Shogun

WARNING : SPOILERS forwards for Shōgun episode 9 .

Summary

Lady Mariko cede part of an original haiku during her reunification with Ochiba - no - kata inShōgunepisode 9 . The penultimate episode ofShōgunsaw Mariko completely drive the narrative with the open objective of sending a subject matter to Lord Ishido and Ochiba - no - kata in Osaka . Mariko , who had been mysteriously institutionalize along to Osaka with Yabushige and Blackthorne , tells Lord Ishido and Ochiba - no - kata that she was ordered to return to Lord Toranaga in Edo at once . When she is met with opposition by Ishido ’s warrior , she declares that she will invest seppuku for failing to obey Toranaga ’s commands .

free-base on its title " Crimson Sky",Shōgunepisode 9 was expected to feature the unfolding of Toranaga ’s Siege of Osaka with his United States Army from Edo . After hurt several peachy losses in the most recentShōgunepisodes , Toranaga appear to at long last be in a position where he has the factor of surprise on his side . Lady Mariko fulfilled her duty to Toranaga after being essentially reserve captive in Osaka by Lord Ishido , successfully cracking his inflated sentience of federal agency . Mariko also reunify with herold friend Ochiba - no - katain what became one of the most powerful exchange between characters in the entire series .

Shōgun episode 9 gave Lady Mariko a major here and now and finally delivered the epic yet tragical action sequence the show had been teasing for weeks .

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The Deeper Meaning Behind Lady Mariko’s “Leafless Branch” Poem

If Ochiba is fallen leaves, then Mariko is the leafless branch

It ’s clear that Mariko stand for to target Ochiba with her words , moot that Ochiba ’s name literally mean " fall leaves . "

Prior toMariko ’s shocking twistinShōgunepisode 9 , Mariko part an improvised poem after Ochiba - no - kata take in her to compete in a poetry competition in Osaka . Ochiba notes that Mariko had always been the shining scholar growing up , indicate that she still has a bang-up great deal of admiration and deference for her former protagonist . Mariko offer the first line of the poem after enjoin she will be ineffectual to appease in Osaka long enough to in reality take part in the poetry competitor . The line reads,“While the snow remain / Veiled in the haze of cold evening / A leafless branch … “and is left bare to be continued in the poetry contender .

Ochiba take quiet note of the choice word that Mariko use in the opening line of her poem , while Ishido looks authentically pleased and impressed . It ’s clear that Mariko intend to target Ochiba with her words , consider that Ochiba ’s name literally signify " fallen leaves . " Mariko ’s poem also alludes to the flashback scenes of her youthful years observe her father ’s great betrayal in which he kill Ochiba ’s don and effectively dishonour Mariko ’s household forever and a day . " The snowfall remains " points to the frappe that Mariko still carries in her veins from that experience . If Ochiba is fall leaves , then Mariko is the leafless arm , indicating how they have naturally distance themselves over the years .

Shogun Leafless Branch Poem Explained

Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore

With only 2 instalment remaining of the critically acclaimed FX / Hulu serial Shōgun , there are several clue and possibility of how the finale will go down .

Is “Leafless Branch” A Real Poem?

The poem seems to be a warning from Mariko to Ochiba

By Mariko referencing a leafless arm and wintertime , she is potentially trying to warn Ochiba of the winter - same " death " that is to come through Toranaga ’s plans to become shogun .

The " leafless offshoot " verse form inShōgundoes not appear to be take from another beginning and was written specifically for the show . It acts as a perfect deep warning from Mariko to Ochiba , whose name mean " fallen leaf " is reminiscent of the beautiful and scenic time of year of fall . By Mariko referencing a leafless arm and winter , she is potentially trying to warn Ochiba of the wintertime - like " demise " that is to come through Toranaga ’s programme to become shogun without overtly saying it in front of Ishido . She is also potentially presage her own death in the episodeif she is to be insure as the leafless and lifeless branch she speaks of .

undivided : Anna Sawai break out down the shocking decision that Mariko make in Shogun instalment 9 , “ Crimson Sky , ” and what was going through her head .

Custom image of Mariko and Ishido in Shogun

Image via Hulu/FX

Why Yabushige Calls “Leafless Branch” A Bad Poem

Yabushige cannot perceive the poem’s inner implications

Since it is springtime in Japan , Yabushige calls Mariko ’s verse form bad because it use symbols and themes of winter .

Yabushige , who does n’t appear to have a poetic ivory in his body , criticize Mariko ’s verse form because of its thematic contradiction to the time of year . Since it is spring in Japan , Yabushige calls Mariko ’s poem uncollectible because it uses symbol and themes of wintertime . He is mostly complaining about the fact that the verse form does not align with the season that they are in , which he finds odd . Yabushige does n’t have a job with the verse form itself out of doors of pointing out that it is misplaced because it is a verse form about winter recited in the bounce .

Yabushige clear can not detect the meaning of Mariko ’s poem to Ochiba and is prompt to ridicule it for being out of season . While Yabushige is surely delusory , he ’s evidently not too perceptive or inquisitive about the whole tip of Mariko ’s verse form being about winter despite it being spring . No one , not even Ishido , pauses to contemplate the significance of that observation , and no one but Ochiba imagine anything more about it . Mariko ’s verse form was fundamentally cryptically cautionary of the events to come inShōgunbeginning with her tragical expiry at the end of episode 9 .

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Exclusive : Shogun star Anna Sawai explain how Lord Toranaga will react to Lady Mariko ’s shocking fate in episode 9 of the acclaimed menstruum drama .

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Cast

Shōgun , eject in 2024 , is set in Japan during 1600 at the onrush of a significant civil war . It follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga as he battles political antagonist on the Council of Regents , while a European ship mysteriously appears in a nearby fishing village , complicating the tides of power .

Mariko from Episode 9 of Shogun sitting in a great hall amongst other villagers

Lady Ochiba, Mariko, and Blackthorne in Shogun season 1 Ep 9

Image via Hulu/FX

A custom image of Toranaga in the foreground and Mariko’s head within a gold circle

Headshot Of Hiroyuki Sanada

Headshot Of Cosmo Jarvis

Shogun