Discover why Fumi Nikaido is the MVP of Shogun, Hulu’s historical adventure series.

Created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, Hulu’s Shogun is one of the most buzzed-about new TV shows in 2024. Based on the 1975 historical novel by James Clavell, the acclaimed miniseries concerns John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), an English navigator who becomes shipwrecked off the coast of Japan in 1600. Enamored by the ancient Japanese culture and customs, Blackthorne joins the resistance against Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), one of Japan’s Five Regents who controls the Kanto region of Honshu.

Already ranking #29 on IMDb’s Top 250 TV shows of all time, Shogun is set to conclude on April 23, 2024. With just one episode remaining, it’s hard to imagine Ochiba no Kata (Fumi Nikaido) not playing a major role in the finale. Ochiba no Kata is the highest-ranking woman in Japan and the mother of the sole heir to the Osaka empire. Feared and respected in equal measure, Ochiba no Kata is also an icy seductress and calculating femme fatale who uses her wits and wiles to bolster her power. Despite appearing in 5 out of 10 episodes, a legitimate argument can be made that Nikaido is the most valuable player in the entire series.

What is Shogun About?

Based on the bestselling James Clavell novel, Shogun is an acclaimed Hulu original miniseries that premiered on February 27, 2024. The series traces the inevitable collision course between shipwrecked English navigator James Blackthorne and Japan’s Lord Yoshii Toranaga off the coast of Osaka in the year 1600. As a work of historical fiction, each character is based on a real-life counterpart. Blackthorne is based on English seafarer William Adams and Toranaga is based on Tokugawa Ieyasu, a powerful ruler of the Kanto region.

The 10-part miniseries traces how Blackthorne rose to become a formidable samurai who serves under Lord Toranaga while embracing the Japanese mores of the times. As Toranaga tries to keep power, Lady Ochiba has the advantage when she gives birth to the only heir to the kingdom, a son named Yaechiyo. Playing both warring factions from the middle with incredible manipulation and social maneuvering, Lady Ochiba outwits and overpowers the male-dominated military while avenging her father’s death.

Who is Ochiba no Kata Based On?

Ochiba no Kata is based on Yodo-Dono, a.k.a. Lady Chacha, a real-life Japanese historical figure. Yodo-Dono was the only consort of the Taiko (the retired regent of Japan) to bear his child. As seen in Shogun, the concubine gives birth to the sole Heir, which gives her immense power and political influence over extending the bloodline in Osaka. While some differences between Ochiba no Kata and Yodo-Dono are created for the show, Ochiba was raised as a samurai princess and studied her father Kuroda’s shrewd military tactics before he was slain by one of his generals.

Using her tactical knowledge and ability to maneuver up the social ladder, Ochiba fiercely protects her son Yaechiyo until he is old enough to defend himself. As rivaling warlords look to take Yaechiyo out and decrease the Taiko’s power, Ochiba uses her secrecy and seductive enchantment to remain one step ahead of her enemies. Ochiba’s most compelling moment comes in Episode 6, “Ladies of the Willow World,” when she exacts a masterful revenge campaign against Toranaga, who she believes orchestrated her father’s death.

Ochiba and Ishido kidnap the three remaining regents and their families and hold them captive in Osaka after tricking them into rescuing a falsely endangered Yaechiyo. The plot works and results in Toranaga vowing to protect Yaechiyo until Toranaga becomes the new Shogun. From the shadows, Ochiba manages to strike back at Toranaga while ensuring the Lord keeps the Heir safe, a brilliant political ploy Ochiba learned from her father’s expert military strategies.

Why Fumi Nikado is the MVP of Shogun

On paper, Ochiba no Kata is vital to the political machinations in Shogun. On the screen, Ochiba is brought to life in the beloved miniseries by Japanese actress Fumi Nikaido, a wonderful performer who perfectly balances the character’s honorable side with her mendacious manipulation. Despite her ruthless calculations and secret plotting behind the scenes, her character remains incredibly sympathetic as she does everything possible to protect her son while honoring her father’s legacy. Through her eyes, viewers can see Ochiba think ahead, silently plot her next move, and remain one step ahead of her political foes while keeping a polite smile on her face.

It’s precisely the subtle facial expressions and subdued screen acting that have garnered Nikaido immense praise online, including a Reddit thread dedicated to her outstanding performance in Shogun. As one user astutely notes:

“Ochiba’s eyes man. Glad we finally learned more about her but I cant get over how much subtle contempt she is able to convey with her eyes.”

The sentiment is supported by two more posters, stating “Not even contempt, all of her eye movements are crazy” and “She looks menacing in every scene she’s in.”

Far from a one-note turn full of malice and menace, another Redditor notes,

“But last episode she looked at her son with such love. I thought that was very interesting. Very humanizing.”

Although Nikaido only appears in half of the episodes, her convincing balance of craven ambition and protective survival instincts makes her easy to root for and hope to succeed. Another Redditor points out:

“Funny thing is, she [Nikaido) portrayed Lady Chacha (the real-life basis for Lady Ochiba) in the taiga drama Gunshi Kanbei nearly ten years ago.”

Indeed, Nikaido played Lady Chacha for 19 episodes of Gunshi Kanbee in 2014, perhaps giving her an advantageous blueprint for Lady Ochiba in Shogun. As a result, Nikaido effortlessly slides right into the role of Ochibia no Kata and exudes supreme confidence, comfort, and conviction every time she appears.

Even Ishido, an influential council member, is drawn to and fearful of Ochiba despite the Heir being too young to wield power. Ochiba knows that Ishido desires her physically but is terrified of her politically, and Nikaido brilliantly displays her soft, seductive side in public and her hidden ambitions in private to keep Ishido and others in check. It’s Nikaido’s subtle depiction of Ochiba’s dual nature that makes her character wildly unpredictable and consistently compelling at once. She’s irresistible and repellant at once, putting viewers in a kind of metaphysical trance and hypnotic sway that distracts from her tactical plotting. Nikaido plays every note with virtuosic composure and convincing results.

Considering what transpired with her real-life counterpart, Lady Chacha, it will be interesting to see how Ochiba no Kata’s fate will play out in the finale of the Hulu original TV series on April 23, 2024. Regardless of what happens to the character, Nikaido is bound to complete the character arc with another terrific performance.