What happened to Usami’s baby in Shogun was by far the darkest scene in FX’s new historical drama, even though it actually happened offscreen.
What happens to the baby in Shōgun as part of Tadayoshi’s seppuku is by far the darkest moment in FX’s historic epic so far. While Shōgun’s two-episode premiere featured a lot of heavy and violent scenes, including a man being burnt alive and decapitations, the show’s darkest sequence yet happened offscreen toward the beginning of episode 1. John Blackthorne’s arrival in Japan set the events of FX’s new Shōgun show in motion, but delicate power struggles were already happening in the islands.
Shōgun’s cast of characters highlights how complex the inner conflicts in the show are, particularly regarding Lord Toranaga’s rising power compared to the other members of the Council of Regents. Not only was Toranaga growing more powerful and influential by the day, but he was now keeping the late Taikō’s heir and the boy’s mother in his castle. This led to a meeting between Toranaga and Ishido, during which a young samurai named Tadayoshi ended up asking permission to commit seppuku.
Shogun Episode 1’s Baby Is Killed As Part Of His Father’s Seppuku
Tadayosh disgraced himself during Toranaga’s meeting with the other Regents
Usami Fuji, the granddaughter of Lord Toranaga’s closest friend, had her infant child sentenced to death as part of her husband’s seppuku. Toda Mariko entered Usami’s room to find Hiromatsu’s granddaughter holding the baby with a knife, threatening to kill herself as well if her son were to die. Mariko was able to talk the desperate mother out of her plan, but the seppuku ritual continued, and the baby was killed offscreen. Tadayoshi, a now-disgraced samurai, had vowed to end not only his life but also his entire family line.
Death by seppuku was supposed to be painful and slow, and it was meant to be perceived as an honorable way to die after losing a battle or doing something shameful.
During Toranaga’s audience with the rest of the Council of Regents, he is questioned by Ishido about the status of the heir’s mother, and whether she is being kept as a captive. Lord Toranaga and Ishido were playing a political game in which every word had to be chosen carefully when one of the samurai spoke without being granted permission first and accused Ishido of insulting Toranaga. Tadayoshi’s actions caused tension among all the lords and samurais involved, leading him to announce he was sorry, and that he was going to commit seppuku.
Why Tadayoshi’s Family Line Had To End In Shogun Episode 1
Tadayoshi’s name was now dishonored
Seppuku was a samurai ritual in which a person who had lost their honor would die by suicide by stabbing themselves with a short sword in the belly. Death by seppuku was supposed to be painful and slow, and it was meant to be perceived as an honorable way to die after losing a battle or doing something shameful. It was also a symbol of a samurai’s loyalty to their lord, showing that they would follow their superior to death if defeat were to come. By insulting Ishido, Tadayoshi was bound to ask for seppuku.
Extremely ashamed of his actions, Tadayoshi asked permission not only to commit seppuku but also to end his family line, all because his name was now dishonored. This is why, by his code, the baby also had to die. While Toranaga was obviously not happy about it, there was nothing he could do to prevent it. Likewise, even though the baby was the grandchild of one of Toranaga’s generals, Tadayoshi would have to end the family line regardless. The way Mariko handled the situation quickly established her character and set the stage for Shōgun’s violent, high-stakes tone.
