Yoshii Toranaga (played by Hiroyuki Sanada) has been on the brink of disaster from the opening scene of FX’s historical series, Shōgun. The series takes place in the past, when Spain and Portugal shared new lands in the New World, worrying England and the Dutch.
They teamed up and sent ships to Asia to challenge Spain and Portugal’s trade control. “Shogun” starts with the Erasmus ship arriving in Japan in 1600. Led by John Blackthorne, the crew meets Japanese people for the first time.
In Japan, powerful leader Yoshii Toranaga joins forces with Nakamura to unite Japan. When Nakamura gets sick, he picks Toranaga to lead until his son is ready. This causes tension among other leaders. Meanwhile, Mariko, a noblewoman, becomes friends with Blackthorne and helps him in Japan’s tricky politics.
In this week’s episode “A Stick in Time,” Lord Toranaga faces a tough situation as the Council of Regents corners him. To bolster his forces, he seeks help from his half-brother, Saeki Nobutatsu, who has a strong army but is allied with Lord Ishido.
Meanwhile, Lord Ishido aims to strengthen his power by proposing marriage to Lady Ochiba, which could consolidate his control. Lord Toranaga’s armies prepare for battle, while English pilot John Blackthorne tries to persuade his love interest, Toda Mariko, not to join them, but she refuses. Despite being a powerful figure, recent events have weakened Lord Toranaga’s position.
Shogun Episode 8 Release Date & Time
Episode 8 of Shogun is scheduled for release on April 8th, 2024, at 12:00 AM JST (Japan Standard Time) for viewers in Japan. For fans worldwide, Shogun episodes can be streamed on Hulu & Disney+. The release times for other countries are listed below.
- United States (EST): April 7th, 2024, at 11:00 AM
- Canada (EST): April 7th, 2024, at 11:00 AM
- Germany (CET): April 7th, 2024, at 5:00 PM
- Australia (AEST): April 8th, 2024, at 2:00 AM
- UK (GMT): April 7th, 2024, at 4:00 PM
Shogun Episode 8 Preview
Shogun Episode 8 Spoilers
Toranaga finds himself in a tough spot as some of his samurai rebel against him, refusing to follow his orders. He’s not as powerful as he used to be, and it’s hard for him to control his people. On top of that, he’s mourning the loss of his son and feeling overwhelmed by enemies all around him. Toranaga faces a difficult decision about how to handle the revolt and protect his position of leadership.
He is seen possibly considering a risky move with Mariko’s assistance. They plan to use the kamikaze tactic, which involves sacrificing oneself for a greater cause.
