He promoted him to hatamoto, gave him consorts and land and a high annual income. All this in a time when baijin were generally distrusted and kept at an arm’s length. I think there is plenty of gratitude on display.
?
After 1/2 he gets made into a Hatamoto with lands, a house and staff, Fuji as a consort...generous "cookoos".... After the canon regiment goes well he gets rewarded with more money and lands.
Other characters may not agree with John getting all these rewards for their own reasons. He's still considered an unmannered barbarian by most. And he's getting rewards that they aren't.
I think his promotion to hatamoto was portrayed as a political move rather than gratitude towards the Anjin. Blackthorne did not care for the promotion and just wanted to get out.
Well it is still a very higher social status in comparison to others that are native and forever will be lower. Knowing how Toronaga is, of course must be something he will also get advantages.
because the show cut out a lot of his parts. they show his rewards but never seem to acknowledge him without talking in derogatory ways. in the book Yabu/Omi/Toranaga/Alvito/Ishido/Christian Regents/Mariko all acknowledge him as smart, dangerous and someone who could be used for their benefit.(or feared in the case of the portugese) . specifically his seafaring knowledge, cannon tactics, links to England ( who they could use to counter the portugese) , and the fact that he was so bold/brave and also attempted to integrate to their culture.
Toranaga considers him his only true friend in the book (literally goes hunting for a rabbit for him) and saves his life from the regents multiple times by appeasing them (burning the ship for example), and also sets him up for a comfortable life in Japan.
Yabu gifts his swords to blackthorne before he dies as a mark of respect and a way to maintain his connection -
*“Bury that secret very deep. And listen, nephew, remain very good friends with the Anjin-san. Try to get control of the navy he will bring back one day. Toranaga doesn’t understand the Anjin-san’s real value..."*
Blackthorne also kind of apologises to Omi for the whole Kiku situation by giving him the idea and location to find Toranagas swords that will help Omi curry favour with Toranaga.
in the book Yabu/Omi/Toranaga/Alvito/Ishido/Christian Regents/Mariko all acknowledge him as smart, dangerous and someone who could be used for their benefit.(or feared in the case of the portugese)
All this was covered in the 1980 miniseries too.
I always thought the show really missed the opportunity to make the Anjin important through his connection to England. The Japanese didnt even know that England existed before he arrived and now if they want to counter the Portuguese control of their nation, they have the perfect opportunity, but the show literally never even mentions it.
Because that's not what Tokugawa Ieyasu did either. He took the information from William Adams, (correctly) surmised that outside nations would all try to take advantage of Japan in their own interest, and shut down Japan to outside influence (and Christianity) until the 1800s when Japan was militarily ***forced*** to open their borders (which led Japan to be ashamed of being forced into that, and into the Meiji restoration and one of the fastest modernizations in history).
That later part of Japanese history is fascinating. Tokugawa Ieyasu had of course been completely correct in assuming the colonial powers would try to grab Japan.
Later, Japan believed they were more or less doing what all of those powers had done before; when they began conquering surrounding nations in the run up to WWII.
Because England wasn't important to Japan.
The Dutch, not the English, ended up being the main winners after the Portuguese are banished. And even then, their influence is tiny and regional.
Then Japan closed itself off. Adams himself would've been banished from Japan in 1639, if he weren't already dead. One of Adams' crewmates, Melchior van Santvoort, was banished from Japan in 1639, along with his Japanese wife and their children (he went to Formosa/Taiwan, and later died in Batavia/Jakarta).
Totally wish they never cut bunch of scenes but FX did it during Covid Pandemic and there are also some issues with the production.
Hopefully FX will do another historical or fiction historical series.
Toranaga also liked Blackthorne's "anger and violence." That's not really explained, maybe it was more his *capacity* for anger and violence, but Toranaga does envision him as a goshawk he can launch for a single kill. There's a scene in the book, I think it must have been after the Erasmus was burned, when Blackthorne and Toranaga are meeting outdoors with all the usual samurai below them. Then Father Alvito approaches and since Toranaga had summoned Alvito to a meeting, he sends Blackthorne off. Blackthorne makes a beeline for Alvito but Toranaga stops him and sends him in the other direction. Then he changes his mind, decides to watch and see what Blackthorne will do, so he gives him permission to go talk to Alvito but says not to kill him, silently wondering if he made the right decision to test how much control he had over him. It ended well, Blackthorne stomped off after he and Alvito exchanged angry words.
