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The brothel scene is honestly so underrated. It's easily one of the best scenes in the entire show. Mariko being self-conscious when Kiku showed up; Kiku actually servicing Mariko knowing what she wants; Mariko wanting to give in but reining it back when she remembers her duty (i actually thought they were gonna show some flashback of her and john doing it because she seemed so hot and bothered already); Mariko intentionally mistranslating John (out of jealousy 👀). The cinematography with Kiku blending in the background as Mariko comes to the foreground with her translation also changing from 3rd POV fo 1st... and she rarely uses "I". Damn. I know John was hard. 😩 Gotta give props to the writers and director for making this brothel scene so tasteful when they had every opportunity to show nudity but opted out for gratuitous scenes. Instead, we get these intense yet character driven moments for both Kiku and Mariko... Also, Lady Ochiba 😩.
Ochiba’s dad is Lord Kuroda (Oda Nobunaga), a leader before the Taiko. He’s known for cruelty, especially against monks. Mariko’s dad is Akechi Jinsai (Mitsuhide), Kuroda’s vassal. He disagreed with Kuroda’s cruel reign so he plotted with Toranaga to rebel against Kuroda and sent his own daughter away from danger by marrying her into Toda family. Now Akechi assassinated Kuroda in the same style that Jaime Lannister killed the Mad King, to protect civilians, but because it’s dishonorable so he was taken down quickly by the Taiko (Toyotomi Hideyoshi, another one of Kuroda’s vassal) and got himself and his whole family, aside from Mariko, executed. With the death of Kuroda and Akechi, Taiko then established himself as a supreme leader of Japan. Now, he understood Toranaga’s ambition and with the Minowara’s lineage in Toranaga, it’s scary for him that Toranaga could usurp his throne and become a shogun one day (the Taiko is only the “Taiko”, not a “Shogun” because he’s from a peasant background, unlike Toranaga who is a Minowara that has more legitimacy) so he must produced an heir. And that’s how he met Ochiba. Whether the Taiko was the actual father of the heir is up to the future episodes because he seemed to be shooting blanks into 100 women so Ochiba suddenly getting knocked up by him? That sounds very fishy.
However, for some unknown reason, Taiko has his nephew Hidetsugu, his last blood relative, commit seppuku along with his entire family. He then entrusted Toyotomi's lineage to one person, Hideyori, who was born in Ochiba's Yodo-dono. This is a historical mystery. Comment with Google Translate
Hideyoshi made up the story that he was actually the illegitimate son of a nobleman. Hideyoshi was then adopted by the Konoe family and became kanpaku (regent). A few years later, Hideyoshi handed over the position of kanpaku to his nephew Hideji, after which Hideyoshi himself took the name Taikoh (formerly Kanpaku).
Historical counterpart of Ochiba, Yodo-dono was not the daughter of Oda Nobunaga. She was in fact his niece being the daughter of Oda’s sister, Lady Oichi and daimyo, Azai Nagamasa. Azai Nagamasa was defeated by Oda and was forced to commit seppuku. Oda didn’t harm his sister and her three daughters (Yodo/ ChaCha was the eldest). They were under Oda clan’s protection until Nobunaga was betrayed and assassinated in Honno-ji incident. Shibata Katsuie, Oda’s general, married Lady Oichi to protect her and her daughters. Shibata was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Taiko) later and Lady Oichi committed seppuku together with her second husband. Hideyoshi took in Oichi’s three daughters and Yodo-dono became his concubine (Hideyoshi did have main wife, Kodai-in/Nene but she couldn’t produce him heir). Lady Oichi was well loved by all the retainers of Oda clan so she needn’t die as Hideyoshi would have spared her as he spared her daughters. Historically, Yodo-dono didn’t have much prejudice against Tokugawa(Toranaga) until Sekigahara. She did wield a lot of power and had much more reliable retainers such as Yukimura Sanada.
This may be a spoiler I’m asking but is this story based on Tokugawa Ieyasu? Toranaga is like a stand in right? If so does that mean we see the battle of Sekigahara in the show?
