Father Martin Alvito is a character in the FX limited series, Shōgun, who is portrayed by Tommy Bastow.
A thoughtful and sensitive Portuguese priest, he was brought to Japan as a boy. Alvito is a skilled translator and a uniquely empathetic presence in a harsh world.
Biography[]
Suspicious of John Blackthorne[]
Lord Rodrigues shows Blackthorne’s journals to Father Martin Alvito and their colleagues. They want to show them to the Japanese and have him hanged for piracy. However, Father Martin Alvito insists that Toronaga will request a complete translation of the journal first. He promises to make sure Blackthorne doesn’t create any problems for them.
He goes to meet Blackthorne and introduce himself. He translates for him but Blackthorne doesn’t trust him to translate properly because he is Catholic. Mariko, who also understands Portuguese, watches to ensure the translations are honest. Blackthorne explains that he is an English Protestant and that England is against Catholics, which is why he doesn’t trust Alvito. Lord Ishido arrives and Father Martin Alvito advises Blackthorne to stay quiet if he wants to keep his life.
Later, after finding out that the Black Ship does not have permission to leave after the Portugese ties in Macao were exposed, Father Martin Alvito breaks the news to the Captain General Ferreira, insisting that he can not sail his ship to Macao yet because Toronaga found out about the great profits the Portuguese have made from their monopoly over the China trade. The Captain tells him he doesn’t work for the Church- he works for the Crown - and the Black Ship leaves tonight.
Looking to Ally with Toronaga[]
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 is behind this and urges them to ally with Lord Toronaga.
In Edo, Father Alvito goes to speak to Lord Toronaga and informs him of Ochiba no Kata’s hatred of him and her alliance with Ishido. He suggests Lord Toronaga ally with Ochiba and the heir and Hiromatsu agrees. Toronaga knows Ochiba would likely not partner with him and he only wishes for a peaceful defeat, especially now that his son is dead. He leaves but informs Father Alvito he can build his church in Edo as promised. Father Alvito goes to the site where the church will be built and finds out that Gin and her new teahouse will be built nextdoor.
Meeting with Mariko in Osaka[]
In a flashback 14 years earlier in the Shonai region, Mariko walks in the freezing cold before getting caught and taken in. Father Martin Alvito asks to speak to her, after hearing that she continues to seek death even after seeing forgiveness from her husband. He gives her a rosary and introduces her to Catholicism.
In present in Osaka, Martin meets with Mariko to talk about her suicide threat. She confesses to him and also makes a deal with him to protect John's life.
Escorting John Out of Osaka[]
Father Martin Alvito, along with Lord Kiyama’s men, guides the Anjin to the harbor to go back to Lord Toronaga in Izu after Mariko died in Osaka. Alvito tells John the only reason his life was spared was that Lady Maria made this final request before she died and he and the church decided to honor it.
Personality[]
Father Alvito is a thoughtful and empathetic man. He has an agenda of expanding the influence of the Catholic church in Japan.