“Shogun”

In 2021 I was approached by Disney/FX to be the Japanese Boat Consultant for their series Shogun. Set around the year 1600, the plot featured a significant amount of action on the water using boats, and I was tasked to provide the Property Master with authentic designs, which included a fishing village and Osaka harbor. I also consulted on the Japanese warship, two of which were built full-size by Disney. I was flown to the set a few weeks before shooting started to teach thirty extras how to use the Japanese sculling oar. Learn more about this unique method of propulsion here.
I chose to provide the set builders with plans for Senzanmaru, the oldest Japanese plank-built boat in existence, for the principal “samurai boats” used in the series. It is believed to be based on the chaser boats used by Japanese shore whalers, probably the fastest human powered boats found in historic Japan. Senzanmaru dates from the early 1800s but is very similar to much older, historic images of whaleboats and small military boats. I also provided plans for a canal cargo boat similar to the tenmasen I built in Tokyo. Finally, I arranged for Disney/FX to buy several boats built by my class at Bates College.
I worked closely with the series Property Master, Dean Eilertson. For a fascinating look at his behind-the-scenes work, read his article here.

The Osaka Harbor set for the series Shogun, showing a variety of boats built for the shooting. Photo by Dean Eilertson.