The world of Shōgun is expanding once again, and season two is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting returns to television.
Disney+ has confirmed that FX’s global hit drama has added five new cast members as production officially gets underway in Vancouver. Joining the Emmy-winning series are Mantaro Koichi, Risei Kukihara, Ryô Satô, Seishiro Nishida, and Takashi Yamaguchi.
These new additions will appear in the second season, which is set more than a decade after the events of the first chapter and will continue the historical saga that made Shōgun one of the most talked-about series in recent years.
The new cast joins an already stacked lineup that includes Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Fumi Nikaidô, Ren Meguro, Asami Mizukawa, Shinnosuke Abe, Hiroto Kanai, Masataka Kubota, Sho Kaneta, Yûko Miyamoto, Yuka Kouri, Tommy Bastow, Jun Kunimura, Yoriko Dôguchi, Eita Okuno and Takaaki Enoki.
Among the newly announced names, Takashi Yamaguchi stands out with an impressive international résumé that includes The Last Samurai, Letters from Iwo Jima, Pachinko and Accused. Ryô Satô also brings an interesting mix of stage, film and television experience, while Seishiro Nishida and Mantaro Koichi add even more depth with long careers in Japanese entertainment. Risei Kukihara, meanwhile, is stepping into his first major role, making him one to watch.
Casting for the new season is once again being handled by Laura Schiff and Kei Kawamura, whose work on the first season earned an Emmy for Outstanding Casting in a Drama Series. That alone should give fans confidence that season two is in very good hands.
The first season of Shōgun was nothing short of a phenomenon. Based on James Clavell’s bestselling novel, the series became a critical and awards juggernaut, winning 18 Emmy Awards and setting a record for the most wins by a series in a single season. It also became FX’s first series to win Outstanding Drama Series, while Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai made history with their groundbreaking acting wins.
With a bold new chapter on the way, fresh faces joining the cast and the creative team returning, season two of Shōgun is already looking like essential viewing.
Season one is currently streaming on Disney+, with season two set to follow exclusively on the platform.