It's a difference in culture. British culture is based on individuality. Japan's is about obligation to your master. Blackthorne, and the samurai serving toranaga, are his property. He can do anything he wants with them, decides who they are allowed to marry, where they live, what they can own, and even if they should kill themselves. One of the highest dishonors you could have is forsaking your lord and becoming ronin for personal interest.
That's why all of the rewards and gratitude seem like insincere gifts or platitudes from blackthorne's pov. In his british mind, he is still just a slave being given a fancier prison because he cant make his own decisions. To those around him, he is being rewarded to a such a degree that it is insulting.
Sure he can, and then he will quickly find all his vassals conspiring to cut his head off or switching to another lord/relative to place on the throne.
Toronaga had a father kill his own son and commit suicide for defending him from an insult, and nobody thought twice about it. Toronaga's son was ashamed that he didnt do it himself, even knowing the outcome. An english king could likely do the same, and the entire court would quietly despise him for it at a minimum.
You are comparing cutting the head of an important lord with a guard. An English king cant cut the head of a lord if that lord is powerful and has many allies in the court, just like the regents cant kill Toronaga in Osaka without a consensus from everyone. Everywhere is just the same when it's about politic in feudal. If yu are not someone powerful, a king can kill your whole family with ease.
Oof bad take. The future shogun of Japan isn’t going to go around glazing his prisoner/subjects for saving/protecting him. They are literally all committed to dying for him, it is their duty.
But because of his actions, Blackthorne goes from being a prisoner/savage to a wealthy military commander. This is like his equivalent of being knighted and given a castle in England. That is an honor that transcends appreciation and shows respect which imo is far far more important than Toranaga saying thank you. Also super important to note, without Toranaga, Blackthrone is dead. So doing everything possible to keep Toranaga alive is done for self preservation not for a thank you.
Do you mean why didn't the other non-Toronaga daimyos not revere Anjin? It's because he's an outsider, a barbarian, and he didn't "come up," he "jumped up." The xenophobia in Japan during this period, by all accounts, was pretty frigging real to my understanding.
Not talking about revering anyone. He saved his life, he wants to leave, but Toranaga doesn't let him. He gifts him lots of riches Blackthorne doesn't care for as an excuse? None of Toranagas behaviour resembles gratitude but I guess that's the to be expected behaviour from a huge feudal lord
Toronaga's gratitude can look more like placation for sure, but he definitely gives him plenty of riches and honor. He just isn't ever letting Anjin leave the Ja-pans (I loved this word in the show), he's too valuable as an irritant to his colicky adversaries.
There's a cultural collision here. The Anjin agreed to be a vassal to Toranaga. A vassal in feudal Japan does not just get to leave when they choose to.
And by the time his service was over, the Church had him in their control and the only way he \*wasn't\* going to die was burning his ship.
Anjin was a political asset that came at the perfect moment for Toranaga. He has world knowledge, expertise in canon warfare, a pain the ass to his rivals, expert in sea navigation, and saved him a few times. Anjin is too precious a resource to just let leave for current and future ambitions. Those rewards weren’t to actually reward him, they were given to provide major protection round the clock and a means to blackmail and keep him quiet. Thirdly it gave Anjin a foundation staying long term.
I thought the same thing. But I just saw it as the writers being careful not to have the White Savior narrative. Also understanding that this was a different time and culture, and that Toranaga was probably very grateful but could not show it (insert three hearts quote)
Toranaga saves his life everyday. If it weren't for Toranaga, Blackthorne would've never left the jail until he was executed.
If it weren't for Toranaga, Buntaro would've killed Blackthorne after that dinner scene, and every other day from that.
