Shogun

Blackthorne goes to his new house, where an old man ushers him in. Fujiko thinks it is unreasonable that Blackthorne is supposed to learn Japanese in six months. Blackthorne drinks heavily while Mariko tells him that Fujiko is now his consort. Angry that this happened without his consent, Blackthorne calls Fujiko ugly and wants her to leave. Mariko explains that being his consort will improve Fujiko’s life—her husband and son were executed, and if he sends her away, she’ll be outcast for failing her master. Blackthorne sympathizes, but he wants Mariko to be his consort.

Omi arrives with samurai to take Blackthorne’s pistols: Samurai do not use them. Blackthorne points the pistols at Omi and forces him to relent. He then gives the guns to Fujiko and commands her not to let anyone touch them. She points them at the samurai when they approach her. A maid brings Blackthorne two swords to mark his new status as a hatamoto. Mariko says he might already be a samurai: There has never been a hatamoto who was not also a samurai.

At the fortress, Yabu makes Omi apologize to Blackthorne. Omi decides that he will kill Yabu when he has the opportunity. That morning, Yabu told Omi and several others of his plan to arm a naval regiment of samurai. Omi believes he will be able to use the knowledge against Yabu. Blackthorne agrees to train Yabu’s men, but only if Yabu rescinds the order to kill the villagers if they fail to teach him Japanese. Blackthorne says he’ll die by suicide if he is not released from the fate of the village and claims that his shame is too great. Mariko wonders if he is bluffing, but Blackthorne takes a knife and stabs at his heart. They stop him, but he cuts himself enough to lose consciousness. When he wakes, Mariko tells him he has been reborn. 

An Osaka courier from the Council arrives 12 days later with 10 samurai. He is Nebara Jozen, a ruthless man. He asks Yabu why his men are drilling with guns. He also wants to know why Toranaga’s son Naga is second-in-command—what is important enough to require one of Toranaga’s sons on site? Jozen invites Yabu to Osaka to renew his oath of loyalty to the Council. Lord Ito Teruzumi is taking Toranaga’s seat on the Council, and Ishido will be the new president. Yabu knows that Teruzumi is a weak man who will be Ishido’s puppet. Jozen gives him a letter affirming Teruzumi’s appointment and the Council’s decision.

Omi suggests that they ask Toranaga to assassinate one of the Regents. Once, in Korea, Omi saw Ishido run from a battle, which proves that Ishido cannot ever be trusted. If they poison the carrier pigeons tonight, Jozen won’t be able to send any messages. Then, if they kill Jozen and his men, Ishido won’t learn about the guns.

Mariko teaches Blackthorne Japanese grammar and he improves steadily. Fujiko continues to serve him in any way she can think of. He tolerates Fujiko but enjoys Mariko. As they get a massage together, he explains some of Shakespeare’s plots to her. She says he has changed since the suicide attempt, which she calls his rebirth.

The villagers view Blackthorne as samurai now.

Yabu, Omi, and Igurasi tell Jozen about their strategy with the gun regiment of samurai. Jozen is excited and impressed. The gun regiment disgusts Naga since guns do not bring valor in combat: With a gun, a peasant can best a samurai. Naga would outlaw guns and barbarians. Jozen thinks Blackthorne should be isolated while they learn from him, and he agrees that the training with guns should stop. He tells them that Buntaro and Hiro-matsu are still alive. Jozen decides to leave the next day, after a battle exercise put on by Yabu’s troops.

Late that night, Mariko comes to Blackthorne’s room and they have sex. 

Fujiko brings breakfast. When Mariko does not mention the night before, in Latin, Blackthorne says she is beautiful and that he loves her. She surprises him by saying that it was her maid, Koi, who came to him in the dark. He thought it was Mariko, but there wasn’t enough light to see. Mariko predicts that Toranaga will win the war and Blackthorne will never be allowed to leave.

Five hundred men rehearse a combat exercise with blank ammunition as Blackthorne, Yabu, Jozen, and others watch. Jozen congratulates Yabu on his progress and asks him to kill the barbarian. Suddenly, the gunmen turn on them—they actually have live ammunition instead of blanks. Blackthorne watches as they slaughter the men and torture Jozen to death. The men then continue training and Blackthorne goes home. The next day, Omi asks how Blackthorne liked the experience and asks to be friends.

One of Jozen’s men died by seppuku on the battlefield. Naga takes the head and sends it to Ishido. 

Ten days later, Toranaga arrives and wants to see an attack. Yabu receives an invitation to Osaka for a Flower-Viewing ceremony. He knows that if he goes he will probably die—Ishido will punish him for the death of Jozen and his men. Yabu tells Toranaga about Blackthorne’s suicide attempt.

