Selects: The Science of Break-Ups

Shōgun is a historical novel that chronicles the end of Japan's Azuchi-Momoyama period and the dawn of the Edo period. The story centers around John Blackthorne, an English navigator who becomes shipwrecked in Japan and becomes embroiled in the complex political dynamics of the region. Blackthorne must navigate a foreign culture, learn the language, and adapt to the customs of feudal Japan, all while being caught in the midst of a power struggle between powerful daimyōs, particularly Toranaga and Ishido. The novel explores themes of cultural clash, adaptation, political intrigue, and personal transformation, providing a vivid portrayal of the collision between Eastern and Western cultures.