TOKYO: Japan celebrated with excitement on Monday as the samurai series “Shogun” won a record-breaking 18 Emmys in its first season. The show took home awards including Outstanding Drama Series, and star and co-producer Hiroyuki Sanada became the first Japanese actor to win the Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series. Co-star Anna Sawai also made history by winning Best Actress in a Dramatic Series.
“You did it. You did it. Congratulations,” stated Takashi Yamazaki, director of “Godzilla Minus One,” on social media.
The awards were followed live, making national headlines, with entertainment media outlet Oricon proudly noting that a series predominantly in Japanese had “made Emmy history.” The report highlighted the grand scale of Hollywood and the high quality of the production, emphasizing the collaboration between Sanada’s Japanese team and local production efforts, along with acting that conveyed a strong sense of realism.
Actor Kento Kaku, from the 2024 series “Like a Dragon: Yakuza,” expressed his inspiration to chase Hollywood dreams, stating, “After seeing how cool that was, who wouldn’t want to take up the challenge?”
Actress Tomoko Mariya shared her emotional reaction, saying she cried upon hearing about Sanada’s win. “What hardships you must have endured, choosing to leave your entire career behind in Japan and going to America alone. But it has borne fruit,” she remarked, reflecting on Sanada’s move to Los Angeles twenty years ago.
The accolades for “Shogun” not only showcase the increasing diversity in American entertainment but also pay homage to Japan’s “jidaigeki” samurai films, which have inspired filmmakers around the globe.
Lee Jung-jae was the first Asian actor to win the Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series for the 2022 Korean hit “Squid Game.” Sanada is among a select group of Japanese actors who have landed significant Hollywood roles, including in “The Last Samurai” (2003) and “The 47 Ronin” (2013) starring Keanu Reeves.
The character Sanada portrays in “Shogun” was originally played by Toshiro Mifune in the 1980s. In his acceptance speech, Sanada acknowledged those who came before him, thanking all who have preserved the legacy of jidaigeki. “The passion and dreams we inherited traveled across the seas and crossed borders,” he said, holding his trophy proudly.
