Shogun Finale Ending Explained: Does Toranaga Become Shogun?

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Shōgun episode 10.

Summary

• Toranaga’s goal was to overthrow the Regents and essentially become shōgun to lead a new age of peace in Japan.
• Ochiba-no-kata’s support led Toranaga to victory over Ishido.
• Blackthorne’s ship was burned by Toranaga to keep him in Japan, as well as to prevent the Portuguese from killing him.

Shōgun episode 10 masterfully concluded the show and wrapped up the stories of all main characters, raising the question of whether Yoshii Toranaga became shōgun following his victory against Ishido. The critically acclaimed FX series was based on James Clavell’s Shōgun novel, which itself was inspired by the true story of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The major changes Japan went through at the end of the 16th century set the narrative for Shōgun, whose finale confirmed Toranaga’s goal was indeed to overthrow the Regents and lead Japan into a new era.

Yabushige, who committed seppuku for helping Ishido kill Mariko, was the only Shōgun character to hear from Toranaga himself the full extent of his plan. While the battle between the forces of Toranaga and Ishido wasn’t shown, Shōgun’s finale made it clear that Toranaga was going to win the war. John Blackthorne, whose story was based on William Addams, dreamt of returning home and growing old thinking of Mariko, but his ship was destroyed. Therefore, Blackthorne might never return to England. Shōgun’s bittersweet finale highlighted how complex of a character Yoshii Toranaga was.

Does Lord Toranaga Become Shōgun?

Toranaga sought to become shōgun the whole time

Lord Toranaga secretly sought to become shōgun the whole time, as revealed by his conversation with Yabushige toward the end of episode 10. Toranaga envisioned a period of peace for Japan in which there would be no wars over the control of the country, with him serving as the absolute military leader as the first true shōgun in years. None of Toranaga’s closest allies were aware of the true extent of his plan, which included defeating Ishido before the war even started. Toranaga’s plan will succeed, and he will eventually become shōgun.

Considering James Clavell’s
Shōgun
novel is based on the origins of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s shōgunate, it can be assumed that Lord Toranaga’s story concludes similarly to that of his real-life counterpart.

Lord Toranaga’s character is based on Tokugawa Ieyasu, who, after the Battle of Sekigahara against Ishida Mitsunari, replaced the Council of Elders as the true ruler of Japan. Ieyasu originally had the support of the Taikō’s heir and his mother, Yodo-no-kata, but their influence on his rule was minimal. However, a few years after establishing his power as shōgun, Ieyasu made a move against the heir, Toyotomi Hideyori. This attack ended with the heir committing seppuku and his mother becoming a nun. Yodo-no-kata was the inspiration for Shōgun’s Ochiba-no-kata, whereas Ishido was based on Ishida Mitsunari.

Considering James Clavell’s Shōgun novel is based on the origins of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s shōgunate, it can be assumed that Lord Toranaga’s story concludes similarly to that of his real-life counterpart. With the support of Ochiba-no-kata, who represents the heir until he comes of age, it became easy for Toranaga to gather allies that were once supporting Ishido. Without the heir under his banner, Ishido had no chance of winning the war. This is why Shōgun did not show the Battle of Sekigahara in full – Toranaga’s plan had already succeeded before he even met Ishido on the battlefield.

How Toranaga Won The War Against Ishido In Shōgun’s Finale

Ochiba-no-kata’s support won Toranaga the war

Lady Mariko’s death in Shōgun episode 9 helped Lord Toranaga in many ways. Firstly, it brought instability into the Osaka Castle and disrupted Ishido’s power now that the daimyos realized he was keeping hostages. Without the support of some of the most powerful lords in the region, plus the inner conflicts within the Council of Regents, Ishido became much weaker after Mariko’s sacrifice. Additionally, the death of Lady Mariko took a toll on Ochiba-no-kata. Mariko and Ochiba essentially grew up as sisters, and the former’s demise led the latter to rethink her stance on the war.

The scene in which Ochiba-no-kata read Mariko’s poetry to her son demonstrated how much of an impact Mariko’s death had on the heir’s mother. Ochiba likely realized that it was not worth it to risk her son’s life in a war against Toranaga, especially because the chances of Ishido winning were now much lower. Before she died, Mariko tried to convince Ochiba to support Toranaga, which ended up happening after all. With the heir on his side, it became easy for Toranaga to consolidate his power. Ishido arrived at the Battle of Sekigahara having already lost the war.