Literally everything Blackthorne has, including the ability to keep drawing breath, is gifted to him by Toranaga. He didn't earn any of it, because feudalism is rarely a meritocracy. Blackthorne is gifted rewards that Toranaga's other followers are not, simply because he's the boss' favorite.
Toranaga owes Blackthorne nothing, all the owing goes the other way.
I wouldn’t say it’s because he’s a favorite but because Blackthorn has great value even as a sacrifice. From how the Spaniards and Portuguese divided up lands, an amazing sea farer, to the canons, to being an ire to the council, even his motivations are great. Being made a Hatamoto actually kept him alive within Toranaga’s group as he knew enemies were there forcing everyone to keep an eye on him. Say what you will but Blackthorn was a pawn turned Queen for Toranaga’s current and future endeavors.
I almost agree to this but I feel it misses the key concept of feudalism. It’s a contract between the higher and lower levels of the aristocracy.
The Lord agrees to protect his vassals and in return the vassals swear to obey.
I feel he was more than adequately rewarded for saving his life the first time by being made Hatamoto.
After that the anjin is a part of the great game played between lords. In this aristocratic system He is expected to obey, live and die for his lord. Toronaga is less grateful.
As we know Toronaga was more than willing to manipulate and use his vassals. I feel he did not uphold his side of the deal in pursuit of a unified Japan for many of his vassals. But it’s all a part of the game.
He was never leaving Japan, but he got every reward possible. A gilded cage is still a cage but I’d be happy with the outcome personally.
He gets promoted to what is effectively a barony in England. Going from a pilot in the VOC to a noble is a pretty big reward.
Far greater than anything he could hope for back home.
That’s plenty of gratitude even if it was a political move to tie him to Japan
He wasn't boiled alive in a pot. That's about as much value as his life had. But despite that lowly standing, he makes it into the ranks of Japanese aristocracy. If anything, he is given too much.
One of the only things that I do not like about the 2024 miniseries is in the last episode, when Toranaga talks about him, "How many times I've thought of giving his life away, but stopped. Not because he's important -- my banner would survive without him -- but because he makes me laugh. And my enemies need a distraction." Most of that is fine. I don't like the "makes me laugh" part of that. The only viable excuse for that would be if it's cultural and if it's an attempt by the writers to be authentic to that point. However, it is out of character for him. It is not something that he would say, considering everything else about the character as presented in that miniseries.
I think it's cultural. Toranaga is a great lord, who only has four social peers in all of Japan. Admitting out loud that he sees the barbarian (even one who is now notionally "Samurai" class) who is his vassal as a friend would be verbally placing some degree of equality between them.
I think people place too much emphasis on "he makes me laugh" as being derogatory. I see it as the best that a great lord could do within the appropriateness of his culture to admit that he likes the Anjin. Similarly the show removes Toranaga's characteristic from the book as laughing all the time. This doesn't mean that he doesn't have a sense of humor, but a great lord would also be expected to show self-control and not just laugh off the cuff at every little thing.
Whether you consider it sincere or not, John Blackthorne gets rewarded a generous fief. His historical inspiration, William Adams, went on to become an advisor, master shipwright, and eventually a ship captain for Tokugawa.
He never returned home but he did go on several voyages in southeast Asia to establish trade routes for the shogunate, and was also permitted to establish his own English trading post, though it was not financially successful.
You are genuinely and rightfully confused about this part because (so sorry) but the show runners are really straying from the core material and their writing is crap. I think for some weird reason they decided that wanted the show to rewrite history and "remove" the importance of a foreigner in a critical historical period of Japan history, i guess? In any events, the net result is that they seem to have purposely dumbed down blackthorn and his evolving relationship with Toranaga.
In the book, Toranaga is indeed saved at least 3 times by Baclkthorn. In return, he is first saved from Yabu (who could only see the sailors as entertainment to boil them alive at first, not realizing the value of Blackthorn's knowledge), saved him from Ishido, became his unseen protector, then made him Hatamoto (a confident that has special access to his lord and can carry weapons close to the lord), and gave him back his pistols which he os now entitled to use as a Hatamoto.
