The third segment of Shōgun, “Tomorrow is Tomorrow,” concludes on a high note as Toranaga bestows Blackthorne with the title of Hatamato, thereby strengthening their alliance.
This transpires as Hiroyuki Sanada’s role readies for a fierce battle. The events of Shōgun’s second episode lead Toranaga to reassess his safety in Osaka after an attack aimed at John Blackthorne.
Understanding that his stay in Osaka was risky, but with Yoshii unable to vacate the castle, he hatches a plan to escape, pretending to be his wife leaving Osaka. Despite his shrewd maneuver being discovered eventually, it proved too late for Ishido to intercept him.
1. What happened to John Blackthorne?
Shōgun’s John Blackthorne is now a vassal Of Lord Toranaga.
John Blackthorne of Shōgun has transitioned to a loyal servant under Lord Toranaga’s realm, implying he will cease to be perceived as a foreigner or savage by Toranaga’s entourage.
By demonstrating his devotion to Toranana and his competence, John secured his status among the lord’s confidants.
Along with acknowledging John’s bravery, Lord Toranaga bestowing the title “Hatamoto” on him signifies that his English piloting skills are now a part of Toranaga’s strategy.
“Hatamoto” translates to the guardian or shield of the flag, a commendable title for a servant highlighting the significance of John’s role.
2. What does Lord Toranaga’s resignation from The Council Of Regents mean?
The most recent installment of Shōgun discloses that Lord Toranaga has stepped down from the Council of Regents. This information was imparted to Lord Ishido by Toda Hiromatsu.
With the knowledge of an impending impeachment, which promised certain death, Toranaga subtly relinquished his position as a regent. Of course, this information only came to light for Ishido and other regents once the Toranaga had safely departed from Osaka en route to Edo.
Despite Ishido’s claims that a rewritten resignation would not deter them, any verdict from the Council of Regents requires the consensus of all five members.
If Ishido and the other three lords accept Toranaga’s resignation, they cannot impeach him.
However, suppose they ignore the resignation and keep Toranaga’s title while waiting for him to return. In that case, they cannot approve any decision, as the council will always be missing a member.
Lord Toranaga’s move was brilliant and put Ishido in check. While this does not solve the problem – Yoshii is still in danger and has no allies in Osaka, it does buy him some time to prepare for an eventual war.
3. Why did The Portuguese Help Lord Toranaga flee from Osaka?
Toranaga promised the Portuguese that their Black Ship could sail to Macau without penalties in return for a safe escort out of Osaka on their vessel.
To sweeten the deal, he even offered a substantial chunk of silver, effectively cementing this unlikely alliance. With Toranaga and his supporters setting foot on a Portuguese vessel, Ishido was powerless to interfere.
4. Why did Rodrigues leave John to get ahead of the Ship?
Despite Toranaga and the Portuguese striking an agreement, they insisted on Blackthorne’s remaining. The Protestant pilot posed a constant challenge to the Catholic priests from the time he set foot on Japanese soil.
John didn’t just inform the Japanese about other nations and faiths in Europe but he also slips details of Portuguese bases nearby. As a result, John was compelled to get assistance from a local fisherman and navigate solo to intercept the Black Ship.
However, Rodrigues, who had the chance to leave John far behind the Portuguese vessel, unexpectedly allowed John to overtake them.
John Blackthorne saved Rodrigues from dying in the storm in Shōgun episode 1 when they were heading to Osaka together.
The two characters had already formed a quick bond upon their first meeting, as Rodrigues faithfully translated John’s words and did not try to get him killed.
Rodrigues now had the chance to leave John behind and end the Englishman problem but decided to pay his debt to the pilot. After John left the blockade, Rodrigues said they were now even.
5. Why did The Fishermen help John Blackthorne?
John’s capabilities certainly stood out, but without the assistance of the seafaring locals, he wouldn’t have navigated out of the port. The fisherfolk aided John because, back in their inaugural saga, they faced a storm together and emerged victorious, thanks to the Anjin.
That’s the same rationale Rodrigues had when he parted ways with John, advancing off their vessel.
Even though he can stir up ripples of complications, Blackthorne has a knack for smoothly building alliances. The person John named “captain-sama”, the fishing boat skipper offered aid to Blackthorne and Toranaga’s comrades right upon their arrival.
6. What Happened to Mariko’s Husband in Shōgun?
Mariko’s partner, the warrior Toda Buntaro of samurai repute, committed to confronting Ishido’s forces while the remainder of Toranaga’s battalion embarked on the vessel.
Although Buntaro’s demise is not visually portrayed, it can confidently be asserted that his exit occurred amidst intense combat, all in an attempt to secure precious time for his kin and comrades.
The anticipated death of Toda Buntaro in Shōgun was subtly hinted at prior in the episode when John probed Mariko about her spouse. She reciprocated with an affirmation of his exceptional honor and combat prowess.
Why Toranaga is going to Edo at the end of Shōgun Episode 3?
While Tokugawa Ieyasu, the actual historical figure on which Yoshii Toranaga is based, was born in the Mikawa Province, he built his castle in Edo, later known as Tokyo.
Similarly, Lord Toranaga was raised as a hostage but later consolidated his power in Edo.
All of Shōgun up until this point has shown Toranaga in Osaka, in which he was a hostage again due to the constant threat of being impeached. After fleeing Osaka and realizing how delicate the situation is, Toranaga regroups in his castle.
7. About Shōgun
Shōgun is an upcoming American historical drama television limited series based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell. The novel was previously adapted into a 1980 television miniseries.
The series is set to premiere with its first two episodes on February 27, 2024, on Hulu and FX, with new episodes of the 10-episode series then releasing weekly.
Shōgun follows “the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds and a mysterious female samurai; John Blackthorne, a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him; Lord Toranaga, a shrewd, powerful daimyo, at odds with his own dangerous, political rivals; and Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance”.
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