Toda Hiromatsu’s shocking scene in Shōgun episode 8 shows how far Toranaga and his closest allies are willing to go to win the war against Ishido.

Toda Hiromatsu, Lord Toranaga’s oldest friend, committed seppuku in front of his lord in Shōgun episode 8. In one of the most intense scenes in the show so far, Shōgun episode 8 saw Hiromatsu trying to convince Toranaga not to surrender. After failing to change his lord’s mind, Hiromatsu committed seppuku due to disrespecting a direct order. Hiromatsu was seconded by his son, Toda Buntato, who wanted to join his father but was not allowed to. Shōgun would later reveal that there was more to Hiromatsu’s death than it seemed.

Considering how loyal Hiromatsu had been to Shōgun’s Lord Toranaga this whole time, it may have come as a surprise that he was against his lord on this matter. Likewise, given how much Toranaga valued Hiromatsu’s friendship, it was shocking to see the former accept the latter’s seppuku. Watching Hiromatsu take his own life in front of him was one of many sacrifices Lord Toranaga had to make, and it happened for a good reason.

Hiromatsu’s Seppuku Scene In Shōgun Episode 8 Explained

Toda Hiromatsu took his own life in front of Toranaga

Toda Hiromatsu committed seppuku in front of Lord Toranaga and all of his men after refusing to follow the Lord of Kanto into surrender. This was after a heated argument between Hiromatsu and Toranaga about whether they should surrender and agree to Ishido’s terms. Some of Toranaga’s men refused to sing their surrender, stating that their role was to advise their lord and not follow him to death. Hiromatsu said something similar and urged Toranaga not to give up. Toranaga did not change his mind, causing Hiromatsu to commit seppuku.

Hiromatsu knew that Toranaga was not planning to surrender, yet Ishido needed to believe that Toranaga had been defeated.

That said, everything that happened between Toranaga and Hiromatsu during that scene was part of their plan. It is unclear whether Toranaga knew what Hiromatsu was going to do, but the fact is that they were not really in disagreement. Hiromatsu knew that Toranaga was not planning to surrender, yet Ishido needed to believe that Toranaga had been defeated. Many Shōgun characters theorized that Toranaga’s surrender was false, which is why Toda Hiromatsu had to have a public argument with Toranaga that would leave no doubt about his intentions.

Why Lord Toranaga Let Hiromatsu’s Death Happen

Toranaga understood what Hiromatsu was trying to do

There are tears in Lord Toranaga’s eyes when Hiromatsu is about to commit seppuku not only because they have been friends for decades but also because Hiromatsu was essentially sacrificing himself for Toranaga to have a chance of winning the war. Toranaga quickly understood what Hiromatsu was trying to do and did not stop him. The Lord of Kanto most likely concluded that Hiromatsu’s death would be the only way for Ishido to believe that the war was over and that Toranaga did not have any secret plans in motion.

Character

Yoshii Toranaga
Hiroyuki Sanada
Tokugawa Ieyasu

John Blackthorne
Cosmo Jarvis
William Adams

Toda Mariko
Anna Sawai
Hosokawa Gracia

Kashigi Yabushige

Kashigi Omi
Hiroto Kanai
Honda Masazumi

Ishido Kazunari
Takehiro Hira
Ishida Mitsunari

Ochiba-no-kata
Fumi Nikaido
Yodo-dono

Earlier in Shōgun episode 8, Ochiba-no-kata said that she would only believe that Toranaga had been defeated when his head was brought to her. Toranaga is known for his smart plans and secret ploys, which is when not even his men were fully convinced he was going to surrender. As Toranaga said to Lady Mariko, Toda Hiromatsu knew what he had to do to help them. His sacrifice was tragic but necessary from Toranaga’s perspective. The deaths of Hiromatsu and Nagakado mean that Toranaga has already lost too much and that he will not go out without a fight.

Did Lord Toranaga & Hiromatsu’s Plan Work?

Toranaga was able to put his plan in motion after Hiromatsu’s death

Although it is still too soon to say whether Ishido and Ochiba will fall for Toranaga’s act, his plan has been working so far. For example, Yabushige, who was sure that Toranaga would not surrender, changed his mind once Hiromatsu committed seppuku. Yabushige accepted the Anjin’s offer and disobeyed Toranaga’s orders to take the ship to Osaka, which is exactly what Toranaga wanted him to do. Blackthrone’s ship and its weapons have been moved from Edo, and it will not seem like Toranaga had anything to do with it.

Lady Mariko boarded the ship too, bringing a message from Toranaga to Yabushige and Blackthorne. Had Hiromatsu not committed seppuku in Shōgun episode 8, Yabushige would have never accepted Blackthorne’s offer. Toranaga even let people think he was too sick during the travel from Ajiro to Edo, adding to the perception that he was not going to fight back against Ishido. Nagakado’s funeral and Hiromatsu’s seppuku both bought Toranaga the time he needed to come up with a way of defeating Ishido without too much bloodshed. Whether Toranaga will succeed remains to be seen.