Set in the 17th Century, the story is told from the perspective of British hero John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), a sailor who rises from outsider to samurai, while being used as a pawn in Japanese leader Toranaga's struggle to reach the top of the ruling chain, or Shogun...Destinies converge in Japan after a barbarian ship washes ashore in a poor fishing village. Meanwhile, in Osaka, Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) finds himself outplayed by his enemies...Outplayed by new alliances in Osaka, Toranaga is forced to carve out a new deal with a long lost family member...