Shogun

The first Shogunate was relatively modest. Yoritomo set up a system of vassalage: He rewarded his samurai with land in exchange for loyalty. This created a feudal system almost identical to medieval Europe, with the Shogun at the top.

After the battle, Toranaga is named —the supreme military ruler of Japan, answerable only to the Emperor. He controls all of Japan. Shogun

The was more than a general. He was a political survival artist. He solved the impossible riddle of ruling Japan: how to control a nation of proud warriors without destroying the sacred traditions of the past. The first Shogunate was relatively modest

Ishido demands that Toranaga come to the capital, Osaka, to answer for his "treason." If Toranaga goes, he will be killed. If he refuses, the coalition will attack. Toranaga uses Blackthorne’s knowledge to secretly arm his own ships and plan a daring escape. After the battle, Toranaga is named —the supreme

Blackthorne, in turn, is initially arrogant and dismissive of Japanese culture. But he is assigned a translator and caretaker: a beautiful, intelligent, and tragic woman named . Mariko is a Christian convert (Catholic), the daughter of a disgraced samurai lord who was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide). She is married to a hot-headed samurai, Buntaro, but her loyalty, intelligence, and spiritual depth make her the perfect bridge between Blackthorne and Toranaga.

Toranaga is a master of the game of daimyōs —a chess-like political and psychological warfare. He feigns weakness, retreats, and even pretends to consider ritual suicide. He allows his enemies to believe he is defeated.