A Stick of Time

"A Stick of Time" (Japanese: 線香一本の時, Hepburn: Senkō Ippon no Toki) is the seventh episode of the American historical drama television series Shōgun, based on the novel by James Clavell. The episode was written by consulting producer Matt Lambert, and directed by Takeshi Fukunaga. It was released on Hulu on April 2, 2024, and it also aired on FX on the same day.

The series is set in 1600, and follows three characters. John Blackthorne, a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him; Lord Toranaga, a shrewd, powerful daimyo, at odds with his own dangerous, political rivals; and Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance. In the episode, Toranaga meets his estranged half-brother to discuss terms of merging their two armies to invade Osaka as part of Crimson Sky.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.540 million household viewers and gained a 0.09 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, who praised the performances and production values.