Shōgun

In present-day Ajiro, Toranaga waits in the forest to greet his estranged half-brother, Saeki, hoping to form an alliance against Ishido. The brothers haven't spoken in years, and their greeting is tense, with Saeki visibly jealous of Toranaga's achievements.

Toranaga requests that Mariko hire Kiku to entertain Saeki, and Gin offers a discount in exchange for some of Toranaga's time. Blackthorne joins their meeting and asks for maritime command during Crimson Sky. When Toranaga doesn't respond, Blackthorne becomes frustrated, unsure of his role in the coming war.

Omi attempts to visit Kiku, but Gin informs him that she is busy, having greater aspirations for her protégé than a local love affair. But before he leaves, Gin gives Omi an incendiary piece of information: when Blackthorne was with Kiku, his heart was really with another woman.

<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;Collecting Heads, Defeat on the Battlefield<a href="#historycollecting">LEARN MORE </a>&gt;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

In a quiet moment, Hiromatsu delivers Fuji's family's ashes from Osaka. Although he is Toranaga's most loyal vassal, Hiromatsu's doubts about the war become visible around his beloved granddaughter. Tensions are equally high at the hot springs, where only the inexperienced Nagakado is excited by the prospect of battle.

That night, Toranaga hosts a lavish banquet for Saeki. During the dinner, Omi stokes Buntaro's dangerous temper by hinting at Mariko's romantic attachment to Blackthorne. Meanwhile, Saeki regales Nagakado with legendary stories about Toranaga. Bitterness seeps into Saeki's stories until he humiliates his half-brother, souring the mood of the dinner.&nbsp;

Suddenly — Toranaga gets word that Ajiro is surrounded, and Saeki reveals that he has replaced Toranaga on the Council of Regents. Now with five members, the Council can function again and has ordered Toranaga to commit seppuku in Osaka. Before Saeki can hand over an order for Nagakado's death, Toranaga stops him and requests a day to consider his response.

<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;The Banquet, Time Sticks, Shifting Alliances, The Impeachment Letter<a href="#historybanquet">LEARN MORE </a>&gt;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Yabushige attempts to negotiate a secret pact with Saeki, but he learns his peace offering to Ishido was rejected when Saeki presents him with his general's head in a box.Outnumbered and isolated from reinforcements, Toranaga's advisors grow impatient for a plan. Instead of providing one, Toranaga honors his meeting with Gin. In this meeting, Gin tells Toranaga about her vision for the future and how she would like him to take courtesans under his protection in Edo. With one specified district, her artists could have stability in performing their craft. Toranaga recognizes a kindred spirit in Gin, despite his predicament. Before she leaves, she challenges him, is he really trapped by fate?

The hostility between the armies threatens to erupt at the hot springs, but Yabushige defiantly breaks the tension by stripping down for a swim. Nearby, Nagakado and Omi soak, facing the reality of their first battle.&nbsp;Later, a frustrated Yabushige questions if Blackthorn can use his swords. When it becomes clear that he cannot, Yabushige mockingly teaches him swordsmanship until Buntaro bursts in with rage, nearly killing Blackthorne.

Anticipating a battle, Fuji practices with her naginata in the forest. Nagakado finds her and apologizes for the death of her husband, believing that if he had bravely stood up for his father, Tadayoshi would still be alive.&nbsp;A grim Toranaga writes his will, setting aside land for Gin's courtesan district. As desperation continues to rise amongst his vassals, Toranaga refuses Buntaro's plea to kill Blackthorne and Mariko's request to kill herself

<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;Swordsmanship<a href="#historyswords">LEARN MORE </a>&gt;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

When Toranaga formally meets with Saeki, he shocks his men by announcing his surrender, declaring that Crimson Sky was a mistake. Saeki calmly agrees to escort Toranaga to Osaka.Later that night, while Saeki celebrates with Kiku, she leaves her room unattended, allowing Nagakado and his men to burst in. A scrappy fight ensues as Nagakado attempts to assassinate his uncle, but just as he is about to deal the killing blow, he slips, falling tragically to his death.

