Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Toranaga is the gravitational center of a series that takes the Japanese politics, language, and ritual of feudal Japan seriously.
The Casting
The show is anchored in Japanese-language scenes performed by Japanese actors. Anna Sawai as Lady Mariko is the breakout performance of the season.
The Production
Real Kyoto. Real silk. Real tea ceremonies. The production design is reference-grade.
The Bottom Line
The best limited series of the year. Won 18 Emmys for a reason.