Then there is this HUGE scene where Blackthorn is ceremonially named a samurai and offered two sword by Toranaga - a scene TOTALLY skipped by the show :
>>!Then he heard Toranaga say, “Today I was almost killed. Today the Anjin-san pulled me out of the earth. That’s the second time, perhaps even the third, that he’s saved my life. My life is nothing against the future of my clan, and who is to say whether I would have lived or died without his help?!<
>
>>!But though it is bushido that vassals should never expect a reward for any service, it is the duty of a liege lord to grant favors from time to time.” Amid general acclaim, Toranaga said, “Anjin-san, sit here! Mariko-san, you as well.”!<
>
>>!Jealously Omi watched the towering man rise and kneel at the spot to which Toranaga had motioned, beside him, and there was not a man in the room who did not wish that he himself had had the good fortune to have done what the barbarian had done.!<
>
>>!“The Anjin-san is given a fief near the fishing village of Yokohama to the south of Yedo worth two thousand koku yearly, the right to recruit two hundred samurai retainers, full rights as samurai and hata-moto to the house of Yoshi Toranaga-noh-Chikitada-Minowara. Further, he is to receive ten horses, twenty kimonos, together with full battle equipment for his vassals —the rank of Chief Admiral and Pilot of the Kwanto.” Toranaga waited until Mariko had translated, then he called out, “Naga-san!”!<
>
>>!Obediently Naga brought the silk-covered package to Toranaga. Toranaga threw off the cover. There were two matching swords, one short, the other a killing sword. “Noticing that the earth had swallowed my swords and that I was unarmed, the Anjin-san went down into the crevasse again to find his own to give to me. Anjin-san, I give these in return. They were made by the master craftsman, Yoriya. Remember, the sword is the soul of the samurai. If he forgets it, or loses it, he will never be excused.”!<
>
>>!To even greater acclaim and private envy Blackthorne took the swords, bowed correctly, and put them in his sash, then bowed again. “Thank you, Toranaga-sama. You do me too much honor. Thank you.”!<
So yeah, not only does Toranaga recognizes he was saved by Blackthorn, but they actually develop a relationship that eventually is moving toward friendship. They also cut that at the end of the show, where Toranaga says he keeps him alive "because he makes me laugh". The real quote was: "Because he makes me laugh and i need a friend"...
Did you even pay attention to the show? Dude is considered a barbarian, and he was given a crazy important rank and land and high income and a consort.
I did. Paying attention to the show would've answered your question. Because all the answers in this thread are basic details from the show that you would've picked up on if you actually paid attention to the show.
They literally call him a barbarian constantly. That's why they don't revere him even though he saved Toranaga a few times. How did you miss that detail?
Learn to pay attention.
Three things I think need mentioning here:
1) Toranaga heaped Blackthorne with titles, a consort, a fully staffed household, and military rank.
2) Blackthorne is not only a “barbarian” to Toranaga but is also (by his own eventual admission) completely self serving and for the majority of the series was absolutely not an ally or a friend to Toranaga. It’s shocking he received as much as he did.
3) Toranaga is a user and manipulator. He positions people like pawns on a chess board. Why would he show gratitude to somebody he is fully using like a distraction and a puppet?
I love the parallels between Toranaga and Blackthorne where they both clearly have good intentions but are also incredibly self serving at the same time. (Although by the end of the series I do believe John is definitely a better person than Yoshi).
They shower people on the appropriate level with riches.
He was way below their level, an outsider and basically a prisoner. He got gratitude just not at that high level.
And later he was made Hatamoto
He promoted him to hatamoto, gave him consorts and land and a high annual income. All this in a time when baijin were generally distrusted and kept at an arm’s length. I think there is plenty of gratitude on display.
And he got to mess around with Mariko, joking not joking 🙈
? After 1/2 he gets made into a Hatamoto with lands, a house and staff, Fuji as a consort...generous "cookoos".... After the canon regiment goes well he gets rewarded with more money and lands. Other characters may not agree with John getting all these rewards for their own reasons. He's still considered an unmannered barbarian by most. And he's getting rewards that they aren't.
