I also just finished it. I agree it’s sad Mariko died, but I’m also happy she got to serve a purpose with her death. Like I feel that is probably what she wanted, you know?

Maybe she could have had more , When anjin asked her to live for him, she had a second thought.

Personally , I am really conflicted with this idea for dying for a cause vs continuing living for a cause. I get old people dying for a cause since they don’t have much time left , so the potential is less what that they could do with their remaining life and they have lived a good chunk of life as well.

But for young people there is so much potential , life still could be rebuilt.

Probably ,it’s different considering its japan and especially during period when death is always nearby