Shogun Episodes 7 & 8: Recap and Ending Explained – Why Did Hiromatsu Sacrifice Himself?

Betrayals, the hastiness of youth, and deaths: these are the pillars that the seventh and eighth episodes of “Shogun” are built on. Based on James Clavell’s novel of the same name, “Shogun” delivered peak emotional drama with shrewd warfare politics in one single swipe of a katana. With this week’s tumultuous episode, “Shogun” episode 8 has placed itself in the perfect position for its final two episodes, upping the anticipation to sky-high.

Here is a recap of all the events that went down and what the shocking ending means for Lord Toranaga.

Shogun Episodes 7 & 8 Recap:

Toranaga’s Alliance with His Brother

By the end of the sixth episode, Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) decided to ask for help, given how the earthquake had halved his army. Enter Lord Saeki (Eita Okuno), the half-brother of Toranaga commanding a legion of army on his own. The seventh episode starts with the two brothers re-igniting the sibling camaraderie as Saeki looks ready to help Toranaga in the forthcoming battle. Toranaga ensures Saeki and his entourage are welcomed with lavish arrangements. Courtesans, like Kiku (Yuka Kouri), greet them with open arms.

After partaking in the merriment, Saeki and Toranaga exchange childhood stories in front of everyone. The seemingly half-drunk Saeki starts with stories glorifying Toranaga. With each sip of Sake, the tone of his stories changes. After retelling one that is particularly demeaning to Toranaga, Saeki reveals his true color. It appears that Lady Ochiba (Fumi Nikaido) and Lord Ishido (Takehiro Hira) anticipated Toranaga’s move to his brother. They have offered Saeki the Regent Seat in the council, the seat that Toranaga left vacated. Saeki has not come to ally with Toranaga. He has come to arrest him on Ishido’s behalf.

The Futile Death of Nagakado

Saeki’s betrayal angers everyone, especially Toranaga’s son, Nagakado (Yuki Kura). He asks his father to declare war. He wants to die fighting, while the wise Toranaga knows the importance of avoiding bloodshed as long as it is possible. Toranaga assembles his council, which includes his new Hatamoto, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis). He tells them that he has decided to surrender to avoid bloodshed. Everyone, including Blackthorne, feels betrayed and disgusted by this apparent meek submission of Toranaga.

So much so that Nagakado could not bear it and take matters into his own hands. He, along with Omi (Hiroto Kanai), plans a covert attack on Saeki. Saeki and his closest samurai and Daimyo reside in the elegant courtesan house of pleasure. Nagakado and Omi’s battalions sneak up on them, and a fight ensues. Fate brings the fight between Nagakado and Saeki. With some help, Nagakado almost bests Saeki. Alas, it is only almost. Just when Nagakado readies himself to kill his uncle, he slips and falls. His head smacks on a rock, and he dies.

Nagakado’s Funeral

Lord Toranaga and his entourage travel to Edo, their home, for Nagakado’s funeral. Mariko (Anna Sawai) informs Blackthorne that Saeki has allowed Toranaga an official mourning period of 49 days. All of Toranaga’s vassals, including his long-time companion Toda Hiromatsu (Tokuma Nishioka), expect Toranaga to react to his son’s death. They expect that this will be the final straw, the final trigger to push Toranaga. A seemingly ill Toranaga even misses Nagakado’s funeral.

Confronted by the impending possibility of death, Buntaro (Shinnosuke Abe) takes some time out to repair his relationship with his wife, Mariko. But that relationship is beyond repairs. Mariko declines Buntaro’s offer to die together. As coveted as death is to Mariko, she will endure life if that means it is an escape from her husband. With Buntaro’s previous behavior, one cannot blame Mariko at all.

Church and Courtesans

Father Martin (Tommy Bastow), from the Portuguese party, offers an alternative route to Toranaga. He asks if Toranaga could ally with Lady Ochiba, thus leaving Ishido alone. Toranaga knows that Ochiba, who blames him for her father’s death, will never agree to this. So he declines Father Martin’s offer and once again asks him to pass the message to Osaka that he is ready to surrender. As if deciding on a parting gift, Toranaga grants Martin the required space in his city to build a church. However, much to Father Martin’s dismay, he would find that his neighbors would be the courtesans of Lady Gin.

