Shogun is one of the most engaging mini-series on television right now. The FX series is winning well-deserved acclaim for its atmospheric portrayal of James Clavell’s novel, and fans everywhere are raving about the finale. Now that it’s over, if you find yourself in need of more period Japanese drama in your life, we’ve got you covered. Here are six movies and bingeable shows to feed your Samurai needs.

The Last Samurai

The Last Samurai is probably the most accessible entry for Western audiences who aren’t already familiar with the Samurai genre. The film follows an American soldier named Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) who is forced to live among the Samurai, whom he has been told are his enemy. Algren, and the audience, are slowly introduced to the culture of his captors through its leaders, Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) and Ujio (Hiroyuki Sanada). 

Through Algren’s eyes, the audience gains a deep appreciation of the nobility and discipline of the way of the Samurai, and Shogun star Hiroyuki Sanada was a big part of that process. In an interview with Esquire, he revealed that he volunteered, as he does on any film,  to correct any incorrect elements in The Last Samurai. He explained that “On The Last Samurai, I spent a long time with production to correct everything”

Throne of Blood

Director Akira Kurosawa is the godfather of Samurai cinema. All of his samurai-based films are worth including on this list but, for the sake of time, I’ll keep it to one. Throne of Blood is Kurosawa’s 1957 interpretation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, set in feudal Japan. The narrative centers around a man who believes he is destined to rule, and his ruthless acts to realize that destiny. Throne of Blood’s themes of political intrigue, betrayal, and civil war fit nicely with the themes in Shogun. 

Blue Eye Samurai

Netflix’s adult animated series Blue Eye Samurai, from husband and wife duo Michael Green (Logan) and newcomer Amber Noizumi, is set during the Edo period of the 17th century. The series follows Mizu, a half-white, half-Japanese warrior out for revenge against the four British warlords secretly controlling the Japanese nation at a time when the country had closed its borders to outside interference. Of course, one of those Brits is her father, the question is, which one. Due to her mixed-race heritage, she’d often persecuted and demonized; never mind having to hide her gender while travelling the world as a badass samurai. Fun fact; the shogunate that was around during this period is the same one that was established during the events of Shogun and the reason why Japan had closed its borders in 1603 was partly due to the interference by the Spanish and Portuguese Catholics, as seen in the series.

Kagemusha

Okay, I know I promised only one Akira Kurosawa film on the list, but I couldn’t help myself. Kagemusha is another classic samurai film, filled with political intrigue and deception. A common thief, with an uncanny resemblance to a feudal lord, takes that lord’s place as leader after the lord’s untimely death. His efforts to maintain the deception are complicated by war, suspicion, and family drama. Kagemusha was released in 1980, the same year as the premiere of the original Shogun on network television.

Yasuke

Yasuke may be the most unusual entry on this list. It is an anime that blends history and fantasy with a magical flair. The visually stunning animated epic reimagines the story of the first non-Japanese, and only African person to achieve the rank of Samurai. With battles involving giant robots and major historical figures wielding fantastical powers, Yasuke has an underlying plot that remains historically accurate, despite its fantastical elements.

Shogun (1980)

Of course, we couldn’t leave out the original Shogun from 1980. This mini-series was likely the first introduction to traditional Japanese history and culture for many in its Western audience. The original Shogun follows the same basic plot, adapted from James Clavell’s novel, of an Englishman named John Blackthorne as he becomes entangled in Japanese politics and civil war. The big narrative difference between the 1980 and 2024 adaptations is time, as the latter has more episodes and can tell a fuller version of the events in the novel, which gives the supporting cast much more realized roles. Another reason the 1980 version is a must-watch is in sheer talent, with Richard Chamberlain starring as John Blackthorne and the legendary Toshiro Mifune as the titular Shogun Lord Toranaga. The 1980 Shogun is one of the shows that changed television forever, pushing boundaries and evolving the medium, so a lot of what we appreciate today on the small screen could be in debt to this five-part mini-series.

And those are our picks! Will you be watching any of these now that the 2024 Shogun has come to an end? If so, which ones? Let us know in the comments or on our social channels.