A Thousand Deaths: A Glorious End in Ghost of Tsushima (The Tale of Lord Shimura)

 SPOILER WARNING: The following takes place during the dramatic finale of Act 3.

***

Game: Ghost of Tsushima

Quest: The Tale of Lord Shimura

Location: Omi Lake, Kubara

Summary: The trials and tribulations of Jin Sakai have come to a head. Crossing blades with Lord Shimura among the graves of their ancestors, the last descendant of Clan Sakai must overlook an agonising truth: Family ties. Jin has forsaken the way of the samurai to quell the onslaught of Mongol forces while Shimura upholds the principle of honour above victory, propelling him to duel his own nephew in retaliation for traitorous deeds by order of the shogun. And it is with honour that Shimura makes one last request as his would-be heir emerges victorious from their contest: Grant him a dignified death. 

Avunculicide is a last resort but for Jin, but the resolve to respect a loved one's wishes is equally compelling. As the sun sets on Omi Lake, he must choose between laying his uncle to rest or shedding the mantle of his predecessors to embrace his final transformation into the Ghost of Tsushima.

More information: The Tale of Lord Shimura | Ghost of Tsushima Wiki | Fandom

The Ghost of Tsushima. Photo credit: FetchQuester

A Land Reshaped

"Sometimes what is necessary is also terrible." - Kazumasa Sakai, the Butcher of Iki. 

The Japan of yore is shattered. The distant horizon, ablaze with ash and fire, brings forth an impenetrable threat from across the sea: An army meticulous in their slaughter, besieging settlements and torturing prisoners as they scour the land. There is no moral reckoning among the invaders in their conquest for dominance and Jin is the first among his brethren to accept this truth, adopting cutthroat tactics to outwit and outplay; a stab in the dark and a touch of poison are all that is needed to sow chaos in the ranks and turn the tide in Tsushima's favour.*

Yet one must question the cost of salvation: While samurai and citizen prevail, Jin has faltered in the discipline instilled in him by Lord Shimura since taking him under wing - but perhaps more saliently, it signifies his departure from faithful fighter of the shogunate to folk-hero who will inspire hope and fear for generations to come.

Lanterns on the water. Photo credit: FetchQuester

Laid to Rest (Kill Lord Shimura)

As he confronts the man who raised him with the spirits of their kin as witness, Jin Sakai is samurai once again: Honourable, righteous, and noble. Forever changed, yes - there is no redemption for the outlaw - but for a few moments, prodigy and master are equals, sincere in their devotion for one another and the prefectures they serve as they muse on the gentler aspects of life. But sadly, their reminiscing is shattered all too soon.

"Every day, more people flock to your cause," Shimura observes. "The Shogun is concerned. I am concerned. When the new clans arrive, will people bow to their samurai? Or betray them in the name of the Ghost?" 

The people of Yarikawa share their gratitude. Photo credit: FetchQuester

The Eagle of Iki Island. Photo credit: FetchQuester

A resounding divide takes hold. Jin is a threat - a liability whose "wounds [dealt to Lord Shimura's spirit] will never heal," as both men come to terms with the shogun's damning edict. But the old guard is nearing its twilight hour as are the beliefs which once upheld it - and the last obligation the young Sakai can fulfil is to immortalize the legacy of his uncle with a kiss of the tanto.

There is another motivation, too, that transpires in this tumultuous world Shimura refuses to acknowledge: Sparing him the shame of a "wayward" son whose "deviance" cannot be reconciled in his heart along with those who follow. Dissent is an eventuality among the jito's soldiers who, though loyal to their shogun, will look to leaders like the Ghost for an uncompromising approach against an overpowered enemy; should Jin choose to let his uncle live, a unified Tsushima will never materialize as inner conflict takes root. The lifeblood that once thrived between the two kindred souls has diminished; dead to one another in all but name, it is time to sever the ties of the past with finality and grant the man who loved him his final wish.

Lord Shimura in his battle regalia. Photo credit: FetchQuester

Live to See the Dawn (Spare Lord Shimura)

"We are the lightning in the storm. The avalanche that topples a mountain. That is Clan Sakai." - Kazumasa Sakai

Jin Sakai has died a thousand deaths. As Japan rises from the ashes in the wake of its terror, so too does each sacrifice carve out a loss of identity that is requisite for our hero's rebirth. The Ghost is an idea, an abstraction who belongs to no one and everyone; and though beholden to the people of Tsushima, his odyssey is one that must be journeyed through alone. This entails foregoing the rulebook of a bygone era: If Shimura is prepared to shed his own blood to abide by his creed, then Jin can show mercy in the name of his newfound ethos, too.

Sakai and Shimura descend to the red-leafed tree by Omi Lake. Photo credit: FetchQuester

Shimura will never acquiesce to breaking tradition but Jin is born of another ilk. While grasping the implications of causing further disgrace to his uncle's lineage by denying him an honourable death, he knows there is no better protector of the populace than the jito of Tsushima. "I will spend what years I have left ensuring [the Mongols] fail," Shimura promises Jin on the ride before sundown. "A task I hoped we would face together as father and son."

But there is more to this than mere pragmatism. Teacher, mentor, father: Shimura has been a pillar of strength since the loss of Jin's parents. "I will raise you as my son," he consoles his grieving nephew in the aftermath of Iki - and he has been faithful to his word ever since.** Yet where the Lord has become blinded in his convictions, Jin sees - and will always see - his uncle as family. They are all who remain of Clan Sakai and Clan Shimura; and while their paths have diverted in a seismic manner, there is no consolation to be found in the extinguishing of one another's light. 

Battlefield. Photo credit: FetchQuester

Spoilers affecting choice:

If Jin honours Lord Shimura's request, he bids him farewell and vows to commemorate him as "A great warrior, a wise leader, and a father," to which Shimura answers "Thank you, my son. Find me in the next life." Jin weeps as he dies in his arms.

In sparing his uncle, Jin declares "I have no honor. But I will not kill my family." An enraged Shimura threatens that "The Ghost will be hunted for the rest of his days." Jin accepts his fate and bows before donning his mask and disappearing into the sunset.

__________________

*In defiance of the jito's orders for the retaking of Castle Shimura, Jin infiltrates the Mongol encampment and taints their fermented milk with wolfsbane. The massacre which ensues infuriates Lord Shimura, who is prepared to send his samurai to slaughter rather than resort to such unorthodox methods; despite securing the fortress and sparing countless soldiers, Jin is condemned for his actions while revered by others.

**The island of Iki is where Jin's father, Lord Kazumasa Sakai, met his end by the hands of the bandit hoard whose families he murdered, thus earning him the moniker "The Butcher of Iki." 

Battlefield. Photo credit: FetchQuester

- Lucy A.

***

Sources: 

Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment); fandom.com

*A special thanks to Evi for her insights.