Shōgun

Back in present-day Osaka, the leader of the Jesuit Mission, Father Dell'Acqua, considers the threat Blackthorne poses to the Catholics in Japan. Blackthorne's journals contain proof of piracy, enough to warrant his death, but Father Alvito, the young translator, warns that if they expose Blackthorne's crimes to the Japanese, their own secrets may be revealed. The priests decide to hold onto their secrets, and Alvito journeys to the castle to translate for Blackthorne.

In Osaka Castle, Toranaga is about to be ousted from his role in the Council of Regents when he meets with Blackthorne. Blackthorne's knowledge as the first Englishman in Japan presents Toranaga with new opportunities, but in the middle of their first interview, Ishido, Toranaga's chief rival, interrupts. Under the watchful gaze of Ishido, Toranaga orders Blackthorne to prison for safekeeping.

<figure class="table" style="width:89.5%;"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:6.18%;"><col style="width:93.82%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="width:50px;">&nbsp;</td><td>INSIDE THE EPISODE:&nbsp;Buddhist Chanting, The Taikō’s Deathbed, the Taikō’s Armor<a href="#historybuddhistchanting">LEARN MORE </a>&gt;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Mariko's inscrutable facade begins to crack as we witness her fraught marriage to a violent and possessive husband, Buntaro. Later, in an evening meeting with Toranaga, Mariko provides her perspective on Blackthorne. She is wary of what he represents to her Catholic faith but sees his value. As the Council moves to impeach Toranaga, Blackthorne can be used to sow division between the Regents.

<figure class="table" style="width:89.5%;"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:6.18%;"><col style="width:93.82%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="width:50px;">&nbsp;</td><td>INSIDE THE EPISODE:&nbsp;Parading a Criminal, Life in a Sengoku Prison<a href="#historyparadingcriminal">LEARN MORE </a>&gt;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Elsewhere in Osaka Castle, Ishido goes about his day as the protector of the castle, mired in bureaucracy, longing for the glory and power of their lost leader, the Taikō. In a meeting with the Council of Regents, we see Toranaga's plan come to fruition. When Ishido calls for a vote to impeach Toranaga, the Christian Regents, Kiyama and Ohno, demand Blackthorne's execution before they vote. Ishido takes this problem to his old friend, Yabishige. Although Yabushige is pledged to Toranaga, his loyalty is for sale, and he forms a plan to use Blackthorne and his weapons to help Ishido.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Ferriera, the ornery captain of the Portuguese trading vessel, The Black Ship, asks Alvito to appeal to Toranaga for their departure papers. Alvito knows Toranaga cannot be rushed and leaves to meet with Mariko. The two are old friends, and Alvito councils Mariko on her dark thoughts.

In prison, Blackthorne meets Domingo, an elderly friar who helps orient him in this new land. Blackthorne learns about the Black Ship and a secret Portuguese base filled with Japanese ronin. Before Blackthorne can use this information, Kiyama's men collect him for execution.&nbsp;Just when it seems like Blackthorne's luck has run out, Yabushige stages a bandit attack and appears to rescue him. With Blackthorne in hand, Yabushige returns to Toranaga, maintaining the appearance of loyalty, despite his secret deal with Ishido.&nbsp;

Finally back on solid ground, Blackthorne makes a bold gamble for control, exposing the Portuguese secrets to Toranaga and inserting himself into the deadly power struggle. Hearing of the secret Portuguese base and their orders to depose Japanese rulers, Toranaga takes Blackthorne under his protection and asks Alvito to provide details on their current trade arrangement.&nbsp;

<figure class="table" style="width:89.5%;"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:6.18%;"><col style="width:93.82%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="width:50px;">&nbsp;</td><td>INSIDE THE EPISODE:The Demarcation of the World, Red Seal Permit, Why did the Christian warlords want to execute Blackthorne?<a href="#historyredseal">LEARN MORE&nbsp;</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

With the valuable Black Ship stuck in Osaka and Blackthorne exposing Catholic secrets, Kiyama meets with Dell'Acqua and offers to solve this problem. The episode concludes with a deadly shinobi attack, as an assassin posing as a maid attempts to kill Blackthorne before he can cause more harm to the Catholic cause.&nbsp;

