felt a "sense of discomfort" when watching Japan-themed Hollywood movies because of their inaccuracy.

But "Shogun" -- made by Disney-owned FX and co-produced by Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada, who also stars in the series -- is the most realistic production of its kind, according to Cryns.

"Honestly, tears welled up in my eyes after watching the show" for the first time, he said.

- 'Independent' women -

"Shogun," which means general in Japanese, was adapted from a popular novel by James Clavell, and filmed in Canada.

Some characters are inspired by real historical figures, including the protagonist Lord Toranaga (Sanada), who is based on Japan's famous warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu.

In the show, Toranaga fights for his life against his enemies with his allies British sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) and noblewoman Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai).

In one scene, instead of a regular sword, Mariko wields a naginata -- a long pole with a curved blade on one end, used by women in Japanese warrior families.

"Women in medieval Japan were independent," said Cryns, who recommended that weapon be used.

"Samurai went into battle, of course, but women would also fight with naginata when they had to protect their castle."

As a movement supervisor, Japanese dancer and kabuki actor Hannojo trained some of the show's main actors in Japan for three months.

He was also in Vancouver during filming to advise on "shosa" -- stylised movements from kabuki, a traditional Japanese form of theatre.

"There are correct ways to walk, sit and stand in a kimono, but it's difficult for young actors" who don't have regular experience wearing such outfits, Hannojo said.

"For example, samurai don't swing their arms when walking. They glide without moving the upper body."

Some of the cast struggled with more graceful motions, such as when noblewomen would stand up straight from the floor without crouching, he said.

"It looks beautiful" and "Japanese people used to have muscles for that -- but not anymore, because we sit on chairs!" he quipped.

- '120 percent' -

Japanese is spoken in 70 percent of "Shogun" -- a choice producer Eriko Miyagawa described as "groundbreaking".

Even though most people might not notice, the crew strived to make even the props authentic because they "wanted to do 120 percent", she said.

For example, the writing on the scrolls was done by a Vancouver-based Japanese calligrapher using the handwriting of the historical figures on whom the characters are based.

Commitment to authenticity "came from the very top" within FX, according to Miyagawa.

"They chose Justin Marks (as showrunner)... who has an insatiable curiosity and respect for Japanese culture," she said.

"They brought Hiroyuki Sanada and myself on as producers from the beginning," she added. "That's a big deal."

FX is now working to develop more seasons of "Shogun" -- but not everything in the first instalment is true to life.

Unlike the other samurai, Toranaga's hair was not shaved in the middle -- a creative decision made for visual reasons.

Miyagawa, who began her career as a translator for "Kill Bill" in 2003 and worked as a co-producer for Martin Scorsese's "Silence", said the team "probably couldn't have pulled off" the series 10 years ago.

A previous TV mini-series adaptation of the novel made in 1980 was centred on Blackthorne's perspective. And yes, the samurai did swing their arms.

"The world has changed and the market has evolved," which "paved the way" for the show's success, said Miyagawa.

"I like to think 'Shogun' pushed this evolution forward."

A.Al-Mehrazi--DT