Mariko shows Toranaga her “War Manual” (530)—a diary of everything that happened since she last saw Toranaga. He asks her opinion of Yabu, Omi, Naga, and Blackthorne. She says that Blackthorne needs a grammar book and dictionary. She has tried to make one, but it’s inadequate.

At his house, Blackthorne gives cooking lessons to Fujiko and the staff, showing them the European way of preparing a hare. Buntaro, who is Mariko’s husband and also Fujiko’s uncle, arrives. He is vicious—at 16, he executed his own mother for suspected adultery. 

Mariko looks as if the spark has gone out of her.

Blackthorne receives Buntaro, who thanks him for his hospitality. Buntaro asks him about many aspects of European warfare. At dinner, Buntaro asks about the pheasant Blackthorne has hung up—a European way to mature the meat before cooking it. The Japanese are nauseated when Blackthorne eats rabbit stew.

Blackthorne hates how Buntaro treats Mariko and Fujiko. As an intimidation tactic, Buntaro shoots four arrows through the same hole in the wall, almost hitting Mariko. All four arrows strike in the same post outside, in an amazing display of accuracy. Buntaro gets drunk and makes Mariko tell Blackthorne about her past. He calls her father—Lord Akechi Jinsai—a traitor who killed Lord Goroda. She says her blood is tainted. Every year, she asks Buntaro to allow her to die by seppuku, but he always denies her. Buntaro eventually passes out.

Later Blackthorne wakes to Buntaro’s voice and hears Buntaro hitting Mariko. He goes to intervene just as Buntaro leaves. Mariko is bleeding; Buntaro beat her for refusing sex—this has always been her revenge for having had to marry Buntaro to please Goroda’s memory, and her father’s. Mariko’s internal monologue reveals that she, not Koi, had sex with Blackthorne. She wonders what would happen if they knew about her adultery. She had never had a real lover before Blackthorne.

Blackthorne goes outside to challenge Buntaro. Instead, Buntaro apologizes for insulting his host and Blackthorne accepts his apology. Then he does not see Mariko for eight days. 

Naga and Toranaga argue while they’re falconing. Naga wants his father to outlaw guns and kill Blackthorne. Toranaga shouts at him and Naga apologizes. He is shocked because he has never seen his father angry. Toranaga commands Naga to make friends with Blackthorne. He compares them all to falcons, which have a temporary use, but cannot be kept forever. Blackthorne is a bird that Toranaga has not yet bound to his fist.

Toranaga remembers climbing a mountain to retrieve a falcon he named Tetsu-ko when the bird was a baby. He is frustrated that he lost his temper. Toranaga wonders if Blackthorne has pillowed with Mariko. He thinks it is likely, given that he threatened Buntaro with pistols. Afterwards Buntaro told Toranaga that Mariko had always kept him at a distance.

Toranaga remembers when Yabu offered him the Muramasa sword. Yabu told him that the sword murdered Toranaga’s grandfather. Toranaga has always believed that Muramasa swords hate his family. He had then given Izu to Yabu as a fief for his service.

Toranaga and Naga see a carrier pigeon headed for Osaka. 

A pigeon handler receives the pigeon and opens the message, which is from Kiri. The message says that Lord Sugiyama resigned from the Council, refusing to delay his resignation for another day, which would have allowed the Regents to condemn Toranaga to suicide. In the wake of this resignation, they again lacked a full Council and thus could not impeach Toranaga. Even after bandits captured Sugiyama and tortured him and his family, he would not delay his resignation. Still, most daimyos—including the Regents Kiyama and Onoshi—have turned against Toranaga, and Ishido now has many useful hostages.

Toranaga’s half-brother Zataki publicly supports Yaemon’s claim and accuses Toranaga of plotting against the rightful Heir. It is time for Crimson Sky, Toranaga’s secret plan for war, which will surprise their enemies in Kyoto.

Toranaga speaks with Mariko in secret. She thinks he should pretend to start Crimson Sky as a feint, but never actually execute the plan. She adds that if he does not become shogun he has failed the Empire. 

Blackthorne has been training the troops constantly.

He ruminates over a terrible misunderstanding that happened three days earlier. Ueki-ya, the old gardener, took down the pheasant Blackthorne had hung up. Since Blackthorne had said no one but himself could touch the pheasant, the gardener was executed. Feeling like the disobedience was her fault, Fujiko brings Blackthorne a sword and asks him to end her life. He apologizes and accepts the blame for the old man’s death.

Blackthorne meets Naga on a walk. Naga says he wants to be friends. He suggests that Blackthorne teach him about foreign countries.

