In the latest episode of Shōgun, we see Lady Mariko's husband return unscathed. Lord Toranaga orders that he live under the Anjin's roof. However, despite Blackthorne's offer of rabbit stew, Buntaro refuses to eat it. Why is that?
CONTENT SPOILERS: This article contains spoilers for Shōgun, so proceed with caution.
John Blackthorne Offers His Peace to Buntaro
Lord Toranaga ordered Lady Mariko to have her safely returned husband, Buntaro, to stay under the same roof as John Blackthorne's house. Since the Lady is well aware of her duties to her Lord and her husband, she complies.
Upon their first dinner together, Blackthorne prepares something for his esteemed guests: what he calls the English rabbit stew.
"I am proud to present to you tastes from my home country," Blackthorne says as he offers the bowl of stew to Buntaro first.
As Blackthorne keeps learning more and more about the Japanese traditions and customs, it would seem he has failed once more in introducing the English culture to Lady Mariko and the others.
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Why Buntaro Refused To Eat Blackthorne's Rabbit Stew
Buntaro has been showing his disdain in sharing a roof with a "barbarian" such as Blackthorne himself, so it makes sense why he would outright refuse the offering from a foreigner.
Considering that he doesn't even respect the man, he doesn't respect his own wife either during their stay. Not to mention, Lady Mariko, as always, has a brief explanation for their refusal.
Yet another cultural difference has been uncovered in Shōgun, much similar to why Blackthorne couldn't quite stomach eating the Japanese Natto in the previous episode.
Keep in mind that Blackthorne had limited resources for the ingredients required to make the stew. As he dictated in the episode, for example, he used sake to replace sherry wine.
Despite Blackthorne's insistence that "that's the beauty of a good stew," Lady Mariko swiftly reveals why they are hesitant to accept his offer.
At the brisk wind from the rabbit stew's scent, Lady Mariko and Lady Fuji are visibly disturbed. "We are particular eaters, Anjin-sama," Lady Mariko explains humbly, "It is our loss."
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Shōgun episode 6 titled Ladies of the Willow World premieres on Hulu on March 26.
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