In Shōgun, we meet lots of characters who are loyal to Lord Toranaga. In episode 5, we meet the Lord of Kanto's spy, Muraji. Who was he and what was Muraji's real name in Shōgun?
Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for Shōgun episode 5, so proceed with caution.
What is Muraji's Real Name in Shōgun?
Muraji (played by Yasunari Takeshima) is Lord Toranaga's (played by Hiroyuki Sanada) loyal spy. He also serves as a samurai. As a spy, he is working for Toranaga as he keeps watch on Yabushige's (played by Tadanobu Asano) region.
He first appeared in episode 1. But in episode 5, more information about Murai is revealed.
Considering his loyalty to Toranaga puts his life in jeopardy, he hides his real identity. So what was Muraji's real name in Shōgun? In the fifth episode, it was revealed that his real name is Tonomoto Akinao.
Despite Yabushige's efforts to discover his real identity, he was unsuccessful. In his place, Uejirou was used as a scapegoat and was presumed killed by Toranaga's enemy.
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What Happened to Muraji in Shōgun Episode 5?
In episode 5, Toranaga warned his spy since Yabushige was searching for him. Despite wanting to turn himself in, Toranaga declined and had "another spy" discovered by his enemy.
By the end of the episode, Muraji claimed that Uejirou, the gardener, was already killed. However, it is unclear whether the gardener was really killed or he was taken to a different location.
But it was clear that Uejirou was used to cover up the identity of Toranaga's real spy.
We'll have to wait for future episodes to know whether Uejirou is still alive.
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Was Muraji Based on a Real Person?
Since most of the characters in Shōgun were based on real people in Japanese history, we can't help but wonder if Muraji was also based on one.
It turns out that Muraji was not modeled after anyone in history. The character of the loyal spy was based on samurais who used to serve as a spy for their lords.
Through these spies, the warlords were able to gain information on other lords. This was Muraji's role for Toranaga in Shōgun.
Although Muraji was not a real person in history, it's possible that the real Toranaga had one. His identity, however, was never revealed.
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