Shōgun’s Moeka Hoshi Talks Her Role as Fuji, Mariko’s Influence and Season 2

Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks’ TV adaptation of James Clavell’s Shōgun takes us into a medieval setting during the Sengoku period in Japan, where women like Moeka Hoshi’s Usami Fuji and Lady Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai) sometimes made choices driven by a sense of duty. Moral codes, hierarchical power structures, family rank and rules of obedience mattered, and conflict and civil unrest were pervasive. That didn’t mean everyone was always happy with the outcomes.

FX’s hit series introduced audiences to a stream of intriguing characters, with Fuji becoming a breakout scene stealer. Hoshi stepped into the role of the noblewoman whose life was marred with sorrow and sacrifice but whose strength and influence were not to be underestimated. When viewers first meet her, she’s married to one of Lord Toranaga’s (Hiroyuki Sanada) samurai, Tadayoshi. When he oversteps during a council meeting, the punishment is to end his bloodline. He must die, as does his infant son with Fuji.

The heartbroken Fuji’s position is important as a wife and as the granddaughter of General Hiromatsu, Toranaga’s closest friend. She’d rather be a nun, but she’s forced to accept a different role and is unwillingly ordered to become consort to the Anjin John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis). Hoshi’s nuanced portrayal — sometimes conveyed through memeworthy facial expressions — anchor her character’s journey as a young widow, friend and Blackthorne’s consort.

Hoshi spoke with CNET via Zoom to discuss her role as Fuji and which character helped tie her story together by the end of the season.

Fuji is such an interesting character, and she became a favorite for viewers. People loved your performance. When you first read the script for Shōgun, what drew you to the role?

When I came on board to Shōgun, I didn’t get all the scripts — they were made available as they were finishing them. Like everyone else [who watched], I saw she was a widow in episode 1, and that was kind of the first impression of her. I actually had a lot of conversations with Justin [Marks], the showrunner, and he provided a lot of backstory and background for Fuji. So, initially, in episode 1, she’s a widow, and that’s kind of it. But with my conversations with Justin, she became a very fully-formed human character.

Because this story takes place in 1600, were there any challenges to transform into a woman who lived in this time period? How did you prepare?

It was my first time trying a period drama, so I prepared a lot. I went to the city library and researched. All of the crew also worked hard on research, so I really trusted them, and they created my Fuji, with hair, makeup, costuming and everything.

Let’s talk about the big scene in the show where Fuji takes the Anjin’s guns and then threatens Omi with one, saying, “Please be on your way.” What did that moment feel like for you — and for your character?

As Fuji, I think that moment was when she completely embraced her position as someone that Toranaga said, “You have to do this as a duty.” Up until then, she wasn’t completely on board. It was a duty she had to fulfill. But at that moment, she completely embraced her position and responsibility as Blackthorne’s consort. And even a little bit later in that episode, Blackthorne is apologizing to Fuji for what he’d done. It was a pivotal point not only for her but for their relationship as well.

As an actor, I treated every scene as I do — with the focus, with the intention and being in the moment.

Fuji experienced so much tragedy with the death of her baby, husband and then grandfather. She learned to handle this with dignity and grace. What did it take for you to get her through her sorrow to a place of peace and grace?

I think Fuji is able to persevere despite all those deaths around her and to have some sort of sense of peace through the characters around her. And I think especially Mariko was a big influence because Mariko had already experienced so much tragedy before Fuji. But yet, Mariko chooses to live and chooses to fulfill the duties she had at that point. I think it really connects to episode 10 with Fuji’s growth and evolution.

At the end of Shōgun, Fuji found closure after fulfilling her duties for Toranaga. She was set to become a nun. Is there any chance viewers will see her in season 2 of the series?

I’d love to work with them again as an actor, but I don’t know anything about season 2. I trust Justin and Rachel will write a great story, so I’m looking forward to watching seasons 2 and 3 as a viewer, too.

If Usami Fuji existed today in 2024, what do you think she would be doing with her life?

Who knows? Maybe she’s just like any other gal in 2024, and she does TikTok and is on social media.

With Emmy chatter surrounding the series, now’s a good time to catch up on Shōgun, in case you’ve missed it. Viewers can stream all 10 episodes of the highly acclaimed show on Hulu, and as for Fuji — and her notorious side-eye — on TikTok? I’d love to see it.