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The Mainichi
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Edging Toward Japan: Mystified by the success of 'Shogun'
One of the international hit series of last year was the reboot of "Shogun", which garnered widespread praise as well as a record-breaking number of Emmys. I didn't watch the series at the time it came out, but I observed various scholarly friends nodding approvingly that the new version presented the story more from a Japanese perspective, and from a woman's perspective, than the original 1980 version starring the late Richard Chamberlain. When all the fuss had died down, and after I had briefly taken out a Disney Plus subscription to watch something else, I thought I might as well give "Shogun" a go. I found it pretty underwhelming - I watched about three episodes and then forgot to watch the rest. Then came back to it weeks later and watched another couple of episodes and then wandered away from it again. It's not terrible, it's OKish. But it's very hard to understand how a series like this - which can be best described as "hokum" - gained such glowing praise and enthusiasm. As far as I can work out the series seems to have ticked various boxes, while also having a fair share of action and sexiness, and that seems to guarantee success in the US. The fact that it is a ridiculous historical mash up of the true story of William Adams, the first Englishman to travel to Japan, doesn't seem to worry any of the people who get very agitated about so-called "orientalism" in other regards. I find it all very odd. I'm just about old enough to remember the original TV series of "Shogun" and although it didn't have a transformational impact on me, as a child in England it did pique a certain interest in Japan. Going back 45 years, most people in Britain and America knew virtually nothing about Japan. Visitors to Japan at the time were very few and only a tiny number of Japan specialists had any understanding of medieval Japanese history. At such a time, it was entirely understandable that a popular historical novel like "Shogun" by James Clavell should play fast and loose with Japanese history, freely transforming real life historical personalities like Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu into fictional characters and inventing various intrigues and adventures around them. You only have to pick up a guide book to Japan in the late 1970s to marvel about the general ignorance about Japan at the time. I recall once seeing a shoestring budget guide to Japan from the 1970s written by someone who had also done the guides to various other countries in the world, spoke no Japanese and who did their best to create a hand-drawn map of downtown Osaka, a city of 9 million people. In a world in which knowledge of Japan was a vast blank canvas, Clavell's "Shogun" strolled in and filled the empty void with colour and spectacle with a smattering of historical facts, creating worldwide interest where none had existed before. But things move on. Today the guide books to Japan are incredibly detailed and worked on by multiple local specialists. Visitors arrive in their millions and Japanese pop culture boasts fans in the tens and hundreds of millions throughout the world. You can watch lively documentary series on the 16th century warlords Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu on Netflix presided over by a slew of International and home grown academics. Yet somehow or other the complete historical bunkum of "Shogun" trundles along just as it always did, occupying a weird alternative universe that might imagine completely different historical characters and events at the time of the American Revolution or American Civil War. I'm not some great stickler for historical accuracy: I realize that you can play around with things for dramatic effect. But at a certain point it all becomes absurd and ridiculous. I must confess (and I am aware that I might be in a minority) that Ridley Scott's much praised sword-and-sandle "Gladiator" - a mash up of characters from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD - falls into the "ridiculously unwatchable" category for me and so, it seems, does the latest "Shogun". While intermittently watching episodes of the new "Shogun", I happened to be also reading with one of my children "Gulliver's Travels" - that fantastical tale of an English sailor washed up in various mysterious strange lands of giants, little people, a floating occurred to me how similar "Shogun" was in some regards to the plot to "Gulliver's Travels". An English sailor, having arrived in a strange, distant land is taken to court, gives various accounts of his own country and their technologies, then becomes embroiled in factional rivalries. "Gulliver's Travels" is of course a knowing, tongue-in-cheek satire poking fun amongst other things at outlandish stories of adventures in distant lands. I began to imagine the great mirth Jonathan Swift would have derived from watching the series of "Shogun" so celebrated at the Emmys. I can imagine sitting down with him to watch it and him turning to me and saying, "Yes, it's great, dramatic and realistic in every way. They just need to add the yahoos and the talking horses to make the whole thing complete." @DamianFlanagan (This is Part 65 of a series) In this column, Damian Flanagan, a researcher in Japanese literature, ponders about Japanese culture as he travels back and forth between Japan and Britain. Profile: Damian Flanagan is an author and critic born in Britain in 1969. He studied in Tokyo and Kyoto between 1989 and 1990 while a student at Cambridge University. He was engaged in research activities at Kobe University from 1993 through 1999. After taking the master's and doctoral courses in Japanese literature, he earned a Ph.D. in 2000. He is now based in both Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, and Manchester. He is the author of "Natsume Soseki: Superstar of World Literature" (Sekai Bungaku no superstar Natsume Soseki).
