Shogun Episode 4 Ending Explained: What Did Toranga’s Son Do?

Shōgun episode 4 included the most gruesome moment on the show so far and made war all but inevitable after what Lord Toranaga’s son did.

Lord Toranaga is traveling to Edo, an essential place for a character based on Tokugawa Ieyasu. The plan was for Blackthorne to teach Toranaga’s soldiers new battle tactics from foreign lands while the Lord of Kanto made other strategic moves before the possible war with Ishido.

However, things will now be much more complicated because of Yoshii Nagakado’s reckless actions, who was easily influenced by Kashigi Omi and ordered a brutal attack on Josen. The samurai was sent there by Ishido to bring Yabushige back to Osaka.

1. How did Shogun Episode 4 End?

Episode 4 of Shogun ended with the most brutal moment on the show. Josen Nebara’s death meant that war has officially started in FX’s historical series.

After Lord Toranaga and John Blackthorne narrowly escape from Osaka, episode 4 shows how useful Blackthorne’s weapons and abilities could be for Yoshii’s cause.

What was meant to be exercises and demonstrations with the cannon turned into a real battle when, unexpectedly, Toranaga’s son ordered it to fire at Nebara Josen and his samurai.

This was seen as a declaration of war.

2. Why did Toranaga’s Son Attack The Regents’ Samurai?

Nagakado didn’t want to be seen as a spoiled child. So, he attacked The Regents’ Samurai to prove himself.

Yoshi, Toranaga’s son, had his father’s samurai fire cannons at Nebara and his men at the end of episode 4 in Shogun. This led to the worst deaths seen so far in the show, as the cannon balls poorly killed many samurai.

Nagakado, who many saw as a spoiled child, wanted to show his worth as the son of Lord Yoshii Toranaga. He felt he would earn respect and honor from his peers by taking the lives of samurai working for his father’s opponent.

Josen was asked to witness the display but was startled by Nagakado’s battle cry, followed by cannon shots targeted at the samurai. Most of Josen’s men perished right away, but Josen himself only passed after Nagakado delivered the concluding blow with a sword.

3. Did Omi Manipulate Nagakado Into Attacking The Regents’ Men?

While Nagakado wanted to impress his father since the beginning of the show, Toranaga’s son was tricked by Kashigi Omi into attacking the regents’ samurai.

On that night before the attack, Omi argued that Josen and his me­n were there as enemies of Lord Toranaga and that they would capture one of the Lord of Kanto’s most essential allies, Kashigi Yabushige.

This led Nagakado to believe that he would be doing his father a favor by killing the Council of Regents’ samurai while also proving his worth.

Omi was being influenced to act against Ishido and the regents. Kiku, the courtesan who works closely with Yabushige, talked to Omi about how he could take his uncle’s place.

Josen was there to support Yabushige, and if any problems came up with his return to Osaka, it would make Yabushige a target.

However, Omi was clever enough not to make a move and tricked Nagakado into fighting this battle instead. If Yabushige faces the consequences of Nagakado’s actions, Omi’s plan will have succeeded.

4. Yabushige’s Allegiances In Shōgun Explained

Yabushige’s allegiances in Shōgun are confusing, as the character has been working for both Ishido and Toranaga since the beginning of the show. It is safe to say Yabushige is playing both sides of the conflict, hoping he will come out on top or at least alive at the end.

Yabushige had a private meeting with Ishido in his castle at the beginning of the series, after which he ensured John Blackthorne would escape execution. However, Yabushige helps Toranaga escape from Osaka and welcomes the Lord of Kanto into his village.

5. Was Mariko The One In Blackthorne’s Room?

Mariko says that a courtesan was sent to Blackthorne’s room.

Episode 4 of Shōgun focused much on the possible relationship between Mariko and Blackthorne. Blackthorne has now been given a woman as part of his new status. It does not seem like Blackthorne and this woman will be a couple.

The Englishman seems to love Lady Mariko. A woman entered John’s room in the middle of the night, and it was strongly shown to be Mariko. However, in the morning, Mariko lies by saying that a different woman was sent to Blackthorne’s room, which leads to his sadness.

6. How Will Toranaga React To His Son’s Actions In Shōgun?

Lord Toranaga is currently in Edo. One of the most exciting aspects of Shōgun’s next episode will be to see how Lord Toranaga will react to his son’s actions.

Nagakado has essentially started a war on behalf of his father, who is currently in Edo and has no idea what his son is doing.

Toranaga was aware that a war would have to be fought eventually, so he had Blackthorne train Yabushige’s men on foreign tactics. Still, Toranaga was indeed not counting on his son brutally killing Ishido’s men when diplomacy could still have solved things.

7. How Will Ishido & The Council React To Nebara Josen’s Death?

At the story’s start, Ishido wanted to call Toranaga a traitor and ask the Council of Regents to remove him from his position simply because he felt Toranaga was gaining too much power.

Toranaga’s son attacking Ishido’s men means the Council of Regents can truly see Toranaga as an enemy now.

This is why any time the Council thought they had before the war broke out is gone. Also, Ishido may decide that Yabushige is no longer trustworthy since all this happened while he was in charge. Josen’s death is expected to have long-lasting effects on the Shogun.

8. 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”.