A flashback scene in Shōgun episode 7 reveals Toranaga’s rise to prominence, but Saeki’s exaggerated version ended up foolishly inspiring Nagakado.

The opening flashback scene in Shōgun episode 7 “A Stick of Time” provides a glimpse at Lord Toranaga’s rise to prominence. After seven episodes of the 10-part series have been released, the critically acclaimed Hulu/FX series has maintained its status as one of the best television series of 2024. Shōgun episode 7 begins with a young Toranaga defeating a warlord named Mizoguchi in the year 1554, 46 years before the events of Shōgun take place. The remarkable determination and wisdom of Toranaga on the battlefield at such a young age surprises Mizoguchi, who humbly surrenders to the boy conqueror.

Shōgun episode 7 also introduces Toranaga’s estranged brother Saeki as he tries to form an alliance in anticipation of the upcoming Siege of Osaka he refers to as Crimson Sky. The precise reasons why Toranaga and Saeki have grown apart are not entirely clear. However, it appears that Saeki is more than willing to reunite with his brother and support him in his fight against Lord Ishido and Ochiba-no-kata, the Mother of the Heir. It’s not long before Saeki reveals he has already formed an alliance with Toranaga’s enemies and has replaced his brother on the Council of Regents, setting him up to face impeachment and death.

Shogun Episode 7’s Flashback Revealed Lord Toranaga’s Defeat Of Mizoguchi

Toranaga displayed great poise and command in his first battle

Based on the scene in Shōgun , to be “seconded” in this way is to be executed by means of decapitation with a sword, presumably after defeat in battle.

In the opening flashback scene with young Toranaga, Mizoguchi requests that he be “seconded” by the boy warlord, so it can be marked down in history. Based on the scene in Shōgun, to be “seconded” in this way is to be executed by means of decapitation with a sword, presumably after defeat in battle. Mizoguchi honorably committed seppuku before Toranaga’s army and his own people. Toranaga then severed Mizoguchi’s head from his body in a single stroke of his sword, which later turns out to be a fabricated part of the war story. In reality, the young Toranaga took multiple attempts to finish job.

Despite it being Toranaga’s first battle, the boy warlord showed incredible poise in his defeat of Mizoguchi’s army. Mizoguchi offers his compliments to Toranaga and is impressed that he has proven himself to be so capable in battle before even “pillowing”. Mizoguchi formally surrenders and asks that he be remembered by Toranaga’s scribes as fighting honorably, admitting that he was compelled by fate to declare an unwinnable war. These are his final words before beginning the ritual of seppuku. Behind Toranaga is Toda Hiromatsu, who would become one of his most trusted generals after guiding him through his first battle.

What Saeki’s Story About Toranaga Beheading Mizoguchi Says About The Brothers

Saeki shares a legend, but it’s not the real story

Saeki asks Nagakado whether he prefers the glorified legends of his father to the humbling truths and makes a point about how tales are often inflated or exaggerated versions of reality.

The initial flashback scene comes full circle in Shōgun episode 7 once Saeki and Toranaga have met and share dinner and drinks. Saeki tells Nagakado about how popular Toranaga was with women when he was younger, which Toranaga jovially calls slander. Toranaga then insists that Saeki was more successful in that department, which Saeki finds funny but denies. The first part of the scene displays how the two brothers are essentially talking up the other one only to deny the praise that they are given. This creates a warm and spirited environment, but it’s hard to discern between the truth and their flattering gestures.

In the same vein, Saeki tells Nagakado an exaggerated version of his father’s first battle, ending with the beheading of Mizoguchi by the boy warlord with one swift strike of his sword. Toranaga and Hiromatsu are both aware this is a lie but do not correct Saeki, who is successful in amazing and inspiring Nagakado. Moments later, Saeki tells a less flattering story that embarrasses Toranaga and completely changes the tone before revealing his betrayal. Saeki asks Nagakado whether he prefers the glorified legends of his father to the humbling truths and makes a point about how tales are often inflated or exaggerated versions of reality.

How Mizoguchi’s Defeat Shaped Lord Toranaga

Toranaga was only 12 years old at the time

Nagakado’s eagerness to fight in a battle demonstrates his inexperience and ignorance of its lasting effects on a person’s mind, heart, and soul.

Unlike his son, Toranaga was thrust into a bloody battle at the young age of 12, which has shaped him into a formidable but haunted military force. Nagakado’s eagerness to fight in a battle demonstrates his inexperience and ignorance of its lasting effects on a person’s mind, heart, and soul. It also demonstrates how fueled Nagakado is by naive legends of battle such as the one told by Saeki about the beheading of Mizoguchi. Toranaga himself called the tale absurd, but Nagakado believed it to be true, which ultimately led him to foolishly attack Saeki and die senselessly at the end of Shōgun episode 7.