Chapter 47

Summary

• The ship Erasmus is fully refurbished and ready, surrounded by Toranaga's guards.
• Blackthorne is excited to board his ship but is told he needs Toranaga's personal permission.
• Mariko teaches Blackthorne the importance of inner peace despite troubling incidents such as the argument with Father Alvito over brandy.
• Mariko reflects on her journey with Blackthorne, their intimate bond, and the political intrigues shared by Gyoko—a peasant woman with ambitions for her son to become samurai.
• Toranaga appears gloomy, unlike his usual confident self, and Mariko worries about his well-being and the future.
• Buntaro, Mariko's husband, is dissatisfied with Toranaga's leadership and wishes for war rather than submission.
• Buntaro accuses Blackthorne of improper interest in Mariko and requests permission to kill Blackthorne.
• Toranaga grants Buntaro's request but instructs him to wait until after he has acted as Toranaga's second in a coming event.
• Toranaga glorifies the possible value of the secrets brought by Mariko, seeing them as a possible reprieve from his predicament.
• Blackthorne, sensing opportunity with his ship, proposes a plan involving the Black Ship as leverage over Christian daimyos, which Toranaga cautiously considers.
• Blackthorne requests Mariko's hand from Toranaga, promising to keep his intentions secret from Mariko herself; Toranaga is surprised but agrees to consider it.
• On leaving, Blackthorne expresses his eagerness to see Mariko again, while she maintains a formal distance.