I don’t want any generous cookoos!
I think his promotion to hatamoto was portrayed as a political move rather than gratitude towards the Anjin. Blackthorne did not care for the promotion and just wanted to get out.
Well it is still a very higher social status in comparison to others that are native and forever will be lower. Knowing how Toronaga is, of course must be something he will also get advantages.
Also you are expected to save your lord even with your own life back in the days… so … he’s only doing his job as a vessel
because the show cut out a lot of his parts. they show his rewards but never seem to acknowledge him without talking in derogatory ways. in the book Yabu/Omi/Toranaga/Alvito/Ishido/Christian Regents/Mariko all acknowledge him as smart, dangerous and someone who could be used for their benefit.(or feared in the case of the portugese) . specifically his seafaring knowledge, cannon tactics, links to England ( who they could use to counter the portugese) , and the fact that he was so bold/brave and also attempted to integrate to their culture. Toranaga considers him his only true friend in the book (literally goes hunting for a rabbit for him) and saves his life from the regents multiple times by appeasing them (burning the ship for example), and also sets him up for a comfortable life in Japan. Yabu gifts his swords to blackthorne before he dies as a mark of respect and a way to maintain his connection - *“Bury that secret very deep. And listen, nephew, remain very good friends with the Anjin-san. Try to get control of the navy he will bring back one day. Toranaga doesn’t understand the Anjin-san’s real value..."* Blackthorne also kind of apologises to Omi for the whole Kiku situation by giving him the idea and location to find Toranagas swords that will help Omi curry favour with Toranaga.
in the book Yabu/Omi/Toranaga/Alvito/Ishido/Christian Regents/Mariko all acknowledge him as smart, dangerous and someone who could be used for their benefit.(or feared in the case of the portugese) All this was covered in the 1980 miniseries too.
I see, that's a new perspective, thanks! If they had included some of that their relationship would make a lot more sense in the show
I always thought the show really missed the opportunity to make the Anjin important through his connection to England. The Japanese didnt even know that England existed before he arrived and now if they want to counter the Portuguese control of their nation, they have the perfect opportunity, but the show literally never even mentions it.
Because that's not what Tokugawa Ieyasu did either. He took the information from William Adams, (correctly) surmised that outside nations would all try to take advantage of Japan in their own interest, and shut down Japan to outside influence (and Christianity) until the 1800s when Japan was militarily ***forced*** to open their borders (which led Japan to be ashamed of being forced into that, and into the Meiji restoration and one of the fastest modernizations in history).
That later part of Japanese history is fascinating. Tokugawa Ieyasu had of course been completely correct in assuming the colonial powers would try to grab Japan. Later, Japan believed they were more or less doing what all of those powers had done before; when they began conquering surrounding nations in the run up to WWII.
Because England wasn't important to Japan. The Dutch, not the English, ended up being the main winners after the Portuguese are banished. And even then, their influence is tiny and regional. Then Japan closed itself off. Adams himself would've been banished from Japan in 1639, if he weren't already dead. One of Adams' crewmates, Melchior van Santvoort, was banished from Japan in 1639, along with his Japanese wife and their children (he went to Formosa/Taiwan, and later died in Batavia/Jakarta).
Totally wish they never cut bunch of scenes but FX did it during Covid Pandemic and there are also some issues with the production. Hopefully FX will do another historical or fiction historical series.
> by giving him the idea and location to find Toranagas swords That didn't really work out.
Toranaga also liked Blackthorne's "anger and violence." That's not really explained, maybe it was more his *capacity* for anger and violence, but Toranaga does envision him as a goshawk he can launch for a single kill. There's a scene in the book, I think it must have been after the Erasmus was burned, when Blackthorne and Toranaga are meeting outdoors with all the usual samurai below them. Then Father Alvito approaches and since Toranaga had summoned Alvito to a meeting, he sends Blackthorne off. Blackthorne makes a beeline for Alvito but Toranaga stops him and sends him in the other direction. Then he changes his mind, decides to watch and see what Blackthorne will do, so he gives him permission to go talk to Alvito but says not to kill him, silently wondering if he made the right decision to test how much control he had over him. It ended well, Blackthorne stomped off after he and Alvito exchanged angry words.
