Here’s your introduction to the show’s central conflict.
The Taiko wanted Toranaga, the lord of the Kanto region, to take his place.
Easier said than done.
Hiroyuki Sanada as Toranaga in ‘Shōgun’.Katie Yu/FX
Ishido, the protector of Osaka Castle, sees Toranaga as a threat to his own power.
So he manipulates the Council against him.
Lady Ochiba (Fumi Nikaido), the heirs mother, is a main point of contention.
Takehiro Hira as Ishido in ‘Shōgun’.Kurt Iswarienko/FX
The Council, however, sees it as a kidnapping.
The Portuguese feel they have a monopoly on Japan and already consider it their territory.
He and his men have pillaged Spanish settlements as part of his mission as a Protestant emissary.
Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne in ‘Shōgun’.Katie Yu/FX
So it becomes Toranaga’s best interest to keep the Anjin alive to stave off his own death.
Even though he’s a more than capable warrior, he’s often possessive of his wife, Mariko.
Nagakado is constantly seeking his father’s approval, and his brash nature tends to be a liability.
Tokuma Nishioka as Hiromatsu in ‘Shōgun’.Katie Yu/FX
Kiri is more caring, though don’t mistake her kindness for weakness.
Other figures in Toranaga’s corner are Lady Iyo (Ako) and Muraji (Yasunari Takeshima).
Muraji is a mysterious figure.
Anna Sawai as Lady Mariko in ‘Shōgun’.Katie Yu/FX
He’s a fisherman, a Christian, and the headman of Ajiro village.
So serving a Protestant goes against her long-held beliefs.
Kashigi Yabushige, on the other hand, is intentionally trying to play both sides.
Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige in ‘Shōgun’.Katie Yu/FX
Yabushige is the lord of Izu, which lies in the Kanto region and makes Toranaga his lord.
Though Yabushige technically serves Toranaga, his allegiance is to himself.
Yabushige declines, hoping to use possession of the Dutch ship to his advantage.
Hiroyuki Sanada in ‘Shōgun’.Katie Yu/FX
Where this is all leading
To understandShogun, we must turn to the history books.
Ishido is inspired by Ishida Mitsunari, who plotted to prevent Ieyasu’s rise to power.
And that means war is to come.
How we’ll get to that point is the game at play inShogun.
Who will come out on top?
Who will live long enough to see the final outcome?
And what will Toranaga and Ishido do to verify it’s them?
The first three episodes ofShogunare now streaming on Hulu.
