Ochiba-no-kata has a fascinating family history on Shogun.
This article contains spoilers throughShogunepisode 6.
Halfway through its 10-episode run, FXsShogunwas not hurting for compelling antagonists.
Lady Ochiba screams onto the scene with fire and fury in episode 6.
Oh, and she also attends a fun little play about her betrothal to the Taiko.
All in all, its a real busy episode for our girl.
Note: The vast majority of this information comes from Shogun itself.
Ruris father Lord Kuroda was a powerful but despotic ruler.
Marikos father Akechi Jinsai was originally one of Lord Kurodas vassals.
This is why Ruri and Mariko grew up together in Ruris fathers castle.
Jinsai is basically an even more extreme version of Ser Jaime Lannister fromGame of Thrones.
Mariko and Ochiba are somewhat mirror images of each other.
Poor Ochiba had to endure the full crucible.
Who Is Lady Ochiba Based On?
Just as Ruri came to be known as Ochiba-no-kata, Chacha came to be known as Yodo-no-kata.
When her father finally found himself without the hope of a victory, he committed seppuku.
And after that, both Chacha and her mother were married into the family of yet another nobleman.
And when that nobleman clashed with the Taiko a.k.a.
What Does Ochiba-no-kata Mean?
Thankfully, the aforementionedShogunpodcast has a succinct answer for us on that front as well.
You would have to find another way to refer to them.
More often than not, that involved adopting a euphemism for the woman that incorporated where she resided.
In the case of Ochiba-no-kata, the Ochiba portion means fallen leaves while no-kata indicates a particular direction.
Ochibas historical inspiration Yodo-no-kata was so-known becauseshe had been granted Yodo Castleby her lord i.e.
The lady from Yodo Castle.
What Does Lady Ochiba Want?
Lady Ochiba is not particularly pleased about the fact that Marikos father killed her father.
Interestingly enough though, most of her anger feels like targeted towards Toranaga instead.
Shes not a fan of Toranagas calculated, plotting nature.
Perhaps Ochibas inclination to snatch her own destiny is at odds with Toranagas preference lay in wait.
Or maybe its all just as simple as Mariko says.
A man may go to war for many reasons.
Conquest, pride, power …
But a woman is simply at war.
Six episodes of Shogun are available to stream on Hulu now.
New episodes premiere Tuesdays on Hulu and Tuesday nights at 10 p.m.
