Ladies of the Willow World

Season

1

Episode

6

Air date

March 26, 2024

Writer

Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks

Episode guide

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Broken to the Fist	A Stick of Time

Ladies of the Willow World is the sixth episode of the FX limited series, Shōgun. The episode premiered on March 26, 2024.

Synopsis[]

Lady Ochiba returns to Osaka in order to accelerate the Regents' campaign against Toranaga. In Ajiro, Toranaga tests Mariko's loyalty to his cause.

Plot Summary[]

In a flashback to Azuchi castle, 22 years ago, Mariko is with her father. She witnesses his struggles with his lord throughout her childhood. When she becomes a woman, her father decides that she will marry Buntaro, a decision Mariko isn’t happy with.

In present, Toranaga addresses the village to pay tribute to the thousands of lives lost from the earthquake. He commends the Anjin who saved his life a second time. He awards him a fief, a salary, and names him Chief Admiral of the Kanto and general in charge of the cannon regiment.

Omi is not happy about having the power of the army taken away but Yabushige warns him he has more to worry about now that they don’t have the forces to properly face Ishido.

John returns home and hears Mariko praying in Latin. He joins in her prayers in English from the other side of a door.

Buntaro apologizes to Lord Toranaga for his behavior. Toranaga suggests he divorce Mariko but Buntaro says no, not after all this time. He says with him, she is like ice, but with the barbarian, she is warmer. Toranaga orders him to isolate himself from her for seven days and he agrees. Buntaro leaves and John arrives to apologize for what happened with his army in the earthquake. He asks why he was given the cannon regiment and expresses his wish to leave, for he cannot serve Toranaga in the way he asks. John says he would ask for the return of his ship if he were to remain in the Japans. He could attack Toranaga’s enemies on the sea, like the Portuguese. The Anjin leaves and Toranaga tells Mariko that he will not agree to his requests but to appease him he can have a night at the brothels. He asks Mariko to join him in the brothels as his translator.

In Osaka, a fire burns in a building, sending everyone screaming and running outside. Hiromatsu urgently tells Kiri No Kata that Ishido has taken the regents hostage, including their families, in the castle to force a vote against Toranaga. Hiromatsu instructs that they leave immediately but one of the women is pregnant and cannot travel so Kiri urges Hiromatsu to run on his own and warn Toranaga.

Father Martin Alvito asks Father Dell'Aqua what is happening -he tells them Ishido believes there is a threat on the heir’s life and this is the reason he has taken the regents for the vote. Father Alvito believes Lady Ochiba-no-kata is behind this and urges them to ally with Lord Toranaga.

Lady Ochiba brushes her son’s hair and has a flashback to her time as a young girl and her friendship with Lady Mariko. She remembers hearing that her father was murdered in Kyoto and getting rushed to safety. She then met with Daoyoin, who told her she couldn’t give Taikō a son and instead needs a consort, her, to give birth to an heir.

In present, the regents wait until a fifth regent is confirmed before the vote. Ochiba no Kata speaks to Lord Ishido about the late Taiko and her dislike of Lord Toranaga.

Hiromatsu arrives to warn Lord Toranaga. They discuss a potential plan, “Crimson Sky”, about overthrowing the Council of Regents and making Lord Toranaga the shogun- the sole ruler. Lord Toranaga shuts it down.

Mariko and Fuji arrange for the best courtesan, Kiku, to come and stay with the Anjin. They come to an agreement. Meanwhile, Kiku is with Omi who is upset she has to go with the Anjin. She comforts him. Later, John goes to the tea house with Mariko to see Kiku. John seems uncomfortable but Mariko urges him not to make a scene. Kiku tries her best to welcome and calm them down. Kiku invites both John and Mariko to join her in the bedroom but Mariko says it must only be her. Mariko leaves and she and John’s hands brush up against each other. The next morning, Kiku brings John home.

Lord Toranaga talks to Mariko about her childhood and he tells her her marriage was only to move Mariko farther from her father's fight - to protect her. Mariko believes she failed him but Lord Toranaga informs her that her war is not over.

Meanwhile, the Council of Regents take a vote to let Lord Ito in as the fifth regent. Lord Sugiyama votes no, insistent that there is no real threat to the heir. Sugiyama tells Ishido he is a disgrace to the memory of Taiko and that he should let them as hostages go. Lord Ishido doesn’t take kindly to this. Later, Lord Ishido requests patience from Ochiba no Kata. Ochiba no Kata tells Ishido that Toranaga planned the death of her father -even if Mariko’s father was the one who killed him. She tells him how she became the mother of the heir even though hundreds of women could not- she said she “compelled fate to look at me, so I could scratch out its eyes”.

Lord Ishido confronts Lord Sugiyama and kills everyone with him. He claims that they were killed by bandits. The news makes it to Lord Toranaga, who prepares for war-knowing that Ishido will impeach him soon. “Crimson Sky it will be”, he says, if the heir of Taiko’s life is threatened.