Everyone of a certain age has heard of Shogun, by James Clavell, because it was a massively popular mini-series back when network mini-series still meant something. I was in high school at the time, and gave the book a try; and I found it interesting and confusing by turns. I decided to give it another try, with the benefit of thirty years of additional life experience, and it’s amazing how much it has improved!

The book takes place circa 1600 AD, in Japan. At this time, the Portuguese (and a very few Spaniards) are the only Europeans with regular contact with the Japanese. The Catholic Church has been planted in Japan, and many Japanese lords (daimyos) have converted. The Portuguese are also responsible for most of Japan’s trade with China, including the all-important trade in silk. However, many daimyos dislike the Christians and would like to see their influence limited.

Shortly before this time, Japan was united under a powerful leader, known as the Taiko. He died, leaving a young son as his heir, and Japan under the control of a council of regents. As usually happens in such circumstances, the regents are jockeying for position; and the goal is the shogunate, absolute rule (in the name of the emperor) of all Japan.

Into this mix comes a Dutch ship piloted by an Englishman, John Blackthorne, the Anjin-san—the first Englishman to come to Japan. In those days, given the state of the art of navigation, you couldn’t simply decide “I want to sail to Japan.” It was a difficult thing, and you had to know the way. Blackthorne makes it pretty much by accident. And he is immediately of great interest to Toranaga and the other regents, because he is a skilled pilot, and because, being Protestant, he is not under the thumb of the Portuguese or the Jesuits. Much politics ensue.

Clavell does an excellent job of showing us Japanese culture through Blackthorne’s eyes; and, eventually, European culture as well, as he reflects on the differences between the two. I found it fascinating, much more so than when I was in high school.

There are a few places where I think he misses the mark. The remains of his Dutch crew are presented as little better than animals compared to the Japanese; I think he overdoes this. And his history is occasionally suspect, as when Rodrigues the Portuguese pilot equates the Inquisition with “witch hunts”. The Spanish Inquisition wasn’t looking for “witches” (but that’s another blog post).

I think the main reason I had trouble with this book those thirty years ago is that it isn’t really about John Blackthorne. It’s really about Toranaga, and his attempt to become shogun. Blackthorne is simply one of the pieces on his chess board, or, as Toranaga himself would put it, one of the hawks to his hand. Back then, I read the book as quickly as possible trying to follow the Anjin-san’s story, and missed the very things that would have made it make sense.

Anyway, highly recommended; but be aware that the Anjin-san’s response to the difference between Japanese and European sexual mores is one of the major themes in the book. The Japanese of that era were considerably more frank about sex than Europeans, and naturally this is reflected in the text.