Did Toranaga become Shogun?

Yes, Lord Toranaga becomes the Shogun by the end of the series.

Shogun, which is made under the banner of FX, has become one of the biggest shows across the globe. The series showcases 17th-century Japanese culture where most of the power and respect resided with the Lords or Shoguns of the region. It sets our protagonist, John Blackthorne, getting stuck amongst the feudal lords of Japan after being shipwrecked and captured as a prisoner.

Shogun is adapted from a novel written by James Clavell and showcases the story of how Lord Toranaga became the ultimate Lord of all of Japan, claiming the title of “Shogun” to bring a peaceful time across Japan, while John Blackthrone tries to make his way back home by pleasing Toranaga in training his army to fight using guns and cannons.

What happens to Toranaga in Shogun?

Lord Toranaga is the feudal lord in the city of Kento and is known to be in a dispute with the other lords in the region, led by Lord Ishido. This leads Toranaga to be trapped and monitored in his own city. During this time Toranaga meets up with John Blackthorne, who is brought in as a prisoner after his ship and crew were confiscated by the samurai of Ajiro. Toranaga found this to be an opportunity to upgrade his crew to learn the ways of the Englishmen.

While earlier in the series, Toranaga claims to everyone that he is not interested in becoming the Shogun, he gives his future plan to the character Yabushige, who committed seppuku for assisting lord Ishido kill Lady Mariko. In his plan, he explains that to clear all the impurities and politics in the land of Japan, he has to take up the mantle of Shogun. According to Toranaga, this is the path or his karma that he had to take the position.

In the season finale, we get a flash-forward scene where Lord Toranaga is seen in his full warrior armor and is surrounded by armies celebrating victory. But the catch is that there is no war, and Toranaga is viewing a vast ocean contemplating how his future would be as the ultimate Leader or the Shogun of Japan.

Related: what happens to buntaro in shogun

Who plays the role of Lord Toranaga in Shogun?

The role of Lord Toranaga in the Shogun series is played by the famous Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada. Born on October 12, 1960, the actor started his journey working in various Japanese and Hong Kong action films, and his appearance in the movie Ring was quite well known. Sanada’s work in Hollywood began with movies like The Twilight Samurai in 2002, The Last Samurai in 2003, and Rush Hour 3 alongside Jackie Chan in 2007.

For his work in the movie Industry, Hiroyuki Sanada has received various awards. He has been honored with two Primetime Emmy Awards, 2 Hochi Film Awards, 2 Japan Academy Film Prizes, one Mainichi Film Award, 3 Blue Ribbon Awards, and 4 Kinema Junpo Awards, among other achievements.