An earthquake begins. When a great rift opens in the earth near them, Blackthorne and Toranaga barely climb out. Toranaga only survives with Blackthorne’s help. Igurashi dies in the quake. When Blackthorne goes home, it is in ruins. 

Fujiko’s legs are badly burned and her maid is dead. A doctor treats her with healing salves that work better than any European medicine Blackthorne has seen. Blackthorne names a stone Ueki in penance.

Omi’s servants take Blackthorne to a bathhouse where Suwo massages him. He meets Omi’s mother and wife. They discuss differences in marital law between East and West: While divorce is not possible in Christian Europe, the Japanese do not see the point in people being stuck with each other in unsuccessful marriages. Toranaga, for example, was never successful with his wives.

Naga thanks Blackthorne for saving Toranaga—he now owes him a life. Blackthorne wants to attack the Black Ship later that year, but Toranaga says this would be inappropriate, since they can’t risk alienating the Portuguese and disrupting trade. Blackthorne is not convinced: He is at war with the Portuguese, even if Toranaga is not. Toranaga asks Blackthorne how long it would take to prepare his ship for this kind of attack. The Black Ship will land within 30 days, so there is not much time to plan, but Blackthorne would need a crew of at least 80. Toranaga will give a definitive answer when they reach Yedo.

Later, Toranaga asks Mariko for her opinion. She thinks Blackthorne will become a true vassal. Toranaga asks if she wants a divorce from Buntaro, but she says no. Toranaga promises to make the divorce happen anyway, when he is done with Ishido.

Toranaga meets with his officers, Mariko, Yabu, Omi, and Blackthorne. He explains Crimson Sky: He supports Yaemon’s ascension to the throne, expects to be impeached, predicts that Ishido will declare war on him and convene a new, illegal Council of Regents. Omi sees the plan as a way for him to kill Yabu. Toranaga gives Blackthorne a fief and two swords, and makes him a samurai.

Toranaga’s thoughts reveals that Crimson Sky is not his actual plan, and he is disappointed that his men can’t see that if they followed his orders as he has given them, he would lose. His real plan is to wait for Ishido to make a mistake. He knows that word of this meeting will reach Ishido and hopefully unbalance him. 

Mariko buys Kiku’s sex work contract from her procuress.

Blackthorne and Mariko meet that night. It has been the best day of his life. Kiku sees that Blackthorne and Mariko share a mutual affection and desire. The women massage him and then eat pheasant.

Later, Kiku shows Blackthorne several sex toys, including a dildo and a penis ring, and they have sex. He is enraged by England’s prudish attitudes towards sex, which he increasingly sees as close-mindedness. However, despite how beautiful Kiku is, Blackthorne only wants Mariko.     

A courier brings Naga a message from Hiro-matsu, who is in Mishima. Zataki, Toranaga’s traitorous half-brother, has now arrived. Toranaga cancels training and sends his musket samurai into the mountains. Peace has ended.

Blackthorne refines his plan on taking the Black Ship with his samurai. He enjoyed his night with Kiku. When Toranaga learns how much it cost to buy Kiku’s contract, he is shocked.

Is couBlackthorne shows Omi where Toranaga was almost swallowed by the earth. He tells Omi to find Toranaga’s swords—buried in the quake—and to take credit for the idea to find them. After Blackthorne leaves, Omi tells Mura to dig and find the swords. His men gossip about Toranaga buying Kiku’s contract for 3,000 koku and speculate about why she is worth so much. 

The next day, Buntaro shows Toranaga a clearing that will be safe from ambush and thus is a good spot for a meeting. Buntaro asks to execute Zataki, and also reports that Father Alvito is in the village. Toranaga tells Buntaro that he has given Mariko permission to return to Osaka and orders Buntaro to make peace with her that night.

People arrive to the meeting. Zataki, who is five years younger than Toranaga, has brought an order from the Regents for Toranaga to come to Osaka to humble himself. If Toranaga refuses, or if he kills Zataki, Zataki has ordered that their mother be killed. When Toranaga says he can give proof that Ishido killed Regent Councilor Sugiyama, Zataki gives Toranaga another scroll: an order for him to die by seppuku. Toranaga asks how he can prove he isn’t trying to overthrow the Heir. Zataki replies that his only option is immediate surrender of his position to his son Sudara, followed by seppuku. Toranaga will give his answer tomorrow.

Zataki also has a scroll for Yabu, taking away his lands and demanding that he surrender at Osaka. Toranaga apologizes to Omi and Yabu for failing them. He asks them both to join him for dinner, where Kiku will sing and play as entertainment.

The night before, Zataki spoke with Gyoko, an ambitious woman from the Willow World, or the courtesan industry. Gyoko wants to control all Tea Houses in Yedo and divide the courtesans into two classes of women: those who entertain and do sex work, and artistic geishas that only sleep with clients if they want to. She offers Zataki the opportunity to head the Willow World.

