Warning: Spoilers for Shōgun episodes 1-8.
Shōgun episode 8 ended with one of the limited series’ most unforgettable moments yet. The 10-episode miniseries has brought the story of James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name to a huge new audience, racking up record streaming numbers and garnering incredible reviews. With only two episodes left, Shōgun is set to bring the stories of Lord Yoshii Toranaga, John Blackthorne, Toda Mariko, and more to a close.
Though Shōgun episode 8’s shocking seppuku threatens to overshadow the rest of the episode, another character who continues to captivate is Kashigi Yabushige. In episode 8, the relationship between Yabushige and Blackthorne is furthered in a big way, as Blackthorne essentially decides to leave Toranaga’s direct service in favor of an alliance with Yabushige. It’s a surprising move given the antagonistic relationship between the pair at the start of the season.
Screen Rant interviewed Yabushige actor Tadanobu Asano about the surprising events of Shōgun episode 8 and his character’s outlook on the world. In a conversation facilitated by a translator, Asano joked about his character’s unique fascination with death, praised Toranaga actor Hiroyuki Sanada, and more.
Kashigi Yabushige is easily one of the most interesting members of Shōgun’s cast of characters. At his introduction, which saw him watching one of Blackthorne’s men be boiled alive on his orders, Yabushige appeared to be a straightforward villain. As the show progressed, however, Yabushige was shown to be anything but straightforward. It turns out that that made him a much more difficult character to play:
Leave it to Yabushige to cooly rank a shocking Shōgun episode 7 death “lower than boiling, but higher than eaten by dogs.” Asano described Yabushige as something of a dead man walking—someone who has already accepted his fate and is now on the lookout for the most interesting way it will be realized. In a world where characters like Hiromatsu live and die for honor and principle, Yabushige spends his time in search of a curious death. Here’s what Asano had to say about his character’s unique outlook:
This mindset even affects Yabushige’s questionable loyalty to Toranaga…
…and Yabushige’s response to Toranaga’s actions at the end of episode 8:
Asano also discussed Yabushige’s relationships with his nephew Omi and Toranaga’s Hatamoto John Blackthorne. Both relationships are fascinating in their own right, with the new alliance between Yabushige and Blackthorne proving to be one of the more surprising developments in episode 8. Yabushige’s rapport with his nephew Omi is also an interesting one, and was helped by a strong offscreen bond between Asano and Omi actor Hiroto Kanai. Here’s what Asano had to say about the tumultuous relationship between Yabushige and Blackthorne:
And here’s what Asano had to say about Yabushige and Omi:
Shōgun’s filmmakers and stars have given roundtable interviews in which they’ve discussed the show’s deep attention to detail, but even eagle-eyed viewers may miss fascinating pieces of visual storytelling. Asano shared one such detail that revealed much about Yabushige’s outlook on the world. It all comes down to his sword:
Details are slow in coming for Mortal Kombat 2, but both Asano and Hiroyuki Sanada are confirmed to return as Raiden and Scorpion, respectively. Both appeared in the 2021 film as well but didn’t share scenes together. Asano touched on his relationship with Sanada, praising Sanada’s fighting skills and dependability, when it comes both to Shōgun and Mortal Kombat.
Finally, Shōgun broke Hulu viewership records when it premiered, and it has continued to be a success among audiences and critics alike. Asano didn’t know this would be the case, as he revealed to Screen Rant—though that may be more about how he approaches his own expectations than it is about this particular project. Here’s what the actor had to say when asked if he had any idea about the success Shōgun would find:
FX’s Shōgun, an original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as “Lord Yoshii Toranaga” who is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him.