Blackthorn ( Anjin ) never lied.. he is NOT a Pirate.. he’s a PRIVATEER.. he has the license to legally seek out and fight the enemies of Holland and England.. thats what his letters of Marque mean. The Portuguese and Spanish will never acknowledge those letters of Marque because the Kingdom of Spain doesn’t Acknowledge their queen as the sovereign of England. To admit this is to admit they lost control of at the time, a former vassal to Spain. Reaaly love this show, really love your channel and its reactions, you fellas have fantastic taste.
@@neddeon7036 still a distinction.. to Blackthorn.. he wasn't a pirate but a privateer.. basically a pirate with license to kill.. it's just details. It sometimes details matter
Yep, i actually got confused when Mariko said it was a courtesan the first time, legitimately believing that was true. But upon watching it the second time, it was obviously clear that it was her, and the conversation afterwards was just her saying "We do not speak of this to anyone else, the explanation for this, if required, is that you were visited by a courtesan".
@@Ionic_edge The scene where Mariko wakes John up and "pillows" with him near the end of episode 4. Right after they had a talk about London when he goes bathing in a hot spring. There's some confusion around of whether it was actually her because the scene was somewhat dark and Mariko in the morning after says "The courtesan was acceptable then? Fuji and i thought she was a nice gift".
In feudal Japan, rice was the basis of the economy. Farmers paid taxes in rice, and samurai's salaries were in rice. They exchanged the rice for cash at a rice wholesaler. Whether they had a poor crop or good harvest, it was necessary for feudal lords to have a stabilized monetary conversion, therefore in 1730, the world's first futures transaction of rice was started in Osaka.
That tea house scene was EPIC. Everything was subtext. 1. First she said that “this is a private place where it can be dark if you wish it”. As if to say “I know whats going on. 2. Then Kiku mentions to his apparent ice how you notice something when its gone. Translation “this must end” 3. Then, after observing his guests says “a woman cannot look away when someone else suffers”, which subtly hints at him deducing whats going on between Mariko-sama and Blackthorne. But also hunting they can have a moment one last time. 4.Then comes the part where Kiku sits behind Mariko while she behind to explain the willow world. Where she is saying the words but Anjin can only see Mariko. Mariko, on her part, started bu translating for Kiku dono, saying “she says” etc; but gets all caught up and started translating as if she herself was saying it. 5. And it caps off with Kiku-dono asking if Mariko were to join them. It was all well staged. So well staged that, thankfully, they did not add the actual pillowing scene which would have cheapened the whole thing.
@@Nightwalk444 he ain't hurting anyone.....I think it shows a lesser intellect to comment on somthing for the sake of it. The fact he is offering an opinion and some context of the scenes, yet all you offer is "nothing" to make yourself feel better.
1. All hail Ochiba-sama! 2. The running gag of Yabushige having to write his will. AGAIN. 3. Fuji-sama, drinking her tea; trying to act oblivious to what Gin, Kiku’s handler, is trying to insinuate between Mariko and Blackthorne.
Am I wrong to think ohiba is 100% right Toranaga goal his secret heart is and always has been to be Shogun and depose the heir. He had the armor made in his ancestors style, he has been moving pieces, may have used marikos father, is waiting like the hawk for time to strike. First words he spoke were the truest.
Toranaga had a quote in the book about being patient; defined as not giving into the seven emotions. From the book… “Karma is the beginning of knowledge. Next is patience. Patience is very important. The strong are the patient ones, Anjin-san. patience means holding back your inclination to the seven emotions: hate, adoration, joy, anxiety, anger, grief, fear. If you don't give way to the seven, you're patient, then you'll soon understand all manner of things and be in harmony with Eternity”
No, you're 100% right. Remember how in episode 1 Ishido accuses him of making 6 marriage proposals and doubling his fief? That's extremely suspicious, the narrative quickly brushes past this and Toranaga deflects but they were kind of in the right to impeach him. He's going against rules set by the Taiko and is building power (he's already the strongest as it is).
