Lord Yoshii Toranaga grants Usami Fuji her freedom in the Shōgun ending, and Hiroyuki Sanada explains the thinking behind his actions.

Shōgun star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada explains why his character Lord Yoshii Toranaga gives Usami Fuji (Moeka Hoshi) her freedom in the final episode. Fuji, the granddaughter of Toranaga’s trusted advisor Toda Hiromatsu (Tokuma Nishioka), lost her husband and son in Shōgun‘s first episode. When Toranaga made John Blackthrone a hatamato, Toranaga commanded Fuji to become Blackthorne’s consort. Fuji dutifully performed this role, even as she grieved her losses and without her and Blackthorne ever becoming romantic or physically intimate.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Sanada explained why Toranaga granted Fuji her freedom in the finale, releasing her from her responsibilities as Blackthorne’s consort, which enables her to do as she desires and become a nun. Toranaga allowing Fuji to leave his service may seem like a strange move, particularly given some of the other reveals about Toranaga in the Shōgun finale, but Sanada clarified why it is perfectly in-character for Toranaga. Read Sanada’s comments below:

He’s always following the “promise”. It was a contract, you know, just half a year. So, if it doesn’t work, release. There was a plan from the beginning, and then it was maybe reported from someone, some spy, that Fuji and Anjin never become husband and wife, really. So, he knew what she was wanting. And then also, she lost her husband and son in episode 1. “That’s enough sadness.” And even though she worked for Toranaga as Anjin’s wife, “That’s enough, good job.” Like Mariko, she’s done her job. “Well done.” But Fuji was done, also, so he gives her freedom. That’s a promise from the beginning.

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Like Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), Fuji did her job in service of Toranga, but unlike the deceased Mariko, Toranaga can give Fuji freedom as she continues to live.

Toranaga is ambitious and conniving, a truth made more apparent than ever with what he reveals in the moments before the death of Kashigi Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano) in the finale. Nevertheless, the Shōgun character is also a man of his word who keeps his promises and rewards those who serve him well. Honoring the promise he made to Fuji is a perfect example of this, as she upheld her end of the contract they made, and it is only fair that Toranga upholds his end of the contract as well.

Ruthless as Toranaga can be, there is also the human element to it. He recognizes Fuji is still grieving the deaths of her husband and son. Despite this, she impeccably performed all her duties as Blackthorne’s consort. While Blackthorne and Fuji gradually formed a connection, it was never one of romance or physical intimacy. Forcing Fuji to stay in that position would be unnecessary and make Toranaga a liar and a hypocrite. Like Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), Fuji did her job in service of Toranga, but unlike the deceased Mariko, Toranaga can give Fuji freedom as she continues to live.

Such honorable ways seem like a stark contrast to all the deceit and destruction Toranga has created and will continue to create, as shared with Yabushige in his final moments. Despite the arguably underhanded actions Toranga has done and what he will do, he still keeps the promises he makes. As seen with the Portuguese priest Father Martin Alvito in Shōgun episode 8, the end result of the promises isn’t always what they envisioned, but Toranaga does keep his word, and, fortunately, that worked out well in the end for Fuji.