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Hiroyuki Sanada starrer historical drama limited seriesShōgunhas been receiving critical acclaim worldwide, but it seems that even within the industry, opinions are divided. While the renowned game designer Hideo Kojima has hailed the series, calling it theGame of Thronesof ‘Japan’,Shōgun’s director, Jonathan van Tulleken, begs to differ.
In an interview, Tulleken stated that he seesShōgunas more ofSuccessionorHouse of Cardsthan a direct comparison toGame of Thrones. Based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks developedShōgunas a limited historical drama series. In addition to Sanada, the cast also features Tommy Bestow, Cosmo Jarvis, Takehiro Hira, Tadanobu Asano, and Fumi Nikaido.
Critics CompareShōguntoGame of Thrones
Hailed bysome critics as the ‘newGame of Thrones’, the new television adaptation ofShōgunmade its premiere on February 27.With a 99% rating onRotten Tomatoes, the series, starringHiroyuki Sanada,has become very popular very quickly upon release.
The narrative, which is set in 1600s Japan, centers on Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Sanada), who must fight a group of rivals for his life.The show is highly praised byUSA Todayas well, which wrote:
“Shōgunis the kind of series that reminds you that TV can be an event, not just something casual you click on while folding laundry…Beautiful, rich, and deeply compelling. It might just scratch thatGame of Thronesitch you’ve had since the HBO fantasy folded in 2019.”
In a review published onIndiewire, the show is compared toGame of Thronesand even claims to succeed where the HBO series failed.They composed an A- review, writing:
“Shōgun’s overt brutality paired with its cunning betrayals calls to mind Game of Thrones, but there’s also an elegance and earnestness to the production that draws a clear line in the sand between the two blockbuster epics.”
Even Japanese video game designerHideo Kojima, best known for his work on the critically acclaimedMetal Gear Solidseries, recentlydiscussed his thoughts onShōgun, saying he was pleased with Jonathan van Tulleken’s direction for the project.
He has nothing but praise for the show:
SHOGUN Shogun." Written comment. I recommend it.
The “Shogun” we were so crazy about 42 years ago, “Anjin-san” is back. The scale, details, cast, costumes, sets, props, and VFX are all top-notch, and it is no exaggeration to say that this is a “Game of Thrones” set in 17th…pic.twitter.com/oNQQpimetB
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN)August 13, 2025
However, Jonathan van Tulleken, the director, has other comparisons in mind.
“We need that kind of hero” : Hiroyuki Sanada Reveals Shōgun’s Secret Message to the World
Creator OfShōgunRejects Comparisons ToGame Of Thrones
In an interview with theBBC, director Jonathan van Tullekenrefuted the comparison betweenShōgunandGame of Thrones. The director stressed that despite being an epic spectacle based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel, the movie is more concerned with intricate character dynamics and political intrigue.
Tulleken noted:
“This is a dangerous world where violence can come out of nowhere but the real danger is in the machinations. A conversation can be as dangerous as anything else. A better comparison [thanGame of Thrones] would beSuccessionorHouse of Cards.”
Remarkably, the director pointed out, the Japanese version avoids a Western point of view. To quote him:
“This is made hand in hand with the Japanese because it is a story about two cultures encountering each other and seeing ourselves in each other. We are way past [the Western gaze] in terms of audience sophistication and the stories we want to tell. What we really want to tell is a story of political intrigue, imprisonment, and entrapment.”
“I was checking the monitor with the full armor on”: The Monumentous Lengths Hiroyuki Sanada Went to for Shogun Would Make Christian Bale Jealous
The show’s depiction of 16-17th-century Japan included elements that critics could not help but draw comparisons toGame of Thrones.The dramatic settings, contentious politics, and intense violence are reminiscent of the epic HBO saga. According toThe Washington Post:
“Shogun will inevitably be compared to Game of Thrones because it hits that proven combination of gorgeous set pieces, moral ambiguity, cliffhangers (literally, in one case!), and extreme, distressing violence. Also, perhaps, because it so gratifyingly marries the pleasing grandeur of an epic with juicy psychological stakes.”
Jonathan van Tulleken directed the first two episodes ofShōgunwhich aired on June 02, 2025. Weekly new episodes will be released through August 16, 2025.
Shōgunis available to stream on Hulu, fuboTV & FXNow.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
