Shōgun

A poised and mysterious highborn woman, Toda Mariko is a skilled translator with a troubled past. 

Toda Mariko's character is modelled on the historical figure of Akechi Tama, better known as Hosokawa Gracia. Tama was born in 1563 as the proud daughter of the warlord Akechi Mitsuhide (Akechi Jinsai in Shōgun). Tama spent her youth as a princess while her father rose to prominence as a vassal of Oda Nobunaga (Kuroda in Shōgun), the most powerful warlord of the day.

In 1578, at the age of 15, Tama married Tadaoki (Toda Buntaro in Shōgun), the eldest son of Fujitaka Hosokawa (Toda Hiromatsu in Shōgun), another powerful warlord and vassal of Nobunaga. Tadaoki was a skilled military commander and a highly educated man, an expert in tea ceremony, waka poetry, Noh, and painting. They had a happy marriage and were blessed with five children.

Tragedy struck Tama in 1582 when she lost her father and her family during a power struggle over control of Japan. The Jesuits who were in Japan at the time wrote that Tama’s reputation suffered, and after two years of exile, she began living a depressing life in Osaka.&nbsp;During this time, Tama learned about Christianity from Tadaoki. Although it was gaining popularity in Osaka among warlords and their families, Tama was not allowed to leave her mansion and learn more.&nbsp;

An opportunity arose in 1587 when Tadaoki followed Hideyoshi (The Taikō in&nbsp;Shōgun) on his military campaign to Kyushu. With the help of her ladies-in-waiting, Tama secretly visited the church and was soon baptized as Gracia.&nbsp;However, just before her baptism, Hideyoshi had issued a decree banning the Jesuits from Japan. Christianity itself became forbidden. When Tadaoki returned from Kyushu and learned of Tama's baptism, he forced her in vain to apostatize. This caused severe discord between the two.&nbsp;

Various legends arose about the quarrels between the couple, some documented in the official history of the Hosokawa family, called&nbsp;Menkōshūroku, written in the 1770s.&nbsp;According to one such legend, Tadaoki killed a servant for looking at Tama and wiped the blood from his sword on Tama's gown. However, Tama continued to wear the same gown for three or four days without the slightest change in her expression.&nbsp;In the end, Tadaoki apologized, and Tama finally changed clothes. At this point, Tadaoki exclaimed, "You are a snake," to which Tama replied, "A snake is appropriate to become an ogre's wife.”&nbsp;When Hideyoshi's edict against Christianity was only half-heartedly implemented, Tadaoki gradually came to recognize Tama's faith, and their marriage improved once again.

Other legends speak of Tama's strong will and rebellious spirit. When Hideyoshi invited her to his quarters, Tama told Tadaoki that she would kill Hideyoshi with her dagger and end her own life, as revenge for his involvement in her father’s death.&nbsp;A surprised Tadaoki felt she had enormous courage and warned his lord. Tama received no further invitations. Another story recorded in the&nbsp;Menkōshūroku notes that "once the time came to put on her armor and mount her horse to face the enemy, Tama was no less in valor than a man.”&nbsp;When the Hosokawas joined Tokugawa Ieyasu (Yoshii Toranaga in&nbsp;Shōgun) in 1600, Tama remained in Osaka, but she would soon play a pivotal role in the war to come.

A wall too high to scale.&nbsp;Host Emily Yoshida and guests break down episode 4 of FX’s Shōgun. Featuring executive producer and co-creator Rachel Kondo, actor Anna Sawai "Mariko," historian Frederik Cryns, and director Fred Toye. Join them as they discuss what Fuji's role as consort means, what's going on between Mariko and Blackthorne, and how to bring a small fishing village like Ajiro to the screen.&nbsp;

Episode 4 - The Eightfold Fence

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A poised and mysterious highborn woman, Mariko is a skilled translator with a troubled past. 

Toda Mariko in Osaka Castle hallway with two servants standing behind her. 

Toda Mariko | FX's Shōgun

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