The tonsure hair cut worn by the Catholic priests was originally designed to be troublesome to maintain and damaging to the reputation (even back then peopel thought it looked stupid, and anyone wearing it was thus a fool) as a means of enforcing humility.
And in Japan, black robes were contemptuous and disrespected for their perceived low quality. So, to initially get some positive feedback from the locals, the Jesuits for a short time wore orange robes like the Buddhists. More traditional priests later would end that practice and the missionaries reverted to black, regardless of public opinion.
The scene at 2:27 is modeled after the following events in the context of Japanese history. Ochiba(Chacha/ Lady Yodo)'s father(In actual history, she was Nobunaga's niece.) Kuroda (Nobunaga Oda) led an army to attack Enryaku-ji Temple, a Buddhist institution in Mt. Hiei, and killed all the monks there and their followers (thousands of people in total), including women and children. Enryaku-ji Temple was considered a sacred place for the Buddhist community in Japan. but at the time, its wealth and power had led to severe corruption, and the monks were already corrupt, indulging in alcohol and sexual desires contrary to the teachings of the Buddhism. Nobunaga was despised by this, and because Enryaku-ji had joined Nobunaga's enemies, he carried out this raid and massacre. Zinsai Akechi (Mitsuhide Akechi), father of Mariko (maiden name: Tama Akechi / married name: Tama Hosokawa / christian name: Gracia Hosokawa), was Nobunaga's subordinate in this battle. However, Mitsuhide Akechi was a deeply religious Buddhist and is said to have opposed the massacre. However, Mitsuhide Akechi made a significant tactical contribution, and he was given the area, including Enryaku-ji Temple, as his domain by Nobunaga. After That Mitsuhide Akechi generously patronized Enryaku-ji Temple.
The tea house scene: when kiku sat behind Mariko it hit me! This is about reconciliation between Blackthorne and Mariko, THROUGH kiku as an intermediary. Just like in Blade Runner 2049 when K used a hooker as a stand-in for Joi!
Ochiba's father was Koruda (based on Oda Nobunaga). Koruda (Oda) unified Japan. Both the Taiko, Akechi and Toranaga were generals under Koruda (Oda's) rule. Koruda (Oda) at one point in his rule over Japan went to war against what were called pureland buddhists and their peasant ikko-ikki followers. The monks and the ikko-ikki were fiercely independent and Koruda (Oda) tried to stamp them out. The bald monks in the beheading scene were pureland monks. Historically the massacres were massive and cruel in scale and this is one possible motivation for Akechi's assassination of Koruda. The taiko by the way was a pureland Buddhist and talks about it on his deathbed in episode 2.
Pretty accurate, and I add here that Oda as well as Tokugawa had their own warrior monks who followed another Pure Land sect, Joudo-shu (Pure Land) and not Joudo-shinshu (True Pure Land) of which ikko-ikki were followers. So, the Taiko (Toyotomi Hideyoshi) would be a follower of Pure Land Buddhism and not True Pure Land Buddhism. The same is true for Toranaga (Tokugawa). I don't recall that this sectarian war aspect was explored in the novel. It is an interesting parallel with Catholics and Protestantism and one that the series could draw attention to; however, I'm sure that would just add too much for the audience to process while it doesn't really add anything significant to the story
@@Rabbithole8Oooh, interesting. I was familiar with Rennyo and his exile. I'm guessing the authorities were never hostile toward joudo-shu? I also don't remember the book addressing any of the distinctions.
@@MichaelCorryFilms Yes, followers of Joudo-shu were not rebellious against their daimyo as were the groups of Ikko-ikki, including samurai who supposed to be loyal to the Matsudaira. This was the case at the second battle of Azukizaka (1564). They supposed to be on Tokugawa Ieyasu's side but fought against him. Tokugawa, for his part, had on his side warrior monks of the Joudo-shu which was his Buddhist sect. Rennyo, as I'm sure you know, distanced himself from the Ikko-ikki but he was still held responsible for their behavior. Because, the warriors of the Joudo-shu were loyal to the authorities and fought for them, they were always supported by the ruling class. Besides the warrior monks (souhei) of Pure Land there were souhei that belonged to Tendai Buddhism. Oda, wiped out the Tendai monks at Enryaku-ji temple in 1571, for example. It is a case of gaining power and support of the lower classes.