<figure class="table" style="width:89.5%;"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:6.18%;"><col style="width:93.82%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="width:50px;">&nbsp;</td><td>INSIDE THE EPISODE:&nbsp;Shinobi<a href="#historyshinobi">LEARN MORE </a>&gt;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Buddhist Chanting  

The episode begins with Buddhist chanting done outside the Taikō’s deathbed. These incantations are called kaji-kitō, a ritual in which esoteric Buddhist monks try to protect high-ranking people from evil spirits and illnesses. The kaji-kitō consists of symbolic gestures, movements of symbolic objects, and recitation of mantra and sutra (Buddhist canonical scriptures).One of the most important sutras used in kaji-kitō is the heart Sutra. The first lines read: “Maka han nya hara mitta shin gyo," the full title of the sutra, which means “The scriptures in which the Buddha gives his most important teachings on the great and profound wisdom practices.” &nbsp;The next lines of the sutra are as follows: "When Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara practiced deep wisdom, he realized that the five kinds of things that make up human beings are all insubstantial, and he saved them from the misfortune of all suffering." It is by invoking this phrase that the monks thought they could ward off the Taikō’s illness.

The Taikō's Deathbed  

In 1598, Taikō Toyotomi Hideyoshi was at the height of his power. While his generals were fighting in Korea, Hideyoshi organized a great flower viewing party under the cherry blossoms of Daigoji Temple. Only a month later, Hideyoshi fell ill. He remained bedridden in his castle at Fushimi, growing weaker by the day.In the eighth month of the year (September in the Western calendar), Hideyoshi summoned the leading warlords to his castle on several occasions, where he took blood oaths and made them swear not to revolt against his son, Hideyori (Yaechiyo in Shōgun).&nbsp;Three wills addressed to the Five Tairō and Five Bugyō (together the Council of Regents in Shōgun) have survived. One will lists eleven points, the first of which asks Ieyasu to be Hideyori's guardian and to treat him as his grandson. A second will, dated on the fifth day of the eighth month, lays down rules for avoiding power struggles among the leading warlords and orders Ieyasu to remain in Kyoto to protect Hideyori. The third will, in Hideyoshi's own hand, was probably written shortly before his death. In it, Hideyoshi begs the five regents to take care of Hideyori.&nbsp;You can almost feel Hideyoshi's desperation in this will. With great foresight, he surely sensed the great turmoil that would follow his death. Again and again he made sure that Ieyasu and the other regents would take care of Hideyori. &nbsp;The Jesuits report that after these measures were taken to ensure peace in the empire, "his condition worsened from day to day, and he moved to the highest and most secluded room in the castle. When there was a great outcry from his sleeping quarters, all the exits and doors were locked so tightly that not even letters could be taken out. Nevertheless, the wailing voices could be heard outside near Hideyoshi's sleeping room, and the news of his death spread quickly.”

The Taikō's Armor  

During the deathbed scene, one can see a magnificent suit of armor displayed behind the Taikō. This is a reproduction of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's famous armor with an impressive helmet called "Ichinotani-barin Ushirodate-tsukikabuto” (一の谷馬藺後立付兜, helmet in the Ichinotani style with decoration of iris lactea). &nbsp;The armor is made of black lacquered steel pieces held together by red cords (odoshi) of braided silk. The helmet has 29 "iris lactea" leaves on the back that protrude above the helmet, giving the wearer a distinguished, extravagant appearance. It is as if the sun is shining from behind the helmet. This type of ornamentation on helmets was common as warlords wanted to show off and be instantly recognizable on the battlefield so that their brave deeds wouldn't go unnoticed.These ornaments also had highly symbolic meanings. The Japanese word for "iris lactea" is "barin," which is the Chinese name for "ayame," which uses the same kanji as "shōbu." &nbsp;Now, "shōbu" written in other kanji means "victory." &nbsp;The decoration was made of thinly shaved cypress wood. &nbsp;Although it looks heavy, it was actually very light, allowing the wearer to move quickly. &nbsp;It would also break easily if struck, so the wearer wouldn't get caught in enemy weapons on the battlefield. &nbsp;The display of the armor behind the deathbed is a lingering reminder of the Taikō's former glory and power, and at the same time a sharp contrast to the Taikō's deteriorating health.

