FX just debuted its new ten-part miniseries Shōgun, based on the 1975 best-selling novel by James Clavell, and it’s already garnering rave reviews. It’s even earning comparisons to Game of Thrones for its focus on political alliances and grand production value, not to mention the first episode already delivered some juicy nudity.
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This is actually the second television version that’s brought the novel to life. In 1980, The Thorn Birds star Richard Chamberlain led a five-night, 12 hour miniseries that was a ratings sensation and scooped up many major awards. It was a truly epic television event, but alas, it was on NBC so there wasn’t much skin to speak of. But it was a breakthrough performance for Japanese co-star Yôko Shimada, who would go on to have an incredible nude career.
So how do the casts stack up actually? Here’s our skin-depth look at the sexy stars both versions:
Yuka Kouri Nude in Shōgun (2024)
The big news is that Yuka Kouri, who plays a celebrated courtesan in this latest iteration, goes topless about thirty nine minutes into the premiere episode. She’s introduced to the fief leader and then proceeds to drop her robe and handle the manhood of one of his underlings in front of him. Hopefully this is just the tip of the nudity that’s in store!
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Anna Sawai Nude
Playing the main female character, translator Toda Mariko, Anna has a chance of going nude as she’s romanced by English navigator John Blackmore (Cosmo Jarvis). She has experience already, baring her breasts during a sex scene in the 2019 drama Giri/Haji.
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Fumi Nikaido Nude
Another cast member with nudity under their belt is this petite Okinawan, who plays Ochiba no Kata. She was seen with no clothes on in 2018’s River’s Edge, with her terrific T’n’A keeping us on the edge of our seats!
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Ako Nude
Perhaps the younger ladies of the new Shōgun will get a few pointers from Japanese actress Ako, who stripped down back in 1978’s Momojiri musume: Pinku hippu gaaru. The pics of her Asian buns and boobs are truly delicious!
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Shogun (1980)
Yôko Shimada Nude
As mentioned before, the 1980 Shogun was a career-defining moment for Yôko Shimada. Fifteen years later, she would bring out her breasts for dual nude scenes in the 1995 thriller Crying Freeman, but she didn’t stop there. Apparently, before that she released a nude photo book, Kir Royal, in 1992, and would pop up in a porno called Mikkai in 2011 at age 57. This perennial hottie was the pinnacle example of better late than never, but she sadly passed away in 2022 otherwise she’d probably still be taking it all off!
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Ai Matsubara Nude
The only other cast member of the original miniseries to undress, she actually got naked years before, in 1977’s cult horror House. Ai Matsubara’s nude body is hauntingly beautiful as it moves around bathed in water and bright red light. She stopped acting after Shogun though, so that’s all she wrote.
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