<h5 class="ckHeading5">&nbsp;</h5><h5 class="ckHeading5">Collecting Heads 首取</h5>The most important activity of the samurai on the battlefield was to collect the heads of the enemy. The more heads a samurai could present to his lord, the greater the reward, be it more territory or more status. The proper way to obtain an enemy's head was to engage him in battle and cut off his head while he was still alive. The head would then be taken to the ikusa bugyō ("battle inspector"), who would write down the circumstances of how the head was taken. It would be even better if a witness could corroborate the samurai's story.The value of military exploits depended on whether the head captured was that of a warlord, a samurai, or an ashigaru. The head of a warlord or samurai was called "kabuto kubi" ("head with helmet") and was highly valued. The heads of lesser warriors such as ashigaru were called "hirakubi" ("ordinary head").Taking an enemy's head while he was still alive on the battlefield was a difficult feat. In addition to the enemy's resistance, his friends might come to the rescue and stab the samurai in the back while he was busy fighting for the head. That's why some samurai would play it safe and take the heads of wounded or even dead enemies.&nbsp;In the chaos of the battlefield, it was quite easy to do this unseen. Since these heads were not proof of distinguished battle deeds and therefore not eligible for rewards from the lord, these heads were called "nisekubi" ("fake head"). Yet the taking of nisekubi seems to have been a widespread practice.

<h5 class="ckHeading5">&nbsp;</h5><h5 class="ckHeading5">Defeat on the Battlefield 敗戦</h5>After a defeat, the first option a warlord had was to flee. This was considered the most embarrassing option, unworthy of a member of the samurai class. Akechi Mitsuhide (Akechi Jinsai in Shōgun) fled the battlefield when he lost to Hideyoshi (the Taikō). He was eventually killed by peasants during his flight, the most miserable death a warlord could imagine.The second option was to launch a surprise frontal attack on the enemy, which sometimes turned the tide of battle. For example, Oda Nobunaga (Kuroda Nobuhisa in Shōgun) was able to turn almost certain defeat against the much larger army of Imagawa Yoshimoto into victory by launching a frontal attack on Yoshimoto's main camp at the Battle of Okehazama.The third option was to commit seppuku ("cutting open the belly"). Nobunaga, for example, is said to have committed seppuku after realizing that further resistance to Akechi's army was futile. His son Nobutada followed his example at Nijō Palace, where he was also surrounded by Akechi's army.&nbsp;When Shimizu Muneharu, lord of Takamatsu Castle, which had been besieged and flooded by Hideyoshi, agreed to a truce, he committed seppuku on a boat in front of Hideyoshi's forces on the condition that his soldiers would be spared. He is still praised for his unparalleled loyalty and bravery.This way of admitting defeat and taking responsibility by cutting one's own belly was highly regarded among the samurai class. This was the most orthodox way and was followed in 90% of cases. Thus, when Lord Mizoguchi committed seppuku after losing to Toranaga, he chose the most orthodox option, even though his desire to be assisted by the enemy warlord was not so orthodox.

<h5 class="ckHeading5">&nbsp;</h5><h5 class="ckHeading5">The Banquet 饗応</h5>Warlords and samurai would invite each other to celebrate great victories or to foster stronger relationships. Alliances were cemented or reaffirmed at these banquets. To make these banquets a success, it was essential to entertain the guest in a manner that would please him.Therefore, careful preparation was the key. The word for treating someone to a meal is "gochisō" ご馳走 in Japanese. The original meaning of this word was “to run around hurriedly.” It nicely expresses how hard they worked for the banquets. No expense or effort was spared to bring the most delicious food and saké (Japanese rice wine), served in multiple dishes. Sometimes as many as seven dishes were prepared. These dishes were served on vermilion lacquered trays with bowls of rice, fish, and all kinds of soups on top.Courtesy to guests was also an important factor. The service began at the gate, where the host would wait for the guest and escort him to the room where the banquet would take place. Toranaga's waiting for Saeki at the entrance to the village was a demonstration of his good knowledge of etiquette. The road outside the gate, the courtyard, the corridors and the room in which the guests were entertained was cleaned with so much care that the guest would not find a single piece of dust on his way. Everything had to be perfect.Banquets were considered so important that a master of ceremonies was appointed when an important guest was to visit. For example, when Oda Nobunaga (Kuroda Nobuhisa in Shōgun) invited Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toranaga in Shōgun) to a banquet, he appointed Akechi Mitsuhide (Akechi Jinsai in Shōgun) as master of ceremonies. A chronicle by Ōta Gyūichi, one of Nobunaga's vassals, states that Mitsuhide procured rare delicacies in Kyoto and Sakai and entertained the guests with great care. The feast went on for three days.Shortly thereafter, however, the Honnōji incident occurred, in which Mitsuhide attacked Nobunaga and drove him to death. Rumors began to circulate that Mitsuhide may have betrayed Nobunaga out of resentment for being scolded by Nobunaga for Mitsuhide's mismanagement of the banquet. Although these rumors are not corroborated by the records of the parties involved, it shows us how important the banquets were perceived to be at that time