Shogun Episode 8 Ending Explained:

Why Did Hiromatsu Sacrifice Himself?

Everyone from Lord Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano) to Omi expects Lord Toranaga, the master of trickery, to pull one last rabbit out of the hat. The feeling that the apparent air of defeat Toranaga is effusing is an elaborate ruse is rife among all. However, Toranaga, in his final council, asks his loyal vassals to sign their names in the surrender list. Gradually, disappointment and fear descend on the faces of Toranaga’s vassals. Yabushige and Omi sign their names, albeit tentatively.

This is when some of Toranaga’s vassals express their dissent as they want their liege lord to fight. Toranaga is adamant that this sacrifice is the best course of action to save the sanctity of Japan. Things escalate when Hiromatsu also disagrees with Toranaga. He challenges Toranaga to change his mind or lose his best friend and most trusted advisor. Toranaga is stumbled by this apparent rebellion from Hiromatsu. But he stands his ground. He refuses to change his mind. Hiromatsu asks his son Buntaro to second him as he commits seppuku. As Hiromatsu’s knife slices his belly, a crying Buntaro cuts his father’s head off.

Was It a Plan Between Toranaga and Hiromatsu?

The devastating death of Hiromatsu puts any hope of Toranaga fighting to bed. Yabushige, who has previously rejected Blackthorne’s offer to sail with him, now decides to leave Toranaga. He calls up on Blackthorne’s offer of taking Blackthorne’s ship to Osaka for a fight. When a teary-eyed Mariko attends the next call from Toranaga, she looks devastated. Mariko loved her father-in-law, Hiromatsu. Just when it seems Toranaga’s decision would make him lose Mariko, Toranaga pulls the bomb.

He tells Mariko that Hiromatsu did his duty as his best friend. Hiromatsu’s seppuku was not as impromptu as it seemed at first. Like Snape and Dumbledore, Toranaga and Hiromatsu planned it all. Why was it necessary for Hiromatsu to die? It is to establish that Toranaga has well and truly set his mind on surrendering. When Ishido and Ochiba learn that Hiromatsu died, but Toranaga still does not change his mind about surrendering, they will not think that there is any trickery involved. Hiromatsu’s sacrifice was important to establish the ruse that Toranaga has accepted defeat. When in reality, he is preparing for the “Crimson Sky,” the great battle.

What about John Blackthorne and Mariko?

Blackthorne was freed from his duties to Toranaga. He is granted his wish to find his old British crew, and he is granted his ship. This has been the constant demand from Blackthorne, and Toranaga allowed that. At that time, it felt like Toranaga had allowed it, as he had no more use for Blackthorne. However, as we would see, all of this has been planned by Toranaga. It is even likely that Toranaga anticipated his half-brother’s betrayal.

Now a free man, Blackthorne finds his crew, but the reunion does not go as fondly as he thought it would. It appears his mates blame him for their ordeal. They think Blackthorne was too ambitious to lead them to Japan. Disassociated from Toranaga and repealed by his countrymen, Blackthorne seems to be in limbo. This is why he offers himself to Yabushige. Trying to find his own purpose. Toranaga anticipated this, and he knew if Yabushige believed that Toranaga would truly surrender, he would ally with Blackthorne for a fight. So, Toranaga sends Mariko to the ship to accompany them and let them know that Toranaga has not surrendered.

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Shogun Episodes 7 & 8 Links: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Wikipedia, Letterboxd
The Cast of Shogun Episodes 7 & 8: Cosmo Jarvis, Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Hiroto Kanai, Takehiro Hira, Moeka Hoshi, Shinnosuke Abe
Shogun Genre: Historical Drama | Runtime: 10 Episode (55–70 min)

Where to watch Shogun