'Shōgun' season 2 confirms returning cast and new characters as production begins in January

FX has revealed new details for the second season of Shōgun, confirming returning cast members and introducing new additions as production begins in January in Vancouver.

The network announced that Hiroyuki Sanada will reprise his Emmy-winning role as Lord Toranaga, alongside Cosmo Jarvis, who returns as English navigator John Blackthorne. The upcoming season will continue the historical saga, set ten years after the events of season one.

Eight cast members from the first season will also return. These include Fumi Nikaidō as Lady Ochiba, Shinnosuke Abe as Buntaro, Hiroto Kanai as Omi, Yoriko Dōguchi as Kiri, Tommy Bastow as Alvito, Yuko Miyamoto as Gin, Eita Okuno as Saeki, and Yuka Kouri as Kiku.

FX also announced five new cast additions: Asami Kizukawa as Aya, Masataka Kubota as Hyūga, Sho Kaneta as Hidenobu, Takaaki Enoki as Lord Ito, and Jun Kunimura as Gōda. The network’s official synopsis describes season two as “set ten years after the events of the first season” and continuing the “historically inspired saga of two men from different worlds whose fates are inextricably entwined.”

While several key characters, including Mariko (played by Anna Sawai) and Yabushige (portrayed by Tadanobu Asano), were killed in season one and will not return, the continuation marks an expansion of the story beyond its original limited-series format.

Based on James Clavell’s bestselling novel, Shōgun became a critical and awards success, earning a record 18 Emmy Awards, including best drama series and acting wins for Sanada and Sawai.

Season two begins filming in early 2026, continuing FX’s acclaimed adaptation of Clavell’s samurai epic.