Mariko is a central character in the novel Shōgun. She was portrayed by Yoko Shimada in the miniseries.
Quick Answers
What led Mariko Toda to convert to Catholicism?
Who was Mariko's father and what dishonorable act did he commit?
How did Mariko's father's actions impact her life and reputation?
What is the significance of Mariko's relationship with Father Martin Alvito?
In what novel does the character Mariko Toda appear?
Biography[]
Sometime prior to 1600 Mariko converted to Catholicism thanks to the efforts of Jesuit missionaries working in Japan. As such Father Martin Alvito was her Father Confessor.
Mariko's father Akechi-san assassinated Lord Goroda, who was a very powerful daimyo in Japan. As a result not only was he dishonored by this action, but the Japanese considered his children to also be dishonored. Mariko had wished to be allowed to commit seppuku, but she was forced to marry Toda Buntaro, a samurai serving Lord Yoshi Toranaga. After the marriage she was sent away to Shonai Province. There was no love lost between her and the often abusive Buntaro. In revenge for leaving her alive, Mariko refused to be a properly submissive Japanese wife to him.
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.
Trivia[]
- James Clavell loosely based Mariko on Hosokawa Gracia, the wife of Hosokawa Tadaoki and a Christian convert.