Viewers of Shogun may be confused as to whether Yoshii Toranaga actually becomes shogun or if he dies by the end of the hit FX series. The writing for the show expects watchers to understand and piece together the complex politics between the various regents and how certain lords gain political power, sometimes without even picking up a katana. The finale of this limited series reveals a lot of information about Toranaga’s true ambitions, which he has kept close to his chest. Here’s whether he finally becomes the leader of Japan after episode 10.
Does Lord Toranaga become Shogun after the finale?
Yes, it is heavily implied that Lord Toranaga becomes shogun after the events of the finale. In fact, it’s essentially a foregone conclusion.
The full extent of The Battle of Sekigahara between Toranaga and Ishido isn’t shown, but it’s a fight that Toranaga has won well before it begins. First off, Toranaga confesses to Yabushige (who is going to commit seppuku anyway and dead men don’t talk) that his plan was always to become shogun and usher in an era of peace after many years of bloody struggle between the regents. The series takes a slow-burn approach when it comes to revealing what his true intentions are, though given the name of the show, that isn’t too much of a secret.
This most powerful political play he makes in pursuit of becoming shogun is the sacrificial death of Lady Mariko in the penultimate episode. This causes a political upheaval in Osaka Castle and makes the other lords and daimyos question Ishido. Before passing away, Mariko also told Ochiba-no-kata, the mother to the heir, to side with Toranaga. So after her death, her resolve to support Ishido is severed and she is ultimately convinced of her friend’s argument. Toranaga has effectively secured the support of the heir, taking it away from Ishido, before their conflict on the battlefield begins. This nail in the coffin results in Ishido being buried after the battle and dying from starvation several days later.
Last but not least, Lord Toranaga is meant to be a fictional proxy for the real-life Tokugawa Ieyasu, who is known as one of the three Great Unifiers of Japan and also become shogun a few years after the actual Battle of Sekigahara. Given the events of the show, there is no reason why Toranaga wouldn’t eventually do much the same and become shogun as he truly desired.