The Akechi Jinsai storyline is based on a real 16th century rumor that Togukawa Ieyasu somehow "incepted" Akechi Mitsuhide into betraying Oda Nobunaga because of a personal grudge. But Toyotomi Hideyoshi killed Mitsuhide and seized power before Ieyasu could reach Kyoto.
1 koku ( 150 kg of rice). 1 koku is 60 monmae. The price of rice was relatively stable in feudal Japan, unlike the wildly fluctuating prices of gold and silver. Hence, rice was the base of currency. 1 koku is the amount of rice a person needs to subsist for a year.
The first few minutes revealed that Mariko was unaware of his father’s plans and held contempt for Hidekatsu Toda-sama even then, and i didnt know this until this episode, she views him as below his station as evidenced by her comment in the flashback about how her father is discarding him; also telling Ruri-hime (Ochiba sama) what a joke and worth less alliance it was to marry her off to the Toda family;and also by his comment to Toranaga about how his father should have married her better. And so, when Toranaga revealed truth bombs to her, clearing up her misunderstanding, i was literally shouting at the screan “YES! THANK YOU!” So much so that the next door neighbour knocked on my door to check if i was OK. Lol😅😅😅 Also, though her words were subtitled “i have failed my father”, it could have also been translated as “I have betrayed my father’s trust” And it puts Hidekatsu Toda-sama in a more sympathetic light, though of course, we still disapprove of the Domestic violence.
I think Toranaga is the real father of the heir. He was very fatherly towards the kid, he and the mother exchanged a meaningful glance at the Taiko’s deathbed, and Toranaga said he doesn’t trust beautiful women. And it would explain why the mother wants Toranaga dead since he knows a secret that would get her killed.
Like you said a Koku is essentially rice for one person a year. They used Koku because they had problems with silver and gold currency value fluctuations and rice as a unit was more consistent. A koku equals about 60 monme, monme was a metal currency. Anjin' 600 koku translated into current money is around $405,000. However he would also have to keep and maintain retainers (warriors) that would be on call by Toranaga with this salary and fief.
The one who slept with Blackthorne in Ep 4 is Mariko. I was not sure so I adjusted the brightness of the screen and I made sure it was Mariko. You can brighten up the screen to the max and you can confirm so too.
Honnoji Incident(Akechi killed Oda(Kuroda) by the troops of 13,000) is one of the maximum mystery of Japanese history. There is another mystery. "Nikko Tosho-gu Shinto Shrine" (World Heritage Site) is the famous tourist spot .It's constructed as graveyard of Tokugawa Ieyasu(Toranaga) and it plays a role of guardian deity of the capital Tokyo(Edo) , and it's located in the due north of Tokyo (Japan has culture of vengeful spirit and feng shui(Chinese Astrology)). Another mystery is that there is the strange place name near the Nikko Tosho-gu.The name is "Akechi-daira(plain)" Why did Tokugawa Shogunate give the name of the traitor ！？
Privateers often became pirates after the war was over. One of the main causes of the Golden age of piracy in the early 1700’s was England Hired lots of privateers during the War of Spanish succession to attack Spanish ships. After the war was over thousands of privateers were out of a job so they continued raiding ships but without the legal protection from England
Yep. Privateers were basically like modern day PMCs(Private Military Contractors), used by nations to cause chaos or other goals, with plausible deniability since they are not officially part of that nations military.
Prince Cha Cha was the hightest rank among all Japanese princesses. Her mother was beloved younger sister of Oda Nobuaga , the boss of Tranaga and Taiko. Taiko's army defeated her parents and they died . Taiko and his wife wanted a niece whose mother was renowned as beautiful , honorable and good nature .
