The new show has been made more accurate to the time period, they had historical experts come in. Plus the guy who plays Toranaga is an amateur historian of the time period and helped a lot.
Sanada Hiroyuki? That's just brilliant! I knew he was fairly well-accomplished (singer, martial artist, theatre, and film), but had no idea that he was an amateur historian too.
Yeah and it shows. The original book was pretty fast and loose with Japanese history but the show seems to have translated the Warring States period customs a lot better.
That's all well and good but I'd have preferred they keep some of the story points from the book like the emphasis on Blackthorn learning Japanese, and the theming overall of the book being how Blackthorn perceives the Japanese vs what it is now where it's more of how the Japanese perceive Blackthorn. Still a good show.
I’ve been in Clavell’s house in West Vancouver. My old professor bought it (a long time ago). It’s a rad mid-century place with Japanese elements. Truly one of a kind.
