Japanese singer and actor Ren Meguro is joining the cast of FX’s acclaimed series ‘Shogun’ in its second season. Meguro who is a member of the idol band Snow Man is also known for his roles in ‘Silent’ and ‘Phases of the Moon’.

According to a PTI report from Los Angeles yesterday, he has also done many voice roles in anime series such as ‘Trillion Game’ and ‘Sakamoto Days’.

The actor joins the recently announced returning cast, including Hiroyuki Sanada, playing Toranaga, Cosmo Jarvis as Blackthorne, Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba, Shinnosuke Abe as Buntaro, Hiroto Kanai as Omi, Yoriko Doguchi as Kiri, Tommy Bastow as Alvito, Yuko Miyamoto as Gin, Eita Okuno as Saeki, and Yuka Kouri as Kiku.

Meanwhile, a Disney press release, issued in London, said Meguro is set to star as ‘Kazutada’ in the next chapter of ‘Shogun’, which is set over a decade after the events of the first season. The second season will stream exclusively on Disney+, with all episodes of season one available to stream now.

In India, the series will be available on JioHotstar, which is part of JioStar, a joint venture where Disney holds slightly over 30 percent equity stake.

Currently serving as a global ambassador for fashion house Fendi, Meguro also stars in the documentary ‘Traveling with Snow Man’, which follows the group on an epic journey across Japan and is now streaming on Disney+ globally.

“I am incredibly honoured to join the cast of ‘Shōgun’ season two,” said Meguro in a statement, adding, “When I streamed ‘Shōgun’ on Disney+ last year, I was profoundly moved by the series’ unique and grand portrayal of Japan, which felt different from past portrayals. As a Japanese person, I felt a compelling urge to be part of this groundbreaking production.

“I started learning more about the production team, exploring Hiroyuki Sanada’s vision and his long-standing dedication, and reading various articles about ‘Shōgun’. I can’t wait for everyone to see the release of ‘Shōgun’ season two and to share in this incredible journey with us.”

In the first season, Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Sanada) fought for his survival as his enemies in the Council of Regents united against him. When a mysterious European ship was found marooned in a nearby village, its English pilot John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) shared vital strategic secrets with Toranaga that tipped the scales of power in his favour to win a century-defining civil war.

‘Shōgun’, an original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, is created for television by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks and produced by FX Productions. The first season won 18 Emmy Awards, setting the record for the most Emmy Awards by a series in a single season.