Shōgun Season 2: John Blackthorne’s Fate Revealed

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There’s an update on Shōgun season 2: Cosmo Jarvis will reprise his role as John Blackthorne, and the show will explore the character’s backstory from the past decade – something fans of the original book already know. Production is scheduled to begin in January 2026, with both Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga and Cosmo Jarvis returning to their roles.

FX’s new show, Shōgun, began airing in February 2024. It’s adapted from James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, which drew inspiration from actual historical figures and occurrences. While some names have been altered in both the book and the series, the overall storyline remains true to history, allowing us to understand what happened to characters like Blackthorne.

Shōgun Season 2 Will Take Place 10 Years After Season 1

As a huge fan of Shōgun, I was thrilled to hear they’re making a second season! It’s set a full decade after both the first season and the original novel by James Clavell – a story he sadly never continued. The best news? Cosmo Jarvis is back as John Blackthorne, which confirms what many of us suspected: he didn’t just disappear after the events of the first season! The book and historical accounts hinted at him staying in Japan, and it’s fantastic to see that being carried through into the show.

The character Blackthorne is based on a real man, William Adams, who spent the rest of his life in Japan. The book ends with Blackthorne marrying Kiku and suggesting he’ll remain in Japan. However, the TV series shows Blackthorne briefly dreaming of returning to England before deciding against it.

Since there isn’t a sequel novel to Shōgun, the creators, Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, will be using historical events to continue the story. The first season concludes with Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) winning against his rivals, but he hasn’t officially become Shōgun yet. The next season will explore whether he achieves that title over the following decade.

Why John Blackthorne Never Left Japan After The Events Of Season 1

Throughout the series Shōgun, John Blackthorne develops a strong alliance with Toranaga, eventually becoming a trusted friend. It’s reasonable to assume that during the decade between the first and second seasons, Blackthorne continued to support Toranaga, playing a key role in his rise to power as Shōgun.

It’s just as likely that Blackthorne realized Toranaga was responsible for the attack on his ship, leading him to break away. Despite this, Blackthorne still feels a strong pull to remain in Japan. The final scene of the season shows him clutching a cross Mariko (Anna Sawai) gave him, suggesting a deep connection.

Towards the end of the Shōgun finale, Blackthorne throws the cross into the sea, signaling his rejection of a life back in Europe. He’s decided Japan is his home now and doesn’t want to leave. Even if Toranaga hadn’t wrecked his ship, Blackthorne probably wouldn’t have gotten far before choosing to return to Japan anyway.

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2025-11-14 01:28