In Shogun episode 6, the narrative reaches a pivotal moment as Lord Toranaga gears up for the Crimson Sky strategy, following the bold steps taken by Ochiba-no-kata and Ishido.
Ochiba’s power play shifts the dynamics, asserting her dominance over Ishido. The death of Sugiyama leaves Lord Toranaga with no alternative but to rally his troops for the impending conflict. Toranaga’s journey to Osaka is marked by a decisive plan: overthrow the Regents and ascend to the position of shogun.
Ochiba-no-kata stands out as the sole mother among the Taiko’s consorts to provide him an heir, and she wields her influence over the Regents, aided by Ishido. Her role extends beyond that of the Heir’s mother.
She is driven by a personal vendetta to honor her father’s memory and recapture her former life. The episode lays bare the motivations and allegiances of the characters, setting the stage for the series’ climactic final four episodes.
1. What is Lord Toranaga’s Crimson Sky Plan?
Crimson Sky is an emergency strategy devised long ago, entailing a direct and forceful assault on Osaka Castle. The aim is to remove Ishido and the Council of Regents, leaving Yoshii Toranaga as the sole Regent and effectively elevating him to Shogun.
Initially, Toranaga dismissed the idea of attacking Ishido directly, citing a lack of allies and the inevitability of defeat. The murder of a Regent was a stark indication of the lengths Ochiba-no-kata and Ishido would go to. Despite this, Toranaga reiterated his disinterest in the title of Shogun. His closest confidant and his son urged an immediate offensive, but Toranaga insisted on seeking another way.
However, the killing of Sugiyama made it clear to Toranaga that Crimson Sky was his remaining alternative. Earlier, the Lord of Kanto had observed that Ochiba-no-kata’s lack of honor in combat suggested she would be merciless and unpredictable, a sentiment underscored by the Regent’s assassination.
With Lord Toranaga poised to initiate the Crimson Sky operation in Osaka, the upcoming episodes of Shogun are anticipated to be dominated by warfare. John Blackthorne has risen to the rank of general under Toranaga and is set to lead the cannon unit.
However, their forces are currently insufficient for an Osaka takeover. Toranaga is seeking an alliance with Saeki Nobutatsu, his half-brother, which could tip the scales in their favor against Ishido in Osaka. As the show nears its conclusion with only four episodes remaining, the long-foreshadowed war is about to unfold.
2. Who is Ochiba-No-Kata?
Known to Lady Mariko as Ruri, Ochiba is the offspring of Kuroda. In a parallel to history, her father was treacherously slain by one of his own, Akechi Jinsai, who is also Mariko’s father. This betrayal left Ochiba bereft of both her father and her closest friend, casting her adrift with no direction or purpose. Yet, her resolve did not waver.
An opportunity arose when she was invited to join the Taiko as his consort, a proposition extended by his wife. Accepting this role as Ochiba-no-kata, she knew bearing an heir for the Taiko could elevate her to immense power.
Driven by a desire for vengeance and to regain her lost life, Ochiba seized the chance and fulfilled her role, giving birth to the Taiko’s sole heir. After the Taiko’s demise, she joined forces with the Regents, viewing Toranaga as a menace to her child’s legacy.
3. Why is Ochiba fighting Toranaga?
The details of Kuroda’s demise remain shrouded in mystery, yet Ochiba suspects Toranaga orchestrated the betrayal. Although Akechi Jinsai met his end following his betrayal, for Ochiba, true retribution won’t be realized until Toranaga’s downfall.
Ishido’s reservations against Toranaga have accelerated since Ochiba’s arrival in Osaka. The Heir’s mother is convinced that Toranaga harbors ambitions to usurp the shogunate, and her animosity towards him is deeply personal.
4. Why did Ishido kill Sugiyama?
While the majority of the Regents, including Lord Ito, cast their votes for the removal of Toranaga, Lord Sugiyama stood in defiance, voicing concerns that the actions of Ochiba and Ishido endangered the Heir.
Sugiyama’s dissent was met with a proposal from Ishido to remove him from his position, but Ochiba dismissed this as too time-consuming. Impatient and resolute, Ochiba ordered Ishido to kill Sugiyama before he could depart from Osaka.
The death of Sugiyama served as a stark warning to the other lords about Ochiba’s ruthlessness towards dissenters and signaled to Toranaga the extent of her control over Osaka.
With no alternatives left, Yoshii was compelled to activate the Crimson Sky plan. The Council of Regents has effectively become a puppet to Ochiba’s ambitions, and it’s fitting that episode 6 of Shogun focused heavily on her narrative and history.
5. What is Toranaga’s goal?
Episode 6 reveals that Lord Toranaga has no aspirations for the shogunate, yet he is not idle against the threats from Ishido and Ochiba. His initial reluctance to attack Osaka stems from this, but he soon realizes it’s the only viable countermeasure against Ishido.
Although Toranaga holds the Taikō and the Heir in high regard and aims to safeguard them, he understands that overcoming the council and becoming the sole regent is imperative.
Facing the combined forces of various daimyos, Toranaga’s execution of the Crimson Sky must be flawless to secure victory in the impending conflict.
6. About Shōgun
Shōgun is an upcoming American historical drama television limited series based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell. The novel was previously adapted into a 1980 television miniseries.
The series is set to premiere with its first two episodes on February 27, 2024, on Hulu and FX, with new episodes of the 10-episode series then releasing weekly.
Shōgun follows “the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds and a mysterious female samurai; John Blackthorne, a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him; Lord Toranaga, a shrewd, powerful daimyo, at odds with his own dangerous, political rivals; and Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance”.
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