Ladies of the Willow World

In episode 6 of Shogun, Mariko is torn between her duty and her feelings for Blackthorne, leading to a complicated evening at a brothel, orchestrated by Toranaga. Meanwhile, Kiku faces unexpected challenges with Blackthorne and Omi, revealing her pivotal role in the story's power dynamics. Ochiba's machinations against Toranaga and Mariko come to light, driven by her thirst for revenge and control within the Council. Mariko's dark past is unveiled, showing her father's murder of the previous shōgun and the subsequent execution of her family, which forced her into a marriage with Buntaro. Ochiba's history is also explored through flashbacks, depicting her as a young girl named Ruri who befriended Mariko, only for their friendship to be shattered by Mariko's father's betrayal and assassination of Ochiba's father, Kuroda. Toranaga discovers crucial information about a European ship found in a nearby fishing village, which could dramatically alter the balance of power. The episode concludes with Toranaga assembling his war council and launching Operation Crimson Sky, a daring plan to storm Osaka Castle and secure his position as shōgun. In 1578, a young Mariko is brought to Azuchi Castle, where she befriends Ruri (future Ochiba) but witnesses her father's betrayal. This betrayal leads to Mariko's forced marriage to Buntaro. By 1600, Toranaga addresses his soldiers' sacrifices and privately disciplines Buntaro, who admits he cannot stay at Blackthorne's house for Mariko's sake. Toranaga orders a temporary separation for Buntaro and promotes Blackthorne for his bravery but denies his request to leave Japan. Toranaga assigns Mariko to accompany Blackthorne to a brothel named "Willow World," where cultural and personal tensions unfold. At Osaka Castle, Ochiba and Ishido take the remaining regents and their families hostage under the pretext of protecting Yaechiyo. Hiromatsu escapes but leaves behind Kiri and Toranaga's pregnant consort, Shizu. Ishido's men kill Sugiyama and his family when they attempt to flee Osaka. Hiromatsu informs Toranaga of the situation in Osaka, and although Toranaga initially hesitates to invoke the Crimson Sky plan, he ultimately decides to proceed to protect Yaechiyo and limit further bloodshed, with the support of the villagers of Ajiro.