Ochiba No Kata | FX's Shōgun

11/16

The Mother of the Heir

The highest-ranking woman in Japan, Ochiba-no-kata is the feared and admired mother of the Heir. As a consort to the late Taikō and the only one to bear him a child, she wields significant political influence in Osaka.

When our story begins, Ochiba is in Toranaga's home city of Edo to be with her sister while she gives birth. Although Japan is not openly at war, Ochiba is a hostage in Edo, guaranteeing Toranaga's safety while he meets with his enemies in Osaka.

Ochiba is the daughter of the great warlord Kuroda, who nearly succeeded in uniting Japan. Her father was an expert military strategist, both respected and feared.

She had the rarified upbringing of a princess, and as her father's favorite, she keenly studied his tactics, seeing a softer side of the mythic leader. But when her father was killed by one of his generals, Ochiba lost her family, her home, and her status in one bloody night.

With no allies and no power, Ochiba took fate into her own hands, climbing back up the social ladder. She became one of the Taikō's many young and disposable consorts, but she worked hard and risked everything she could to gain power and have some measure of control over her life.

As the mother of the Heir, Ochiba knows that her son is not safe until he comes of age. The vultures are circling as many wish to depose the young boy. Suspicious of every warlord, especially Toranaga, Ochiba must use all of her cunning to protect her child.

When someone from her past comes to challenge her convictions, Ochiba must confront the lethal leader she has become.

Ochiba no kata

Historical Background

The historical model for Lady Ochiba is Yodo-no-kata. Among the samurai princesses who lived during the Sengoku period, perhaps none led a more dramatic life than Yodo-no-kata. She was born Azai Chacha. Her father was the warlord Azai Nagamasa and her mother was Oichi-no-kata, the younger sister of Oda Nobunaga (Kuroda Nobuhisa in Shōgun).

Though her mother was married by her brother to Nagamasa to strengthen the ties between the Azai and Oda clans, her father sided with the Asakura clan when this longtime ally of the Azais was attacked by Nobunaga. After three years of war, Azai's main castle fell and Nagamasa committed seppuku. Four-year-old Chacha was rescued along with her mother and sisters by a vassal of Nobunaga. After this incident, she lived with her mother and sisters under the protection of Nobunaga.

A tearful Ochiba sits in a palanquin wrapped in a gold pattern uchikake

When Nobunaga was killed in the Honnōji incident in 1582, it was arranged that Chacha's mother would marry Shibata Katsuie, a vassal of the Oda clan. At the age of 13, Chacha went to live with her mother and sisters at Katsuie's castle in Echizen (present-day Fukui Prefecture).

A year later, however, Katsuie clashed with Hideyoshi (the Taikō). After a magnificent victory by Hideyoshi, Katsuie was forced to retreat to his castle, where Chacha and the others were waiting. He told them to flee the castle, but Chacha's mother Oichi-no-kata refused. Only the three sisters escaped. Katsuie killed his wife and committed seppuku with 80 loyal retainers.

It is not clear what happened to the three sisters after they fled. Most likely they were taken into custody by members of the Oda clan. Around 1588, Chacha became one of Hideyoshi's concubines. Although Hideyoshi remained childless by his wife Nene (Daiyoin in Shōgun) and his many concubines, Chacha bore him two sons.

The first son, Tsurumatsu, died at the age of two, but the second son, Hideyori, was healthy and became Hideyoshi's heir. However, Hideyoshi died when the boy was only five years old. As Hideyoshi's mother and guardian, Chacha had to keep the Toyotomi clan afloat, which she did in cooperation with Nene.

Character Highlight: Ochiba no kata

Close up of Ochiba No Kata in FX's Shogun

The Deathbed

As the Taikō lies on his deathbed, the mother of his Heir, Ochiba, is suspicious of the rival warlords surrounding her.

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