Shogun’s Cinematic Mastery Helped Greenlight a Second Season

When Justin Marks, the co-creator, showrunner, and writer of Shogun, created the series, the biggest thing he wanted to achieve was authenticity. He wanted the cinematography to pay homage to the story, and this ethos helped to define the visual style of the show that we know and love. The show avoided the Hollywood lens of feudal Japan and instead, focused on realism through natural lighting. With season two of the show now greenlit, we can expect an even bigger focus on that moving forward.

Japanese Architecture Helped to Influence Lighting Choices

The cinematographers who worked on the show wanted to use changing seasons to show time, with episode seven referenced specifically as an example. Producers have explained that the morning mist on the hilltop provided the perfect atmosphere to shoot the scene, rather than relying on artificial fog. 

The sunset as seen in episode three was also filmed using real skies, with crane lighting to simulate the gradual light of dawn. Interestingly, the engawas around the perimeter of the filming set blocked most of the sunlight from penetrating into the rooms where they were filming, which not only helped with historical accuracy but also created the cinematic masterpiece.

To ensure historical accuracy, oil lamps were used to add light to certain scenes, with LEDs used to support the lighting while ensuring safety for those on set. By adopting this approach, producers found it possible to make Shogun stand out as one of the most authentic and visually stunning shows to be released that year, while paying homage to the historical influences that made feudal Japan so intriguing.

A Global Fascination with Japanese History

Even though cinematography had a huge part to play in the Shogun series, the renewal of the show is being driven by other factors, too. Shogun was never meant to be more than one season, and was written as such to conclude the ending. With that said, the general public loved the series so much that a second season was greenlit, with production to start in 2026. Movies like Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire have helped to put the spotlight on Japan once more, with the kaiju making its return once again. 

Ghost of Tsushima, a live-action film, is also set for release in 2027, which is again helping to introduce worldwide audiences to the wonders of Japan. Even in sport, Japanese culture is seeing a spike in popularity. British sumo clubs have increased eightfold, and big tournaments are selling out. 2025 also marked the first overseas Grand Sumo event in 30 years. Interestingly, slot games are also being released that pay tribute to Japanese culture and sumo wrestling. Casino slot machines often cover many themes, including Japanese culture. The Big Sumo slot game is one example, with the game featuring a dojo, chopsticks, and other cultural nods to Japan. Examples like this show how prevalent Japanese culture is in the media, one of the reasons why audiences love Shogun so much.

Shogun’s second season is set to expand the narrative scope even more, while putting a big focus on authenticity. If the first season is anything to go by, we can expect even more cinematography, which is great news for fans.