Japanese actor and musician Ren Meguro has joined the cast of FX’s Shōgun Season 2, the production company announced on November 17, 2025 (via Deadline). He will portray a character named Kazutada in the Emmy-winning historical drama, which begins filming in Vancouver this January.
Meguro joins returning leads Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis in a series that made television history by collecting 18 Emmy Awards in 2024. The second season is set a decade after Season 1, focusing on Japan’s transfer of power. This marks Meguro’s first major international production role.
How Old Is Ren Meguro?
Born in Tokyo, Japan, on February 16, 1997, Ren Meguro is currently 28 years old. He entered the entertainment industry at 13, joining the talent agency Johnny & Associates as a trainee in October 2010. While training, Meguro earned a degree in Media Studies from Josai International University.
Meguro officially debuted nearly a decade later as a member of the Japanese boy band Snow Man on January 22, 2020. His career was built on years of development as a junior performer before joining the popular group.
A Look at Ren Meguro’s Career
Meguro’s music career with Snow Man saw immediate commercial success. The group’s first album, Snow Mania S1, sold more than 841,000 copies in its first week in 2021. Their single Grandeur sold over one million copies that same year, making it the best-selling release in Japan (via Oricon Music).
Snow Man became the first artist in Oricon chart history to have five consecutive albums each sell over one million copies. The group’s greatest hits collection, THE BEST 2020-2025, sold 1.1 million units on its first day of release on January 22, 2025. It set a record for the highest first-week sales in Japan’s Reiwa Era with 1,395,000 copies sold (via J-Generation).
His acting career gained significant notice in 2021 with his lead role in My Love Mix-Up!, earning him a Best Lead Actor award. His supporting part in the 2022 drama Silent received widespread critical acclaim and four Best Supporting Actor awards from major Japanese television ceremonies. The series also broke viewership records on Japanese streaming platforms.
Meguro’s film work has also been recognized. He received Best Newcomer honors at the 46th Japan Academy Film Prizes in 2023 for his role in Phases of the Moon (via A Hot Set). His 2023 lead role in the film My Happy Marriage debuted at number one at the Japanese box office, drawing 479,000 moviegoers and earning 654 million yen in its opening weekend (via Nante Japan).
The film’s total box office revenue reached 2.8 billion yen, or about $18 million internationally (via Anime Independent). This performance led to Best Emerging Actor from the Tama Film Awards (via Tokyohive). He has two films scheduled for 2026: Hodonaku, Owakare desu, and Sakamoto Days.
Who Is Ren Meguro Playing in Shōgun 2?
Meguro will play Kazutada in Shōgun Season 2, though production has kept character details confidential. The story begins 10 years after the end of Season 1 (via The Hollywood Reporter). Historical sources indicate the narrative will mirror the early Tokugawa shogunate, exploring efforts to transfer power to Toranaga’s heir. Filming begins in Vancouver in January 2026, with release expected in late 2026 or early 2027 (via Showbiz Junkies).
This casting milestone expands Shōgun’s Japanese ensemble, adding five new cast members alongside Meguro, including Asami Mizukawa and Masataka Kubota (via Mantan Web). In a 2023 interview with Variety, Meguro shared his goal of reaching international audiences and taking part in stories that reflect Japan’s creative output on a global stage. His participation in FX’s acclaimed series realizes that aim.
Here’s an overview of the Emmy-winning show:
Are you excited to see Ren Meguro in Shōgun Season 2? Share your thoughts on this casting in the comments below!
Shōgun is available to stream on Hulu.
