Shogun: Master of Fates
I was so happy when I heard they were doing a remake of James Clavell’s masterpiece book that takes place in feudal Japan right before the rise of the Tokugawa shogunate. The plot of the miniseries by FX “follows "the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds, John Blackthorne, a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him; Lord Toranaga, a shrewd, powerful daimyo, at odds with his own dangerous, political rivals; and Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance.”
And it did not disappoint. The acting was amazing but the story overall was spellbinding. More so as a self professed Japan-ophile and samurai movie guy.
It captures the beauty of Japan, the plots of great men of power for more power, and all the spectrums of humanity like ambition, love but also sacrifice, honor and duty.
I loved the scene that encapsulates Japanese samurai thinking: Lady Mariko is talking with her dear friend Lady Ochiba, who questions why she wants to commit suicide or at least die in duty.
She answers “Accepting death isn’t surrender. Flowers are only flowers because they fall.” It’s so profound but then it also describes life. Life is magical because it is finite. Cherry Blossoms are beautiful because they are only here for a short period of time. So life like cherry blossoms are better to be enjoyed while around.
There are also many great insights and nuggets of leadership and human psychology. Toranaga is the penultimate war leader, wise, crafty and understands people. Understanding people is the key to leadership and there is a scene when he abraids his reckless son.
“You so easily fell into their trap. Broken to another man's fist. Like a falcon, but without the beauty. All men are falcons. Some are flown straight from the fist, killing anything that moves. Others are lazy and tempted by the lure. But all men can be broken. Learn to fly them at the right game, and they will do your hunting for you.”
The lesson I get from this is that incentives matter. Know what your colleagues, partners and subordinates want. Make sure you want the same things so you are aligned and going after the same goals.
There are so many excellent scenes, there is one where the warlord Toranaga schools one of his retainers who asks him: “How does it feel to shape the wind to your will?” “I don’t control the wind,” replies Toranaga. “I only study it.”
There is another conversation between a samurai Omi and his courtesan Kiku. Omi asks: “Do you think loyalty could ever be a disservice? Or even a harm?
Kiku answers: “No”.
Omi: “I don’t know what I’m fighting for anymore.”
Kiku: “If you look and see nothing…..you must simply look harder.”
I feel this way sometimes, and wonder what the point is. This is why it’s important to have a clear mission in life. It’s why you need to have family, friends and goals. Something beyond yourself.
The whole point of life is winning, however you define it. Life is meant to be hard and difficult and full of challenges. He says to his retainer: “Do you remember what the Anjin said on the day we met when I told him his fight was pointless?” He responded: “Unless I win.” Toranaga then says “If you win, anything is possible.”
What I take from this: Go figure out what you want. Like what you really, really want and go for it. Win or lose, you will be ahead of most people.
So I end with some beautiful words from Lady Mariko:
“If I could use words like scattering flowers and falling leaves, what a bonfire my poems would make.”
Life is too short, just like that of cherry blossoms. Yet every life is a beacon. Make your life as bright as a bonfire, as bright and illuminating as possible.