In the
Shōgun
novel, Toranaga captures Ishido after the Battle of Sekigahara and buries him up to his neck, with Ishido dying three days later.

Who Burned John Blackthorne’s Ship In Shōgun’s Finale

Blackthorne survived but did not return home

Lord Toranaga had John Blackthorne’s ship burned at the end of Shōgun. While Toranaga made it seem like a traitor in Ajiro was responsible for it, the Lord of Kanto secretly acted so that Blackthorne would never leave Japan. The destruction of Blacthorne’s ship was also part of a deal Mariko worked with the Portuguese in exchange for the Anjin’s life. Blackthorne’s life would be spared, but he would never leave Japan. The Portuguese made sure the English Protestant would never bring his allies to Japan, whereas Toranaga got to keep his unusual ally close.

According to Toranaga, he liked having Blackthorne around because the Anjin made him laugh. Additionally, Blackthorne helped create distractions for Toranaga. The Anjin created a lot of trouble as soon as he arrived in Japan, giving Yoshii more freedom to act while his enemies were focused on the barbarian and his ship. Both the Council of Regents and the Portuguese merchants were too busy worrying about Blackthorne to realize the Lord of Kanto was about to take over the country. Blackthorne believed he was using Toranaga, yet it was actually the opposite that was happening.

Why Toranaga Smiles During Yabushige’s Seppuku

Yabushige learned about Toranaga’s true plan before dying

Yabushige was one of the most interesting characters in Shōgun. Loyal to no one but himself and fascinated with death, Yabushi was Shōgun’s wild card and met his end in episode 10. After being exposed for conspiring with Ishido to orchestrate the attack on the Osaka Castle, Yabushige was sentenced to commit seppuku. Toranaga served as his second, leading to arguably the most important scene in the whole show. Yabushige wanted to know the truth about Toranaga’s plan, and since he was about to die, he got to hear everything from Toranaga himself.

After the seppuku ritual was concluded, a subtle smile could be seen on Lord Toranaga’s face.

Lord Toranaga explained his plan and vision for the future of Japan down to the minimum details for Yabushige. This is when Shōgun’s finale included a montage sequence depicting Toranaga’s victory against Ishido. However, once Yabushige asked Toranaga if his plan was always to become shōgun, the Lord of Kanto did not give a direct answer. After the seppuku ritual was concluded, a subtle smile could be seen on Lord Toranaga’s face. This implied that Yabushige was right – Toranaga did plan to become shōgun the whole time. With Yabushige dead, no one will ever know the truth.

John Blackthorne’s Visions Of The Future Explained

Blackthorne’s “dream of a dream” will not come true

Shōgun episode 10 opened with an elder John Blackthorne lying down on his bed as his grandchildren talked about the sword he has up on his wall. The children talked about their grandfather’s feat against “savages” in a major battle in what appeared to be a flashforward set decades after the events of Shōgun. Blackthorne had Lady Mariko’s cross on his hands, and the scene initially suggested that he eventually returned to England. However, given that Blackthorne let go of the cross in the sea, it is safe to say the episode’s opening sequence was a dream.

What Happens To John Blackthorne After Shōgun

The Anjin’s fate is to remain in Japan forever

According to Lord Toranaga, it is the Anjin’s fate to remain in Japan. Toranaga will only tell the truth about what happened to Blackthorne’s ship once the Anjin has built a new one. Even then, Toranaga will “probably burn it too.” It is implied in James Clavell’s Shōgun novel that John Blackthorne never returned to England and lived the rest of his life in Japan. The Anjin’s fate was in Toranaga’s hands since the beginning, which Blackthorne failed to realize. The dream sequence from the start of the Shōgun finale will never come true because Blackthorne will never leave Japan.

What The Ending Of Shōgun Really Means

Shōgun told the story of how Toranaga’s rule came to be

Shōgun episode 10 may not have been the action-packed finale some were expecting, but it was still a great conclusion to the series. The episode honored the source material and followed the end of the Shōgun novel quite closely. Shōgun was about the intertwined stories of Lord Toranaga, John Blackthorne, and Lady Mariko, all of whom played a role in shaping the next two centuries of Japan’s history according to their real-life counterparts. Both Blackthorne and Mariko ended up being pawns in the long game played by Toranaga, whose rule as shōgun will begin in Edo.

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