Shogun
WARNING : This article contain SPOILERS for Shogun episode 2
Summary
Shōgunepisode 2 ends with Lord Toranaga and John Blackthorne fighting an assassin sent after the latter , fire the interrogative sentence of who wants the Anjin dead and why . Blackthorne , the English sailing master whose ship wash ashore on an island he had yet to corroborate the existence of , elevated the tension amongst the other mainShōguncharacters , particularly between Toranaga and Ishido as well as between the Toranaga and the Portuguese non-Christian priest . After being keep in prison and get away capital punishment , John was brought back to Toranaga ’s rook , rig the chief event ofFX’sShōgunshowmotion .
With the help of Mariko , who provided a fair rendering to shew communication between the Anjin and Toranaga , John receive to tell his master of ceremonies about the creation of a Portuguese base in Macau . The Englishman also state stories of a war the Japanese did n’t acknowledge was happening involving a unlike Christian religion they did n’t know live . Shōgun ’s first two episodesintroduced audiences to an all-inclusive bent of characters , families , and location , all of which are tangled in a complex biz of interests that connect to Yoshii Toranaga and his vision for Japan ’s hereafter .
Lord Kiyama Sent An Assassin To Kill John Blackthorne
The Anjin was staying at Lord Toranaga’s chambers
Shōgunepisode 2 terminate with an assassin attacking Lord Toranaga in his sleeping accommodation , but it is later divulge that the assassin was there for John Blackthorne . While Toranaga had announce before that the Anjin was going to stay in the West Palace , the Lord of Kanto swop places with his guest when Nox fell . Therefore , when the assassin entered Toranaga ’s room , she was in reality hoping to line up the English navigator . sooner in the installment , Lord Kiyama , one of the five members of the Council of Regents , offered himself to take care of the John Blackthorne trouble .
Character
Actor
Real - Life Inspiration
Yoshii Toranaga
Hiroyuki Sanada
Custom image by Marcelo Leite
Tokugawa Ieyasu
John Blackthorne
Cosmo Jarvis
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
William Adams
Toda Mariko
Anna Sawai
Hosokawa Gracia
Kashigi Yabushige
Tadanobu Asano
Honda Masanobu
Kashigi Omi
Hiroto Kanai
Honda Masazumi
Ishido Kazunari
Takehiro Hira
Ishida Mitsunari
Lord Kiyama is the one who hired an assassin to kill Blackthorne . The fact that the assassinator think the noncitizen would be on the West Palace expose that Kiyama , or at least one of the older Regents , has a spy on Toranaga ’s homage . Toranaga publically announced that John was going to stay in the West Palace , perhaps purposefully trying to see if the information was going to leak out . Regardless , Toranaga switch places with the Anjin testify to be a impudent conclusion , as it not only protected his guests but also confirm that there was a spy among them .
Why The Christian Lords & Portuguese Priests Want The Anjin Dead
John Blackthorne could ruin their plans for the region
Lord Kiyama announced he was going to take care of the Anjin after a coming together with the other four Christian lords and Father Dell’Aqua , leader of the Jesuit foreign mission in the region . John Blackthorne is an English Protestant , meaning his interests go against those of the Portuguese Catholics . With conflicts between Catholics and Protestants happening all over Europe , keep back trade routes and unknown neighborhood a secret from the other side was all-important . The Portuguese arrived in Japan in 1543 , yet it was only in 1600 that William Addams , the first Englishman to reach Japan , confirmed the existence of the island .
Shōgun should be a antecedency watch , as it dazzles us with political intrigue , civilization , and an intensity that brings everything together nicely .
The Portuguese did n’t recount the Japanese about the existence of other strands of Christianism , which is why Toranaga and other Japanese lords were obscure about the Anjin ’s claim of his land being at war with that of the Portuguese . John Blackthorne has a fate of entropy that the Portuguese did not share with the locals , including the existence of a Portuguese base in Macauthat hire Nipponese Ronin . The arrival of an English Protestant commit the spiritual and commercial-grade aspects of Portugal ’s delegacy in Japan and their alliance with lords like Kiyama in risk , which is why they went after Blackthorne .
