John Blackthorne, an English ship pilot, whose vessel wrecked upon the Japanese coast in the early 17th century is forced to deal with the two most powerful men in Japan in these days. He is thrown in the midst of a war between Toranaga and Ishido, who struggle for the title of Shogun which will give ultimate power to the one who possesses it.

• Richard Chamberlain
• Toshirō Mifune
• Yōko Shimada
• John Rhys-Davies
• Damien Thomas
• Frankie Sakai
• Yûki Meguro
• Hiromi Senno