<h5 class="ckHeading5">&nbsp;</h5><h5 class="ckHeading5">Time Sticks 線香</h5>Incense sticks are made by kneading ingredients that produce a desired fragrance into thin sticks and then drying them. When the incense stick is lit directly, an aromatic smoke is produced. Originally from India, incense sticks were introduced to Japan in the 16th century. Initially, the sticks were used by court nobles to enjoy the fragrance and in temples for purification rituals. Domestic production began in the late 17th century.Since the burning rate of incense is constant, it was used in various ways to measure time. In temples and castles, an incense clock called "kōbandokei" was used to measure time. For this clock, a wooden frame was used to spread powdered incense in a linear pattern, and time markers were placed at regular intervals, with time measured by the rate at which the incense burned.From the 17th century onward, incense sticks were also used as a substitute for clocks. In Zen temples, the monks used incense sticks to measure the time for zazen meditation. The time it took for an incense stick to burn out was also used as a measure of a courtesan's service time. Therefore, the fee for a courtesan's time was called "senkōdai" ("incense fee"), and the price was calculated based on the number of incense sticks burned. Being the visionary that she was, Gin was ahead of her time in using these "time sticks."

<h5 class="ckHeading5">&nbsp;</h5><h5 class="ckHeading5">Shifting Alliances 裏切</h5>Saeki's betrayal of Toranaga was not an unusual act for a warlord. The most important goal for the warlord was the continuity of his clan. He sought to achieve this goal by choosing the side most likely to prevail. Getting other warlords on your side was the most effective way to win a war. Hideyoshi (the Taikō) was a master of this. Take, for example, Hideyoshi's power struggle with Ieyasu (Toranaga in Shōgun) in the years 1584-1586, after the death of Oda Nobunaga (Kuroda Nobuhisa in Shōgun).At that time, Hideyoshi's forces faced the combined forces of Ieyasu and Oda Nobukatsu, the second son of Nobunaga, at the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute. Despite vastly outnumbering Ieyasu's forces, Hideyoshi was unable to achieve victory, in part because Ieyasu had allied himself with Nobunaga's son. By protecting Nobukatsu, Ieyasu held the moral high ground, as Nobukatsu was the natural choice to succeed his father.In response to this situation, Hideyoshi changed his strategy. He concentrated all his efforts on winning over Nobukatsu. Eventually, Nobukatsu switched sides and made peace with Hideyoshi behind Ieyasu's back. Ieyasu now faced Hideyoshi's vast army alone, with no hope of victory. However, a devastating earthquake thwarted Hideyoshi's plans to attack Ieyasu's domain.&nbsp;The two warlords made peace, and Ieyasu accepted Hideyoshi's rule. Meanwhile, Nobukatsu became one of Hideyoshi's vassals instead of succeeding his father as the actual lord of Japan. Later on, he was stripped of his domains, proving that shifting alliances could be a dangerous thing to do.

<h5 class="ckHeading5">&nbsp;</h5><h5 class="ckHeading5">The Impeachment Letter 弾劾状</h5>In the Sengoku period, the spoken language and the written language were completely different. The written language was called sōrō-bun, an epistolary style using the auxiliary "sōrō" instead of “de gozaru.” &nbsp;Below is the Japanese version and the English translation of the impeachment letter.急度申入候今度虎永公之儀ニ付　大老各々申談候間　於無別心者　来坂可被成候事猶　返答ノ儀ハ当方ノ使者大老佐伯信辰殿ニ可被申伝候仍如件Kitto mōshi-ire sōrō.&nbsp;Kono tabi Toranaga-kō no gi ni tsuki tairōshu ono-ono no mōsu dan sōrō aida betsugokoro naki ni oite wa raihan nasaru beku sōrō koto.&nbsp;Naho, hentō no gi wa tōhō no shisha, tairō Saeki Nobutatsu-dono ni mōshitsutaeraru beku sōrō. Yotte, kudan no gotoshi.We urgently notify you of the following.&nbsp;By order of the Council of Regents: we invite Lord Toranaga to submit before us in Osaka, to answer for his treachery.&nbsp;He is to deliver his response to Saeki Nobutatsu, our ambassador and newly appointed Regent. So it is as stated above.When Hiromatsu read the letter aloud, he partially rephrased it in his own words.

