FX’s “Shogun” had planned to shoot in Japan; due to the pandemic, the production shifted to Vancouver.
Production designer Helen Jarvis had never been to Japan, nor had she read James Clavell’s original novel that the series is based on. Nonetheless, she was determined to bring authenticity to the locations when building the world of feudal Japan in the 1600s. FX’s drama series required Jarvis to transform two exterior backlots and two soundstages, building everything from a fishing village to a harbor to royal palaces.
Speaking with PvNew, Jarvis says, “At the time, Osaka was a significantly large city. It’s a very convoluted coastline. If you look at a contemporary view, it’s mostly built up with concrete with many inlets and there wasn’t one huge harbor.”
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