I recently finished watching Shōgun (yes, I'm a little bit late to the party). Released earlier this year, Shōgun has become an utter revelation - going on to win 18 Emmys at this year's Primetime and Creative Arts Emmys, making it the most awarded single season of television in history. It's also the first non-English-language series to win Outstanding Drama Series. 

And it truly is outstanding, fully deserving of all the awards that it has garnered. 

As you would expect, the show revolves around the shogunate era of Japanese history: Wikipedia says this period spanned 1185 to 1868. The show in particular is set in the 1600s. 

Shōgun is a historical drama, so there's a lot of historical complexities to go with the dramatic narratives that drive the show. 

One particular thing stands out to me: seppuku. It's a concept I've known about, but seeing it played out on screen is utterly stark. But more interesting to me is the broader context of this ritualistic suicide - it is fully contained within a code of honour, and in the show is often played out as a consequence of individual shame and social failings. 

In some sense, that seems completely bizarre. To have to take your life (and your child's!) for simply speaking out of turn and rebutting a superior seems completely disproportionate punishment, but then its also worth considering the cultural context of Japanese society - one that emphasised honour, hierarchy and order. Of course, ritualised punishment ("sacred violence" is a particularly interesting phrasing that I've come across) is not unique to Japanese culture, but at least in watching Shōgun (and having little to no knowledge of Japanese history), it appears that rituals are particular poignant and important to the Japanese. 

Seppuku is no more, thankfully, but the notion of ritualised practices strikes me as still quite relevant. Violence aside, and beyond what it says about a culture that frowns deeply upon familial shame and disappointment, I think the broader context of ritual helps frame my perception of Japanese practices. For example, why Japan is famed for its craftsmanship, or why it has the second most Michelin star restaurants in the world. 

Anyway, all this rambling is really just to say: If you haven't watched Shōgun, I implore you to. It's the best show I've watched on TV this year. 

~ Desmond