The final installment of Shōgun was a powerful conclusion that wrapped up the main characters’ journeys. This highly praised FX series was adapted from James Clavell’s novel Shōgun, which was inspired by the true story of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
The events taking place in Japan during the late 16th century paved the way for Shōgun, and its ending made clear that Toranaga’s aim was to topple the Regents and lead Japan into a new era. It is still uncertain if Toranaga succeeded in becoming the new Shogun after defeating Ishido.
How Shogun Ends
In order to assist Ishido in killing Mariko, Yabushige performed seppuku as a sacrifice. He was the sole Shōgun character to receive firsthand knowledge of Toranaga’s complete plan from Toranaga himself.
Despite not being depicted, the outcome of the battle between Toranaga and Ishido’s forces was made evident in the finale of Shōgun, indicating that Toranaga would be the eventual victor.
The character of John Blackthorne in Shōgun, whose story was inspired by William Addams, yearned to return home and spend his remaining years reminiscing about Mariko. However, his ship was destroyed, leaving him uncertain if he would ever make it back to England. This bittersweet finale emphasized the multi-faceted nature of Yoshii Toranaga’s character.
Is Lord Toranaga the New Shōgun?
In his conversation with Yabushige near the end of episode 10, Lord Toranaga revealed that he had been secretly plotting to become the shōgun all along.
Toranaga had a vision of a peaceful era for Japan, where he would act as the supreme military ruler, the first true shōgun in years.
Despite being unaware of the full extent of Toranaga’s plan, his closest allies were still confident in his ability to defeat Ishido before the war even began. Ultimately, Toranaga’s plan would prove successful and he would eventually rise to become the shōgun.
The portrayal of Lord Toranaga is modeled after that of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who gained true control of Japan after defeating Ishida Mitsunari in the Battle of Sekigahara and taking over the Council of Elders.
Despite initially receiving support from the Taikō’s successor and his mother, Yodo-no-kata, Ieyasu’s rule was not significantly influenced by them.
Despite initially solidifying his power as shōgun, Ieyasu eventually turned against the heir, Toyotomi Hideyori, a few years later. This resulted in the heir’s tragic death by seppuku and his mother’s subsequent decision to become a nun. Yodo-no-kata served as a source of inspiration for Shōgun’s Ochiba-no-kata, while Ishido was modeled after Ishida Mitsunari.
The plot of James Clavell’s novel Shōgun is set during the rise of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s shogunate. The events surrounding Lord Toranaga’s fate closely mirror those of his historical counterpart.
With the aid of Ochiba-no-kata, who acted as a proxy for the young heir, Toranaga swiftly rallied the former allies of Ishido. Without the heir on his side, Ishido’s chances of victory were slim.
As Toranaga’s plan had already succeeded before facing Ishido on the battlefield, the novel Shōgun did not include the complete depiction of the Battle of Sekigahara.
How Toranaga Won the War Against Ishido in Shogun’s Finale
Toranaga was able to win the war with the support of Ochiba-no-kata.
The passing of Lady Mariko in episode 9 of Shōgun proved advantageous to Lord Toranaga in multiple aspects. Primarily, it instigated turmoil within Osaka Castle and diminished Ishido’s authority as the daimyos came to the realization that he was using hostages as leverage.
Despite having the backing of some of the most powerful lords in the region, Ishido’s strength diminished greatly following Mariko’s sacrifice due to internal conflicts within the Council of Regents.
Moreover, Ochiba-no-kata was greatly affected by Mariko’s passing. As they had been practically sisters since childhood, Mariko’s death caused Ochiba to reevaluate her perspective on the war.
Ochiba probably came to the realization that it would be unwise to put her son’s life in danger by fighting against Toranaga in the war, especially considering that Ishido’s chances of victory had significantly decreased.
Despite Mariko’s efforts to persuade Ochiba to support Toranaga before her death, her attempts were unsuccessful. However, with the heir’s allegiance, Toranaga was able to solidify his control effortlessly. Ishido, who had already been defeated, joined the Battle of Sekigahara.
Who Burned the Ship In the Finale of Shōgun?
At the conclusion of Shogun, Lord Toranaga orchestrated the burning of John Blackthorne’s ship. While he made it appear as though a traitor in Ajiro was responsible, the true motive behind Toranaga’s actions was to ensure that Blackthorne would never be able to leave Japan. Additionally, Mariko had negotiated with the Portuguese for the destruction of the ship as part of a deal to spare the Anjin’s life.
Blackthorne’s life was spared, but he was forbidden from leaving Japan. The Portuguese made sure that the English Protestant would not be able to bring his allies to Japan, while Toranaga was able to keep his uncommon ally by his side.
Toranaga expressed his enjoyment of Blackthorne’s company, as the Anjin had a knack for making him laugh. Furthermore, Blackthorne proved to be a valuable ally in creating diversions for Toranaga.
As soon as he arrived in Japan, the Anjin caused a lot of trouble, allowing Yoshii to have more freedom to act while his adversaries were occupied with the barbarian and his vessel.
Despite their busy schedules, neither the Council of Regents nor the Portuguese merchants noticed that the Lord of Kanto was on the verge of seizing control of the country. Blackthorne, unaware of the truth, thought he was manipulating Toranaga, but in fact, the opposite was occurring.
John Blackthorne After Shōgun
According to Lord Toranaga, the Anjin’s ultimate destiny is to stay in Japan indefinitely.
Despite building a new ship, Toranaga will still refuse to disclose the fate of Blackthorne’s previous vessel. It can be inferred from James Clavell’s Shōgun novel that Blackthorne remained in Japan and never returned to his home country. Additionally, Toranaga may even destroy the new ship, as he did with the first one.
Toranaga held the destiny of Anjin in his hands from the very start, a fact that Blackthorne was oblivious to. The dream sequence that opened the finale of Shōgun will remain unfulfilled as Blackthorne will never be able to depart from Japan.
What is the real meaning of the ending of Shōgun?
The story of how Toranaga’s rule came to be was recounted by Shōgun.
Despite not being filled with action, the last installment of Shogūn still provided a satisfying ending to the series. The episode stayed true to the source material, faithfully depicting the conclusion of the Shōgun novel.
The narrative centered on the intertwined fates of Lord Toranaga, John Blackthorne, and Lady Mariko, all of whom played a crucial role in shaping the future of Japan for the next two centuries. Blackthorne and Mariko were manipulated by Toranaga in his strategic plan to become the new shōgun in Edo.
History of Shōgun
Shōgun is an upcoming American limited series that is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, which was previously adapted into a 1980 television miniseries. The series will be a historical drama.
The initial two episodes of the series will debut on February 27, 2024, on both Hulu and FX. After that, the remaining episodes of the 10-episode series will be released on a weekly basis.
Shōgun depicts the convergence of two ambitious individuals from contrasting backgrounds and a enigmatic female samurai. John Blackthorne, a daring English sailor, is stranded in Japan, a country whose unfamiliar customs will ultimately reshape his identity. Lord Toranaga, a cunning and influential daimyo, faces opposition from treacherous political adversaries. Meanwhile, Lady Mariko possesses invaluable talents but is hindered by her dishonorable family connections, forcing her to demonstrate her worth and loyalty.
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