Alvito is furious. He needs to be at the meeting with Toranaga, but a Japanese priest named Brother Joseph is confessing to having sex with a sex worker. Joseph also wants to know why he and the other Japanese acolytes haven’t been ordained. Alvito sentences him to 30 days of silence, little food, and a scourging. Joseph is a samurai, so he says no to the whipping and takes out a knife. Alvito excommunicates him and Joseph defiantly renounces Christianity. Outside, a samurai summons Alvito. 

Alvito greets Toranaga; he has been given a cushion on the ground, not on a dais. Toranaga demands to know why Joseph and the other Japanese priests haven’t been ordained.

When Alvito commends the “golden barbarian” (704) for saving Toranaga, Blackthorne brings up the Black Ship as Toranaga instructed. Toranaga says it arrived 14 days prior, happy that Blackthorne did as ordered. Blackthorne leaves the meeting. Alvito says that Christian daimyos Onoshi and Kiyama will support Ishido. Toranaga is angry, wondering if he will have to use Crimson Sky after all. If the Christian priests put their support behind one of the Christian daimyos, Toranaga will have problems as the daimyos will have 400,000 samurai between them.

Toranaga tells Naga that he needs to become a Christian—he must inform Alvito of his desire the following day.

As a peace gesture, Buntaro orchestrates for Mariko a perfect Tea Ceremony called cha-no-yu. If Toranaga would allow it, Buntaro would go to death with Mariko that night. She is touched, but she must go to Osaka first, however—there are things in Osaka that only she can do, concerning the future of their house. Buntaro threatens to kill Blackthorne if Toranaga dies, worried that Mariko and Toranaga are under Blackthorne’s spell. Mariko believes that Blackthorne may have been Japanese in a former life. When she leaves, Buntaro cries, sure that she has slept with Blackthorne. 

Toranaga and Zataki meet again. Toranaga agrees to submit to the council. His men are horrified; if Toranaga dies by seppuku, they will all be ronin. Naga and Buntaro are both confused. Toranaga hears their complaints but stays the course. Mariko will travel with Toranaga; she says good-bye to Buntaro.

At Toranaga’s request, Alvito brings Blackthorne the dictionary he has spent 27 years compiling. Bitterly, Alvito predicts that Toranaga will be dead in six months, and Blackthorne as well.

As Mariko speaks with Blackthorne, a samurai approaches and asks Blackthorne not to walk at night without a guard. 

Over nine days of travel to Mishima, Blackthorne and Mariko spend most of the nights together in secret. Mariko now understands Blackthorne’s definition of love and worries that she has doomed them.

In the village, Kiku asks Gyoko what will happen with Blackthorne and Mariko. Gyoko says it will end in disaster. Omi asks Kiku to marry him. Her contract with Toranaga forbids it, but she will consider it if Toranaga voids the contract or dies.

Alvito teaches Blackthorne Japanese in exchange for his pilot knowledge. They have a truce, but Blackthorne will never trust him.

Alvito sees that the ex-Christian Joseph is back with the samurai and is wearing swords. Alvito regrets his anger and resolves to get Joseph back into the fold. He wishes Blackthorne could be an ally and learns that Blackthorne and Mariko are lovers. As Alvito watches them more carefully, he sees their obvious affection. However, she never mentions adultery during confession. 

In Mishima, where the convoy will stay for two days before going to Yedo, Mariko gives Hiro-matsu Toranaga’s scroll detailing the results of the meeting. Mariko tells Hiro-matsu about pulling Toranaga from the fissure, and Blackthorne’s seppuku attempt—everything except her affair with Blackthorne, though she wonders if he knows.

Hiro-matsu decides to enact Crimson Sky to protect Toranaga, no matter what his lord says.

Gyoko finds a location for a new, expansive tea house. She wants Kiku to be her first geisha. Because of her many courtesans, Gyoko knows a lot of secrets: about Mariko’s secret affair, the guns, and the Musket Regiment. Gyoko wonders how to use Mariko’s affair against her.

Rodrigues tells Alvito that Blackthorne is a samurai now and explains how Blackthorne saved Toranaga’s life. Rodrigues worried that Blackthorne could destroy them all if he crews Erasmus with samurai, so he wants to take ten men ashore that night and kill Blackthorne.

Rodrigues visits Blackthorne. They trade stories and taunt each other, but Blackthorne is clearly wary that Rodrigues is planning on killing him: Blackthorne makes him drink from a bottle of brandy first to check if it’s poisoned. As they talk, Blackthorne realizes that he doesn’t want Rodrigues dead, but he does want the Black Ship at all costs.