In a lot of Asian cultures being left handed is bad luck… I remember getting hit as a boy for trying to write with my left hand … that’s why samurai is always right handed
@@leonrussell9607 Its literally the latin word for left, Roman legions marched sinister dexter sinister dexter. The words got inherited so right handed got passed on as skilled or dexterous, left handed got passed on as sinister for doing it wrong and then picked up other meanings.
It's was thing in Europe too , in Greece, in school if a kid was left handed the teacher would tie it to the desk so the child would be forced to write with the right hand
8:55 they shave their head like that as a sign that outward appearance means nothing (they know it looks bad) and it’s what’s on the inside that matters
I didn't pick up on my first watch that Ruri / Ochiba no kata was the daughter of the corrupt leader that Mariko's dad murdered, which explains her hatred. I just thought she was part of Mariko's household and thought Torinaga engineered their demise. It must've really stoked her hatred to have to be a consort to the Taiko, who took over after her dad was killed.
As others have stated, it was 100% Mariko who slept with Blackthorne. I have no idea why you guys think otherwise. The show wasn't trying to cast doubt on it. It was clearly her face. Do you have too many lights on to see dark scenes properly?
Both the brothel leader and the courtisan mentioned the room could be dark if they want, specifically giving the nod to be like "hey, we can all go in and whatever happens or if someone happens to leave, no one would know lol" Willow Ladies shipping the relationship haha
That really sounds like a lot, but how much does that get him in other resources (food, clothing, housing, weapons, staff/subjects etc)? I have no idea how a fiefdom actually works so I'm just trying to figure out what he can do with all that rice lol
@@leonrussell9607 sure I figured that much, but what is the value of rice compared to let's say clothing or housing etc? How much "other things" does he get for said rice?
@@Sm0kingGunIt varies depending on the era, trade and a load of other things. Rice is the stable base line of pricing in Japan of the era since if you have 600 koku you have rations for 600 men for one year. But its also an arbitrary scale, much like modern news teams saying a new stadium is 500 whales long or mount everest is 100 statue of liberties high. Its indicative not definitive.
The priest's hair style is called a tonsure and historians don't know its precise origins. It seems to go back to aesthetics practiced by the ancient Greeks and/or a sign of slavery. In this case, one is a "slave" of God. It also was an important distinction in Medieval Europe as it was divided social among the three main casts of nobles/knights, the religious (monks, nuns, priests etc.) and peasants/serfs. It lasted until the 1960s in some religious orders such as Benedictine Monks.
Trying to separate fact from fiction but I believe that there is real life precedent that Hajime Saitou was a left handed samurai. And if the stories are to beleived, he was one of the most fearsome captains of the Shinsengumi
FX has a BTS clip explaining the use of real swords. I didn't watch too much cuz I didn't want to be spoiled with upcoming scenes. So just take note..... Those aren't mostly just plastic fighting sequences
In the original series when toranaga gives him a fief he also makes him an official samurai… and the swords are some of the best ever made… I wonder why the change
Of all the things to be confused about this series I find it odd that you guys are confused about the night scene. It was so clearly mariko that I don't get how people don't realize
Like Omni telling Toranaga's son to use the cannon, Toranaga put the idea into Mariko's father to kill Lord Kuroda all those years ago. So the pieces on the chess board Toranaga was moving many years ago. Crimson Sky, Toranaga did'nt say if it would be today, tomorrow or next year to strike? The father of the Taiko's son is not the Taiko. Lady Ochiba had a younger man smuggled into her quarters and as soon as Ochiba was pregnant she had him killed. The only one who suspects or knows the truth is Toranaga. As Toranaga has already told us he can't have a good looking woman as his consort. They are to distracting and all he'd want to do is pillow! Cheers, Chris Perry.
