Couldn’t agree more about the cultural impact of the OR.
Would also add electronics to the influence Japan was having on the world in the early ‘80s. Two key Sony products - the Betamax (RIP) and the soon to be ubiquitous Walkman changed the way the world watched TV and listened to music. And then add the CD in 1983 and yah, Japanese electronics ruled the world for a bit.
By the time “Shogun” captured America, Mifune was already one of my all-time favorite actors so it was totally cool to see him on American network TV in a lead role.
Palama wrote: