Shōgun

A battle-hardened warlord, and the wealthiest member of the Council of Regents, Kiyama is a feared general and a cunning strategist. Skilled in language and commerce, Kiyama converted to Christianity to establish a strong trade relationship with the Portuguese.&nbsp;The Christian warlord Kiyama is modeled after Christian warlords such as Konishi Yukinaga and Takayama Ukon.&nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>Judging by the name Kiyama Ukon, James Clavell probably had Takayama Ukon in mind when he created this character. However, Ukon fell out of favor with Hideyoshi (the Taikō) because he would not renounce his faith after Hideyoshi's banishment of Christianity in 1587. &nbsp;Although Kiyama displays some of Ukon's fervent piety, the only remaining Christian warlord with enough influence in 1600 was Konishi Yukinaga, who had officially apostatized but remained a fervent Christian in secret. &nbsp; Yukinaga was a good friend of Ishida Mitsunari (Ishido in Shōgun). As a loyal vassal of Hideyoshi, he was also an ardent opponent of Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toranaga in Shōgun). For the good relationship between Kiyama and the Hosokawas, however, we have to go back to the character of Takayama Ukon, who was on good terms with Hosokawa Tadaoki (Buntaro in Shōgun) and Tama (Mariko in Shōgun). In this way, Kiyama is a mixture of these two Christian warlords. &nbsp;

Kiyama

Sugiyama is the eldest member of the Council of Regents, hailing from an ancient and revered family. Taking a philosophical approach to leadership, Sugiyama is a respected intellectual and devoted father.&nbsp;The historical model for Sugiyama is Maeda Toshiie. As lord of the affluent province of Kaga, Toshiie was one of the richest warlords of his time.&nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>He was also a respected member of the Council of Five Regents, second only to Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toranaga in Shōgun) in power and influence. Toshiie began as a koshō (a young samurai who served as a bodyguard for his lord) to Oda Nobunaga (Kuroda Nobuhisa in Shōgun) when the latter was still young.&nbsp;They grew up together, and Toshiie fought many battles for his lord, who gave him a fiefdom as a reward. After Nobunaga's death in the Honnōji incident, Toshiie sided with his long-time friend Toyotomi Hideyoshi (the Taikō) and helped him rise to power. It was only natural that he was appointed one of the five elders before Hideyoshi's death. Because of his many victories on the battlefield and his long-standing friendship with the Taikō, he was a person to be reckoned with. Unlike Sugiyama, however, Maeda died of illness in 1599.

Sugiyama

A wise member of the Council of Regents, Ohno is a renowned warlord who converted to Christianity soon after he was diagnosed with leprosy. Respected even by his enemies, Ohno fights alongside his men in the heart of the battlefield instead of watching from the back like most leaders.&nbsp;The character of Ohno Harunobu is based on the historical figure of Ōtani Yoshitsugu.&nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>Yoshitsugu began his career as a koshō (a young samurai who served as a bodyguard for his lord) to Toyotomi Hideyoshi (the Taikō) when the latter was lord of Nagahama Castle. Some sources suggest that his mother served Hideyoshi's wife, Nene, as a lady-in-waiting.&nbsp;She may have been related to Nene's mother. The fact that he was allowed to have the same kanji of "yoshi" in his name as Hideyoshi suggests that he was somehow related to the Hideyoshis, or at least that he was in Hideyoshi's good graces.One of Yoshitsugu's fellow koshōs at the time was Ishida Mitsunari (Ishido in Shōgun). It seems that the two developed a deep friendship. During Hideyoshi's reign, they often worked together in various administrative capacities. Yoshitsugu seems to have fallen ill in the mid-1580s, but not much is known about his illness. It is believed that because of his leprosy, he covered his face with a white cloth. Around the same time, Jesuit sources mention him as a Christian. He probably renounced his faith after Hideyoshi banned Christianity in 1587.

Ohno

Yaechiyo is the Taikō’s only child, born to the young consort, Ochiba. Too young to take the throne when his father died, Yaechiyo trains to be a leader, admiring Toranaga as an uncle. Bright and full of promise, Yaechiyo is too innocent to comprehend the danger surrounding him.&nbsp;The historical model for Yaechiyo is Hideyori. In 1593, Yodo-no-kata (Ochiba in Shōgun) bore Hideyoshi (the Taikō) a healthy son, Hideyori (Yaechiyo in Shōgun).&nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>Hideyoshi was at the height of his power but had been left without an heir. In 1589, Yodo-no-kata had given him another son, Tsurumatsu, but the child was weak and died of illness two years later.&nbsp;Hideyoshi had already given up and made his nephew, Hidetsugu, his heir. Now the situation had changed, and Hidetsugu was disposed of along with his entire family on suspicion of treason.Hideyori became the new legitimate heir. Legitimate not only because he was Hideyoshi's son (although rumor has it he was someone else's child), but also because he was the child of Yodo-no-kata, the daughter of Nobunaga's little sister, O-ichi-no-kata. So officially, he had the blood of both the Toyotomi and Oda clans in his veins.But Hideyoshi felt he didn't have much time left. At 57, his health was failing. He became obsessed with securing his son's future. To this end, he created a Council of Regents, consisting of the Five Elders (Go-Tairō) and the Five Commissioners (Go-Bugyō), to ensure that when his infant son came of age, he would become the new ruler of Japan.But the greatest threat came from Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toranaga in Shōgun), the second most powerful warlord at the time. Hideyoshi made Ieyasu promise to give his granddaughter Sen-hime as a bride to Hideyori, thus strengthening the bond between the two clans.When Hideyoshi died in 1598, the five-year-old Hideyori succeeded him as head of the Toyotomi clan. The Five Elders ruled the country in his name, but it soon became clear that the balance of power was shifting toward Ieyasu, leading to a deepening conflict between the various regents. The young Hideyori could do nothing but watch the power games unfold before his eyes.

Yaechiyo

A Spanish pilot who sails for the Portuguese, Rodrigues is a skilled navigator with an outrageous mouth. Well-traveled through Asia, Rodrigues can speak some Japanese and will sell his talents to the highest bidder.There is no direct historical model for Rodrigues.

Rodrigues

Born a peasant, Nakamura was a natural leader and fighter. He used the chaos of the warring states period to build a name and reputation for himself, slowly gaining position until he took over all of Japan. Nakamura died one year before our story begins, leaving the Council of Regents to rule in his place until his heir comes of age.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>Nakamura is based on Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Considered by many to be Japan's greatest warlord, Hideyoshi came from a peasant family. He began as a servant to Nobunaga (Kuroda Nobuhisa in Shōgun) with the specific task of carrying his sandals. But Nobunaga soon discovered Hideyoshi's talents and promoted him to ashigaru.While rising through the ranks of the Ashigaru, Hideyoshi met his wife Nene (Daiyoin in Shōgun). She was the daughter of a samurai serving Nobunaga. They married despite the opposition of Nene's parents because of Hideyoshi's low social status. While all samurai marriages were politically determined, theirs was a marriage of love.Undeterred by his low status, Hideyoshi accomplished one great feat after another and rose in Nobunaga's esteem. Soon Hideyoshi became one of Nobunaga's favorite generals. In 1577, Nobunaga sent Hideyoshi to the western regions of Japan to subdue the powerful warlord Mōri Terumoto. Although betrayal followed betrayal, Hideyoshi never gave in. With a reputation for exhausting his opponents to the point of inevitable defeat, he made incremental gains.While besieging Takamatsu Castle near Okayama, news suddenly arrived that a loyal vassal had betrayed Nobunaga and driven him to his death at Honnōji Temple in Kyoto. Hideyoshi acted quickly. He made peace with Terumoto and hurried to Kyoto, covering 150 miles in just 10 days. There he crushed the rebellion at the Battle of Yamazaki.Although Nobunaga's second son, Nobukatsu, and third son, Nobutaka, as well as Nobunaga's grandson, Hidenobu, were still alive, Hideyoshi seized power for himself. The resistance was soon defeated when Nobutaka committed seppuku under pressure from Hideyoshi, and Nobukatsu and Hidenobu became Hideyoshi's vassals. Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toranaga in Shōgun) resisted a little longer, but eventually had to accept Hideyoshi's rule.Having become the most powerful warlord in Japan, Hideyoshi received the title of kampaku (regent) from the emperor. Kampaku was the second highest rank under the emperor, even higher than the rank of Shōgun. The imperial court had lost all real power during the reign of the former Shōguns, but still held the highest authority in name. By attaining the rank of kampaku, Hideyoshi tired to give legitimacy to his reign. He later retired from office in favor of his nephew Hidetsugu, who as the new kampaku was given power in name only. Hideyoshi himself took the title of Taikō, given to a retired kampaku, and continued to rule de facto. When, to his surprise, his concubine Yodo-no-kata (Ochiba in Shōgun) bore him Hideyori (Yaechiyo in Shōgun), Hideyoshi forced Hidetsugu to commit seppuku and slaughtered Hidetsugu's family members on suspicion of treason. The way was clear to make the newborn child his heir.After conquering all of Japan, Hideyoshi twice attempted to invade Korea and China. Both ended in stalemate. But before either side could gain the upper hand, Hideyoshi died of illness. Shortly before his death, Hideyoshi summoned Ieyasu and the other powerful warlords and delivered his last will and testament, instructing them to swear allegiance to Hideyori.

The Taikō (Nakamura Hidetoshi)

Dell’Acqua is the Father Visitor, the priest who oversees all the Jesuit missionaries in Japan. Devout, only to a point, Dell’Acqua knows that sometimes blood must be spilled for the greater good of the Church.The model for Father Dell'Aqua is Alessandro Valignano, an Italian Jesuit of noble birth.&nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>Before entering the Society of Jesus, he studied law and theology at the University of Padua. He was sent to Asia as a "Visitor General," a kind of overseer who determined missionary policy but also played a leadership role among the Jesuits in Asia.&nbsp;Valignano went to Japan three times to organize the missionary work there. He first arrived in 1579 and stayed until 1582, during which time he organized an embassy of four young samurai representing the most important Christian warlords in Kyushu to the Pope in Rome. In 1590, accompanied by the returning samurai, he came back to Japan and stayed until 1592. His third visit lasted from 1598 to 1603.Unlike some of his colleagues, Valignano adopted an attitude of adaptability and even enthusiasm for Japanese customs. He stressed the importance of learning the language and behaving like the distinguished Buddhist monks. He also advocated following Japanese courtesies when receiving guests and even having a tea set ready to serve guests with a tea ceremony when appropriate. The only Japanese custom he didn't adopt was the use of elaborate silk robes by Buddhist monks. In this respect, Valignano stood firmly by the black cotton cassocks of the Jesuits as a symbol of piety and austerity

Dell'Acqua

Ferriera is the Captain of the Black Ship, the most valuable trading vessel in all of Japan. Unbothered by local politics and the rules of his religious countrymen, Ferriera won't let anything get in the way of his profits.The character of Captain Ferreira is based on the Captain-Major (Capitão-mor da viagem do Japão in Portuguese) who was appointed by the Portuguese Governor (called Vice-Rei da Índia) in Goa, India.&nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>The Captain-Major made an annual voyage with the so-called "Black Ship" from Goa to Macau and from there to Japan and back.&nbsp;During his stay in Macau and Nagasaki, Japan, the Captain-Major ruled over the Portuguese who stayed there. He supervised justice and had the right to punish European criminals. When he visited the Japanese authorities, he was treated as a lord. He was always accompanied by an armed retinue of guards. The person appointed to this post changed every year. The character of Captain Ferreira is not based on any particular Captain-Major.

Ferriera

A shrewd brothel owner and retired courtesan, Gin has a talent for reading people and an eye on the future. Not content to run her business in a small fishing village, Gin envisions a bold new future for her profession.&nbsp;Gin is a fictional character, but her background is based on the existence of Sengoku period courtesan groups.&nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>During that time, autonomous courtesan groups developed, traveling along the roads and settling in the urban areas along these major roads.&nbsp;Entertainment through music and dance was an important aspect of their service. At the end of the Sengoku period, the courtesan houses were incorporated into official structures and men entered the businesses as "owners," but before that, these groups consisted entirely of women, including their leaders.

A wealthy warlord with a theatrical flair, Ito is an influential leader. With a love of fine clothes and fine living, Ito prefers to spend his time on the Noh stage rather than on the battlefield. Despite his taste for luxury, Ito is a realist and knows how to make a strong alliance.There is no direct historical model for Lord Ito.&nbsp;

Kuroda was the first warlord to unite Japan during the warring states period. After decades of civil war, his might and cunning won over most of the country — before politics and fate caught up with him.&nbsp;Despite Kuroda's brief appearance in "Shogun," he is a pivotal figure for many of the characters in the drama, just as Oda Nobunaga was for the historical models of those characters.&nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>The Oda clan ruled the Owari province in the center of Japan. When his father died, the young Nobunaga, sharp, ambitious and ruthless, embarked on an endless stream of wars to expand his territories.&nbsp;His ultimate goal was to rule the capital (Kyoto, where the emperor resided) and the central provinces, called the Tenka (lit. "under the sun," meaning "the whole country").However, there were many obstacles to overcome. One was the powerful warlord Imagawa Yoshimoto, who invaded Owari from the east in 1560 in order to reach the capital himself. In a show of military genius, Nobunaga crushed Yoshimoto with a small force. In doing so, he not only secured his eastern flank, but also gained a loyal new ally in Matsudaira Motoyasu (later Tokugawa Ieyasu; Toranaga in Shōgun), one of the generals in Yoshimoto's defeated army.Eight years later, in 1568, Nobunaga had become powerful enough to enter Kyoto and reinstate Ashikaga Yoshiaki as shogun. The two men did not get along, however, and in 1573 Nobunaga abolished the Shōgunate altogether and banished Yoshiaki from the capital. Many talented vassals who had previously been allied with Yoshiaki now entered Nobunaga's service. Among them were Hosokawa Fujitaka (Toda Hiromatsu in Shōgun) and Akechi Mitsuhide (Akechi Jinsai in Shōgun). Both would provide Nobunaga with sweeping victories in the regions north of Kyoto. To further strengthen the bonds between his two generals, Nobunaga ordered the marriage of Fujitaka's son Tadaoki (Buntarō in Shōgun) and Mitsuhide's daughter Tama (Mariko in Shōgun).Another great general of Nobunaga's was Hideyoshi (The Taikō). Hideyoshi began as a servant to Nobunaga, but gradually rose to prominence within the Oda clan due to his military prowess. Ishida Mitsunari (Ishido in Shōgun), in turn, served Hideyoshi as a koshō while Hideyoshi served Nobunaga.In this way, the fates of all these protagonists were linked to Nobunaga, and took a violent turn when a loyal vassal killed Nobunaga in the Honnōji incident in 1582.

Kuroda

Saeki is Toranaga’s charismatic half-brother. Using his charm and wit to mask his jealousy of his legendary half-brother, Saeki is determined to live the good life, lording over his famous mountain hot spring.&nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>The model for Toranaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, had several half-brothers because his mother, O-dai-no-kata, remarried the warlord Hisamatsu Toshikatsu after Ieyasu's father, Matsudaira Hirotada, divorced her because her family sided with the Odas, then enemies of the Matsudairas. O-dai-no-kata bore Toshikatsu three sons, Yasumoto, Yasutoshi, and Sadakatsu. None of these three, however, fit the character of Saeki.When James Clavell created this character, he probably had Satake Yoshinobu in mind, as he named him “Zataki” in his novel.&nbsp;Yoshinobu was the lord of Hitachi (roughly the present-day prefecture of Ibaraki) and was allied with Toyotomi Hideyoshi (the Taikō). He was on good terms with Ishida Mitsunari (Ishido Kazunari in Shōgun) and participated in the siege of Oshi Castle under Mitsunari's command. In 1597, Hideyoshi confiscated the domain of Utsunomiya Kunitsuna, a cousin of Yoshinobu and a member of the Satake clan. The reason for this confiscation is unclear, but it is thought to have been the result of an internal power struggle involving one of the Five Commissioners. Yoshinobu was also likely to be punished in some way, but through the intercession of Ishida Mitsunari, he was spared the confiscation of all or part of his domain.For Mitsunari's help in this incident, Yoshinobu seems to have felt a deep debt of gratitude. When Ieyasu asked Yoshinobu to side with him against Mitsunari, the Satake clan was divided over what course to take. Yoshinobu's father and his retainers urged Yoshinobu to side with Ieyasu, but because Yoshinobu could not forget his debt of gratitude to Mitsunari, he did not leave his castle and sent only a small number of his samurai to assist Ieyasu's son.

Saeki

The principled father of Mariko, Akechi Jinsai was a legendary and respected warlord before his death. With a tarnished legacy, his name lives on in infamy, but to those who knew him, he was a loving father and an honorable man.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>Nothing is known about the origins of Jinsai’s historical counterpart, Akechi Mitsuhide. Mitsuhide's name first appeared in a list of vassals to the fugitive Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiaki, but Mitsuhide soon switched sides and became a vassal to Oda Nobunaga (Kuroda Nobuhisa in Shōgun). A master of stratagem, he quickly rose through the ranks to become one of Nobunaga's closest generals.He fought side by side in many battles with Hosokawa Fujitaka (Toda Hiromatsu in Shōgun), another of Nobunaga's brilliant generals. To strengthen the bond between his two generals, Nobunaga ordered the marriage of Fujitaka's son Tadaoki (Buntaro in Shōgun) and Mitsuhide's daughter Tama (Mariko in Shōgun). Both fathers were pleased with this arrangement. They both conquered large areas of land north of Kyoto and became lords of these territories.1582 brought about the shocking and untimely deaths of both Mitsuhide and Nobunaga. While many of Mitsuhide’s actions are still shrouded in mystery, it’s undeniable that these two deaths shaped the history of Japan

Akechi Jinsai

Get the latest news and exclusives from FX including show premieres and more.

Meet the warlords, priests and samurai all vying for power.

Toranaga in gold armor, wielding a katana as he leads his army forward on horseback for FX's Shogun

Additional Shōgun Characters | FX Viewers Guide