What happens in the last episode of Shogun?

The ending of Shogun has brought closure to various huge plot twists and mysteries that have occurred throughout the series. The series is known to be revolving around the events that take place in ancient Japan where power is that of the monarch and military leaders, like Shoguns and samurais. The series revolves around an Englishman, John Blackthorne, who enters a shipwreck and lands in Japan as a prisoner and is brought to meet with Yoshii Toranaga who is a daimyo.

As the story goes on, John seeks to have a close relationship with Lord Toranaga to gain access to trade in Japan and also to gain his ship back so that he can travel back to his homeland.

What happens at the end of Shogun?

The final episode of Shogun carries on after the events of episode 9 of the series which shows the death of Lady Mariko during John Blackthorne and his group's escape from Lord Ishido's castle. We see a conversation between John Blackthorne and Father Alvito, where the latter explains to John that he is free to leave Ishido’s kingdom and will not be killed at the hands of the Portuguese, according to a bargain struck between Lady Mariko and Alvito.

John reaches the fish city of Ajiro where Toranaga has set his camp. As he makes land, he sees his ship Erasmus destroyed and burnt down, making John think that Mariko traded his life for the ship. On the island, however, Toranaga had ordered his men to roughen up the villagers to find out the traitor who burnt the ship. During the confrontation between John and Toranaga, the Englishman confessed out of guilt that he was the traitor who used Toranaga for his favor and to start his trading business in Japan.

With John’s confession that he has lost his purpose, Toranaga gives John a purpose to live by ordering him to rebuild his ship and create a fleet under his command. As John continues his work with the ship, we see Lord Toranaga assisting Kashigi Yabushige in his seppuku for betraying Toranaga and assisting in killing Lady Marco. At this moment he reveals all his secrets to Yabushige claiming that he was the one who burnt the ship and he was the one who ordered his Trusted General and Lady Mariko to walk the path of death for his plans to come to fruition.

It was revealed by Toranaga that even though throughout the entire journey he was verbal in not becoming the Shogun, all the chaos in the kingdom is forcing him to take up the role and bring peace across all lands. At the end of the season, we see a flash forward of Toranaga in full warrior costume celebrating his victory against his enemy and eyeing over the vast ocean, foreseeing his role and duties as the almighty emperor of Japan.

How does Shogun end in the book?

The ending in James Clavell’s book Shogun was the same as was adapted in the series. In the book, Toranaga claimed that it was he who burnt John Blackthorne’s ship and it was John’s fate that he never leaves Japan. Similarly, Toranaga also claimed that it was Mariko’s karma that made her die for her lord in Edo and that it was his karma that he had to become the ultimate military leader in Japan. The book also showed an insight into John’s character where he understands that he is not the center of the world and that everyone around him will continue living their lives even after his death.

What happens after Shogun Season 1?

While it is known that the makers have exhausted the entire novel story from James Clavell’s book Shogun in season one, the story’s success has delighted the team in making the second part of the series. Season 2 will have a fresh story from the creators' part in defining the path for Toranaga to become the titular Shogun.

Also read: How many Shogun books are there?