Anna Sawai’s Lady Mariko is a captivating figure in Shogun, but is the character based on a real person within Japan’s history dating back centuries?

Anna Sawai plays the role of Lady Toda Mariko in Shōgun, and like many of the show’s figures, her character has connections to a real-life counterpart. A remake of 1980’s Shōgun miniseries and based on James Clavell’s 1975 book, the FX series follows a tumultuous period in feudal Japan and the opposing forces vying for power. At the center of the conflict in 1600 is an Englishman named John Blackthorne, who finds himself in Japan before emerging as a game-changer to one specific daimyo. That said, Sawai’s Lady Mariko also plays a crucial role in shaping Japan’s future.

Sawai continues to see her stardom rise in the industry, with her role in Shōgun being the latest notable project. In 2023, the New Zealand actress had another leading role in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Apple TV+’s series within the Monsterverse franchise. Before that, Sawai starred in another Apple TV+ show, Pachinko, which is still expected to get a season 2. On the film side, Sawai would be best known for playing F9‘s Elle, the daughter of the scientist who developed Project Ares. That said, Shōgun is setting up to be Sawai’s biggest title to date.

Hosokawa Gracia Is The Real-Life Inspiration For Shōgun’s Lady Mariko

…Gracia was an impactful figure during Japan’s Sengoku period.

Shōgun‘s cast features characters based on real-life people, including Anna Sawai’s Lady Mariko, who is based on Hosokawa Gracia. In Shōgun, Toda Mariko is a fierce ally to Lord Toranaga, the lord forced into conflict with his rivals among the fellow regents. Seemingly married for duty rather than love, Lady Mariko still carries great value, especially when it comes to her education. Aside from being a devoted Christian, Lady Mariko’s multilingual training allows her to translate for John Blackthorne, whom she eventually becomes closer to.

Gracia, also referred to as Hosokawa Garasha, was born into the Akechi clan in 1563 but eventually converted to Christianity and embraced the baptismal name. Though she wasn’t involved with William Adams, the man who inspired Shōgun‘s John Blackthorne, Gracia was an impactful figure during Japan’s Sengoku period. After being labeled the daughter of a traitor, Gracia was sent into hiding, but her life was thrown into more danger after her husband, Hosokawa Tadaoki, joined the Eastern Army during the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, which would go on to change Japan’s rulership through 1886.

What Happened To The Real Lady Mariko?

…it’s unclear if Shōgun ‘s version of Lady Mariko will follow the same fate as her historical inspiration…

Through Lady Mariko’s swordsmanship and intellect, she will continue to be a critical figure on Lord Toranaga’s side throughout Shōgun. However, it’s unclear if Shōgun‘s version of Lady Mariko will follow the same fate as her historical inspiration, which was quite tragic. As Gracia found herself in the middle of the Eastern Army (Tokugawa Ieyasu loyalists) and the Western Army (Ishida Mitsunari loyalists), she was ordered by Ishida Mitsunari to serve as a hostage when he attempted to get rivals on his side. Instead, Gracia ordered her servant to assist in her suicide at the age of 38.

While there were some conflicting reports regarding whether someone else had ordered Gracia’s death, the effects of her death were apparent. Her fate hurt Ishida Mitsunari’s hostage plans, especially with potential allies who were also Christian converts. Mitsunari ended up losing the Battle of Sekigahara, leading Ieyasu to create the Tokugawa shogunate, with his clan governing over Japan until 1868. The changes marked an important period for Japan since the region experienced immense economic growth. Considering Shōgun‘s Lord Toranaga is based on Tokugawa Ieyasu, it will be interesting to see which elements of Japan’s history play out in the show.

Episode #
Episode Title
Release Date

1
“Anjin”
February 27

2
“Servants of Two Masters”
February 27

3
“Tomorrow is Tomorrow”
March 5

4
“The Eighthold Fence”
March 12

5
“Broken to the Fist”
March 19

6
“Ladies of the Willow World”
March 26

7
“A Stick of Time”
April 2

8
“The Abyss of Life”
April 9

9
“Crimson Sky”
April 16

10
A Dream of a Dream”
April 23