Oh right, here’s a quiz for the Blind Wave community: The night following the Tea House event, Toranaga receives a report and decides to tell Mariko-sama the truth that she failed to notice about her father marrying her off to the Toda clan. Why is this? Is he just manipulating her? Is she trying to get her priorities straight? Did she just not have the time or cause to meddle in another family’s Affairs, being a regeant, president of foreign relations and the rest of it? I wanna hear theories. Unless you have read the books or watch the ‘85 minisiries, as i have not done both to avoid being spoiled and comparing.
When MARIKO became BUNTARO's wife, TORANAGA was not regent. Going in chronological order, after MARIKO married, his father killed the king. TAIKO becomes the next king. Just before TAIKO died, TORANAGA was appointed regent. TAIKO, TORANAGA, and MARIKO's father are all subordinates of the first king. And BUNTARO is TORANAGA's subordinate. It is not unnatural that TORANAGA and BUNTARO appear in OCHIBA's childhood. In the history, there are battles and complications that TAIKO became the next king instead of the king's son, but it was cut in the series. MARIKO's father could not stand the king's ways, so he decided to kill the king, but let him marry to save MARIKO. MARIKO was unaware of her father's plan due to survivor's guilt. OCHIBA thinks MARIKO's father killed the first king (OCHIBA's father) by TORANAGA's plan.
@@pillowdream3635 thanks for the exposition for the crowd. I got that also. So what’s your opinion about Toranaga revealing what was Aketchi’s designs for Mariko in marrying her down to the Toda at this juncture?
@@khaii13 TORANAGA realizes that problems are arising in the relationship between MATIKO and ANJIN. It is not clear whether Toranaga knows that the problem is due to their love. And Toranaga's conversation with BUNTARO has convinced him that MARIKO wants to die by Survivor's Guilt. TORANAGA may have wanted to change MARIKO's mind to win the war rather than solve the problem. By telling her how her father felt, he wanted her to focus on "duty" rather than suffering from survivor's guilt. Maybe they thought that MARIKO's positive attitude might help them solve the problem.
The tonsure is a ritual haircut that's meant to show devotion to God. It's literally a thing where you're like, "I'm down for God so much that I'll wear this ugly ass haircut to prove it." I'm not kidding.
i looked up the fryer haircut when i started watching this show and its apparently meant to be silly in a way! it to show vanity dosnt matter that your devoted to god.
How are they still confused about Mariko and Blackthrone? They had sex. Their cover story was that she invited another courtesan. Fuji definitely knows and just goes along with the lie.
I am still a bit fuzzy on why Ochiba seems to wield so much power. Also the way she speaks is a bit weird as all the others sound natural and she sounds like an anime villain.
@@hafor2846 Neither of these things should grant her any power. She has no power thru the heir as all his power is with the council until maturity and with Ishido the power is with him so if feels weird that she is commanding him. It would feel more natural if she was subtly trying to manipulate Ishido rather than menacingly dictate to him with no power base behind her commands.
@@rustknuckleirongut8107 No? She is easily the most important woman in the realm by being the mother of the heir. That makes her an important person in politics, despite her not actually commanding anything. And Ishido clearly respects her and listens to everything she says, which makes her de facto the second most powerful person in Japan.
Normally I would never ever suggest watching an English dub of anything. However... I was having a lot of the same problems you mentioned during this episode of not being able to catch enough because you're trying to absorb things while also reading well also being caught up in the story. I watched the beginning of it in the English dub, and was it first hating it, and then I realized how much more of the screen I could watch the characters, emotions and faces and things playing across each other that were unspoken that I was missing while reading the subtitles. So weird to say all of this, I watch everything with subtitles all the time. Even the English dub. I watch it with subtitles. But, I actually did find doing a single watch of at least the first four episodes with an English dub to be extremely helpful in making every single part of the story more cohesive. Also, please excuse any terrible, weird typos or punctuation, I'm using voice to text, and it gets a little strange sometimes. And I am tired and can't check for the mistakes before I hit send on this, please forgive me. I watched you guys before I went to sleep though, because I was excited to see a reaction to this episode.
