| "Ladies of the Willow World" | |
|---|---|
| Shōgun episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 6 |
| Directed by | Hiromi Kamata |
| Written by | Maegan Houang |
| Cinematography by | Marc Laliberté |
| Editing by | Thomas A. Krueger |
| Original release date | March 26, 2024 |
| Running time | 57 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Ladies of the Willow World" (Japanese: うたかたの女たち, Hepburn: Utakata no Onnatachi) is the sixth episode of the American historical drama television series Shōgun, based on the novel by James Clavell. The episode was written by Maegan Houang, and directed by Hiromi Kamata. It was released on Hulu on March 26, 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, Blackthorne visits a brothel with Mariko, while Ochiba and Ishido take the regents hostage at Osaka Castle.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.523 million household viewers and gained a 0.10 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, who praised the episode's writing and pacing.