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
Why Lord Ishido Made Sure John Blackthorne Wouldn’t Be Executed
Ishido sees an opportunity in Blackthorne
Unlike Kiyama , Ohno , Toranga , and Sugiayama , Ishido did not convert to Catholicism , nor did he craft any commercial-grade deals with the Portuguese merchants . Therefore , where the repose of the Council of Regents see danger , Ishido sees opportunity . aside from Toranaga , who Ishido consider will be stagnant shortly , all the other Regents other than Ishido are now Christians . Ishido get laid that , once Toranaga dies and the competitiveness for mogul begins , the other three lords will have the Portuguese Church and their merchants on their side , meaning they could well overwhelm him .
Shogun star Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis discuss their inquiry procedure , the importance of falconry , and bringing genuineness to the serial .
This is why Ishido made sure John would n’t be executed . Yabushige freed John right before the execution of instrument , piddle it seem like a mathematical group of bandit was responsible for for the confusion when , in reality , they were all play on Ishido ’s lodge . The Anjin is the key to entree not only 500 muskets and 20 carom but also trade with neighborhood other than Portugal , meaning he will make for a great ally once a more direct scrap for power between Ishido and the Christian Lord begins . Ishido want Toranaga dead , whereas the other Regeants are sharpen on the Anjin .
Custom image by Marcelo Leite
Why John Blackthorne Is So Important To Lord Toranaga
John brings 500 muskets, 20 cannons, and lots of intel
The reasons why Toranaga is so interested in John Blackthorne are not too unlike from why Ishido consider the foreigner to be worthful . John has access to a fate of weapons that the Japanese do not , at least in term of number , all of which could now convert the tide of a war . More than his ship ’s cannons or firearm , John is a valuable asset because of his knowledge of a side of the world the Jesuits did not inform the Japanese of . John is also a clever mortal himself and could be an important advisor to Toranaga .
Portugal’s Bases In Macau Explained & Why It Shocked Lord Toranaga
Toranaga is realizing Portugal’s influence over the region
A clear example of how important John Blackthorne is to Lord Toranaga inFX ’s historical dramatic play showcame when the Anjin brought up Portugal ’s understructure in Macau . Toranaga was not aware of other Portuguese bases in the region , get alone that they employed disgraced samurai and were smuggling firearms . Portugal was acting as the middleman between China and Japan through Macau , amplify the already powerful maritime trade established in Africa and South America to East Asia . While Japan was never colonized by Portugal like other country were , John claims that their empire turn over Japan to belong to them .
At least three main forces are competing for world power by the oddment ofShōgunepisode 2 – Toranaga , Ishido , and the Christian Almighty ( … )
try that Japan “ belong ” to another rural area followed by the breakthrough of other Portuguese bases in the region put Toranaga on alert . Additionally , thanks to the map John drew , Toranaga obtain to learn of other countries the Jesuits had not tell apart them about , including England . concisely after his conversation with the English buffer , Lord Toranaga turn down to sign a document that would authorise one of Portugal ’s cock-a-hoop commercial ship to leave behind Japan . This would then confirm to the Lusitanian non-Christian priest and the Christian overlord how dangerous John Blackthorne would be if he remained close to Toranaga .
What Shōgun’s “Servants of Two Lords” Title Really Means
John is indirectly serving two masters
Both Ishido and Toranaga see the value of having John Blackthorne stuffy to them for relatively interchangeable reasons , hence the “ Servants of Two Lords ” statute title . While John is currently living in Toranaga ’s castle , he is only awake because Ishido require Yabushige to secretly set him free . John is indirectly serving two masters , although he is currently much secretive to Toranaga than to Ishido . At least three main force are competing for power by the end ofShōgunepisode 2 – Toranaga , Ishido , and the Christian lords – and the Anjin is in the middle of it .
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