LogFAQs > #979105118

Introducing Fuji (I can't remember if that was her name in the novel, I assume it might've been) and Mariko early was an interesting creative decision. Having Mariko empathize with Fuji's grief and desire to die will be important later on, and Fuji herself ends up being given over to Blackthorn to be his wife later on.

EDIT: Oh okay her name was Fujiko.

Cuticrusader09 posted...

The guy having to kill his own baby and then himself hit me harder. The baby didnt deserve that.

No, he wanted to kill himself. He instead gets crucified. Toranaga was far crueler to him in the novel, forcing him to crawl to his execution because he'd lost the right to walk as a human does through his thoughtlessness.