Yoshi Toranaga

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

By May 1600 Toranaga was one of the most powerful men in Japan. His main Japanese rival was Ishido Kazunari, another very powerful daimyo who was seeking to become Shōgun. Both Toranaga and Ishido were on the council of regents.

After the arrival of John Blackthorne in Japan Toranaga saw an opportunity to learn more about Europe from people other than the Spanish, Portugese, and Italians in Japan. Blackthorne informed Toranaga of the assistance of the Treaty of Zaragoza, which was a treaty the Spanish and Portuguese made to divide the New World between them. Toranaga then summoned Father Martin Alvito and demanded the truth from him. He then requested a written explanation of Spanish/Portuguese activity in the New World, along with the amount of precious metal taken back to Europe from there. Realizing how fragile the alliance with Toranaga had just become the Jesuits complied with his demands.

Blackthorne quickly proved to be a reliable ally, helping Lord Toranaga escape Osaka before Ishido could force him to appear in front of the council so they could order him to commit suicide.

As Blackthorne continued his stay on the island he became very close friends with Toranaga's translator Mariko and they soon became lovers. Blackthorne petitioned Toranaga to allow Mariko to divorce her husband Toda 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 traitorous Lord Kasigi Yabu. Upon learning that Yabu was a traitor Toranaga ordered the daimyo to commit seppuku.

After gathering his forces Toranaga met Ishido in battle. Toranaga was victorious in the battle. Ishido was captured and in deference to the prophesy that he would die an old man with his feet firmly planted in the Earth Toranaga had him buried up to his neck. After three days of exposure and villagers sawing at his neck with a bamboo sword the old man died.

Following the battle the Emperor of Japan requested that Toranaga assume the post of Shōgun, a request Toranaga was only too happy to oblige.

Trivia
James Clavell loosely based Lord Toranaga on Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ieyasu was the Japanese damiyo who united Japan and ruled as Shōgun after being named to the post by the Emperor of Japan.