Here’s the Shogun ending explained and a recap of the finale featuring spoilers about what happened. Dive into our breakdown and learn about the fates of Yoshii Toranaga, John Blackthorne, and Kashigi Yabushige, among others.
What happened at the end of Shogun and who dies?
Shogun ended with Toranaga finally revealing his plan of becoming Shogun to Yabushige before aiding him in committing Seppuku.
The final episode saw the return of Yabushige, John Blackthorne, and Toranaga’s consorts to Edo, post Lady Mariko’s sacrifice. Yabushige was guilt-stricken with her demise because he was the one who led the intruders into the Osaka castle. He admitted to his crime and was sentenced to commit Seppuku the following day.
Before going out, he named Omi his heir and had a final conversation with Toranaga. He regretted not getting to see the lord’s plan come to fruition, and not knowing what it was. So, Toranaga fulfilled the dying man’s wish. He revealed how he managed to execute Crimson Sky without sending his army to Osaka.
Instead of the army, he sent Lady Mariko. Her sacrifice caused distress across the city. It led all the important families to flee the land as they realized that they were being held hostage. Furthermore, the attack on Mariko divided the Council of Regents. While Ishido believed they were all united, Mariko’s death had already sown the seeds of division between them.
Most importantly, it had turned Lady Ochiba to Toranaga’s side. In the secret letter that she sent to Toranaga, she pledged her loyalty to him, burning her ties with Ishido. With no support from the heir or Lady Ochiba, Ishido’s defeat was imminent.
Before dying, Yabushige asked Toranaga whether he wanted to be Shogun, to which the latter didn’t reply. But stabbing himself, Yabushige smiled at Toranaga, finally understanding his true plan. The lord smirked back and sliced Yabushige’s head off. His little smile implied that it was indeed his plan to become the true Shogun of Japan the entire time.
How did Toranaga win the war and become Shogun?
Lady Mariko’s demise changed Lady Ochiba’s heart and she no longer supported Lord Ishido. With the latter not fighting under the heir’s banner, he would no longer have the support of other regents, thus leading to Toranaga’s victory.
The finale of Shogun subverted fan expectations by not delivering the Battle of Sekigahara from the books. While Toranaga’s smaller army would eventually go to war against Ishido and the other armies of the regents, they wouldn’t have to fight as Ishido had already lost.
Knowing that the heir’s army was supporting Toranaga instead of Ishido, the regents would also fall back and ally themselves with Toranaga. That would give the Lord of Kanto the ultimate power and begin his Shogunate. In this era, he would have the ultimate military power and create a nation without wars, with the backing of Taiko’s heir.
All this was possible with the efforts and sacrifices of Nagakado, Hiromatsu, and Mariko, and masterful use of Yabushige and John Blackthorne.
What happened to John Blackthorne?
John Blackthorne’s fate was to never leave Japan and Toranaga made sure of it.
The Anjin realized that his ship wasn’t destroyed by a traitor in Ajiro but as a part of the deal that Lady Mariko made with the church to keep him alive. However, it was Toranaga who orchestrated that and had the ship destroyed to test Blackthorne. The Englishman passed his test and let go of his own personal war.
On Toranaga’s order, he began to rebuild the ship and decided to stay by Toranaga’s side to build him a fleet. He initially thought that he was using the lord. But the latter revealed that he was using the Anjin to cause distractions that would ultimately help him in becoming Shogun. Toranaga admitted that he kept Blackthorne alive because the merchant made him laugh.
Towards the end, Blackthorne lets go of Mariko’s cross, proving that the scenes showcasing him as an old man in England in the future were merely visions or dreams. But, his future was in Japan and even James Clavell’s Shōgun novel implied that Blackthorne never went back to England.
The series stays true to the book as Toranaga would always burn his ship down (orchestrate a scheme) to keep him by his side. Blackthorne’s fate lay in Toranaga’s hand and he had accepted that.
For more Shogun updates, learn whether it is based on a true story or not.