<h5 class="ckHeading5">&nbsp;</h5><h5 class="ckHeading5">Swordsmanship 剣術</h5>The martial arts practiced today, such as kendo and judo, were established after the opening of Japan. Under Western influence, the techniques were systematized and made into competitions. These are now generally referred to as gendai budō ("modern budō"), budō meaning “way of warfare.” On the other hand, martial arts in their original form have also been handed down to the present and are still practiced under the name "ko-budō" or "ko-bujutsu" ("old martial arts").Originally, martial arts were practiced independently in the various samurai clans. The techniques were not taught to people outside the clan. They were often passed only from father to son or to selected disciples, and some continue in this way to this day. Techniques were not limited to one aspect of warfare, such as swordsmanship or archery, but included all aspects, such as using swords, spears, bows, barehanded, etc.Because these techniques were developed in life-and-death battles, they were extremely practical. On the battlefield, the most important aspect of warfare was to take the enemy's head. Therefore, techniques were developed to mount the enemy and cut off his head. For this reason, throwing and grappling techniques were indispensable. These techniques evolved along with swordsmanship and were the origin of modern Japanese martial arts such as judo, jujitsu, and aikido.Battles were mostly fought with guns, bows and spears, and daggers in close combat. Swords were of little value on the battlefield because their range was not long enough against spears, and it was difficult to draw a sword in close combat. Nevertheless, swordsmanship occupied a special place in the martial arts of the samurai, as the sword represented the heart of the samurai.Before Hideyoshi (the Taikō) organized his "sword hunt" (1588), in which all weapons, including swords, were confiscated from people who were not samurai, even peasants had swords. The samurai, however, carried swords of much better quality and were proud to be masters of swordsmanship.&nbsp;In this environment, several schools developed that transmitted the secrets of the art of swordsmanship. The masters who created these schools were charismatic figures, perfecting the art and developing the spiritual aspects of practicing it.&nbsp;They also developed methods for drawing the sword in close combat, which evolved into several schools of iaijutsu and today's iaido ("iai" means "be in the moment"). By strengthening the cultural identity of the samurai and giving them the opportunity to improve their skills, the various schools of swordsmanship became an integral part of the samurai culture.

A fate for every soul.&nbsp;Host Emily Yoshida and guests break down episode 7 of FX’s Shōgun. Featuring executive producer and co-creator Rachel Kondo, actor Hiroyuki Sanada "Toranaga," producer Eriko Miyagawa, and composer Leopold Ross. From Toranaga's complicated relationship with his son, Nagakado, to a music score so compelling it tells a story, episode 7 breakdown will delve into the heart of Shōgun.

Episode 7 - A Stick of Time

In war and in peace, a good enemy can be more valuable than a good ally.

Discover the warriors from A Stick of Time

Stunts & Choreography

Uncover the breathtaking world that hundreds of craftspeople painstakingly bring to life episode by episode.

An Unwavering Way of Life.

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Outplayed by new alliances in Osaka, Toranaga is forced to carve out a new deal with a long lost family member.

Lord Toranaga mounted on his white horse rides through a line of his samurai in the forests

Episode 7: A Stick of Time | FX Shōgun Episode Guide

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INSIDE THE EPISODE

Episode 7 - A Stick of Time

Discover the warriors from A Stick of Time

Toranaga

Blackthorne

Mariko

Yabushige

Omi

Ishido

Hiromatsu

Nagakado

Stunts & Choreography

Explore scenes from A Stick of Time

An Unwavering Way of Life.

More Shōgun awaits

The Making of Shōgun – Chapter Seven: Battle Cry