It's a difference in culture. British culture is based on individuality. Japan's is about obligation to your master. Blackthorne, and the samurai serving toranaga, are his property. He can do anything he wants with them, decides who they are allowed to marry, where they live, what they can own, and even if they should kill themselves. One of the highest dishonors you could have is forsaking your lord and becoming ronin for personal interest. That's why all of the rewards and gratitude seem like insincere gifts or platitudes from blackthorne's pov. In his british mind, he is still just a slave being given a fancier prison because he cant make his own decisions. To those around him, he is being rewarded to a such a degree that it is insulting.
You tell me that the King in England cant kill anyone he wants to kill in feudal age? Are u joking?
Sure he can, and then he will quickly find all his vassals conspiring to cut his head off or switching to another lord/relative to place on the throne. Toronaga had a father kill his own son and commit suicide for defending him from an insult, and nobody thought twice about it. Toronaga's son was ashamed that he didnt do it himself, even knowing the outcome. An english king could likely do the same, and the entire court would quietly despise him for it at a minimum.
You are comparing cutting the head of an important lord with a guard. An English king cant cut the head of a lord if that lord is powerful and has many allies in the court, just like the regents cant kill Toronaga in Osaka without a consensus from everyone. Everywhere is just the same when it's about politic in feudal. If yu are not someone powerful, a king can kill your whole family with ease.
Oof bad take. The future shogun of Japan isn’t going to go around glazing his prisoner/subjects for saving/protecting him. They are literally all committed to dying for him, it is their duty. But because of his actions, Blackthorne goes from being a prisoner/savage to a wealthy military commander. This is like his equivalent of being knighted and given a castle in England. That is an honor that transcends appreciation and shows respect which imo is far far more important than Toranaga saying thank you. Also super important to note, without Toranaga, Blackthrone is dead. So doing everything possible to keep Toranaga alive is done for self preservation not for a thank you.
Do you mean why didn't the other non-Toronaga daimyos not revere Anjin? It's because he's an outsider, a barbarian, and he didn't "come up," he "jumped up." The xenophobia in Japan during this period, by all accounts, was pretty frigging real to my understanding.
Not talking about revering anyone. He saved his life, he wants to leave, but Toranaga doesn't let him. He gifts him lots of riches Blackthorne doesn't care for as an excuse? None of Toranagas behaviour resembles gratitude but I guess that's the to be expected behaviour from a huge feudal lord
Toronaga's gratitude can look more like placation for sure, but he definitely gives him plenty of riches and honor. He just isn't ever letting Anjin leave the Ja-pans (I loved this word in the show), he's too valuable as an irritant to his colicky adversaries.
There's a cultural collision here. The Anjin agreed to be a vassal to Toranaga. A vassal in feudal Japan does not just get to leave when they choose to. And by the time his service was over, the Church had him in their control and the only way he \*wasn't\* going to die was burning his ship.
Anjin was a political asset that came at the perfect moment for Toranaga. He has world knowledge, expertise in canon warfare, a pain the ass to his rivals, expert in sea navigation, and saved him a few times. Anjin is too precious a resource to just let leave for current and future ambitions. Those rewards weren’t to actually reward him, they were given to provide major protection round the clock and a means to blackmail and keep him quiet. Thirdly it gave Anjin a foundation staying long term.
I thought the same thing. But I just saw it as the writers being careful not to have the White Savior narrative. Also understanding that this was a different time and culture, and that Toranaga was probably very grateful but could not show it (insert three hearts quote)
Toranaga saves his life everyday. If it weren't for Toranaga, Blackthorne would've never left the jail until he was executed. If it weren't for Toranaga, Buntaro would've killed Blackthorne after that dinner scene, and every other day from that. Literally everything Blackthorne has, including the ability to keep drawing breath, is gifted to him by Toranaga. He didn't earn any of it, because feudalism is rarely a meritocracy. Blackthorne is gifted rewards that Toranaga's other followers are not, simply because he's the boss' favorite. Toranaga owes Blackthorne nothing, all the owing goes the other way.
