Lady Mariko completed her mission in Shōgun episode 9, allowing Lord Toranaga to finally strike back against Ishido and Ochiba-no-kata in Osaka.

Mariko, Ishido, and Toranaga in Shogun

Lady Mariko’s death in Shōgun episode 9 will help Lord Toranaga’s Crimson Sky plan against Ishido as the FX show sets the stage for an intense finale. Following an episode entirely dedicated to her, Mariko sacrifices herself in one of the saddest scenes on the show so far. Even though Mariko did not commit seppuku and was granted safe passage out of Osaka, she and Blackthorne soon had to deal with assassins Ishido sent on her way. To allow the other hostages to survive and escape, Mariko stood close to the door just before it was blown up.

Everything Mariko did in Osaka was part of the mission Toranaga gave her at the end of episode 8. Lady Mariko’s family backstory explains why she was not afraid to die, and why she always remained loyal to Toranaga. Considering Mariko had been seeking death ever since her entire family was killed following her father’s actions, it is tragically fitting that she died as a samurai who fulfilled her duty to her lord at the end of Shōgun episode 9.

Lady Mariko Fulfilled Lord Toranaga’s “Crimson Sky” Plan In Shōgun Episode 9

Lady Mariko’s sacrifice means she concluded her mission

Lady Mariko entering a room in Shogun episode 9

Despite her tragic death, Lady Mariko completed the mission Lord Toranaga assigned her to. Toranaga planned to weaken Ishido and Ochiba by disrupting the stability they had at the Osaka Castle. By sending Mariko to Osaka ahead of him, Toranaga put Ishido in check. This is because Ishido would either have to let Mariko leave the castle and return to Edo as Toranaga ordered her to or admit that she and the other ladies were being kept there against their will. Either outcome would weaken Ishido and remove the advantage he had thanks to the hostages.

Thanks to Mariko’s sacrifice, Ishido is finally in a position of weakness.

This is why, despite allowing Mariko to leave Osaka, Ishido secretly sent assassins to kill her on that same night. Still, even though Mariko was killed after all, what happened at the castle can hardly be considered a victory for Ishido. Mariko is dead, but her sacrifice will allow the other ladies of Toranaga’s court to survive and tell what happened. Ishido will certainly be accused of keeping hostages in Osaka, and even if not every daimyo turns against him, this will likely cost him important allies. Thanks to Mariko’s sacrifice, Ishido is finally in a position of weakness.

How Lady Mariko Affected Ishido’s Control Over Osaka

The stability Ishido had in Osaka is gone

Lady Mariko and John Blackthorne in Shogun episode 9 John Blackthorne looking down in Shogun episode 9 Toranaga with a stern expression on the verge of tears in Shogun season 1 ep 8 Shogun-Lady-Ochiba-Lord-Ishido-Yoshii-Toranaga Toranaga looking on without emotion in a scene from Shogun episode 8

Ishido and Ochiba-no-kata had been keeping important daimyos and their families as hostages in Osaka, although in a rather subtle way. Those inside the castle were aware that they were not allowed to leave, yet they were never publicly referred to as hostages. Although he is the leader of the Council of Regents, Ishido does not have the authority to keep lords and ladies in his castle against their will. He does, however, have enough men to turn the castle into his own fortress. This is why Toranaga needed Mariko to “implode” Ishido’s fortress from within.

Character
Actor
Real-Life Inspiration

Yoshii Toranaga
Hiroyuki Sanada


Tokugawa Ieyasu

John Blackthorne
Cosmo Jarvis
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

Ochiba-no-kata
Fumi Nikaido
Yodo-dono

By refusing to stay at the castle and evoking her family name, Lady Mariko gave Ishido an ultimatum and showed the other lords and ladies that they could also speak up. For example, as soon as Ishido permits Mariko to leave, Kiri-no-taka asks if she will be granted safe passage as well. Mariko’s speech against Ishido was enough to cause turmoil at the castle, which was her plan since the beginning. Ishido may have succeeded in killing Mariko, but the leverage he had thanks to those hostages is gone.

How Lord Toranaga’s Crimson Sky Sets Up Shōgun Episode 10

Toranaga can attack now that Ishido is weakened

Custom image of Lady Mariko and John Blackthorne in Shogun episode 9

Lord Toranaga was asked to put Crimson Sky in motion two episodes ago, yet he knew that marching against Osaka with their current numbers would be worthless. Things became even more difficult after Toranaga’s half-brother betrayed him and aligned himself with Ishido. Toranaga had no choice but to pretend he was going to surrender and buy himself time to orchestrate a better plan. Crimson Sky is still intended to happen, but Toranaga first had to weaken Ishido. Ishido and Ochiba’s current influence comes from Osaka, particularly the hostages, which are now out of the equation thanks to Mariko.

With Ishido and Ochiba having to administrate the crisis created by Mariko, now is the perfect time for Toranaga to launch an attack. Ishido is not defeated yet, and he may still have enough power to hold the castle and meet Toranaga on the battlefield. That said, Toranaga now has a much better chance than he did before Mariko arrived in Osaka. After a lot of political games, Shōgun episode 10 is expected to deliver the battle between Toranaga and Ishido that the show has been setting up since the start.