Yes, Yabushige was my fav character in the show. He expressed the greatest range of emotions while most of the other characters remained stoic with glimpses of other emotions. He was always expressive of his emotions and they were clearly displayed on his face. I see him more as a tragic victim of circumstances figure rather than the conniving betrayer others see him as. Like in the opening when the Erasmus washes up on his shore, he tries to make the most of the canons on board but when Hiromatsu shows up and reminds him of his loyalty to Toranaga, he quickly pivots to saying it was going to be a present to his lord. His discussions with Ishido showed they had some history too and he was the pawn btwn Ishido and Toranaga and his fate was sealed no matter who he sided with. And of all the characters that had to commit seppuku, Yabu accepted his fate and acted on it with little drama and a smile on his face for the friendship he shared with Toranaga. What a guy and great actor.

[Book spoiler] Apparently, in the book (which I have yet to read), that final conversation between Toranaga and Yabushige did not happen as Omi was his second, and the scenario that Toranaga laid out on screen was only his internal monologue there. As you can imagine, we can’t have that on screen; Toranaga had to tell someone… and who better to tell than a man who will shortly die? [End of Book spoiler] I think Yabushige got one of the best endings in the show, considering all he has done; it was still an honorable death for him, and seconded by his Lord no less. They also smirked at each other, I’d like to think, because, in the end, Yabushige realized that whether he knew it or not, he served Toranaga excellently. The winning scenario Toranaga presented will never be possible if Mariko did not die INSIDE Osaka. Which kinda lifted the guilt he felt for being complicit with Mariko-sama’s death. Yabushige smirks: (unsaid) well what are you waiting for? Toranaga smirks: (unsaid) well done. Good bye to our favourite sociopath. I rank it higher than being boiled but lower than being shredded by a cannon chain shot.

you know yabu was thinking the same thing a black thorn. fuck it.

Loved this show! Not a bad episode from start to finish. Although I didn't love the Kabuki segment, I understood why it was there.

Excellent video! Shogun is way better than Game of thrones! Perfectly cast, Shogun started strong and finished even stronger. GOT fell off a cliff in it's final 2 seasons.

Yabushi was the best character on the show. He deserved better, just like the rest of us who were constantly reminded that war is coming, bullshit.

yabu: please my lord please have me blown to bits by cannon or have me eaten by fish Toronaga: mmm, tempting, but no..

Not even worth being born in that feudal days with head choppings and self death constantly. Horrible 😡