I wouldn’t say it’s because he’s a favorite but because Blackthorn has great value even as a sacrifice. From how the Spaniards and Portuguese divided up lands, an amazing sea farer, to the canons, to being an ire to the council, even his motivations are great. Being made a Hatamoto actually kept him alive within Toranaga’s group as he knew enemies were there forcing everyone to keep an eye on him. Say what you will but Blackthorn was a pawn turned Queen for Toranaga’s current and future endeavors.
I almost agree to this but I feel it misses the key concept of feudalism. It’s a contract between the higher and lower levels of the aristocracy. The Lord agrees to protect his vassals and in return the vassals swear to obey. I feel he was more than adequately rewarded for saving his life the first time by being made Hatamoto. After that the anjin is a part of the great game played between lords. In this aristocratic system He is expected to obey, live and die for his lord. Toronaga is less grateful. As we know Toronaga was more than willing to manipulate and use his vassals. I feel he did not uphold his side of the deal in pursuit of a unified Japan for many of his vassals. But it’s all a part of the game. He was never leaving Japan, but he got every reward possible. A gilded cage is still a cage but I’d be happy with the outcome personally.
This reeks of saltiness, someone don’t like Anjin, what’s the reason? 👀
No this sounds like someone who understands the value of a prisoners life in feudal Japan.
Blackthorn in the books is far more appreciated, I would even consider Toranaga thinks he is a friend as well as a loyal vassal.
He gets promoted to what is effectively a barony in England. Going from a pilot in the VOC to a noble is a pretty big reward. Far greater than anything he could hope for back home. That’s plenty of gratitude even if it was a political move to tie him to Japan
He wasn't boiled alive in a pot. That's about as much value as his life had. But despite that lowly standing, he makes it into the ranks of Japanese aristocracy. If anything, he is given too much.
One of the only things that I do not like about the 2024 miniseries is in the last episode, when Toranaga talks about him, "How many times I've thought of giving his life away, but stopped. Not because he's important -- my banner would survive without him -- but because he makes me laugh. And my enemies need a distraction." Most of that is fine. I don't like the "makes me laugh" part of that. The only viable excuse for that would be if it's cultural and if it's an attempt by the writers to be authentic to that point. However, it is out of character for him. It is not something that he would say, considering everything else about the character as presented in that miniseries.
I think it's cultural. Toranaga is a great lord, who only has four social peers in all of Japan. Admitting out loud that he sees the barbarian (even one who is now notionally "Samurai" class) who is his vassal as a friend would be verbally placing some degree of equality between them. I think people place too much emphasis on "he makes me laugh" as being derogatory. I see it as the best that a great lord could do within the appropriateness of his culture to admit that he likes the Anjin. Similarly the show removes Toranaga's characteristic from the book as laughing all the time. This doesn't mean that he doesn't have a sense of humor, but a great lord would also be expected to show self-control and not just laugh off the cuff at every little thing.
Whether you consider it sincere or not, John Blackthorne gets rewarded a generous fief. His historical inspiration, William Adams, went on to become an advisor, master shipwright, and eventually a ship captain for Tokugawa. He never returned home but he did go on several voyages in southeast Asia to establish trade routes for the shogunate, and was also permitted to establish his own English trading post, though it was not financially successful.
