Consider the benefits and drawbacks of bushido. Why do some samurai find the notion of fighting with guns so repulsive? How does Toranaga’s willingness to go against the samurai honor code affect his vassals and enemies?

Discuss Blackthorne’s assimilation into Japanese culture. How does the novel make the customs he adopts sound appealing? How does Clavell give readers a vicarious kind of acculturation alongside Blackthorne?

Discuss the tension between the various religions and sects. What is the range of conflicts and their resolutions?