Mariko

Mariko is a central character in the novel Shōgun by James Clavell and the NBC TV miniseries based on the book.

Sometime prior to 1600 Mariko converted to Catholicism due thanks to the efforts of Jesuit missionaries working in Japan. As such Father Martin Alvito was her Father Confessor.

Mariko was married to Toda Buntaro, a samurai serving Lord Yoshi Toranaga. There was little love between her and the often abusive Buntaro.

Mariko found that she had a gift for languages and learned European languages such as English, leading to a position as an interpreter for Lord Yoshi Toranaga. When John Blackthorne arrived in Japan she was assigned as a translator between Blackthorne and the Japanese. Without Jesuits around Blackthorne was able to speak freely with Toranaga and gave him a perspective on world affairs from outside the Catholic Italian/Spanish/Portuguese perspective.

As Blackthorne continued his stay on the island the two became very close friends and soon became lovers. Blackthorne petitioned Toranaga to allow Mariko to divorce Buntaro so that she would be free to marry him, but Toranaga refused to consider that and forbade Blackthorne from asking again.

Mariko died when Osaka's castle was attacked by ninjas working for Ishido and the traitorus Lord Kasigi Yabu. She sacrificed herself to buy time for Blackthorne to escort hostages Ishido had been keeping to safety.

Following her death Mariko was cremated in a traditional Japanese ceremony. In her will she left money to Blackthorne to enable him to build a new ship after his original ship had burned.