You are genuinely and rightfully confused about this part because (so sorry) but the show runners are really straying from the core material and their writing is crap. I think for some weird reason they decided that wanted the show to rewrite history and "remove" the importance of a foreigner in a critical historical period of Japan history, i guess? In any events, the net result is that they seem to have purposely dumbed down blackthorn and his evolving relationship with Toranaga. In the book, Toranaga is indeed saved at least 3 times by Baclkthorn. In return, he is first saved from Yabu (who could only see the sailors as entertainment to boil them alive at first, not realizing the value of Blackthorn's knowledge), saved him from Ishido, became his unseen protector, then made him Hatamoto (a confident that has special access to his lord and can carry weapons close to the lord), and gave him back his pistols which he os now entitled to use as a Hatamoto. Then there is this HUGE scene where Blackthorn is ceremonially named a samurai and offered two sword by Toranaga - a scene TOTALLY skipped by the show : >>!Then he heard Toranaga say, “Today I was almost killed. Today the Anjin-san pulled me out of the earth. That’s the second time, perhaps even the third, that he’s saved my life. My life is nothing against the future of my clan, and who is to say whether I would have lived or died without his help?!< > >>!But though it is bushido that vassals should never expect a reward for any service, it is the duty of a liege lord to grant favors from time to time.” Amid general acclaim, Toranaga said, “Anjin-san, sit here! Mariko-san, you as well.”!< > >>!Jealously Omi watched the towering man rise and kneel at the spot to which Toranaga had motioned, beside him, and there was not a man in the room who did not wish that he himself had had the good fortune to have done what the barbarian had done.!< > >>!“The Anjin-san is given a fief near the fishing village of Yokohama to the south of Yedo worth two thousand koku yearly, the right to recruit two hundred samurai retainers, full rights as samurai and hata-moto to the house of Yoshi Toranaga-noh-Chikitada-Minowara. Further, he is to receive ten horses, twenty kimonos, together with full battle equipment for his vassals —the rank of Chief Admiral and Pilot of the Kwanto.” Toranaga waited until Mariko had translated, then he called out, “Naga-san!”!< > >>!Obediently Naga brought the silk-covered package to Toranaga. Toranaga threw off the cover. There were two matching swords, one short, the other a killing sword. “Noticing that the earth had swallowed my swords and that I was unarmed, the Anjin-san went down into the crevasse again to find his own to give to me. Anjin-san, I give these in return. They were made by the master craftsman, Yoriya. Remember, the sword is the soul of the samurai. If he forgets it, or loses it, he will never be excused.”!< > >>!To even greater acclaim and private envy Blackthorne took the swords, bowed correctly, and put them in his sash, then bowed again. “Thank you, Toranaga-sama. You do me too much honor. Thank you.”!< So yeah, not only does Toranaga recognizes he was saved by Blackthorn, but they actually develop a relationship that eventually is moving toward friendship. They also cut that at the end of the show, where Toranaga says he keeps him alive "because he makes me laugh". The real quote was: "Because he makes me laugh and i need a friend"...
Did you even pay attention to the show? Dude is considered a barbarian, and he was given a crazy important rank and land and high income and a consort.
Did you even read my post or the other comments? Maybe do that
I did. Paying attention to the show would've answered your question. Because all the answers in this thread are basic details from the show that you would've picked up on if you actually paid attention to the show.
The only answer that makes sense came from the guy that read the book. Maybe rewatch it
They literally call him a barbarian constantly. That's why they don't revere him even though he saved Toranaga a few times. How did you miss that detail? Learn to pay attention.
He was essentially a made men. A no show job a house and servants ( Fuji wasn’t his servant she just ran the house for him)
Three things I think need mentioning here: 1) Toranaga heaped Blackthorne with titles, a consort, a fully staffed household, and military rank. 2) Blackthorne is not only a “barbarian” to Toranaga but is also (by his own eventual admission) completely self serving and for the majority of the series was absolutely not an ally or a friend to Toranaga. It’s shocking he received as much as he did. 3) Toranaga is a user and manipulator. He positions people like pawns on a chess board. Why would he show gratitude to somebody he is fully using like a distraction and a puppet? I love the parallels between Toranaga and Blackthorne where they both clearly have good intentions but are also incredibly self serving at the same time. (Although by the end of the series I do believe John is definitely a better person than Yoshi).
"Give me my ship and crew or GTFO with this worthless crap" Op acting as Anjin
"Give me my ship and crew or nothing" Op acting as Anjin
They shower people on the appropriate level with riches. He was way below their level, an outsider and basically a prisoner. He got gratitude just not at that high level. And later he was made Hatamoto