In the 17th-century Japanese political system depicted in Shogun, leaders have a draconian hold on their citizens. The word of the daimyos is law, and the people they rule are subject to their whims, which often masquerade as political expediency. Nevertheless, politics in Shogun is an unforgiving game that penalizes everyone—even its most successful practitioners often end up brutalized.

The best political mind in the novel is Toranaga. Everything he does advances his cunning strategies, the goal of which is to become shogun. After the death of the Taiko, Toranaga promised to protect the young heir, setting up the Council of Regents specifically made up of daimyos who hate each other—enmity Toranaga could exploit. As the Council of Regents try to gain more power for themselves, squabbling over every action and counteraction, Toranaga schemes in a variety of ways. He knows that only a five-member Council has power, so he resigns at the perfect time to deny the others a quorum. Later, he stalls the Emperor’s arrival, pretending to activate a war operation ominously called Crimson Sky, to force his main rival Ishido to reveal his plans. However, part of Toranaga’s success stems from the fact that he is willing to let others think he is slow, weak, confused, and vulnerable—qualities that are against

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