New York Times
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Bringing a Modern Sensibility to a Historical Drama
This personal reflection is part of a series called The Big Ideas, in which writers respond to a single question: What is history? You can read more by visiting The Big Ideas series page. The 2024 television series 'Shogun,' a historical drama set in feudal Japan, was a worldwide hit. The show and its actors won a record 18 Emmy Awards, as well as four Golden Globes. Critics and viewers praised it not only for its writing, acting and production, but also for its devotion to accurately portraying Japan and Japanese culture in the early 1600s. The historical drama, which has been renewed for a second season, is based on a novel of the same name by James Clavell, published in 1975 and adapted into a mini-series in 1980. The story focuses on the relationship between Lord Yoshii Toranaga, a warlord struggling to fend off his political rivals, and John Blackthorne, a marooned English navigator who becomes an adviser to Toranaga. The 2024 series gives a more prominent and complex role to Toda Mariko, Blackthorne's interpreter. The characters' historical counterparts are Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toranaga), the 'shogun,' or military ruler who helped to unite Japan; William Adams (Blackthorne), the first Englishman ever to reach Japan; and Hosokawa Gracia (Mariko), a Japanese noblewoman and converted Catholic. The novel and two series show varying degrees of faithfulness to the events they're based on. The newest 'Shogun,' however, is built around its Japanese characters and culture in ways that the 1980 series was not, foregrounding those characters' points of view and their presence as drivers of the plot. And the accuracy the show embraces in details as small as gestures and fabric colors makes it a striking recreation of some parts of historical Japanese culture. It does include changes — some modernized language, for example, or stylistic omissions — to make it understandable to modern viewers around the world. But its commitment to authenticity makes 'Shogun' a compelling lens through which to examine television's role in interpreting and portraying history, as well as how actors inherit and embody history and culture in their performances. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Plastic Surgery Channel Rebrands to MediaPSC to Reflect Broader Healthcare Expertise
DALLAS, May 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Plastic Surgery Channel, the premier video production company founded by leading plastic surgeons, today announced an exciting rebrand to MediaPSC. The name change reflects the company's expanded services and expertise across the full spectrum of the healthcare industry, including plastic surgery, dermatology, medical spas, dentistry, fertility, sports medicine, and more. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, MediaPSC was created by doctors who recognized a critical gap in the market: the need for high-quality marketing and education powered by video production professionals who truly understood the healthcare space. That vision remains at the heart of MediaPSC today. "While our roots are in plastic surgery, our capabilities and partnerships have grown far beyond a single specialty," said Dr. William Adams, Jr., Founder and Chairman of MediaPSC. "MediaPSC represents the broader expertise, services, and solutions we offer to practices and industry partners throughout the field of healthcare." In addition to its core offering of high-quality video content production, MediaPSC now provides a comprehensive suite of services, including: On-Location Practice Shoots that authentically capture the day-to-day practice environment, including staff, patients, and operating room footage. Video Content Marketing designed to build trust, educate patients, and drive engagement. Industry Product Launches and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) Education that simplify complex scientific data into compelling, relatable narratives. Social Media Content Strategy and Production to help practices grow and maintain a strong digital presence. Podcast and Episodic Video Series Development, producing standout shows like Hey Doc! and Masters of Aesthetics – Building Beauty Empires. Website Development, Hosting, and Management to ensure practice websites deliver world-class patient experiences with integrated high-quality video content. State-of-the-Art Studio in Dallas, TX, providing an exclusive space for roundtable discussions, cross-talk specials, and product highlight filming sessions with top medical experts. To learn more and view a special announcement video from Dr. William Adams, Jr., please visit MediaPSC Announcement from Chairman, Dr. William P. Adams Jr. About MediaPSC: Founded in 2009, MediaPSC is the leading digital multimedia company specializing in high-quality, provider-delivered video messaging for healthcare practices and industry partners. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, MediaPSC's expert team helps practices and companies across plastic surgery, dermatology, medical spas, dentistry, fertility, sports medicine, and other medical specialties tell their stories through dynamic, engaging, and trusted content. View source version on Contacts patrice@ Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Inicia sesión para acceder a tu portafolio Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Plastic Surgery Channel Rebrands to MediaPSC to Reflect Broader Healthcare Expertise
