“I’m Ready”: What Is Lord Toranaga Planning For Lady Mariko In Shogun?

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Shōgun episode 8.

Lady Mariko has been given a very important mission in Shōgun episode 8 after Lord Toranaga revealed his true plan. Following Toda Hiromatsu’s death at the end of Shōgun episode 8, the show has confirmed that Toranaga does not intend to surrender after all. All of Toranaga’s actions since Nagakado’s death have been part of an elaborate act to make Ishido believe he has given up. The only person Toranaga has trusted with the true nature of his surrender is Mariko, who is now on her way to Osaka on behalf of her lord.

Lady Mariko is one of the most interesting Shōgun characters. The translator was hiding an incredibly tragic past and has wanted to commit seppuku since her father was killed for treason. Lady Mariko’s backstory in Shōgun ties into the current war between Toranaga and Ochiba because the heir’s mother believes the Lord of Kanto was the one behind Akechi Jinsai’s resurgence. Toranaga has denied Mariko the right to commit seppuku, noting that her father would have liked her to continue his fight.

Lord Toranaga’s Plan To Send Lady Mariko To Osaka Explained

Mariko is heading to Osaka before Toranaga

Lord Toranaga summoned Lady Mariko at the end of Shōgun episode 8 and gave her a key mission. The translator is to go to Osaka, most likely ahead of Toranaga and his men. It is unclear what exactly Mariko’s full mission will be, but it must be something extremely important given how Toranaga had to expose his secret first. Toda Hiromatsu’s seppuku means that Lord Toranaga’s enemies will believe in his surrender no matter what, which gives him enough room to put his plan against the Regents in motion ahead of Shōgun‘s finale.

Part of Lady Mariko’s mission included bringing a message from Toranaga to Yabushige and Blackthorne, who were just about to sail aboard the Anjin’s ship. Toranaga predicted that Blackthorne was going to offer his services to Yabushige and that Yabushige was going to accept it once he believed Toranaga was going to surrender. Toranaga’s predictions were correct, and now the Anjin’s ship has been moved without causing suspicions. Lady Mariko, Yabushige, and Blackthorne are all where they are supposed to be according to Lord Toranaga’s plan. The same can be said about the Englishman’s ship and its weapons.

Is Lady Mariko The Key To Turning Lady Ochiba Into An Ally?

Mariko and Ochiba were once friends

Earlier in Shōgun episode 8, it was suggested that Toranaga could still turn Ochiba-no-kata into an ally. When asked whether Ochiba would ever forge an alliance with them to protect the heir from a war, Mariko stated that Ochiba is doing what she is doing because of fear. According to Mariko, Ochiba’s biggest enemy is her fear rather than Toranaga himself. This suggests that Ochiba could be turned, especially if Toranaga proves that her son will be safer if Ishido and the Regents are defeated. Turning Ochiba may be Mariko’s mission in Osaka after all.

Mariko and Ochiba were once friends in Shōgun. This was when Ochiba was still called Ruri before she was brought into the Taikō’s court at one of his concerts. However, once Mariko’s father killed Ruri’s father as part of a cue, their friendship fell apart. To make things more complicated, Ochiba believes that Lord Toranaga was the one behind the cue that caused her father’s death. This is why Ochiba has been so adamant about defeating Toranaga to protect her son, suggesting it will be very difficult for Mariko to turn her into an ally.

How Lord Toranaga’s Plan Shows His Trust In Lady Mariko

No one else knows the truth about Hiromatsu’s death

Lord Toranaga has given Mariko a very delicate mission, one that she did not hesitate to accept. Not only is Toranaga sending Mariko to Osaka ahead of him and his men, but he has also revealed to her the truth about Hiromatu’s seppuku. Lady Mariko might be the only other person in the realm who knows why Hiromatsu committed seppuku, further showing how much Toranaga trusts her. In addition to Mariko’s loyalty to her lord, she is also completing her father’s mission that began all those years ago.

Assuming Toranaga was indeed somewhat involved with the resurgence that ended with Akechi Jinsai killing Kuroda, he must feel responsible for whatever happens to Mariko. This is why he has kept her in his court and treated her as one of his most important allies. Toranaga regrets not telling the whole truth about Akechi Jinsai to Mariko sooner, but she is now aware that her father would have liked her to continue his fight. What exactly Mariko, Yabushige, and Blackthorne must do in Osaka remains to be seen in Shōgun’s final two episodes.

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