Parading a Criminal  

Hikimawashi (parading a criminal) or shichūhikimawashi (parading a criminal through the city) was a method of punishment used in Japan during the Sengoku and Edo periods in which prisoners sentenced to death were put on horseback with their arms tied behind their backs and paraded through the city before being taken to the place of execution. This was done as an example to the people and as a warning to other criminals. In Shōgun, Blackthorne is not condemned to death, but is led to the prison on horseback in this manner, exposed to the eyes of the public as a clear statement by Toranaga against Ishidō.

Red Seal Permit 朱印状  

When large foreign ships entered a Japanese harbor, the captain would go to the court to present gifts to the lord. After the audience, the captain had to wait for permission to leave. This permission was often given in the form of a shuinjō (Red Seal Permit). The shuinjō was proof that the holder was not a pirate and could trade in Japan. It also gave the holder protection when arriving in Japan. In the case of the Portuguese, the Jesuits often acted as intermediaries. In this episode, Alvito is trying to get a permit for Ferreira, who is worried about the timing of his departure. If the departure is postponed, he won't be able to sail out of Japan due to contrary winds.

Why did the Christian warlords want to execute Blackthorne?  

At the time, the Catholic Spanish and Portuguese were at war with the Protestant English and Dutch. &nbsp;The war had a strong religious character, which made the conflicts between the respective countries all the more bitter. &nbsp;In addition, the Iberians wanted to defend their monopoly on Asian trade at all costs.&nbsp;When a Dutch ship with William Adams (John Blackthorne in Shōgun) on board arrived in Japan, the Jesuits were quick to call the newcomers pirates and demanded that they be executed as "thieves and robbers of all nations." &nbsp;It seems that Japanese Christians at the time believed them and advocated the execution of Adams and his companions. &nbsp;"During that time I looked forward every day to dying, to being put on a cross, as the custom of Japan is, as hanging is in our country," Adams wrote in one of his letters.

Shinobi 忍び  

Episode 2 features a shinobi attack. &nbsp;Ninja are very popular in and outside of Japan, but did you know that the term "ninja" is a modern invention? That doesn't mean that ninja-style warriors didn't exist. &nbsp;In the Sengoku period, they were called "shinobi." &nbsp;This word means "one who hides himself." &nbsp;This is an excellent description of what the shinobi really were. &nbsp;First and foremost, they were spies who infiltrated enemy cities, castles and armies. &nbsp;They were tasked with gathering information about the enemy, setting fires, committing assassinations, or even capturing the enemy's castles.Even if they weren't the superheroes portrayed in modern pop culture, they could boast of various fighting skills developed from their trade. &nbsp;At night, they wore dark brown clothing to avoid detection when sneaking into the enemy's castle. &nbsp;While these skills and attire define the modern "ninja" image, espionage was certainly their primary function. &nbsp;They would disguise themselves as ordinary people, be they merchants, farmers, wandering monks, or even ashigaru soldiers of the enemy army. &nbsp;Women were also sometimes involved in espionage, disguised as maids or entertainers. &nbsp;&nbsp;Although some shinobi groups, such as those in the Iga and Kōga regions, came from samurai families, shinobi were mostly recruited from the lower classes. &nbsp;They came from groups of bandits or lower-ranked ashigaru and were considered outlaws. &nbsp;If captured by the enemy, they faced a ruthless end.

A Taikō leaves his legacy.&nbsp;Host Emily Yoshida and guests break down episode 2 of FX’s Shōgun. Featuring executive producer and co-creator Rachel Kondo, actor Cosmo Jarvis "Blackthorne," producer Eriko Miyagawa, and director Johnathan Van Tulleken. Creators and cast discuss why some characters' names in the original book had to be changed for the show, why Ishido might be a sympathetic villain, and what Blackthorne sees in Yabushige.