DALLAS, May 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Plastic Surgery Channel, the premier video production company founded by leading plastic surgeons, today announced an exciting rebrand to MediaPSC. The name change reflects the company's expanded services and expertise across the full spectrum of the healthcare industry, including plastic surgery, dermatology, medical spas, dentistry, fertility, sports medicine, and more. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, MediaPSC was created by doctors who recognized a critical gap in the market: the need for high-quality marketing and education powered by video production professionals who truly understood the healthcare space. That vision remains at the heart of MediaPSC today. "While our roots are in plastic surgery, our capabilities and partnerships have grown far beyond a single specialty," said Dr. William Adams, Jr., Founder and Chairman of MediaPSC. "MediaPSC represents the broader expertise, services, and solutions we offer to practices and industry partners throughout the field of healthcare." In addition to its core offering of high-quality video content production, MediaPSC now provides a comprehensive suite of services, including: On-Location Practice Shoots that authentically capture the day-to-day practice environment, including staff, patients, and operating room footage. Video Content Marketing designed to build trust, educate patients, and drive engagement. Industry Product Launches and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) Education that simplify complex scientific data into compelling, relatable narratives. Social Media Content Strategy and Production to help practices grow and maintain a strong digital presence. Podcast and Episodic Video Series Development, producing standout shows like Hey Doc! and Masters of Aesthetics – Building Beauty Empires. Website Development, Hosting, and Management to ensure practice websites deliver world-class patient experiences with integrated high-quality video content. State-of-the-Art Studio in Dallas, TX, providing an exclusive space for roundtable discussions, cross-talk specials, and product highlight filming sessions with top medical experts. To learn more and view a special announcement video from Dr. William Adams, Jr., please visit MediaPSC Announcement from Chairman, Dr. William P. Adams Jr. About MediaPSC: Founded in 2009, MediaPSC is the leading digital multimedia company specializing in high-quality, provider-delivered video messaging for healthcare practices and industry partners. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, MediaPSC's expert team helps practices and companies across plastic surgery, dermatology, medical spas, dentistry, fertility, sports medicine, and other medical specialties tell their stories through dynamic, engaging, and trusted content. View source version on Contacts patrice@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
29-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
The Plastic Surgery Channel Rebrands to MediaPSC to Reflect Broader Healthcare Expertise
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Plastic Surgery Channel, the premier video production company founded by leading plastic surgeons, today announced an exciting rebrand to MediaPSC. The name change reflects the company's expanded services and expertise across the full spectrum of the healthcare industry, including plastic surgery, dermatology, medical spas, dentistry, fertility, sports medicine, and more. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, MediaPSC was created by doctors who recognized a critical gap in the market: the need for high-quality marketing and education powered by video production professionals who truly understood the healthcare space. That vision remains at the heart of MediaPSC today. 'While our roots are in plastic surgery, our capabilities and partnerships have grown far beyond a single specialty,' said Dr. William Adams, Jr., Founder and Chairman of MediaPSC. 'MediaPSC represents the broader expertise, services, and solutions we offer to practices and industry partners throughout the field of healthcare.' In addition to its core offering of high-quality video content production, MediaPSC now provides a comprehensive suite of services, including: On-Location Practice Shoots that authentically capture the day-to-day practice environment, including staff, patients, and operating room footage. Video Content Marketing designed to build trust, educate patients, and drive engagement. Industry Product Launches and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) Education that simplify complex scientific data into compelling, relatable narratives. Social Media Content Strategy and Production to help practices grow and maintain a strong digital presence. Podcast and Episodic Video Series Development, producing standout shows like Hey Doc! and Masters of Aesthetics – Building Beauty Empires. Website Development, Hosting, and Management to ensure practice websites deliver world-class patient experiences with integrated high-quality video content. State-of-the-Art Studio in Dallas, TX, providing an exclusive space for roundtable discussions, cross-talk specials, and product highlight filming sessions with top medical experts. To learn more and view a special announcement video from Dr. William Adams, Jr., please visit MediaPSC Announcement from Chairman, Dr. William P. Adams Jr. About MediaPSC: Founded in 2009, MediaPSC is the leading digital multimedia company specializing in high-quality, provider-delivered video messaging for healthcare practices and industry partners. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, MediaPSC's expert team helps practices and companies across plastic surgery, dermatology, medical spas, dentistry, fertility, sports medicine, and other medical specialties tell their stories through dynamic, engaging, and trusted content.
