A Comprehensive Guide to the Characters and their Relationships in FX’s Shogun

FX’s Shogun has been grabbing eyeballs for all the right reasons. It is a political thriller with a lot of drama, tension, and, most importantly, complex characters. For a beginner, it could be a little tricky to follow due to its vast scope and numerous storylines.

For shows like Game of Thrones, Vikings, or The Witcher, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the characters and their relationships. As of writing, only three episodes of Shogun are out. So, it’s the right time to catch up on its background.

In this article, we’ve put together all the important characters and everything you should know about them without any big spoilers! Shogun is based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, and the series’ characters are mostly true to their source material.

Let’s begin the crash course!

1. An Introduction to the Main Characters:

I. John Blackthorne

John Blackthorne is the main protagonist of the series. The novel is also partially told from his perspective. Blackthorne, also known as “Anjin” in Japanese, is an English ship pilot. His ship is called Erasmus in the book. Due to a storm, he washes ashore and lands in Lord Toranaga’s territory.

Toranaga initially captures him, but Blackthorne has a mission in Japan. He hopes to gain Toranaga’s help to achieve it. During his stay in Japan, he falls in love with Mariko, Buntaro’s wife.

The story deals with his efforts to blend in with Japanese cultures and societal norms. He also forms a bond with Lord Toranaga and tries to build his influence in the backdrop of 17th-century Japanese politics.

II. Lord Yoshii Toranaga

Toranaga is another central character in Shogun. He was the leader of the Kanto region in 17th-century Japan and a member of the Council of Regents. He is a brilliant strategist and is playing the long game to secure his position as a dictator in Japan.

Toranaga’s ambition is to be the one and only supreme ruler of the country, and he doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice anyone who becomes a barrier in his path. However, in Clavell’s book, Toranaga is not an evil man.

While he causes pain to ordinary people, he wants to bring them peace and prosperity and is willing to learn. Despite coming from a feared lineage, he does everything he can to gain people’s trust.

III. Toda Mariko

Mariko is a high-born Christian woman who married Buntaro against her will. She makes the most of her unhappy, abusive marriage to learn everything about Christian values.

She initially acts as Blackthorne’s interpreter and eventually becomes his lover. Her husband sends off Mariko to a far province in the north for eight years. During this time, she learned Latin, Portuguese, and the Catholic doctrine with the Jesuits. She is a samurai and one of the most respected women in Japan.

IV. Kashigi Yabushige

Yabushige is the Lord of Izu. He pledges his loyalty to Toranaga but secretly always looks for new opportunities to form alliances and cares about his personal growth and success. He is a key character in the series.

V. Ishido Kazunari

Ishido Kazunari is the main antagonist in the novel. He sees Lord Toranaga as a threat and his enemy and wants to remove him from the Council of Regents.

VI. Father Martin Alvito

Martin Alvito is a Portuguese Jesuit priest who serves as a translator for the Council of Regents. He is also a mediator between the Portuguese and Japanese leaders in the region.

VII. Ochibi No Kata

She is the mother of the Heir and the son of the founder of the Council of Regents. She is only loyal to her son and herself and would do anything to keep him safe.

2. The Relationships Between Characters in Shogun Explained

The story begins in the timeline of Kuroda, a former military ruler of Japan. Following his death, Taiko succeeds him. Taiko is the father of Yaechiyo, the Heir. Ochiba is Yaechiyo’s mother and must protect him until he comes of age. On his behalf, The Council of Regents rule the kingdom, headed by Yoshii Toranaga.

3. The Council of Regents

Yoshii Toranaga is the Lord of the Kanto within the Council of Regents. The other members of the Council of Regents are Sugiyama, Kiyama, Ishido, Ohno, and Yabushige. Yabushige is the Lord of Izu Province in the Kanto region. Hiromatsu is Toranaga’s general.

I. Family Members of Lord Toranaga

Toranaga is married to Shizu and Kiri. He has a half-brother, Saeki and his son is called Nagakado. Toranaga is the head of the Council of Regents, who welcomes John Blackthorne into the island.

II. John Blackthorne’s Relationship with Yoshii Toranaga

In the beginning of Shogun, English pilot John Blackthorne finds himself lost in 17th-century feudal Japan. It is Toranaga who helps him find his path, in return of his support.

Despite cultural disparities, Lord Toranaga recognizes Blackthorne’s value and promotes him to the position of hatamoto. Toranaga recognizes Blackthorne’s unique skills, setting the stage for a war where the Englishman’s abilities will prove crucial. Their relationship becomes a microcosm of the broader clash of cultures depicted in Shogun.

III. Mariko and her Family

Mariko is one of the most significant characters in the series. A respected woman Samurai, Mariko is Buntaro’s wife. She is stuck in an abusive marriage with her lord. She is also the daughter of Akechi Jinsai, a vassal of Kuroda. She has a son with Buntaro, Ryoji.

Mariko has a special relationship with John Blackthorne, as the two fall in love. She is first appointed as Blackthorne’s translator, given her vast knowledge of various languages. However, she does not speak English.

Given her abusive marriage and inability to reach her potential due to societal barriers, she finds solace in Blackthorne. The latter also finds comfort within her as she’s the only bridge between him and an alien culture.

4. 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”.